The United Firefighters Union has revealed 90 per cent of its members have lost faith in Fire Rescue Victoria's top leadership team, making it the state's third emergency service to withdraw support for its leadership in the past year.
The union has been locked in a long-running dispute with the state government over pay and allowances, while also raising serious safety concerns about ageing and unsafe vehicles.
Nine-out-of-ten of nearly 3000 firefighters and union members expressed "no confidence" in Commissioner Gavin Freeman, acting deputy secretary Tony Matthews, and acting executive director Tom McPherson.
The latest vote comes just months after Victoria Police members passed a similar motion, which led to the resignation of former Chief Commissioner Shane Patton.
Ambulance Victoria's chief executive Jane Miller also stepped down in 2024 following a no-confidence vote by staff.
Union secretary Peter Marshall has written to Premier Jacinta Allan and Emergency Services Minister Vicki Ward advising them of the vote and requesting action to repair the relationship with workers and executive leaders.
"In an organisation like a fire brigade, which follows a quasi-military structure, this is not a step that anyone has taken lightly," he said.
His request has fallen on deaf ears, with the premier throwing her full support behind the trio and saying the situation isn't comparable to Victoria Police.
"I have full confidence in the leadership of Fire Rescue Victoria," she told reporters.
"This is a very different industrial environment."
Mr Marshall accused the premier of "double standards", given her intervention when police registered a similarly resounding no-confidence vote.
"The premier can live and fall on that statement," he said.
"It's only 12 months away from an election, premier, and what we're saying is if someone loses their life it's on your head."
Mr Marshall said the vote follows years of mismanagement and leadership failures, which include rising consultants spending, along with a hostile industrial strategy where leaders allegedly reneged on promises made to the workforce.
He also said many trucks are past their use-by date, with potentially life-threatening breakdowns putting firefighters and the public at daily risk.
Mr Freeman said he would continue to work with the state government to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.
"I have full confidence in my executive leadership team, whose commitment to leading with integrity and accountability is delivering a world-class, values-led fire and rescue service for Victorians," he said.
"I am aware that the protracted and complex nature of industrial bargaining has caused frustration and concern among our people."
The industrial dispute has been referred to the Fair Work Commission after the parties were unable to reach an agreement.
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