COMMISSIONER’S BUSINESS
Restructure update
As advised in the last edition of CC, the two new Deputy Commissioner
positions have now been advertised. It is anticipated that the successful
applicants will be in place by the end of July. The next
stage will see appointment of Assistant Commissioners to the new Metropolitan
and Regional Operations Divisions, and re-naming of State Operations
(to Specialised Operations). Issues such as facilities and office
accommodation are still being worked through, as well as the "shape"
of administrative support functions within the new structure. There
will be no major changes in this regard until staff and the Public
Service Association have been consulted.
State Emergency Management Committee - new Chair announced
I am very pleased to advise that the Minister for Emergency
Services has announced that Deputy Commissioner John Anderson will
be appointed as Chair of the State Emergency Management Committee
upon his retirement. The appointment, from 1 August, recognises John's
high standing in the Australian emergency management community, his
40 years of experience, and also the high regard in which the NSWFB
is held. I have enjoyed the challenge of acting in the role since
2005 when Major General Horrie Howard retired, but will be pleased
to "hand over the reins". I congratulate John and wish him
all the best in the new role he will take up upon his "retirement".
Staff changes in Public Affairs
Regrettably, we have lost two key staff from the Public Affairs
and Communications Strategy Unit (PACSU) in recent weeks, and I wish
them well in their new positions. Meredith Jones, formerly Manager
Community and Media Relations, after a period of secondment to our
Minister's office, has accepted the position of Manager of the Department
of Education's Media Unit. Julie Delvecchio, Assistant Director in
charge of PACSU, has left the NSWFB to take up a position as head
of Public Affairs with Sydney City Council. Both Meredith and Julie
were instrumental in building PACSU into the high performing unit
that it is today, and I wish to thank them publicly for their excellent
work.
Earthquake relief - the NSWFB assists in Java
As advised by e-mail to all staff, the NSWFB is part of the
Australian Government's response to Indonesia's urgent request for
medical assistance following the Java earthquake. Senior Firefighters
Andy Haag and Glenn (Hank) Henry from the Rescue Section have been
dispatched to provide logistics support to a 22-strong team of surgeons,
anaethetists, nurses and paramedics. They left on a charter flight
to Jakarta on Tuesday night and arrived safely, and have since been
deployed to
Yogyakarta.
Sophie Delezio
On Thursday last week, Senior Firefighters Wade Laverack and
Tony Farrell, who rescued Sophie from the Roundhouse Childcare Centre
fire, dropped into the Sydney Children's Hospital to give her a NSWFB
trauma teddy. Many would be aware that Wade, Tony and other firefighters
from
Region North have provided ongoing support to the Delezio family since
Sophie's first terrible accident, and I'm sure that everyone will
join me in wishing this brave little girl a speedy recovery from her
injuries.
Winter fire safety push
A year ago, NSW was reeling from a spate of home fire deaths,
with 13 people perishing in a period of just over two weeks during
May and June. Tragically, only days before the commencement of winter
this year, a 48-year-old woman died in a residential fire last Sunday
morning. A smoke alarm 10 metres from where the fire started failed
to work as it had no battery. Through our concerted fire safety education
efforts, we hope to avert further tragedies during the coming colder
months and beyond.
In this respect, on Tuesday I joined the Minister for Emergency Services,
Tony Kelly, and representatives of the insurance company AAMI to present
the AAMI Firescreen Index and remind the community of the particular
fire hazards during winter. Other associated media initiatives have
seen the NSWFB's involvement in the production of a segment on home
fire safety on Channel 7's Better Homes and Gardens program (to air
in the next few weeks) and a fire simulation and interview on the
Channel 9 Mornings with Kerrie-Anne program that aired on Tuesday.
I encourage stations to work with their community and the media to
bring winter fire safety precautions to the attention of their local
communities. Look out for the template media release on winter fire
safety which will be posted to the intranet shortly.
National Escape Day
Tomorrow is National Escape Day. I encourage all stations to
take part and attend local McDonald's restaurants between 11 am and
2 pm to help families devise their escape plans on tray mats specially
designed by McDonald's, the National Escape Day sponsor. For information
on the event, read the intranet story.
Women in Firefighting Forum
The second Australasian Women in Fire Fighting Conference will
be held next week from Wednesday 7 to Friday 9 June 2006 at the Sydney
Convention Centre, Darling Harbour. The NSWFB is a sponsor of this
conference and has also supported a number of NSWFB people participating
in the steering committee and in organising conference activities.
The conference will be relevant to issues faced by all women participating
in fire fighting organisations - whether permanent, retained, CFU
member, administrative, trades, support or any other role. The conference
is open to men and women.
I am looking forward to attending part of the conference and meeting
up with 30 or so NSWFB staff who will be attending. I know there are
a number of other people who expressed interest in attending but who
unfortunately missed out in the ballot. I understand the participants
will play a role in spreading information from the conference throughout
our organisation - particularly to those who missed out this time.
More information on the WIFF2006 conference is available at: www.ozfirewomen.info
Reforming young fire setters
Last Wednesday I had the pleasure of signing a Memorandum of
Understanding with the Director-General of the NSW Department of Juvenile
Justice, Jennifer Mason, which formalises the participation of firefighters
in youth justice conferences with young offenders who have committed
fire-related offences. Where possible, the firefighter at the conference
will have attended the fire lit by the young person and will be in
a unique position to explain the serious consequences of their actions.
I commend Station Officer Russell Airey of Community Risk Management
for his work in developing the MOU.
Electrical Hazards Working Group
A team of staff has been tasked to review all NSWFB policies
and procedures related to managing electricity at incidents following
the receipt of a WorkCover Improvement Notice. The object of the risk
assessment is to identify potential hazards associated with exposure
to electricity at incidents, analyse and assess the risks and develop
processes to eliminate or control them. The team would appreciate
any relevant information related to exposure to electricity to be
emailed to the Operational Safety Coordinator, Station Officer Janine
Bailey at osc@fire.nsw.gov.au by 0800 on 5 June 2006.
RUMOUR MILL
Rumour: Is it true that Coffs Harbour
Fire Station is going 10/14 this year?
Response: No. If funding is received in the
future to enable permanent staff increases at 257 stn, it is likely
that it will firstly go from day work to the back to back roster,
not straight to 10/14. The
permanent and retained staff at 257 work well together, and even if
the station were to go to10/14 at some time in the future, the retained
would be needed to staff other appliances at the station.
Rumour: Is it true that the next batch of pumpers
will be on a Scania chassis?
Response: Yes. Following the prescribed tendering
and evaluation process, a contract is being prepared for the fabrication
and supply of the next generation of the heavy Class 3 Urban Pumper.
The vehicles will be based on the Scania 4x2 dual cab chassis which
has proven to be very popular with firefighters
INCIDENTS
Tanker fire in fuel depot threatens village
Shopping Centre Fire, Fairfield
EVENTS
Recruit Graduation Class 2/2006
City to Surf - NSWFB team needs you
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 to the intranet, please contact Public
Affairs Officers: (West) 9265 2613, (South) 9265 2802 or
(North) 9265 2631