CFA chief resigns after criticism

Victorian Country Fire Authority (CFA) chief, Russell Rees, has resigned this morning.

Rees was under intense pressure to resign from his post after being scrutinised by the Royal Commission into the Black Saturday fires.

He was accused of failing to take a direct leadership role in his handling of the crisis on February 7.

The commission released an interim report last year criticising Rees' handling of the February 7 disaster.

"At the IECC (Integrated Emergency Co-ordination Centre) Mr Rees did not appear to become actively involved in operational issues, even when the disastrous consequences of the fires began to emerge," the report states.

Rees was in charge of the CFA on Black Saturday and revealed at the Royal Commission that people at the control centres were relying on inaccurate maps despite having access to detailed data showing the projected movement of the fires through Kinglake and surrounding communities.

Rees admitted that as a result, ABC radio warnings proved more effective and up-to-date than those from the CFA.

At a press conference in Melbourne this morning Rees stated, "I am making the decision to go now so that the future of the CFA is assured," the ABC reported.

Rees has stepped down despite having 18 months left on his contract.

The Black Saturday fires killed 173 people.