COMMISSIONER'S BUSINESS
Kitchen Fire Safety
This morning I launched the kitchen fire safety campaign at City of Sydney Fire Station. A brief media conference was held in the kitchen before FF Cath Dorahy gave the media a demonstration of the Kitchen Fat Fire Simulator and highlighted some of the dangers of putting water on burning oil.
The kitchen fire safety campaign is particularly important and relevant to your local community because almost half of all home fires start in the kitchen. This is a good opportunity to highlight the importance of fire safety in the kitchen and show people how to avoid death, injury and damage in their home. Materials to promote the campaign, including template media releases and a fire safety fact sheet, can be downloaded from the Intranet .
A day in the western suburbs
Yesterday I visited firefighters in western Sydney for two events. In the morning I visited 77 St Marys for morning tea with the crews from 77 and 86 Penrith before heading to Windsor in the evening to address a forum of retained stations, and to present Long Service and Good Conduct Medals to officers and firefighters from 81 Windsor, 82 Richmond and 83 Riverstone.
Departure of Human Resources Director
Ms Wendy Barrett, Director of Human Resources, has decided to leave the NSWFB to take up an offer of a senior position in another NSW Government agency. Those who have worked with Wendy know that she was dedicated to the NSWFB, and worked hard to modernise our HR systems and processes over the last 5 years. I wish her every success in her new role.
OPERATIONAL UPDATE
Incident updates
It was a busy day on Wednesday 12 July with major incidents reported around the State. Firefighters from 381 Moree attended a silo fire, firefighters from 43 Seven Hills were first on scene at a 3 rd Alarm fire in a car wrecking yard, and firefighters from 4 Darlinghurst were first on scene at a 2 nd Alarm unit fire in Kings Cross. To read more about these incidents go to the Intranet . There were also two 3 rd Alarm high-rise fires in the CBD yesterday, which were thankfully minor.
Tenambit MVA
Yesterday at around 4pm 382 Morpeth were called to an MVA on Metford Road, Tenambit approximately three kilometres outside Morpeth. The accident involved a van and sedan, with two deceased in the sedan and seven injured passengers in the van.
Under the command of Captain Don Webb, the crew set up fire protection and assisted Ambulance officers treat the injured passengers. The Westpac Rescue Helicopter transported four injured passengers to hospital with the other three injured passengers transported to hospital via Ambulance. The crew also helped Ambulance Rescue remove the deceased passengers from the sedan after Police had concluded their investigations.
Captain Don Webb and his crew are to be commended for their professionalism at a trying incident.
RUMOUR MILL
Rumour: Is it true the NSWFB is considering trialling right angle torches as seen in other world-class fire services?
Response: It is anticipated that they will be trialled as an R&D project during 2005/06.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Tenterfield Captain named Citizen of the Year
Captain Jim Flynn of 457 Tenterfield has been named 2005 Citizen of the Year by Tenterfield Lions Club in recognition of his dedication and involvement in the local community. Captain Flynn joined the NSWFB in 1968 and was appointed Captain in 1992. He enthusiastically promotes fire safety throughout the community and has been instrumental in building strong working relationships with other emergency services.
Captain Flynn was also recognised for his community involvement in sports, including basketball, squash, bowls and golf. He has assisted many local fundraising activities to help local sporting groups. Congratulations, Jim. This is due recognition for your hard work and commitment.
Retirement Survey - have you had your say?
Many thanks to those who have already completed the Retirement Intentions Survey. Your information will assist the Government in planning superannuation liabilities, as well as helping to shape policy on the retention of older employees.
This survey is aimed at employees over 45. Participation is voluntary, and all responses are anonymous. I would encourage those of you wanting to give input, to do so soon and not leave it too late. Your participation will help the Government make better decisions about vital matters that affect you.
The Retirement Intentions Survey can be filled in either online or via a printed paper copy submitted in a reply-paid envelope. Contact the NSWFB Industrial Clerk on 9265 2903 for a copy.
Queensland Firefighters State Championship
257 Coffs Harbour represented NSWFB at the Queensland Fire & Rescue Services' State Championship held on 8 and 9 July at Bundaberg. Queensland championships are very similar to NSW events except all couplings are threaded and the pump configuration is different. There are four competitors in each event with a judge assigned to each competitor.
257 Coffs Harbour was very competitive in all ten events but unfortunately penalties knocked them out of the placings. Eighteen teams competed at the Championship with the team from Coffs Harbour team finishing twelfth overall.
The NSWFB team comprised RFF Mark Ellis (Team Captain), Deputy Captain Denis Bowen, RFF Ian Bamford and RFF Craig Mayled. Assistant Commissioners Benson and Dewsnap, who attended the Championship, tell me the team represented the NSWFB extremely well.
NSWFB Rugby Club
The NSWFB Rugby Club was recently invited to compete in the 29th annual "Rockaway Rugby 7's Tournament" in New York, USA. Each year teams from across America compete in the prestigious event with 25 teams turning out this year.
Inspector Terry Farley, who travelled with the team to the event, tells me they won all their pool games and qualified for the "Cup" section of the tournament. In the first semi-final, the NSWFB were narrowly defeated by Xavier College, Boston 14-12 and unfortunately were eliminated from the tournament. Inspector Farley reports that the team played well throughout with strong performances from FF Brendan Edwards and FF Craig Burchmore.
The organisers were very thankful for the NSWFB's participation and have invited us back next year. Inspector Farley says the tournament was a huge success and a good training run in preparation for the World Police and Fire Games in Quebec City.
UPCOMING EVENTS
NSWFB Women's soccer
The NSWFB Sports Association has started a women's soccer team and hope to compete in some friendly games during August and September. Entry is open to all women employed within NSWFB regardless of fitness level or skills. Contact Steven Walker via GroupWise if you are interested.
Call for more community events for the NSWFB web site
Keep sending in information on local events your station is involved in for the web site. When an event is coming up, email a short description, the date, location and a contact phone number to NSWFB Web Publishing Coordinator Fiona Hardy. To get an idea of format and the amount of detail that should be provided see the Intranet . Please send us the information at least one week before your event, so we can promote it to the community.
COMMISH'S CORNER
Commissioner's e-mail: Commissioner@fire.nsw.gov.au
Cora Sarmiento, Commish's PA: 9265 2930
PACSU: fax 9265 2882
Commish's Corner Rumour Mill: 9265 2627
To contribute a story, please contact Public Affairs Officers: Stephen Norris (West) 9265 2612, Michelle Halloran (South) 9265 2802 or Natalie Laharnar (North) 9265 2631
Cut off for submissions is 10:00am Thursday