RFI partners with NSW Rural Fire Service: Supporting Australia’s Emergency Response Capabilities
Overview
NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) is the world’s largest volunteer fire service, responsible for providing fire and emergency services to approximately 95% of New South Wales. Operating across vast and often remote regions, NSW RFS plays a critical role in responding to bushfires, floods, and other natural disasters.
To strengthen its frontline response capability, NSW RFS developed a Mobile Command Trailer designed to be rapidly deployed into disaster zones, providing operational coordination where it is needed most.
The Technical Challenge: Reliable Off-Grid Power for Critical Communications in Remote Disaster Zones
The Challenge
Natural disasters such as bushfires and floods often impact remote or infrastructure-compromised areas where access to reliable power is limited or unavailable.
NSW RFS required:
- A fully self-sufficient Mobile Command Trailer.
- Reliable power capable of sustaining operations for up to 24 hours in the field.
- A solution that could support sensitive communications and coordination equipment.
- Flexibility to deploy directly into active disaster zones instead of relying solely on fixed regional offices.
Ensuring continuous, dependable power in unpredictable and harsh Australian environments was the primary technical challenge.
The Solution: Engineering a 24-Hour Rapid Deployment Energy System
RFI partnered with NSW RFS to deliver a robust, field-ready energy system for the Mobile Command Trailer. To meet the rigorous operational demands, RFI designed and engineered an advanced 48V DC battery storage and power management system built exclusively around premium PowerPlus Energy lithium storage and a high-performance Victron Energy ecosystem.
The system utilizes a scaled parallel layout featuring 16 PowerPlus Energy LiFe4838P Premium self-managed batteries, delivering a combined, resilient storage capacity of 60.8kWh. Power conversion is managed through three Victron Quattro 8kVA inverter/chargers providing 3-phase power, ensuring maximum system redundancy and seamless power delivery to mission-critical communications gear. Supplementary power is also provided from 3.7 kW of Suntech 415W solar modules on the roof, helping keep communications connected in all conditions. System performance and real-time telemetry are funnelled through a high-resolution touchscreen interface, allowing field operators complete on-ground visibility.
The project was completed over an 18-month period and involved close collaboration across RFI, PowerPlus Energy and NSW RFS engineering teams. With installation performed by Active Electrical Australia Pty Ltd, contributing to the successful rollout.
The Impact: Enhanced Disaster Response and Mission-Critical Infrastructure Resilience
With the Mobile Command Trailer now operational, NSW RFS has significantly enhanced its disaster response capability.
Key Benefits:
• Rapid Deployment – Command infrastructure can be positioned directly in disaster zones
• Operational Independence – Reduced reliance on regional offices for backup power
• Improved Community Response – Faster coordination during bushfires and floods
• Enhanced Resilience – Reliable 24-hour power capability in remote environments
This solution enables NSW RFS to respond more efficiently during critical disaster recovery efforts, providing faster on-ground assistance and improving operational continuity when communities need it most.
According to Brendan Doyle, Manager Logistics NSW Rural Fire Service:
“The Mobile Command Trailer significantly enhances our ability to respond rapidly to disasters across New South Wales. Having a self-sufficient power solution that can reliably operate for extended periods in the field means we can establish command operations exactly where they’re needed — without relying on fixed infrastructure. This capability strengthens our frontline response and ultimately helps us support communities faster during critical incidents.”
Ongoing Partnership: Delivering Dependable Power Solutions for Australian Emergency Services
Following the successful rollout, NSW RFS continues to partner with RFI for technical support, firmware optimization, and future fleet collaboration. The partnership reinforces RFI’s long-standing commitment to developing and delivering dependable, mission-critical power and communications infrastructure for emergency services operating in the most demanding environments across Australia.
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