Penrith
Rescue
As
of yesterday, the NSWFB assumed Primary Rescue responsibility on a
provisional basis at Penrith in
Sydney
's
west. The Penrith volunteer rescue squad, which has served the
community diligently for 32 years, decided that it could no longer
sustain operations due to a lack of volunteers. 86 Penrith is
already registered as a Secondary rescue unit and at the request of
the NSW Police, there was a seamless
transfer of responsibilities. 63
Blacktown
's heavy
rescue will temporarily relocate to 86 station to supplement the
aerial pumper. The Western Sydney District Rescue Sub-Committee will
shortly consider my recommendation that the NSWFB should formally
assume Primary Rescue accreditation for Penrith, and the committee
will then report to the State Rescue Board. On behalf of the NSWFB I
wish to congratulate the Penrith VRA for more than three decades of
dedicated service.
Longest-serving
Captain retires
Last
Sunday I attended the retirement function for Capt Col Maslin
AFSM from 376 Merewether in
Newcastle
.
Col
is a 'legend' in
Newcastle
,
having served with the NSWFB for more than 54 years. I recall when I
was a relieving District Officer in
Newcastle
in 1993 that
Col
would always be at the station, the station and the appliance were
always immaculate and his crew well trained and efficient. He
maintained this level of commitment right up to the day of his
retirement. Thanks from all of us
Col.
Exchanges
to
Canada
On
Tuesday, I met with SF Shane Austin from 24 Manly, who is about to
commence a 12-month exchange program with Firefighter Ray Ballard from
the District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services in
Canada
.
Whilst in
Canada
,
Shane will be conducting research into the marine capabilities of
his host brigade which will enable the NSWFB to compare and refine our
own procedures. Shane will also present a plaque of appreciation to
Fire Chief D. K. Trussler in recognition
of the exchange. Firefighter Ballard will initially be stationed at 24
Manly. I trust that everyone will welcome him to the NSWFB ranks.
I
recently also met with LF Kevin Smith who recently returned from 12
months in
Canada
.
Kevin researched a number of firefighter safety issues and as a result
I invited him to participate in our recent safety strategic planning
workshop.
NSWFB
stand at the 2008 Royal Easter Show
The
2008 Royal Easter Show opened today and with more than 900 000
visitors expected to attend the iconic event, this year's NSW Fire
Brigades stand promises to be bigger and better than ever.
Firefighters will be there to answer any questions people have on fire
safety and fire prevention in the home. Show visitors will also have
the opportunity to have a professional photograph taken with a
firefighter. If you're planning to go to the show make sure you visit
our stand, which is located in the Home Garden & Lifestyle
Pavilion and runs from
11am - 5pm
from 20 March to
2 April 2008
.
World
Youth Day 2008
More
than 280 NSWFB employees will protect participants in World Youth Day
from 15-20 July, one of the most important events on the Catholic
calendar. During a week of events, the NSWFB will support police
security operations, provide fire cover and manage hazardous materials
for a number of activities including youth festivals, pilgrimages and
evening vigils. NSWFB employees will also provide assistance with
motorcades to support police security operations as they did during
the APEC summit. The NSWFB World Youth Day planning team continues to
meet with stakeholders and organise rosters for employees that have
been identified for activities. To find out more about World Youth Day
2008 visit www.wyd2008.org.
Reporting
on dishwasher fires
The
NSWFB proactively collects data and monitors trends in determining the
causes of fires and has been working closely with the NSW Office of
Fair Trading (OFT) to examine a recent spate of fires caused by
dishwashers. A joint agency analysis led the OFT to announce another
recall for a number of dishwasher models on Tuesday 18 March. This
latest recall should serve as a timely reminder to all operational
personnel of the value in correctly filling out AIRS and ensuring
details such as appliance brand names and model numbers are always
included.
Home
fire safety warning for dishwashers
Yesterday
I issued a reminder to the public about the importance of fire safety
precautions in the home, after NSWFB data revealed that dishwashers
were responsible for at least 102 fires in the past three years. Ten
of these fires had occurred this year, with a fire involving a
dishwasher as recently as last weekend, where a dishwasher caught
alight in a Naremburn home and caused extensive damage to the kitchen.
I encourage you to raise awareness in your local community about this
issue.
Centenary
of the Mortdale Fire Brigade
On
Saturday I attended the centenary celebration of 48 Mortdale
with the Local Member for Oatley, Kevin
Greene, Mortdale firefighters and members
of the community. The
event was an opportunity
to thank all the firefighters past and present who have served the
Mortdale community since the Brigade was formed in Mortdale in 1908.
NSWFB
family sporting achievements
LF
Andrew Grimwood's daughter Jessica
recently participated in the first round of the World Surfing
Qualifying series on the
Central
Coast
and finished
13th. She is currently ranked No. 21 in the world in
women's surfing.
Supt
Tom Milburn's Joel has been running since he was six years old and
always dreamt of making the Olympics. He competed internationally with
an injury and stil won the event. This
year, he has performed exceptionally well, and was undefeated
throughout the season. Joel recently learnt that he has been selected
to compete in the 400m event as well as being a member of the 4 x 400m
relay team at the Beijing Olympics later this year.
Well
done Jess and Joel!
Sign
fire lights up
Sydney
�s
night sky
On
Wednesday 12 March, the NSWFB received more than 130 Triple Zero (000)
calls to a fire at a high-rise office building in
Sussex Street
,
Sydney
. Firefighters from 1 City
of Sydney, 3 Rocks, 4 Darlinghurst and 38 Pyrmont arrived to discover
a large neon sign alight, approximately 30 storeys above the ground.
Roads around the building were quickly closed by NSW Police due to
flaming debris which was falling from the building. A building
engineer isolated the power, and the fire was extinguished quickly.
Fortunately the fire was contained to the outside of the building and
26 people safely evacuated themselves from the building.
Firefighters
extinguish fire in WW2 bunker in Dubbo
On
Sunday 9 March, firefighters from 280 Dubbo and 284 Delroy
responded to a fire in an underground radio bunker on the grounds of
the former RAAF Barracks in Dubbo. Firefighters entered the bunker
wearing breathing apparatus where they were confronted by extreme
heat, zero visibility and a high fuel load of timber and cabling which
was fully
involved. Firefighters
were concerned that squatters or children may have been in the bunker
and immediately commenced an offensive attack - fortunately
the bunker was unoccupied.
Due to the extreme temperatures, which some of the firefighters
described as the most intense they had ever experienced, firefighters
were assessed by ambulance officers upon exiting the bunker.
High
school fire in Taree
In
the early hours of Sunday 9 March, firefighters from 453 Taree, 502
Wingham and the RFS responded to a fire at
Chatham
High School
in Taree. The
two storey building was one of 11 buildings on the school grounds and
was later identified as the Home Science building. Two large LPG
cylinders located at the front of the school were immediately turned
off and firefighters commenced an offensive attack and worked to
extinguish the fire which had spread to the top floor of the building.
Firefighters were at the scene for more than four hours. A
construction company for the Department of Education identified the
presence of asbestos in the building so all firefighters took
appropriate precautions throughout the operation. 453 Taree
provided decontamination facilities for the NSW Police Force while
officers carried out forensic investigations.
RUMOUR
MILL
Rumour:
Is
it true that firefighters at Nowra Fire Station still have no fire
station?
Response:
As
soon as concern were raised that contamination from an adjoining site
may have also affected 405 Nowra, the crews and appliances were
immediately relocated to the only readily available alternative - the
RFS Centre.
NSWFB
Property Services has conducted an extensive search of Nowra to
identify suitable relocation sites. To ensure the move from the RFS
Centre occurs as soon as possible, it is proposed that two
response points will be established: one in
South
Nowra
and one further north near the Nowra town centre. These
options were formally discussed with firefighters in Nowra on Tuesday
evening and were well received. Plans are underway to try to secure
properties as soon as possible.
INCIDENTS
Blacktown
storms response and recovery operation
World
War 2 bunker alight in Dubbo
EVENTS
2008
Royal Easter Show
Change
Your Clock, Change Your Smoke Alarm Battery campaign
Earth
Hour - 8pm to 9pm, Saturday 29 March 2008
Long
Service and Good Conduct medals presented at 494 Wentworth
Wings
over Illawarra
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