US
deployment
On Sunday, a small
contingent of firefighters from NSW will be part of an Australian
contingent of 40 firefighters deploying to the
USA
to help combat bushfires burning in
Alaska
,
Texas
and
California
. The US National Interagency Fire Centre formally requested
assistance with Incident Management Team personnel from
Australia
and
New Zealand
. Inspector Mark Reilly and Inspector Bob McGowan will be joined by
colleagues from the RFS, National Parks and Wildlife Service and
Forests NSW for this month-long assignment, as well as fire officers
from other states and territories. I spoke to a friend today who was
formerly a Battalion Chief in
Oakland
, who told me that it is 112�F and there are 350 active fires
in that state alone.
Ambulance
Service review
A performance review
into the Ambulance Service of NSW by the Department of Premier and
Cabinet was recently released, and has made 27 recommendations.
Twenty-six of these have been adopted while the 27th, that
the service transfer all if its rescue responsibilities to the NSWFB,
will be further considered by the Government after consultation with
stakeholders, including the NSWFB and the Health Services Union.
Corporate
Plan 2008-2011
In
Tamworth
last week I formally introduced the new Corporate Plan which is an important
document that sets out the future direction, strategies and goals of
the Brigade for the next three years. Over the next few months,
Directors, Managers and Commanders will cascade the information
through the NSWFB and discuss how it applies to each area of the
organisation. A set of
material including posters and a DVD will be available for reference
shortly. The Corporate Plan is now available online
and printed copies are available from the Strategy and Planning
Directorate.
Regional
Operations Conference
Last week Zone
Management Teams from across regional NSW gathered in
Tamworth
for the annual Regional Operations Conference. The main objective of
the conference was to identify the operational and community fire
safety priorities in regional NSW for the next 12 months. I
appreciated the chance to talk to commanders and meet with
firefighters from 452
Tamworth
and 314 Gunnedah. I also had the opportunity hear about progress on
the Regional Resources Plan which will provide a consistent approach
to the effective allocation of resources. Well done to everyone who
participated in the conference.
Increased
use of E10 fuel
The use of E10 fuel
has been increasing across government and more recently, within the
NSWFB petrol-fuelled fleet. Government-owned vehicles are required to
use E10 blends (or other alternative fuels) where this is practicable,
available and cost effective. E10 is available at Government Contract
fuel outlets which are Caltex, Mobil and United. Shell and BP service
stations can be used where Government Contract fuel outlets are not
available. At this stage the take up rate of E10 within the NSWFB is
good and will continue to grow as more supply outlets become
available. The NSWFB is committed to reducing the impact it has on the
environment through the use of E10 fuels in the small vehicle fleet
where possible. See the graph
for more detail on the NSWFB�s use
of E10 fuel.
Churchill
Fellowship
Congratulations
to FF Jim Casey of 22 Leichhardt who has received a Churchill
Fellowship to investigate marine firefighting operations in
Europe
and the
United States
to help improve the NSWFB�s
marine firefighting capability. As the seventh NSWFB firefighter to
receive a Fellowship, FF Casey will complete a two-month study tour
and visit fire departments in
New York
,
Sweden
,
Italy
and the
Netherlands
. All
members of the NSW Fire Brigades are eligible to apply for Churchill
Fellowships. Fellowships provide an opportunity, through the provision
of financial support, for Australian citizens from all walks of life
to travel overseas to undertake an analysis, study or investigation of
a project or an issue that cannot be readily undertaken in
Australia
. Applications for 2009 will be accepted
from
1st November 2008
until
28 February 2009
. Further details can be obtained at www.churchilltrust.com.au
or by contacting Superintendent Ian Krimmer on 9265 2811.
New
Station Officers graduate
Last week I
had the pleasure of promoting 22 Leading Firefighters to the rank of
Station Officer, after they successfully completed the SOPP.
Congratulations to all of those promoted � I know that
you will contribute a great deal as you take this next important step
in your careers.
Firefighters
recognised for actions at Redfern fire
Last
Friday I presented the crews from 10 Redfern and 13 Alexandria D
Platoon with Unit Commendations for
Courageous Action for their efforts in rescuing three people trapped
in a residential fire at Redfern in November, last year. The actions
of firefighters undoubtedly saved lives and I was pleased to be able
to recognise their efforts. Read the full intranet story here.
NSWFB wins Silver
and Bronze
The NSWFB has again
won a silver Australasian Reporting Award
for its 2006/07 Annual Report. We also won a bronze award in the
Premier�s latest Annual Report Awards for NSW Government
agencies. Both these Awards benchmark annual reports and are entered
by a large range of agencies and organisations against criteria based
on world�s best practice. These criteria include overall
excellence in reporting, communication of organisational performance,
and meeting of regulatory requirements. The Annual Report is an
important vehicle for communicating our role to the community and our
stakeholders, and it sums up the many successes and achievements of
our workforce during the year. Congratulations to everyone within the
NSWFB involved in contributing to our Annual Report, and in organising
its production.
Visit
to Nowra
On
Wednesday 9 July I had the opportunity, together with external and
internal experts, to talk to current and former firefighters attached
to Nowra Fire Station, along with their family members, about the
health risk assessments conducted at the old Nowra Fire Station site
and to hear firsthand their thoughts and concerns on this important
issue. Final reports have now been received and independently reviewed
by an expert in occupational and environmental medicine, and
all firefighters (past and present) have been offered ongoing
voluntary health monitoring through the Illawarra Health Organisation.
Thankfully the tests revealed that risks are low. Work on the site for
the new Nowra Fire Station is almost complete and we hope to have
firefighters in the new premises by the end of the month. Any
firefighter interested in participating in the health monitoring
program should contact Dr Caron Jander on
9265 2843.
NSWFB
donates old fire hoses to Taronga Zoo
Today Supt Sel
Mathias, Manager ComSafe, SO Peter Schydlo
and the crew from 25 Mosman A Platoon delivered five old 70 mm hoses
to elephant keepers at
Sydney
�s Taronga Zoo. The hoses were gathered from fire stations
across NSW and will be used to make harnesses and toys to keep the
elephants entertained. For
pictures see
the intranet story.
Thanks
to SO Andrew Walker - correction
On Friday 2 May in
Commissioner�s Corner (Number 437) I reported on a 2nd Alarm
fire that occurred on 30 April at the Randwick Shopping Centre.
Unfortunately I incorrectly advised that off-duty SO Sam (Alan)
Walker
was shopping in the centre at the time, requested an immediate 2nd
Alarm, and started evacuating people. It was in fact off duty SO
ANDREW Walker (not Sam) from 39
Randwick
B Platoon who literally saved the day! Not only did Andrew call in the
2nd Alarm, but also searched the aisles to ensure everyone was safe,
then assisted management to co-ordinate the evacuation of several
hundred people to safety. I have received a letter from the manager of
Woolworths who states that, in his opinion, the actions of Andrew were
directly responsible for saving lives and property. Well done SO Andrew
Walker and my apologies to both you and Sam for the error.
2nd
Alarm school fire at Greenacre
At 0632 hours on
Tuesday 8 July, 62
Bankstown
and 64 Lakemba responded to a reported school fire in
Waterloo Road
, Greenacre. Upon arrival at 0640hrs SO Leben
was confronted with heavy smoke issuing from a two-level structure and
immediately requested a 2nd Alarm. Crews commenced an
offensive attack with 38mm hose lines and quickly confined the fire to
the area of origin. They were assisted by crews from 30 Lidcombe, 52
Campsie, 15 Burwood Rescue, 47 Revesby, 34 Riverwood, Hazmat 9 and
Insp Kevin Baxter (Duty Commander ME3). By 0842 hours the fire was
extinguished having been contained to a storeroom, with some adjoining
classrooms sustaining minor heat damage.
Firefighters
aid passengers on the Monorail
At 1635 hours Sunday
6 July 38
Pyrmont, Ladder Platforms from 1 City of
Sydney
, 18 Glebe and Insp Phil Bedford (Duty Commander ME1) responded to the
Monorail which was broken down near the Holiday Inn, Haymarket. When
crews arrived they found approximately 60 people including children
stuck inside the carriages of the Monorail. NSW Police were called to
manage traffic and crowds while NSW Ambulance paramedics stood by to
treat any distressed passengers. LF Corey Wilkinson from 18 Glebe
observed from the ladder platform that the occupants in the carriage
were very pleased to see the firefighters and were very calm. Due to
the number of passengers and the fact that they remained calm it was
decided to place an engineer in the carriage and attempt to restore
power to the Monorail. Power was restored at 1707 hours and the
carriage moved to the next station where all passengers were safely
evacuated (much to the disappointment of the children who were hoping
to be rescued by firefighters.) This reminded me of the first time a Bronto
Skylift was ever used �in
anger�. I was the driver of 155 �Bronto�
in 1998 shortly after it was installed at HQ, and we were called on to
rescue 40 stranded passengers from the Monorail at
Liverpool Street
in the city.
Marine
1 used at Balmain Fire
At 0838 hours on
Wednesday 9 July, 12 Balmain and 38 Pyrmont were called to a fire in
Robert Road
, Balmain. Firefighters arrived at the scene to find four sheds alight
on a 20m x 15m barge in
White
Bay
� SO Dave Scott immediately requested a 2nd Alarm.
A defensive attack was commenced while the crew from 17 Leichhardt
responded on Marine 1 and 3 The Rocks responded on the fire tug Ted
Noffs. Insp Gary Meagher, Duty
Commander ME1, and Supt Norm Buckley, Operational Media Coordinator,
also responded as the fire was generating a lot of media attention. By
0915 hours the fire was under control and was extinguished using three
lines of 38mm hose from the pumper from 12 Balmain and the monitor
from Marine 1.
INCIDENTS
511
Yass frees driver from vehicle crash
ME1
and ME3 the latest to receive updated respiratory protection
Crews
from 405 Nowra and 428 Queanbeyan attend skills maintenance training
at Albion Park
EVENTS
New
Station Officers graduate
July
Fire Safety Campaign - Home Escape Plans
Talkback
king praises NSWFB Work Experience Program
RW3
Captains Conference
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