Assistant
Commissioner Murray Kear to head the SES
It is with mixed
feelings that I congratulate my friend and colleague Murray Kear on
the announcement this week that he has been appointed as the new
leader of the State Emergency Service (SES). Whilst those who have
worked with
Murray
will miss his friendly, competent manner, experience and knowledge, I
know that this will be good for both Murray and the SES.
Murray
has been a vital member of the Brigades’ Executive Group since 2003
and has initiated and helped steer changes which have seen us become
recognised as
Australia
’s leading urban fire and rescue service. I wish him every success
in his new role and thank him on everyone’s behalf for his
tremendous efforts and hard work during his 28 years as a member of
the NSWFB.
Continuing
debate on Rescue
I remain greatly
concerned about ongoing public comments regarding rescue services
which have sometimes denigrated the skills and professionalism of
firefighters and the capabilities of the NSWFB. Senior Officers of the
Ambulance Service and members of the State
Rescue Board share my concerns, and I have been assured that the
anonymous comments are not representative of the views of the majority
of Ambulance Officers throughout NSW. Our rescue skills, equipment,
training and operators are world class. Since September I have
spoken in the media on numerous occasions, and I will continue to
defend our reputation and present the real facts wherever possible. We
should not let offensive and misleading public comments by a few
affect the cooperative working relationships we have always sought to
establish and maintain with all emergency service agencies in the
interests of the communities we serve and protect. The changes to
rescue services are working well, and I firmly believe they are in the
best interests of the community. I have sympathy for those who no
longer have a role in rescue, however the
unprofessional and sometimes dishonest manner in which a small number
of people are conducting themselves cannot be justified.
2008
NSWFB
State
Firefighter Championships
Congratulations to
405 Nowra who were victorious at the 2008 NSWFB State Firefighter
Championships in
Tamworth
last week. From 18-24 October more than 250 retained firefighters,
together with firefighters from the RFS, NZ, QLD and
Victoria
took part in the bi-annual competition which tests their skills as
firefighters. I appreciated the chance to talk to
many of the retained firefighters at the opening and from all reports,
it was a great week of competition and camaraderie. I congratulate all
of the teams on their sportsmanship. A complete wrap-up of the State
Championships is available on the intranet.
NSWFB
launches smoke alarm safety initiative
From 3 November AIRS
data will be used even more effectively to support fire safety
awareness and preparedness in the home. The Community Safety Division
will send letters to homes that have recently experienced a fire where
firefighters have noted that no smoke alarms were present or failed to
operate. As the letters will be generated from the data entered into
AIRS, it is important that all officers and firefighters filling out
AIRS reports complete the smoke alarm field in the report as
accurately as possible. For more information contact Chief
Superintendent Steven Pearce at Community Safety Division or read the intranet
story.
Human
Resource and Payroll System Project update
The new SAP Human
Resource Information System (HRIS) Phase 1 is on track to go live in
January 2009 and has now reached the testing stage.
Changes that will be visible from Phase 1 HRIS include a new
and easier to read payslip format which has been designed with input
from people across the Brigade through the ‘SAP Change Network’.
It will be published on the Intranet closer to implementation. All
current employees’ service numbers will remain the same in the new
system. For further information visit HRIS project Intranet Site: http://ois/sapinfo/
November
monthly fire safety topic – BBQ fire safety
With summer just
around the corner we are highlighting the need for barbecue
safety by reminding residents about the potential dangers associated
with lack of maintenance and improper use of barbecues. Firefighters
are encouraged to promote fire safety messages via local media and
distribute the template
media release to help residents ensure their barbeque
doesn’t go up in smoke.
Lessons
Learned Centre progress report
The Lessons
Learned Centre (LLC) has been operating now for eight months and has
processed over 100 observations. Many of the key observations have
come from frontline staff:
n
LPG
Car Fire - BLEVE - 87 Rosemeadow identified a
dangerous situation where a call to a car fire involved an LPG-fuelled
vehicle with no LPG identification diamonds attached. This concern was
communicated to staff via the intranet and the RTA is reviewing its
number plate issuing processes;
n
Airbag
Deployment Canister Explosion - 62
Bankstown
highlighted a new hazard to be aware of at car fires. This resulted in
a Safety Bulletin, case study and video footage as a visual tool to
engage firefighters, demonstrate an incident and help identify methods
to minimise risks to firefighter safety.
n
Solar
Electricity - a firefighter from 63
Blacktown
identified a need to communicate information about solar electricity.
An Operations Bulletin was developed and the Electrical Hazards
Awareness Manual is being updated to include this new information.
n
Recent debrief reports indicated problems with hydrants.
Sydney Water and the NSWFB have met to discuss hydrant inspection and
maintenance processes.
Please continue
sending the LLC your observations
and suggestions. The LLC is building a library
of information to assist you with your learning needs. The library
will provide a number of learning resources such as case studies,
articles and reports including safety and operational bulletins to enhance
learning and development. Be sure to keep an eye out
for the special bushfire edition of Heads
Up which will be emailed to all staff shortly.
8th
Alarm bushfire at Lane Cove
On Monday 27 October
firefighters from the NSWFB, RFS and National Parks and Wildlife
Service (NPWS) responded to a fire in the
Lane
Cove
National Park
only five kilometres from the Sydney CBD. Together with eight RFS
tankers and six National Parks Striker units, 10 NSWFB pumpers
responded to the fire or to surrounding areas to protect property. The
fire started around
midday
with several separate fires burning in the park. While contending with
changing winds, low humidity, high temperatures and spot fires,
firefighters worked to establish a series of containment lines. The
NPWS helicopter was used to water-bomb the area and a number of local
Community Fire Units were activated to protect properties bordering
the National Park if needed. Firefighters worked under difficult
conditions for more than six hours. This was a great example of
multi‑agency cooperation and a timely reminder of the
approaching bushfire season.
Fatal
caravan fire
I would like to take
this opportunity to praise firefighters for their efforts at the fatal
caravan fire at Sadleir on Friday 24 October.
At 0132 hours firefighters from 31 Busby, 101
Bonnyrigg
Heights
and the rescue crew from 9
Liverpool
responded to the fire. The
crew from 31 Busby arrived on scene within seven minutes and found a 3
metre x 6 metre caravan totally engulfed in fire in the backyard of a
home. Neighbours reported
there was a teenage girl still inside the caravan,
however despite the best efforts of firefighters they were unable save
the girl due to the intensity of the fire.
FIRU found the probable cause of the fire to be clothing that
was placed too close to a heater.
This tragic fire highlights the need to remind the community of
the importance of having smoke alarms in any location where people
sleep.
Crane
topples over in Wollongong
On Friday 24
October at 1133 hours firefighters from 503
Wollongong
and 488 Shellharbour Hazmat responded to a crane that had toppled
over at the Port Kembla Grain Terminal. Firefighters arrived on
scene within six minutes and found a 150 tonne crane
standing on its end, with the crane operator still trapped by his legs
inside the cabin 8 metres above the ground and in a very unstable
position. The Ladder Platform from 503
Wollongong
provided an aerial view of the incident and good access to the
crane and the driver. Firefighters and Police worked to
stabilise the crane and paramedics provided patient care.
After three and half hours the crane operator was released safely and
taken to hospital. During the incident, hazmat firefighters dealt with
diesel leaking from the crane. All emergency services worked well
together at this complex and extended incident.
A
personal note of thanks
Thank you to all of
the many people, including the FBEU, who expressed their condolences
on the recent death of my mother. Your kind thoughts and support were
very much appreciated by my family and I
during a very sad and difficult time.
RUMOURS
Rumour:
Is it true that permanent firefighter recruitment has been frozen due
to concerns about the recruitment firm putting people forward based on
when they applied not merit?
Response:
No. Recruitment activities are progressing constantly. An
external company was engaged to develop the online testing system
for the NSWFB - the testing is automated and without risk of human
error. The results are instantly provided to the NSWFB
Recruitment Unit which makes decisions on progression through the
recruitment stages based on merit, not on the time that applications
were submitted.
Rumour:
Is it true that Senior Officers can access their annual leave 1/4 of a
day at a time?
Response:
Executive Officers (Chief Superintendent and Superintendent) can
access annual leave in multiples of at least 1/4 day at a time as
stated in the Crown Employees (NSW Fire Brigades Permanent Firefighting
Staff) Award 2008, Clause 17.13. Senior
Officers (Inspectors) either access the leave roster (groups) or if in
an Operational Support position Level 3 and has elected to participate
in flexible annual leave, the Inspector can access annual leave in
multiples of at least 1 hour and then multiples of 30 minutes at times
as detailed in Standing Orders which references In Order 2006/27.
Rumour:
Is it true that the NSWFB has sold and disbanded the major emergency
fleet that were comprised of the water tankers, composite and pumping
appliances that were based at Greenacre?
Response:
It is normal practice not to dispose of replaced appliances that may
be useful over summer until the end of the fire season. This is
unchanged and there will be a number of appliances, inclusive of
Service Exchange Vehicles (SEV), available for use in Strike Teams if
required this summer. A number of replaced appliances have been
relocated to regional/rural areas and there will also be a number available
at Greenacre.
Rumour:
Is it true that the Firepac is being
withdrawn from service due to OHS concerns regarding the storage of
PPE and the amount of space in the compartment?
Response:
The Firepac is still current and meets the
necessary stowage configuration requirements for a standard pumper.
The ex-Hazmat Firepac is no longer in
service as it was replaced with a new Heavy Hazmat and it has been
relocated to driver training. The Rescue Firepacs
will be replaced shortly when new Heavy Rescue units are commissioned.
It is expected that Firepac appliances
will be in service in some locations and as SEVs
until mid 2011.
Rumour:
Is it true that the FB is taking the Umina bravo pumper offline during
retained staff shortages and that there is only one pumper available
to protect the entire southern end of the central coast?
Response:
Umina Bravo pumper is part of the new staffing arrangements. The
permanently staffed pumper (Umina Alpha) is supported by a second
pumper from either Kariong or Gosford as required. The Umina Bravo
Pumper is only unavailable on those occasions when a full crew of four
cannot be achieved from the retained members. At all other times the
Umina Bravo Pumper is responded.
EVENTS
Granny
smith festival a great success
Firefighters
boost fire safety in Newtown
Firefighters
spread fire safety messages in Henty
284
Delroy Fire Station marks a quarter of a
century
INCIDENTS
Lucky
escape for driver in Albury
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