Photo / Video Guidelines

Photos and video play a vital role in helping CFA protect the community of Victoria.

They are used for a variety of purposes including training, post-incident analysis and investigation, recruitment, occupational health and safety, community safety awareness campaigns, and keeping our 60,000 volunteers and staff informed and engaged in the organisation.

When taking photos / video at CFA incidents or events the following guidelines MUST be adhered to:

1. At an emergency incident you must get permission from the Incident Controller before taking any photos / video.
2. While on the fireground area, you must wear the appropriate PPC (Personal Protective Clothing).
3. All personnel in photos / video should be wearing the appropriate PPC and following the Chief Officer’s SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures).
4. As a rule, no more than one CFA member should engage in digital content gathering at any incident (at some larger incidents this number may be increased).
5. You must respect the privacy and dignity of all those involved in an incident.
6. No identifiable images of victims should be taken. Remember their family and friends may be present and may also be distressed.
7. If a victim or relative asks that images of an incident are not published we must respect those wishes. The images may still be used for internal CFA purposes.
8. Registration numbers on vehicles involved in MVAs (Motor Vehicle Accidents) should not be visible. The number must be edited out or blurred – including the registration label on windscreen.
9. Any CFA member or member of the public who is identifiable must have given their consent to have their image published.
10. Parents / guardians must have given written consent before identifiable photos of minors are published. (Schools and community groups have often obtained this permission in advance – check with the teacher / leader responsible).
11. Images taken while on private property should not be published without the consent of the owner.
12. CFA members should not make or attempt to make any financial gain from any content they have gathered while undertaking their CFA duties.

For further information, please contact CFA Strategic Communications Digital Media Manager, Martin Anderson, m.anderson@cfa.vic.gov.au.