COMMISSIONER’S BUSINESS
Easter greetings
This week’s edition of Commissioner’s Corner is early
because of the Easter long weekend. Of course, for many firefighters
it is business as usual over the holiday period. For those taking
time off, please take care on the roads. I wish all NSWFB staff and
their families a happy and safe Easter.
ICS and the Police
Last week, together with Commissioner Lee Johnson of the Queensland
Fire and Rescue Service and Mr Len Foster, CEO of the Australasian
Fire Authorities Council, I delivered a presentation to all Australian
Police Commissioners on ICS. It is hoped that this will result in
a joint Police/Fire project to introduce ICS nationally.
Fire tragedy in Victoria
I was saddened to hear of the tragic death of three children in a
house fire in Victoria last weekend. It serves as a timely reminder
of the importance of our role in fire safety education and information
for our community, especially children.
Open Day is approaching, a time when we can really focus on promoting
fire safety messages to the public. I urge you all to work with your
local communities to reduce the risk of such terrible events. May
is also ‘Preparing for Winter’ month in our community
safety calendar. Keep watching the intranet for news about this event.
Keep watching the intranet for Open Day resources. Open Day is only
six weeks away and now is the time to start preparing. The Open Day
resources will include media materials and guidelines to help station
commanders and their staff make Open Day a great success.
IPP course
There will be 16 positions available on the 2005 IPP course. Applications
are now being called for from qualified station officers, and need
to be submitted by 20 May 2005. The pre entry test will be held over
two days on June 27 and 28. Further details are available in In Orders
2005/6.
OPERATIONAL UPDATE
Pacific Highway road accident
On Monday afternoon firefighters from Woolgoolga and Coffs Harbours
attended a fatal crash between five cars and a semi-trailer. Hazmat
crews were called after it was discovered the semi-trailer was carrying
a load of highly toxic sodium hypochloride. Fortunately the tank did
not rupture. Firefighters released the deceased driver of one car.
The accident caused the Pacific Highway north of Coffs Harbour to
be closed for five hours. NSW Police, Ambulance and State Emergency
Services (SES) were also in attendance.
RUMOUR MILL
Rumour: Firefighters will soon be attending
medical emergencies once trained. Is it true that this is the first
step in combining the ambulance service into the NSWFB, similar to
the system in the USA?
Response: Firstly, it needs to be made abundantly
clear that the issue of automatic external defibrillators is in response
to recent deaths of firefighters at fires from heart attacks, and
is not for the purpose of treating members of the public, which is
the sole province of the Ambulance Service of NSW. From time to time
firefighters may be in a position to assist members of the public
in non-fire situations, however there is no proposal at this time
to adopt a US or Melbourne style system of pre-hospital care in NSW
which would see firefighters in a formalised medical first-responder
role.
Rumour: Is it true that the NSWFB are
going to get a permanent boat in the Harbour? And is it also true
that it will be a 10 metre aluminium runabout, either stationed at
MSB or the Police centre near Balmain and that it will be serviced
by 12 and 17 stations?
Response: Since before the 2000 Olympics the NSWFB
has been researching the need for a dedicated NSWFB vessel on Sydney
Harbour. The Harbour is at present well protected by Ports Authority
Fire Tugs, crewed when necessary by NSWFB firefighters. However the
large firefighting vessels are large and slow. There is a proposal
to introduce a 10m fast-attack vessel, which would complement existing
Ports Authority, Waterways Authority, and Police Maritime Command
resources. There has been no final decision yet on when the vessel
will be acquired, where it will be moored or stored, or how it will
be crewed.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Harmony Day event
Living in Harmony is an Australian Government initiative designed
to promote community harmony and eliminate racism in Australia. To
celebrate Harmony Day the NSWFB, along with the RFS and other emergency
services, attended a special event in Wollongong today. This event
launched translations of seven key safety fact sheets published in
22 languages. A CD of the translated fact sheets was handed to the
Lord Mayor of Wollongong, Councillor Alex Darling. Copies of the CD
will be sent to all councils and shires throughout NSW as a resource
for migrant communities. The safety fact sheet translations are available
on the NSWFB web site.
Media management support
I am aware of several officers and firefighters who proactively engage
their local media to promote fire safety and prevention in their communities
and there may be others whose achievements have been less conspicuous.
Nonetheless you all deserve hearty congratulations for your efforts.
If you do have an ongoing arrangement with your local media, particularly
a regular segment with community FM radio or editorial column in a
newspaper, contact your Region Public Affairs Officer so that you
can be given as much support as possible. Your Public Affairs Officer
can help with topic choice, content, technique, reference material
and sources, and much more.
If you are considering such an arrangement with your local media,
the Public Affairs Officers are only too willing to assist you to
make it a reality. Your Region Public Affairs Officers are Natalie
Laharnar (North) 9265 2631 or mob 0408 977 479, John Suter Linton
(South) 9265 2802 or mob 0408 962 957 and Steve Norris (West) 9265
2613 or mob 0417 671 372.
Accessing passenger trains in emergencies
Operational personnel should look out for a new information CD which
all fire stations should receive in the next few days. The CD has
been specially produced by Railcorp for emergency services workers,
and contains important information to ensure the safety of both passengers
and firefighters at rail incidents. It features demonstrations of
how the emergency door devices on various passenger trains operate.
In the light of rail accidents such as those at Glenbrook and Waterfall,
information like this is vital so that the NSWFB is well-prepared
and fire officers can do their job safely and efficiently.
It would be appreciated if Operational and Station Commanders would
ensure that the CD is viewed by all firefighting personnel. The CD
comes with a laminated A5 table which should be placed on all appliances/vehicles.
The table contains a summary and colour photos of emergency door release
devices (EDRs) for emergency access to CityRail and CountryLink passenger
trains.
Hydrant and watermains maps
In response to numerous requests and with the help of many contributors,
the ORU has developed a Hydrant and Watermains Map Book for NSWFB
Operational and Planning use. The maps show the locations of hydrants
and the sizes of the mains.
The maps are made to be used with the UBD Street directory reference
map number. That is, the PDF image "SYD 168" matches Sydney
UBD Map 168; PDF image "NBM 022" matches Blue Mountains
UBD Map 22 etc. Hydrant maps are only available for the Sydney and
Blue Mountains areas. The maps can be panned and zoomed on-line or
you can download and print the pages that correspond to your station
area in any page size you desire.
The Hydrant Map book can be used to support the following tasks:
· to assist with routine hydrant inspections and tests,
· to locate buried hydrants, and
· to assist relay pumping operations by identifying suitable
sized hydrants/mains for relay pumping and providing guidance for
the placement and spacing of appliances for relay pumping.
The Hydrant Maps are available as printable PDF files on Station
Portal in the A-K Filing Cabinet, or at http://home:81/wwwdev/HydrantMaps/listfiles.php.
To access the maps, double click on the appropriate PDF image as per
UBD map number.
Daylight saving reminder
Don’t forget that daylight saving will end at 0300 hours this
Sunday 27 March. All clocks are to be set back one hour (ie from 0300
to 0200 hours) and an entry made in the Occurrence Book.
UPCOMING EVENTS
ANZAC Day
Fire Brigade Ex Services members will again form a contingent for
the 2005 Anzac Day March through Sydney. The contingent will comprise
uniformed, retired and administration staff. A flag party and banner
party will participate.
Before the march there will be a short commemoration ceremony in
the new City of Sydney Station engine bay at 0800 hours on 25th April
where wreaths will be laid in remembrance of the fallen by myself
and Director of Human Resources, Wendy Barrett.
It is planned that a barbecue and refreshments will be provided for
participants after the march in City of Sydney Station.
All members are encouraged to attend the commemoration ceremony and,
if eligible, march. For further information contact Michelle Hatfield
on 9265 2942 or Assistant Commissioner Bob Dobson on 9901 2403.
Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea
The Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser for the Cancer Council of Australia
is coming up on Thursday 26 May. The Cancer Council raise funds for
research, education and support. Now is the time to organise your
station, platoon or office to participate in the attempt to break
the world record for the World’s Largest Simultaneous Tea Party.
As well as benefiting a worthy cause, the Biggest Morning Tea is also
a chance to catch up with colleagues and foster morale and teamwork.
To register as a host call 1300 656585 or register online at http://www.biggestmorningtea.com.au