CFA chief executive Francis Diver said the service had been “flooded” with complaints from members of the community who had received the calls. 

“These calls warn that reforms recently announced by the state government will put Victorian families at risk,” he said. 

“This is a highly irresponsible and unfounded claim and not an authorised message from CFA.

“We are deeply concerned that these calls may erode confidence in public safety and unfairly cause alarm across the community.”

CFA will urgently investigate the phone calls as a possible breach of privacy and have vowed to take the necessary steps to protect the integrity of the fire service. 

Stawell resident Pauline Guttrey received one of the robot calls on Wednesday night after 9pm. 

“This is not an appropriate time for cold calling, not that there is an appropriate time,” she said. 

“It took me a few seconds to realise it was a recorded call, and as soon as it mentioned Daniel Andrews, I hung up.”

Ms Guttrey condemned the call and said it did not impact on her belief the CFA could deliver a competent service. 

I try not to take calls from numbers I don't recognise; I am a proud supporter of the CFA and will always continue to be,” she said. 

Ararat CFA District 16 operations manager Neville Collins dismissed the phone calls’ claims and assured the community there would be no changes to the CFA’s service delivery. 

“If there is a fire risk to the community, there will certainly be a fire service,” he said.

“We take great pride in our service delivery and that will definitely not change.”

Mr Collins said even members of the District 16 headquarters had been receiving the automated calls. 

“Some of our staff have been getting them,” he said.

“It is not only CFA members, but also the public.”