COMMISH’S CORNER

Friday 24 April 2009 Number 462
The Rumour Mill No (02) 9265 2627

CURRENT NATIONAL SECURITY ALERT LEVEL : MEDIUM

Farewell Dobbo - Assistant Commissioner Bob Dobson AFSM retires

Today, together with senior officers, support staff and firefighters, I participated in a guard of honour to farewell Assistant Commissioner Bob Dobson AFSM as he ceased duty at City of Sydney Fire Station for the last time. Bob was accompanied by his wife Shirley. Bob has been a dedicated firefighter for almost 39 years following service with the Royal Australian Navy. He was promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner in 2003 before taking on the new role of Director Greater Metropolitan Operations in 2006. Bob has been responsible for many improvements in the NSWFB, including the writing of our Protocol Guide (which he has just re-written and updated), taking a leadership role since the late 1970’s in efforts to increase the NSWFB role in rescue, updating and improving our bushfire response, coordination, and hazard reduction procedures, ensuring that the principles of natural justice were enshrined in our disciplinary processes, and taking leadership of our annual Anzac Day contingent and service (which has grown from 10 members in 1986, to more than 160 marchers last year). There were many more improvements that Bob was intimately involved in.  Tomorrow, Bob will lead the NSWFB contingent for the last time – his last official function as an Assistant Commissioner. He will then take some well‑earned leave prior to his formal retirement in early July. On behalf of the NSWFB, I thank Bob for his huge contribution to the welfare of firefighters, to the protection of the people of NSW, and for his personal friendship and support. I wish him and Shirley all the best for the future, and a very happy 60th birthday on Sunday.

 

NSWFB staff give generously to Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal

Earlier today I presented Mr Lewis Kaplan, Executive Director of the Red Cross with a cheque for more than $64 000 which will be used to assist victims of the Victorian bushfires. Thank you to everyone who donated to the appeal – as always, firefighters and support staff “dug deep” when others needed help.

 

2009 International Firefighting Safety Conference

From 29 April to 5 May firefighters from around the world will come together at the 2009 International Firefighting Safety Conference, hosted by the Institution of Fire Engineers Australia. I will open the conference in Sydney on Thursday, with Supt Paul Bailey and Insp John McDonough joining fire safety experts from the London Fire Brigade, Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, US fire services, Ottawa Fire Service, the Spanish El Bombero and other Australian fire services as speakers at the conference. Supt Bailey will present on firefighter safety systems, while Insp McDonough will outline the compartment fire behaviour techniques developed by the NSWFB. It’s an opportunity for firefighters from around the world to come together and learn about the latest developments in the areas of fire science, firefighting tactics, firefighting safety, and fire and emergency education from the experts and to bring this knowledge into the Brigade as we continue to look for ways to improve what we do.

 

NSWFB Aboriginal Services Strategy

In January 2008, the NSWFB and the FBEU signed a Statement of Commitment to Reconciliation, highlighting our joint commitment to helping to strengthen and support Aboriginal communities. An Aboriginal Services Strategy and Aboriginal Services Action Plan have now been developed to put this commitment into action. The Aboriginal Services Plan will be integrated into the Annual Operating Plan 2009-10 to ensure that the key aims and objectives are implemented across the organisation. The provision of service and support to Aboriginal people and their communities is an integral part of our core business – the strategy and the plan will ensure that we continue to improve the way in which we engage with Aboriginal communities.

 

2009 Fire Prevention Week kicks off with Brigade Kids Day

Fire Prevention Week this year will focus on reminding people about the steps they can take to minimise the risk of a fire in their home. All fire stations are encouraged to use the template media release to promote home fire safety tips in your local media. Fire Prevention Week starts on Sunday 26 April with McDonald's Fire Brigade Kids Day, when firefighters and appliances will be at selected McDonald's restaurants across NSW so that families can learn about fire prevention. The event will mark the launch of a new Brigade Kids CD, which firefighters can hand out free to families and children. On the same day, the Sun Herald, in partnership with the NSWFB, will publish a special Fire Prevention Week newspaper supplement which will also run in the Illawarra Mercury and Newcastle Herald on Monday 27 April. Firefighters will host a range of fire safety presentations with at-risk groups during Fire Prevention Week, culminating in the Brigades’ Open Day. Thank you all in advance for your efforts, and a particular thank you to the teams at CEDU and PACSU.

 

Station visits

During my most recent station visits I met with firefighters from 46 Sutherland, 45 Miranda, 54 Cronulla, 33 Engadine, 90 Menai, 34 Riverwood, 21 Kogarah, 20 Hurstville, 35 Botany, and 102 Regentville. I will be heading to Dubbo for the Firefighter Championship on 1 and 2 May, and to the Illawarra on 5 May.

 

Open Day 2009

Fire station doors open to the public next Sunday 3 May 2009 as part of our annual Open Day. This is a good opportunity to communicate fire safety advice to the communities we serve, to inform residents about the diverse nature of our work, and about the role of the Brigade in protecting live, property and the environment. For more information on this year’s Open Day click here or contact the Community Engagement and Development Unit on (02) 9742 7179.

 

Recruit graduation and award ceremony

On Thursday 23 April, I was joined by Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Services, Phil Koperberg (former RFS Commissioner), to present Class 01/2009 with their graduating certificates. During the ceremony, Recruit Instructor SF Mark Wilson and graduating firefighter Eric Miller received formal recognition for their actions following the partial collapse of a concrete pour on a Bundeena construction site last August. SF Wilson and FF Miller are among 11 firefighters from 80 Station Bundeena to receive a Unit Commendation for Meritorious Service for their actions at the incident, in which workers were trapped and injured and the home owner was killed. SF Wilson was conducting a training course for firefighters at 80 Station when the crew was responded to the emergency. FF Miller was a retained firefighter at Bundeena at the time but now is a permanent firefighter following Thursday’s ceremony. I would like to commend the 11 firefighters involved for their contribution to the difficult and protracted rescue operation in 2008. The remaining firefighters will receive their commendation certificates shortly.

 

Community Fire Units thriving on Central Coast

Thanks to the hard work of firefighters from 340 Umina and the Bushland Urban Interface team more than 100 people have joined the Community Fire Unit (CFU) program on the Central Coast since November 2008. CFUs are designed to equip people living on the bushland urban interface with the knowledge and skills they need to prepare their properties throughout the year in preparation for the bushfire season. Umina was targeted for a CFU recruitment program, with other areas to be rolled out in the near future. If your local station area has significant bushfire risks and would benefit from the installation of Community Fire Units call 1300 238 238 or contact your local Bushfire Officer.

 

Hazmat incident closes Princes Highway for 12 hours

At 0515 hours on Tuesday 14 April, firefighters from 224 Berry, 488 Shellharbour, 405 Nowra and 346 Kiama responded to a hazmat incident on the Princes Highway, just north of Berry. A truck carrying 14 000 litres of sulphuric acid had rolled, with around 200 litres escaping through the top vent. Firefighters established a bunded area to prevent the acid from spreading to a nearby creek, placing the spilt substance in Hazmat bins. Eight people were evacuated from an adjoining property and Integral Energy was on hand to shut off the power and drop overhead electrical cables, to enable a crane to be brought in to right the truck. The RTA diverted vehicles for 12 hours but held up heavier vehicles for the duration of the incident. Firefighters spent some time cleaning the road before it was re‑opened. Duty Commander RS2 reported that all crews demonstrated a great deal of skill and professionalism at this incident.

 

3rd Alarm car wrecking yard fire in Revesby

On Monday 20 April at 1258 hours, a large smoke plume from a fire in a car wrecking yard in Revesby prompted numerous Triple Zero (000) calls. Firefighters from 47 Revesby, 62 Bankstown, 34 Riverwood, 85 Chester Hill, 8 Liverpool, 21 Kogarah, 64 Lakemba, 49 Cabramatta, 20 Hurstville, 46 Sutherland, 30 Lidcombe, and Hazmat from Greenacre responded to the fire. Crews were on scene within six minutes and found an area 20mx10m fully engulfed in flames with cars stacked up to six metres high. Firefighters used an aerial appliance and numerous hand lines to contain the fire, and thirty people were evacuated from the surrounding area. Hazmat crews monitored both the smoke and water run off from the fire.  The fire burned for several hours until an excavator was used to pull apart the cars allowing final extinguishment

 

Fatal truck crash and complex rescue on F3

At 1147 hours on Tuesday 21 April, a B-double truck crashed through roadside barriers on the F3 Freeway at Wahroongah, plummeting 80 metres down a steep embankment. The severely damaged cabin of the truck came to rest underneath one of the trailers. NSWFB firefighters from 50 Hornsby were on scene within nine minutes, and using the cordage pack, lowered themselves down to assess the truck and to check on the driver and any possible passengers. Because of the risk of the truck slipping further down the slope, the recovery operation could not commence until two heavy‑duty tow trucks arrived, which were used to stabilise the truck. Through the day and into the night firefighters from 75 Berowra, 58 Beecroft, 59 Eastwood, 94 Kellyville, 53 Neutral Bay, 65 Rydalmere, 14 Ashfield, 67 Northmead and Hazmat specialists from 9 Greenacre also responded to the crash site. As a result of the crash, the fuel tank of the truck had ruptured, spilling 500 litres of diesel over the embankment. Hazmat crews ensured none of the diesel entered nearby waterways. FireAir1 was on scene to lower rescue equipment down to firefighters. Once the truck was stabilised, rescue firefighters worked in wet and slippery conditions for more than two hours to extricate the body of the driver. NSWFB resources were downgraded when the Stop was sent at 2322 hours. Two crews remained on scene for fire protection until 0414 hours when the recovery operation was suspended, resuming the following evening. I would like to commend all of the firefighters who responded to this difficult and protracted incident. The conditions were extremely difficult, with crews working on a steep slope, under lights and inside the badly crumpled prime mover.

 

RUMOURS

 

Rumour: Is it true that an investigation by an Assistant Commissioner has found 31 regional areas that are in need of aerial appliances? If so, are they being purchased?

 

Response: No. As part of our strategic planning we regularly examine stations, zones and areas profiles to determine the best service delivery model. This includes aerial appliances. The report you are referring to was compiled by then Inspector Murray Kear in January 2000 which identified potential locations based purely on statistical data as a starting point. The report identified that there were 31 aerial appliances (as per Jan 2000) in the existing fleet; looked at existing deployment criteria; examined existing data relating to aerial appliances and formulated a base methodology for future deployment of aerial appliances. The purpose of this report was to provide a sound first level determinant for consideration by management and in no way was to be considered as undisputed evidence of where an aerial appliance was required. A further review has recently commenced which is taking into consideration the dynamic changes that have and continue to occur in rural NSW since 2000 as a result of the effects including climate change, rural difficulties etc. The results will help inform forward planning for resources, and could see aerial pumpers placed at some major country centres in future years.

 

Rumour: Is it true that FireAir1 has been offline since October last year (including the whole bushfire season) and this is the cause of unusually high turnover among aviation officers?

 

Response: It is true that FireAir1 has been offline since November last year. This is due to scheduled servicing and the fitting of several new pieces of equipment including a new winch, wire strike kit and a moving map system. Unexpected delays have occurred in sourcing parts from overseas. A contingency plan has been in place during the downtime of FireAir 1 as the NSWFB still has access to all other Police aviation assets and the Aviation Officers have continued to fly during this period. NSWFB also has access to aircraft contracted through the RFS State Air Desk. The turnover of NSWFB Aviation Officers is unrelated to FireAir 1 being offline. Two officers have recently transferred back to firefighting operations after lengthy periods of valuable service as Aviation Officers. Both of these vacancies have been filled.

 

Rumour: Is it true that if Kincumber Fire Station is not built by 2010 the funding will be lost? Is it true the approved staffing could be used to make back-to-back stations 10/14 on the Central Coast?

 

Response: No, the funding is allocated for Kincumber and the funding for 10/14 staff has been approved. The Department of Commerce is currently working on finalising the environmental requirements before the project goes to tender. The staff will be allocated when the construction is completed. They will not be used at other stations.

 

Rumour: Is it true that during staff shortages at FIRU they are using unqualified, non-certified and untrained personnel to fill investigators’ positions to cover the gaps?

 

Response: No. FIRU only fill staffing shortages using personnel who have undertaken specialist Fire Investigation training and have been trained in using the FireTraC digital fire data system. Two new initiatives have been introduced which might explain some new faces in the FIRU.  In the interest of greater understanding and skills transfer across function areas of the Community Safety Division, FIRU has recently had Community Safety Division personnel, previously trained in Fire Investigation, riding along with Duty Investigators to observe and assist with fire investigations. In addition, Operational Commanders who have been trained in Fire Investigation have a standing invitation to spend some time in FIRU to both enhance existing skills and to be brought up to speed with new techniques and methodologies.  These initiatives have been implemented as part of the requirements of the Community Safety Division Plan 2008-11 to ensure better communication between specialist investigators, building fire safety specialists, community engagement specialists and frontline Operational Commanders.

 

Rumour: Is it true that all tankers will be re-issued with cordage packs (particularly swift water rope packs) after the north coast flooding showed our capabilities were well regarded and that these packs could be used in such situations?

 

Response: At the last Fleet Implementation Group (FIG) meeting the possibility of Cordage Packs being part of the inventory on Class 1 appliances was discussed. The operational requirement is currently being assessed by the Regional Area Commanders and the findings will be reported back to FIG. A swift water throw bag is part of the new cordage pack.


COMMISH’S CORNER
Commissioner’s e-mail: Commissioner@fire.nsw.gov.au
Cora Sarmiento, Commish’s PA: 9265 2930
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