Protective clothing for Victoria's Country Fire Authority will be made locally with support from the state government.
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Up to 29,000 sets of bushfire protective clothing will be manufactured at a Victorian supplier of WA's Stewart and Heaton protective clothing company.
"This is really high design, world-class uniforms being produced right here in Victoria," Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes told reporters at the factory in the Melbourne suburb of Mulgrave on Wednesday.
"This is not only about providing the best of the best for our volunteers, but also securing local jobs in manufacturing."
The state government is investing $10.85 million towards the protective clothing production as part of its $236m investment in CFA capability.
Victoria is one of the most fire-prone regions in the world, CFA chief fire officer Jason Heffernan told reporters.
"It's fantastic to see how world-leading technologies in fibre and technologies in firefighter protection are being manufactured here in Victoria, in Melbourne, ensuring that our volunteers are the safest that can be on the fire ground," he said.
Mr Heffernan said the uniforms will contain Australian wool and be tested at the highest standards of flammability resistance, before they are rolled out next fire season.
"So if our firefighters do find themselves in a situation where they are entrapped by fire (it is) providing them the best chance of protection and survival."
Australian Associated Press
