COMMISSIONER’S BUSINESS
This week’s Commish’s Corner comes to you from Acting
Commissioner John Anderson. Commissioner Greg Mullins officially returns
from leave at midnight on Friday 4 February.
Tsunami operations presentation
At this week’s Senior Operations Committee meeting SO Bruce
Cameron and SF Greg Watson gave a presentation on their experience
in Banda Aceh. It was an informative and compelling account of the
work they did supporting the medical teams as part of the tsunami
relief effort. Arrangements are being made for the presentation to
be given to other groups across the NSWFB.
OPERATIONAL ROUNDUP
If you haven’t had a chance to catch up on the details of the
Maitland MVA, Cootamundra Bravery Awards, fatality at Marsfield, and
Darlinghurst 3rd Alarm fire please visit the intranet. If the stories
are not on the home page, you will find them in Past Articles. Keep
sending in stories for the intranet on incidents in your area. Contact
your regional Public Affairs Officer.
Wild storms hit
Between 1500hrs and 1700hrs on Wednesday 2 February, a storm swept
along the east coast of NSW causing widespread damage, flooding and
disruption to community services. Our Comms Centres managed over 1,500
calls in a five hour period. These included approximately 600 Triple
Zero calls which resulted in the creation of over 450 emergency incidents.
Apart from the usual incidents we respond to during heavy storms,
several small fires were also reported, including a church at Cremorne
Point, house fires at St Ives and Westleigh, and an electrical substation
at North Rocks.
On Thursday 3 February, we had sixteen crews assisting the SES in
storm recovery work across Sydney and the Central Coast.
Helicopter exercise at Temora Airport
This Sunday morning the NSWFB helicopter, Fire-Air 1 will play a key
role in a major training exercise being undertaken by local firefighters
at the Temora Flying Days aeronautical event at Temora Airport.
The deployment of Fire-Air 1 to Temora will provide invaluable training
for local crews in how to work safely with aircraft at major incidents.
They will be trained in helicopter awareness and safe landing techniques
during hazardous chemical spills and when dealing with the effects
of a chemical, biological or radiological terrorist attack.
As part of the Flying Days, NSWFB crews will staff a display which
includes the hazmat van and boat from Leeton and fire safety information.
Well done to ZC W7 Superintendent Col Holmes and Inspector Dave Felton
for organising this event.
NEWS IN BRIEF
SOPP begins
The first SOPP of 2005, SOPP9, starts today. This class of 20 will
be the first group from the selected 80 candidates who successfully
completed the November 2004 pre-entrance exam. The remaining three
classes will be held at intervals during the year. This SOPP and following
programs have been extended to nine weeks to cater for the new Fire
Safety 118L (1) (b) course which means that, when the course has been
successfully completed, the new SOs will be able to carry out fire
safety inspections and reports on buildings under the Environmental
Planning and Assessment Act.
Handover ceremony at Batemans Bay
On Wednesday Minister Kelly officially handed over the keys of a hazmat
van and boat to 217 Batemans Bay Captain Eddie Maeseele. Deputy Regional
Commander South Chief Superintendent Paul Rugg, Zone Commander South
5 Superintendent Wayne Roberts and Inspector Chris Cruden joined firefighters
from Batemans Bay at the ceremony. Minister Kelly was particularly
interested in the boat and the new gas detection equipment on the
hazmat van.
Tsunami Donation
The Relief and Welfare Fund’s tsunami appeal closed on Monday
31 January and raised an amazing $66,500. Thank you to everyone who
gave so generously to this appeal. Arrangements are being made for
the Commissioner and the President of the Relief and Welfare, Doug
Messenger, to present a cheque to World Vision soon.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Kurri Kurri Centenary Celebrations
My congratulations go to the Kurri Kurri Fire Brigade who will celebrate
their centenary tomorrow. A remarkable effort has gone into the day’s
celebrations, which will include an official ceremony with Commissioner
Mullins and local dignitaries. This will be followed by a street parade
to the local football ground where a full program of festivities will
take place throughout the afternoon.
The entire community has shown support for the station’s centenary,
a reminder of just how well each Fire Brigade is regarded in their
community. Well done Kurri Kurri!
Clean up Australia Day Media Launch
Following the success of NSWFB assistance in previous years, Clean
up Australia (CUA) has again asked for our participation in Clean
up Australia Day on Sunday 6 March 2005.
Accordingly, representatives from Pyrmont’s C Platoon attended
the official media launch of CUA at Circular Quay this morning. The
launch aims to encourage the public to register and become involved
in this year’s CUA.
I have authorised NSWFB participation, on a voluntary basis, in community
clean up activities on CUA Day. All NSWFB staff are encouraged to
participate in this worthwhile community initiative. It contributes
to a safer, cleaner environment, and demonstrates the NSWFB’s
commitment to community and environmental protection.
More information on NSWFB’s involvement in CUA and procedures
will be available soon.
World Cancer Day
Today is World Cancer Day - acknowledging the increasing impact of
cancer on people around the world and efforts to improve cancer prevention,
treatment and care.
While more than half of all cancers diagnosed in Australia can be
successfully treated, cancer is still the number one killer of Australian
men and women. One in three men and one in four women will be directly
affected by cancer before the age of 75. This year, more than 80,000
new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Australia. Other than prevention,
early detection and treatment is the ultimate goal.
For more information, contact your General Practitioner. Alternatively,
you can visit the Cancer Council website at www.cancercouncil.com.au
, call them on 9334 1900 or contact NSWFB Health Services on 9265
2800 or 1800 425 282.
Cole Classic Swim
The NSWFB is entering a team in the Cole Classic Swim for the first
time this year. Currently there are three firefighters representing
the NSWFB and more are invited to join them. The race commences at
10.30am this Sunday 6 February at the southern end of Manly and is
over two kilometres.
Anyone interested in joining our team should contact Inspector Kenneth
Murphy on 0418 162 815.