New Minister for Emergency Services
Welcome to the new Minister for Emergency Services, Tony Kelly. Mr Kelly is very familiar with the NSWFB as he was the Minister for Emergency Services from April 2003 to April 2007. Mr Kelly also has Police, Industrial Relations and Lands under his portfolio. Congratulations to our former Minister, Nathan Rees, who is now NSW Premier.
Australian Fire Service Medals and Public Service Medals to be presented
Today Chief Superintendent Mark Whybro, Captain Gerard Cannon from Tamworth, Chief Superintendent Jim Smith, Captain Roy Harvey from Wentworth and Station Officer Bill Ewing were presented with the prestigious Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) at Government House in Sydney. The AFSM is the highest award that an Australian firefighter can receive for outstanding public service. Bev Creagh received a Public Service Medal for her work as Zone Administration Officer, Area Command Office Metropolitan North Newcastle. The medals were presented by the Governor of New South Wales, Professor Marie Bashir AC, CVO and are a fitting tribute to the hard work and commitment of these people and their lasting contributions to the community.
Annual Operating Plan
The NSWFB’s 2008-09 Annual Operating Plan is now on the intranet, and sets out our objectives and priorities for action in this first year of implementing our 2008-11 Corporate Plan. These objectives and priorities in turn should be reflected in the business plans for each of the NSWFB Divisions and Directorates. The NSWFB’s Executive will monitor progress and achievements in the implementation of these plans, and they will also be reported in our 2008-09 Annual Report.
428 Queanbeyan and 257 Coffs Harbour go 10/14
I am pleased to announce that 428 Queanbeyan is now operating as a 10/14 station, with three additional Station Officers and nine additional firefighters commencing work on Friday 12 September. 257 Coffs Harbour will follow suit on Monday 22 September, with four additional Station Officers and 12 additional firefighters ready joining the station. The permanent and retained firefighters will work together in partnership to provide rapid, professional response and prevention services to their communities.
NSWFB Band place first in 2008 ANZAC Day march
Congratulations to Drum Major Peter Ryan and the NSWFB Band who were awarded first place in the Services Band section of the 2008 ANZAC Day March. It is the third year in a row that the band has won this award. This year, an impressive contingent of more than 160 firefighters marched in the parade, proudly led by our band.
Opening of North Albury Fire Station
Tomorrow I will officially open the new North Albury Fire Station. The new fire station, which has been operational since July this year, is four times the size of the old station and is a major boost for the NSWFB in the Murray/Riverina area. I look forward to meeting with all of the firefighters in Albury and touring the new station.
Position descriptions - new intranet site
Position descriptions for Support Staff (administrative, trades and technical positions) are now available on an updated NSWFB Intranet site under Position Descriptions on the Human Resources home page. A program has been developed to display the latest approved version of position descriptions in PDF format. A search function enables searching by title, grade, position number or section. The front page of the position descriptions have been updated where necessary to ensure that the correct position title, position number and unit/section/branch are recorded. The content of the position descriptions have not been changed in any way. If you have any queries regarding the program, please contact Louise Perrottet via email on louise.perrottet@fire.nsw.gov.au or phone 9265 2669.
4th Alarm unit fire at Homebush Bay
At 2259 hours on Wednesday 17 September, firefighters from 19 Silverwater, 16 Concord, 30 Lidcombe, 15 Burwood, 27 Parramatta, 66 Rhodes, 65 Rydalmere, 13 Alexandria, 42 Ryde, 23 Gladesville, 31 Busby, 57 Wentworthville, 9 BA/Hazmat and the ICV responded to a 4th Alarm fire in a unit block in Benelong Road. En route to the scene 19 Silverwater saw flames issuing from the unit block and immediately called a 2nd Alarm, increasing this to a 3rd Alarm on arrival, and then to a 4th Alarm. Firefighters from 19 Silverwater and 30 Lidcombe got the Brigade Booster to work and proceeded to the top floor of the apartment block, hooking into a hydrant located on the floor below. Upon reaching the eighth floor, firefighters came across a man who had suffered severe burns to his face and upper body, who indicated that another person had been injured in the fire. Firefighters searched the unit but did not find anyone else inside. It was later discovered that a second man had self-evacuated from the apartment and taken a taxi to a nearby hospital. Around 160 people were evacuated from the building while firefighters worked to extinguish the fire. The quick work of firefighters and use of the hydrant booster system prevented the fire from spreading to adjacent apartments.
Hazmat incident at Broken Hill
On Tuesday 16 September, firefighters from 238 Broken Hill and 239 Broken Hill South were called to a chemical spill in a public school at Broken Hill. Crews arrived to discover the teacher and students had evacuated from one classroom and a strong smell emanating from the classroom. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used detectors to try to determine the source and nature of the smell. After checking under the classroom and the roof space the source was narrowed down to one area of the room. Firefighters systematically removed items from that area to investigate. One hundred and eighty students were relocated to another area of the school as a safety precaution while investigations continued. Firefighters eventually determined that a discarded school lunch was the source of the odour. After the room was ventilated, students were able to return to class.
4th Alarm factory fire at Tempe
In the early hours of Sunday 14 September, numerous Triple Zero (000) calls were received to a fire in a factory in Wood Street, Tempe. Firefighters arrived within six minutes to find the factory, which was occupied by a printing business, engulfed in flames with adjoining factories in danger. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the printing factory, saving the adjacent factories. Firefighters from 28 Marrickville, 26 Mascot, 21 Kogarah, 5 Newtown, 29 Arncliffe, 22 Leichhardt, 52 Campsie, 18 Glebe, 14 Ashfield, 1 City of Sydney and Hazmat from Alexandria battled for two hours to extinguish the blaze. Crews remained on scene until the afternoon ensuring the fire was completely out. The printing factory was severely damaged and investigations are ongoing into the cause of the fire.
3rd Alarm hotel fire at White Bay
At midnight on Saturday 6 September numerous Triple Zero calls were received to a fire in the White Bay Hotel on Victoria Road at Rozelle. Firefighters from 12 Balmain, 22 Leichhardt, 17 Drummoyne, 18 Glebe, 38 Pyrmont, 3 The Rocks, 1 City of Sydney, and Hazmat from Alexandria and Greenacre responded and on arrival found the two storey hotel well alight. Soon after, firefighters identified that the walls had become unstable and a safety zone was established around the building, with crews were prevented from entering the building due to structural instability. Two aerial appliances and numerous hand lines were used to extinguish the deep‑seated fire. Part of the structure subsequently collapsed, bringing down an awning. The fire was extinguished in two and half hours and Victoria Road was closed as a safety precaution.
RUMOUR MILL
Rumour: We at 75 station are doing out-duties to 37 station to cover the Ambulance rescue situation. Why is it that the rescue-trained Station Officers aren't doing it? Also the Rescue Section, when they decide to run another course to train up staff from 37 and other Ambulance rescue stations, are not going to be training up SOs. How can SOs give a duty of care if they have no idea how the pieces of rescue equipment which firefighters under them are using, work?
Response: The Rescue Section has scheduled three rescue courses to be conducted back-to-back till the end of 2008, with a proposal for additional courses to be held early in 2009. In order to cover the required number of staff in the field to operate rescue equipment, firefighters have been targeted in the first instance with station officers to follow.
Rumour: Is it true that the NSWFB is holding back retained firefighters who apply to become permanent firefighters because there is a shortage of permanents in local communities?
Response: No. Since July 2008 (three months), the Recruitment Section has had 47 retained firefighters involved in various stages of the recruitment process. Forty-seven have been invited to attend Physical Aptitude Test Familiarisation sessions, eight have participated in the Physical Aptitude Test and Supervised Online Assessment, one has progressed to entering the August 2008 class, one has progressed to entering the October class, and two have places in the November class.
INCIDENTS
Toppled Tipper attended by the Appliance Training Unit and Recruit Firefighters
White Bay Hotel Fire
Exercise ‘Nosedive’
Surfboard factory destroyed by fire
EVENTS
Working with the FLU (Influenza)
Final round of the 2008 NSWFB Firefighter Championships
Westside story
Kindergarten student helps to spread fire safety message
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