Primo Smallgoods factory fire
More than 130 firefighters from 46 stations made a great
?save? of about 30 per cent of the building at a 12th alarm fire at
the Primo Smallgoods factory in Greenacre last Monday. Firefighters
had to deal with a number of challenges at the incident including
insulated sandwich paneling, a collapsed wall and ceiling and hazardous
materials. During the fire our Greenacre Logistics Support Centre
had to be evacuated. This was the NSWFB?s biggest resource commitment
since a 13th alarm fire at Lidcombe in 2006. A great team effort by
everyone involved. See the intranet story.
NSWFB war memorials
I am proud to report that our two principal war memorials,
the Honour Rolls at 1 City of Sydney and 260 Newcastle fire stations,
have now been included in the Australian War Memorials? Register and
are listed in the NSW register section. Thanks go to SO Ian Grimwood,
supported by Assistant Commissioner Bob Dobson, who researched the
names and employment details of the NSWFB personnel mentioned on the
Rolls and photographed and recorded them. To see the listing for Newcastle
click on http://www.warmemorialsnsw.asn.au/Details.cfm?MemNo=880 and
to see City of Sydney click on http://www.warmemorialsnsw.asn.au/Details.cfm?MemNo=889
Retired Chief Officer visit
On Wednesday, together with Deputy Commissioners Benson and
Thompson, I had lunch with retired Chief Officer Stan Hearn who was
visiting from Queensland. Stan retired in 1994, and is fit, healthy
and active. He asked that I pass on his best regards to everybody
in the NSWFB family.
Retirements: Capt Keith Willis AFSM and Doug Hall
After more than 51 years of service, Condobolin?s energetic
and highly respected Captain, Keith Willis AFSM, has decided to hang
up his helmet for the last time. Keith has had a long and distinguished
career and I wish him all the best for a long and happy retirement.
On Thursday I attended a function to mark the retirement of Engineering
Special Projects Officer Doug Hall, who has decided to pursue other
interests at the age of 80. Doug has been a driving force behind the
modernisation of the aerial fleet, our pumper programs, our fire boat
and many other critical projects, and his expertise will be greatly
missed.
Better Leadership through mentoring
As some of you will know, we started a mentoring program
for senior officers and managers three years ago. All the then CEG
members, the Chief Superintendents and some Superintendents, non-uniformed
Assistant Directors and managers were trained as mentors and allocated
less senior officers/managers as mentees. I have been very impressed
with the results and I know that many people have benefited from having
a formal mentor. I am also pleased that the program has begun to improve
the flow of information and, most importantly, knowledge around the
Brigade.
But this is just the beginning. It is now time to extend the program
more widely throughout the Brigade and we plan to do this by training
more mentors, initially at the Superintendent/Manager level. I?d like
to emphasise that this program is not about getting promoted. It?s
about a new and better way of leading our people. Based on an adaptive
style to leadership, it encourages leaders to use the appropriate
style of leadership in each different situation. Learning and practicing
these skills is an important part of preparing ourselves for our future
as one of the world?s best fire and rescue services.
I will be writing to Superintendents, Managers, and Inspectors soon
asking whether they want to participate in the program, which is entirely
voluntary.
AFAC Committee of Management
At the Australasian Fire Authorities Council (AFAC) Annual
General Meeting on 19 September, I was elected as one of four directors
on AFAC's national Committee of Management. The NSWFB has been an
active member of AFAC over the years and we now have an even greater
opportunity to help set the strategic direction of Australian fire
and rescue services.
More rain water tanks for NSWFB fire stations
Seven more fire stations are to be fitted with rain water
tanks as part of the NSWFB?s ongoing commitment to tackle the issue
of climate change and water scarcity. The proposed additional stations
are 305 Goulburn, 508 West Tamworth, 468 Tweed Heads, 422 Warrawong,
11 Woollahra, 27 Parramatta and 340 Umina. These stations may change
if the site is determined unsuitable by Properties. In August it was
decided to install rain water tanks at 428 Queanbeyan, 452 Tamworth,
244 Brewarrina, 35 Botany, 304 Gosford, 228 Berkley Vale and 434 Hamlyn
Terrace.
National Firefighter Championships ? Lakes Entrance
Starting today, the 2007 National Firefighter Championship
is being held in Lakes Entrance, Victoria with firefighters from Casino,
Glen Innes, Kelso, Nowra and South Grafton competing against teams
from across Australia and New Zealand. The team from Kelso will be
aiming to defend its title as National Champion. The competing teams
were selected based on their performance during the 2005/06 NSWFB
Firefighter Championship series, which included the 2006 State Championship.
I wish all the teams the best of luck, and will be there to support
our teams.
New retained recruitment toolkit
The new retained recruitment toolkit is up and running, and
can be accessed via the Station Portal. This is a fantastic resource
for retained firefighters, captains and zone offices across NSW and
I encourage you to use the many resources available to you in the
toolkit. For further information about the toolkit see the intranet
story.
SAP goes live for Inventory
I am pleased to report that after five months hard work by
the IT and Logistics Support departments SAP, our new electronic finance
and accounting system, went live for Inventory on Wednesday 17 October.
The new system enables us to track the 3,200 or so stock lines at
Greenacre, ensuring there are adequate spare parts on hand to service
our appliance fleet. SAP was introduced last year in Finance and will
be introduced into Human Resources/Payroll next year.
Executive development courses
Congratulations to CSupt Rob Lindsay (Area Commander RN),
Supt Gary McKinnon (Zone Commander RN2), Karen Bode (Human Resources
Manager) and Sonya Sandham (Manager Media and Community Relations)
who have been successful in securing places in NSW Government executive
development programs in 2008. Rob and Gary will undertake the Australian
and New Zealand School of Government Executive Master of Public Administration,
while Karen will study a Graduate Diploma in Public Administration
at the University of Sydney. Sonya will undertake the NSW Public Sector
Executive Development Program. I wish them all the best in their studies
which will benefit each of them individually, and ultimately the entire
Brigade.
NSWFB donates $65,000 to the Burns Unit
Last week Supt Ian Krimmer represented me at the annual NSWFB
cheque presentation to the Burn?s Unit at Westmead Children?s Hospital.
Supt Krimmer presented Dr John Harvey, Head of the Burns Unit, with
a cheque for $65,000 on behalf of the NSWFB to assist with the care
and support of patients at the hospital. Since 1996 we have donated
over $1.6 million to the Burns Unit. Dr Harvey thanked the NSWFB for
its tremendous support over the years and presented Supt Krimmer with
a framed drawing of a fire truck. See the intranet story.
Appliance Training launches two training DVDs
On Wednesday 17 October Appliance Training launched two training
DVDs on 4WD and heavy vehicle competencies. The aim of both DVDs is
to supplement the face to face training supplied by Appliance Training.
Off Road Driving covers the full range of techniques needed for 4WD
driving on different terrain and Heavy Vehicle Competencies gives
drivers an insight into some of the core competencies required to
obtain a Heavy Vehicle licence.
Voluntary health and fitness assessments
The NSWFB is committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of all
employees and is continuing to offer Health and Fitness Assessments
to all staff on a voluntary basis. Regular health and fitness reviews
can help firefighters and non-uniformed staff understand how they
can improve their physical health and fitness levels and how the Health
and Safety Branch can assist them to do this. There have been important
changes to the program and reviews can now be performed by your GP
with the results, if you choose, being forwarded to Health and Safety.
The fitness part of the assessment can be undertaken at head office
or the Health and Safety team can visit the station. For more information
call 9265 2800 or 1800 425 282.
RUMOUR MILL
Rumour: Is it true that the
department has abandoned plans to build and staff a fire station at
Vincentia on the South Coast?
Response: No. This is a significant growth centre
and there will be a need in the future to supplement existing RFS
resources. Submissions will be made via the normal budgetary processes
to assist future planning in this regard, and significant consultation
will continue with the RFS.
INCIDENTS
12th alarm fire
Never assume anything
This is a true story
NSWFB respond to Lismore hail storm
Bradbury house fire
B-Double truck lands in the Richmond River
EVENTS
NSWFB donates $65,000 to The Burns Unit
New Retained Firefighter Recruitment Toolkit goes live
ComSafe training put to the test
NSWFB launches bushfire CSA campaign
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