ICAC
Public Inquiry
As you are aware, the
ICAC Public Inquiry has commenced. It is expected to continue for at
least a further week. During
this time NSWFB evidence will be presented. In the interests of due
process, the NSWFB is restricted from providing comment outside the
Inquiry until the matter is finalised. I regret any distress this
Inquiry might be causing. If you have concerns that you would like to
talk through, please contact the Employee Assistance Program on 1300
361 008. The service is confidential, available 24 hours a day, seven
days a week and is free of charge.
Award
negotiation
The
NSWFB and the Fire Brigades Employees’ Union (FBEU) have been in
wage negotiations since September 2007 both directly and with
assistance from the NSW Industrial Relations Commission in
conciliation proceedings. As agreement has not yet been reached, the
matter is scheduled for Special Case arbitration before a Full Bench
of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission commencing on
Monday
25 August
2008
.
Building
collapse in Bundeena
On behalf of the
NSWFB I’d like to express our sincere condolences to the family and
friends of Dimitri Da Silva who tragically
died in a building collapse at his home in Bundeena on Tuesday 12
August. The NSWFB has offered its support to Mr Da
Silva’s family and to his fellow CFU members through the NSWFB’s
Chaplain and other support services. Mr Da
Silva joined the CFU program in October 2005 and was a very proactive
member. He was one of 57
CFU members in the Bundeena area.
Dimitri and the CFU team worked actively in their street
all-year-round reducing fire fuel and landscaping their street to help
minimise the risk of ember attack. Zone Commander MS2, Supt Chris Shapter,
80 Bundeena, SF Mark Wilson from Recruit Training, the Rescue pump
from 33
Engadine
and USAR1 responded to the incident along with other emergency service
crews. All emergency
services worked extremely well together in what was a very stressful
and complex incident.
New
tanker contract
I am pleased to
announce that we recently secured a new contract for the supply of the
Class 1 tankers. The specialised appliances can be driven on sealed
and unsealed roads and are designed to provide fire fighting support
at structure fires, hazmat and rescue incidents, bush
and grass fires. Around 30 vehicles, valued at more than $300 000
each will be ordered over the next three years. The first of the new
vehicles is expected to be delivered in early 2009, with the majority
to be installed in regional areas.
Australian
and New Zealand firefighters return from the US
On Wednesday,
Assistant Commissioner Jim Hamilton welcomed home and
congratulated the efforts of Insp Mark Reilly and Insp Bob McGowan
during their six week deployment in
Northern California
in the
United States
. Insp Reilly and Insp McGowan were attached to an Incident
Management Team as Task Force Leaders dealing with the many risks
associated with the urban/bushland interface. Insp Reilly and
Insp McGowan were two of 44 firefighters from
Australia
and
New Zealand
who travelled to
Northern California
to provide critical support to the teams of firefighters from
the
US
fighting the devastating wild fires across the country. Insp Reilly
and Insp McGowan will provide a detailed account of their deployment
on the intranet in the coming weeks.
Community
Safety Plan launched
Last week the
Community Safety Directorate unveiled its road map for the future,
with the launch of the Community Safety Plan 2008 – 2011. In 26
objectives the Community Safety Plan broadly outlines the Community
Safety’s vision: To help
firefighters prevent fire and other emergencies by preparing
communities. The Brigades will also use the plan as a guiding
document to continue its important work in community education and
fire reduction and assist firefighters in communicating important fire
safety messages and reducing fire risks within communities.
Non-operational
staff join Inspectors Promotional Program (IPP)
For the first time
non-operational staff have taken part in
the NSWFB’s IPP, attending the two‑week Applied Management
course, conducted by
Charles
Sturt
University
. Five staff members from Human Resources, Health and Safety, Fleet
Management and the MS2 Zone Office took part in the course which
covers Management Skills and Concepts, Managing People, Managing
Operations and Change, and Managing Financial Information. This
initiative provides non‑operational staff with a unique
development opportunity and enables operational and
non‑operational staff to gain a better understanding of each
others roles. Positions on future IPP courses will be advertised in
NSWFB In Orders and I encourage all
non-operational staff to consider taking up this opportunity.
New
Human Resource and Payroll System Implementation
Recently the NSWFB
contracted SAP to design and implement a new human resource and
payroll system to replace our outdated payroll system, Stargarden.
A project team has been established, including expertise from within
NSWFB teaming up with experts from SAP to ensure the delivery of a
better system for NSWFB requirements. Phase 1 of the SAP system will
be implemented in early 2009. A second phase will be implemented at a
later date. For further information see the intranet
story.
New
series of Metropolitan Crash Unit
The NSW Police Force
has commenced filming a second series of the Metropolitan Crash
Investigation Unit in
Sydney
. Filming is being conducted until the 12 September. All fatal or
serious injury crashes that occur in the area between the
Royal
National Park
and Picton in the South,
Mount
Victoria
in the West and Doyalson on the
Central
Coast
will be attended by the Crash Unit and film crew. The film crew is
escorted at all crime scenes by a Police Filming Supervisor (a
Sergeant) to safeguard the interests of all external agencies. Any
firefighter featured (for example filmed speaking to Crash Unit
officers) will need to provide written consent before being identified
in the series. If any firefighter has any concerns or queries
regarding this filming please contact NSWFB Multimedia Officer Bronwyn
Hilton, PACSU, on 9265 2904 who will liaise with NSW Police during
production.
Randwick
unit fire
I would like to
congratulate FF Jason Vineburg from the
PDU on his courageous efforts at a
Randwick
unit fire on Saturday 9 August. At
approximately 0400hrs off-duty FF Jason Vineburg
was woken up by screams coming from the unit block next door.
He saw flames coming from the second level of the block and
immediately ran next door. FF
Vineburg found a woman standing on the
front lawn and it was reported there was another woman still inside.
Without PPE or BA, FF Vineburg used
a 1kg dry chemical extinguisher from his unit to knock down the fire
and move it away from the front door of the unit so he could rescue
the other woman. FF Vineburg
entered the unit and rescued the woman from the intense fire and
provided first aid until NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived.
Within minutes fire crews from 39
Randwick
and 11 Woollahra responded and quickly contained and extinguished the
fire. The two females and FF Vineburg were
treated for minor smoke inhalation.
Truck
accident on the North
Coast
On Tuesday 12 August
at 0725 hours, 288 Evans Head responded to a road accident on the
Pacific Highway Broadwater, near the
Richmond
River
, involving two B‑Double semi trailers. On arrival firefighters
found that the road accident involved three B‑Double semi
trailers with undetermined loads, with a small diesel spill on the
highway. Tragically two of the drivers were deceased with the third
being treated by NSW Ambulance personnel. The
Pacific Highway
was blocked in both directions with traffic being managed by Police.
The accident occurred outside
Broadwater
Public School
, which was closed for the day due to the accident. Crews from 316
Goonellabah, 211 Ballina, 362 Lismore and 240 Brunswick Heads
also attended. Insp Chris Fabri, Duty
Commander Northern Rivers, attended as Incident Controller, appointing
SO Ian Grimwood from 316 Goonellabah as
Operations Officer, relieving SO Garry Barton from 362 Lismore as
Hazmat Officer, SO Brian Aubusson Senior Instructor and Deputy Captain
David Alexander from 240 Brunswick Heads as Safety Officers. Crews
from the RFS and SES were also on scene. Firefighters donned splash
suits to clean up leaks from four 200 litre drums containing Ferric
Chloride and to assist with the body retrieval. The Stop message was
finally sent at 1646 hours, some nine hours after the initial call.
Some crews remained on scene to render the area safe. Insp Fabri
praised firefighters for their professionalism under arduous
conditions, and all agencies involved in the operation for their
cooperation.
3rd
Alarm factory fire in
Newtown
At 0051 hours on
Monday 18 August 5
Newtown
and 18 Glebe responded to a building fire in
Bucknell Lane
in
Newtown
. Firefighters arrived on scene to find smoke issuing from a factory
complex, and a 2nd Alarm was called in at 0101 hours. The
fire was in the rear of a two level brick and tile building
approximately 50m x 30m. Firefighters mounted an aggressive fire
attack however due to the ferocity of the blaze,
firefighters had difficulty locating the seat of the fire. With the
fire upgraded to a 3rd Alarm, additional crews from 10
Redfern, 13
Alexandria
, 1 COS Rescue, 22 Leichhardt, 28 Marrickville, 21 Kogarah and 12
Balmain attended the fire, which was brought under control around 0312
hours. Insp Glen Moran, Duty Commander Inner West and Insp Craig
Wright,
Duty Commander
City
also attended. The rear of the building sustained severe damage from
the fire with some heat and smoke damage to the upper floor, however
firefighters were able to contain the fire and prevent it spreading to
adjoining premises. The fire was extinguished using two pumps, one
aerial appliance and four 38mm lines of hose.
Two
fatal fires reinforce winter fire dangers
Unfortunately, the
weekend of 15-17 August resulted in two fatal fires – one in Yagoona
and one in Wyong – reminding us all of the increased fire danger
during the winter months. Firefighters from 19 Silverwater, 85 Chester
Hill, 55 Guildford, 30 Lidcombe, 15 Burwood Rescue, 9 Hazmat, 49
Cabramatta were called to a house fire in Yagoona at 2300 hours on
Friday 15 August, and on arrival crews found the rear of the house
well alight. Firefighters quickly mounted an aggressive fire attack
and search and rescue. An elderly woman was rescued from the blaze and
was transported to hospital in a critical condition. Upon further
search and rescue, firefighters discovered a deceased elderly man
inside the house. Then on Sunday 17 August, firefighters from 505
Wyong and 228
Berkley
Vale attended a unit fire in Wyong. Firefighters were able to contain
the blaze quickly and rescue the occupant of the house. Tragically,
the man was unable to be saved despite the efforts of firefighters who
performed CPR on the man for about 15 minutes, until Ambulance
officers arrived on scene. I encourage all firefighters to continue to
promote key fire safety messages around smoke alarms,
escape plans and winter fire safety so that we can avoid any further
tragedies this winter.
RUMOUR
MILL
Rumour:
Is it true that the NSWFB is going to commence the installation of
mobile phones into metropolitan pumpers, or is it going to continue to
run the non-financial expectation that officers will use their mobile
phones when direct verbal communications is required between sections
of the Brigades?
Response:
It is the intention to install mobile phones into metropolitan
pumpers.
INCIDENTS
House
fires in Urunga
NSWFB
join Emergency Services for Newcastle rescue drill
Marine
1 performs medical assistance at Harbour incident - 6/8/08
EVENTS
Smoke
alarm deliveries to all NSW stations
Appointment
of new Zone Commander for RW2
Team
Excalibur sets off on the 2008 Variety Bash
NSWFB
join in the City to Surf
NSWFB
involvement in World Youth Day 2008 (WYD08)
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