The Emergency Services Levy (ESL) funds the fire and emergency services to respond to building and
bushfires,
road crash rescue,
hazardous and toxic material spills,
storms,
cyclones,
floods,
earthquakes and
tsunamis, sea rescue, land and sea searches for missing persons, and
cliff and cave rescues.
Specifically, the levy funds the: Operating costs covered by the levy include running and maintenance of vehicles, vessels and facilities, personal protective equipment, operational equipment and consumables.
Capital equipment purchases include firefighting
appliances,
vehicles,
road rescue trailers, rescue/flood boats and buildings.
The levy also funds training of
volunteers,
fire investigations,
building inspections, community safety programs, emergency management planning and DFES's administration costs.
What the levy does not fund:
The ESL is not used to fund the Unexploded Ordnance Unit and
RAC Rescue, the State's emergency rescue helicopter service. While these services are part of DFES, they are funded by the state government, grants, sponsorship and donations.
St John Ambulance, WA Police, Surf Life Saving Society and other like services are not funded by the levy.