Allegations
of corruption
There were
reports in the media again this week stating that there have been
further allegations of corrupt conduct in the NSWFB. As Commissioner I
am totally committed to ensuring that the good name of the NSWFB is
protected and upheld, and I am also fully committed to identifying and
dealing swiftly and decisively with any identified corrupt, dishonest
or fraudulent activity.
It is true
that there have been a small number of allegations made. These have
been passed on to the Independent Commission Against
Corruption (ICAC) and in some cases also to the NSW Police. Whilst it
is of course shocking and disappointing to all of us to have any
suggestion of improper activities within our proud organisation, we
all have a moral and legal duty to report anything that we believe may
be improper or suspicious. If need be, this can be done with total
confidentiality, and directly to me. It needs to be understood that
matters reported to ICAC have to be kept totally confidential while
investigations are conducted and findings made.
Apart from
the alleged matters themselves, there are two other associated
internal issues that should concern us all. Firstly, the NSWFB rumour
mill is alive and well, but could be doing significant damage to
innocent people. I was made aware yesterday that speculation is rife;
this is unhealthy and potentially unfair and harmful to individuals
who have not been named in any allegations.
The second
matter that is of concern is that information is being passed to the
media rather than reported to authorities that have the responsibility
of investigating allegations. I reiterate to all staff that I welcome
and invite anybody with concerns to report them via the chain of
command, but if they feel unable to do so for any reason, then
approach me personally or go directly to ICAC. ICAC and I will protect
their confidentiality. Taking matters directly to the media rather
than reporting them to the Brigade or appropriate authorities can
conceivably compromise investigations, rather than help to resolve
them. Apart from this, a great deal of harm can be done to the
reputation of the NSWFB, particularly where matters have yet to be
proven.
Conclusion
of Bushfire CRC
Victorian Bushfire Research Task Force
Following
the devastating Victorian bushfires, the Bushfire Cooperative Research
Centre (CRC) established a multi‑agency research taskforce to
investigate and collate as much information as possible in a
time-critical period to begin the lessons learned process. The
taskforce included officers from a number of agencies including the
Victorian Country Fire Authority, Victorian Metropolitan Fire Brigade,
NSW Rural Fire Service, CSIRO,
GeoScience
Australia
,
Latrobe
University
and the US
Department of Commerce. From 12 February, the NSWFB maintained a
commitment of four officers and two vehicles to the taskforce, which
has assessed 957 properties. Last Friday the taskforce
completed its field work in
Victoria
. The information gathered by the Bushfire CRC Research Taskforce will
be invaluable in helping all emergency service organisations to learn
from this terrible event. I would like to thank all of the NSWFB
personnel who participated in the taskforce for their professional
representation of the NSWFB; again demonstrating our diverse skills
and capabilities.
Assistant
Commissioner moves and Bob Dobson to retire
From Monday there
will be a number of portfolio changes for Assistant Commissioners.
Assistant Commissioner Bob Dobson AFSM indicated last year that he
would be retiring in July after an outstanding career spanning nearly
40 years. He will take leave from 25 April prior to his official
retirement date and of course I will have more to say about his
contribution to the NSWFB closer to his retirement. AC Dobson will be
assisting me with some special projects over the next few weeks.
Assistant Commissioner Mark Brown AFSM will move from Regional
Operations to Greater Metropolitan Operations, while Assistant
Commissioner Jim Hamilton AFSM will move from Specialised Operations
to Regional Operations. Interviews will shortly be held for the two
vacant AC positions at Community Safety and Specialised Operations,
and announcements will be made when the appointments have been
approved.
Station
visits
On Thursday I met
with firefighters from 345 Kempsey, 424 Port Macquarie, and 502 Wingham,
and during the past four weeks I have spoken to firefighters from 5
Newtown, 28 Marrickville, 29 Arncliffe, 64 Lakemba, 52 Campsie,
14 Ashfield, 15 Burwood, 16 Concord, 19 Silverwater, 30 Lidcombe, 12
Balmain, 22 Leichhardt, 17 Drummoyne, 6 Mona Vale, 60 Avalon, 51
Forestville, 69 Dee Why, 61 Lane Cove and 40 Willoughby. Next
week I will be visiting stations in the Metropolitan South zones. This
is part of my ongoing program of station visits which I consider to be
of vital importance in providing me with a “reality check”, and
allowing opportunities to both speak about and listen to important
issues that affect our organisation.
Conferences
I have been busy
lately speaking at a number of different conferences. Early this month
I delivered a presentation at the APCO 09 conference in
Sydney
, which attracted delegates from the IT and communication industries,
as well as emergency services from
Australia
and abroad. I asked industry representatives to better support the
emergency services by providing robust and cost effective technologies
such as those used by the military in “network centric warfare”,
remote sensing technology adapted to fire environments, and better
training simulation technologies.
On Tuesday this week
I was part of a panel at the National Security 09 Conference that
participated in a “hypothetical” relating to a significant
terrorist attack, and on Wednesday I opened a multi agency training
course involving NSWFB, Police and Ambulance at Port Macquarie.
First
pay under the new Human Resource and Payroll system
The
transition from StarGarden to the new SAP Human
Resources Information System (HRIS) is complete, with all employees
receiving their first pay under the new system this week. This is the
result of hard work by the SAP HR/Payroll team for over 1.5 years and
is the largest IT project undertaken by the NSWFB for more than a
decade. It also demonstrates our commitment to improving systems and
business processes within the organisation. For further information
about SAP HRIS contact the SAP Transition Support team on 02 9265
3900, view the intranet
story, or visit the SAP HRIS
webpage.
Change
Your Clock, Change Your
Battery
The NSWFB is part of
the national 2009 Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery campaign. I
encourage you to support this very important safety campaign and
remind residents to change their smoke alarm battery when they move
their clocks back at the end of Daylight Saving on Sunday 5 April. The
NSWFB media
release template and information about the campaign is available
on the intranet. For more information contact Insp Norm Buckley,
Acting Manager CEDU on (02) 9742 7405.
NSWFB
to take part in Earth Hour 2009
Earth
Hour takes place on Saturday 28 March and I encourage all firefighters
and administration and trades staff across NSW to take part and switch
off all computer monitors and non-essential lighting for 60 minutes at
8.30pm
. The NSWFB needs
to be committed to helping combat climate change, because we are in
the front line of dealing with the natural disasters spawned by a
warming climate. Participating in Earth Hour will show that simple
measures can help to reduce carbon. Cooling systems, ventilation and
lighting are the three most significant sources of Greenhouse gas
emissions in office and public buildings, therefore thoughtful use of
lighting is an area where we can easily help to reduce emissions at
work and at home.
Seniors Week 2009
Firefighters
conducted a number of activities as part of Seniors Week 2009 across
the state. On the final day of Seniors Week, Emergency Services
Minister Steve Whan joined forces with 1
COS
firefighters at
Darling
Harbour
to highlight fire dangers for seniors. I would like to thank all
firefighters who played a role in making Seniors Week a success.
McDonald's and
NSWFB partnership
The NSWFB, in
partnership with McDonald's NSW restaurants, has launched a fire
prevention education initiative for children and families. This
year McDonald's will help the NSWFB to build awareness of
key seasonal fire risks through the promotion of Fire Prevention Week,
and encourage children to become aware of fire safety in the home,
with a Brigades Kids Day on 26 April. For more information read the intranet
story here.
Application
for Inspectors Promotional Program – non-operational
The NSWFB is again
offering places for non-operational staff to participate in the
Graduate Certificate in Management (Professional Practice) component
of the 2009 Inspectors Promotional Program. The course is delivered by
Charles
Sturt
University
at the
State
Training
College
,
Alexandria
, over a two week period and will consist of the subjects Management
skills and concepts, and Managing people. This is an
excellent opportunity for non-operational personnel to develop
managerial skills. It also enhances the experience for IPP
participants, as it enables them to gain an insight into how the non
operational areas of the Brigade work hard to support those in the
front line. If you are interested, please discuss this opportunity
with your manager. Further information about the program and
application process is available in In
Order 2009/6 .
4th
Alarm hospital fire at Wahroonga
Last night I attended
an unusual fire at the
Sydney
Adventist
Hospital
at Wahroonga on
Sydney
’s north shore. Firefighters from 37 Gordon and 58 Beecroft who
initially responded to an AFA found smoke issuing from air
conditioning vents, and fire in an internal electrical switch room fed
by an 11kV supply on the ground floor of a 5 storey hospital wing. Due
to the need for numerous evacuations, Red messages were transmitted
requesting a 3rd and then a 4th Alarm response.
A major complication immediately emerged – the switch room supplied
power to operating rooms and a recovery ward, at least one operation,
open heart surgery, was in progress. A number of critical patients had
been placed on life support machines in the recovery area following
their surgery, and could not be safely moved.
In media interviews I
praised the work of hospital staff and Firefighters, who rapidly moved
about 80 patients to safe areas of the hospital. Firefighters used
remote hazmat monitors and fans to ensure that no airborne
contaminants could reach the operating and recovery areas, while
monitoring the fire with thermal imaging cameras. Once the critical
patients were able to be moved, Firefighters used the CO2 Tender and
numerous CO2 extinguishers to extinguish the fire following
disconnection of the external supply. Firefighters from 37 Gordon, 58
Beecroft, 50 Hornsby, 23 Gladesville, 42 Ryde, 59 Eastwood, 71 Castle
Hill, 61 Lane Cove, 16 Concord, 51 Forestville, 40 Willoughby,
65 Rydalmere, 27 Parramatta (aerial), 77 St Marys
(heavy hazmat), 9 Greenacre Hazmat. In what will probably be his last
fire before retiring, Assistant Commissioner Bob Dobson oversaw
operations.
Fire
at
Sydney
Airport
On Wednesday 25
March, firefighters from 26 Mascot, 35 Botany, 29 Arncliffe, 13
Alexandria
Hazmat, 9 Greenacre Hazmat,
Duty Commander
Georges
River
and the Deputy Manager Hazmat responded to a fire in a shed at
Sydney
Airport
. The fire was extinguished by Airport firefighters quickly,
however it breached a number of drums containing a hazardous material
located in a bonded area. Firefighters in fully encapsulated suits
identified the substance and an exclusion zone was established, with
20 people evacuated from the immediate area. Two police officers
from the Australian Federal Police were taken to hospital and a
further two treated at the scene, suffering ill‑effects from the
incident. Hazmat conducted air sampling as the product was vacuumed up
by fire crews into a contracted waste recovery vehicle.
4th
Alarm factory fire at Seven Hills
At 0239 hours on
Monday 23 March, firefighters from 12 stations responded to a factory
alight at Seven Hills. The first Firefighters on scene reported fire
through the roof of the building. Shortly after arrival the front wall
of the building collapsed, with two more walls and the roof collapsing
later. A hot zone was established and all necessary procedures were
put in place to deal with asbestos that was discovered in the roof.
Firefighters battled the intense blaze for two hours, and successfully
contained the fire to the building of origin. Later that morning,
demolition equipment was brought in to pull down the remaining wall,
enabling firefighters to extinguish the deep-seated pockets of fire
and fire investigators to safely begin their investigation into the
cause. Resources on scene included 43 Seven Hills, 57 Wentworthville,
67 Northmead, 97 Huntingwood, 27 Parramatta, 63 Blacktown, 72
Merrylands, 94 Kellyville, 55 Guildford, 19 Silverwater, 77 St
Mary’s Hazmat, 9 Greenacre Hazmat and members of the Incident
Management Team.
Tricky
rescue for firefighters in Cronulla
At 1801 hours on
Monday 23 March, 54
Cronulla Rescue Pumper responded to a difficult rescue incident at a
house in Cronulla. A three-year-old boy had three fingers stuck in the
plug-hole of a large, cast-iron bathtub. Firefighters were able to
free one finger, but did not have clear access to free the other two.
Firefighters had to break through the brick and tile bath enclosure to
cut out a section of the bath around the drain. This was a delicate
procedure, which took approximately four hours. The child was
transported to hospital by Ambulance paramedics, with the rescue crew
from 20 Hurstville following. Once the child was sedated, firefighters
were able to cut the drain from his fingers, which took another hour.
All of the firefighters reported that the little boy was a true hero
throughout the incident, remaining calm, with barely a peep out of
him.
RUMOURS
Rumour:
It is true that a number of fire ecologists and fire experts have
purported that the fires that hit Victoria recently were off the
current Forest Fire Danger Index [currently limited to a maximum of
100], and in fact may have gone as high as 300 on the FDI scale? Has
it also been suggested that two new ratings could possibly be
introduced to the Fire Danger Index, one of ‘Very Extreme’
and the other of ‘Catastrophic’?
Response:
The conditions faced by Victorian firefighters were probably the
worst ever faced by firefighters in modern times. In some areas
temperatures were nearly 50 degrees, relative humidity was down
to 4%, and winds were around 120 km/h. Added to this were the effects
of large convection columns above the fires, which increased
ground-wind speeds and reportedly led to large scale spotting up to 40
km ahead of some fires. The theoretical maximum fire danger index of
100 was exceeded in many areas and the fire intensities and rates of
spread attest to something beyond our current experience. Before these
fires some scientists had theorised that the effects of climate change
would lead to more widespread, catastrophic fires, and the suggestion
had been made that two additional fire danger levels may need to be
adopted. It has been suggested for example that should the fire danger
level be forecast as ‘Catastrophic’, pre-emptive evacuations might
be considered. The Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre is actively
investigating all aspects of the fires, while the Royal Commission
will delve into a range of matters. There are certain to be
significant learnings from this tragedy.
Rumour:
In light of the recent bush fires in Victoria and the
predicted increase in bush fire activity impacting on
NSWFB operations, is it true that the old style bush fire schools will
be re-introduced to better prepare firefighters [both permanent and
retained] to deal with bush fires in the future?
Response:
At this stage there are no plans to reinstitute the Bushfire Schools,
however the NSWFB is working closely with the Bushfire CRC to identify
any need for changed approaches or training.
Rumour:
In December 2008 the Rudd Government announced a new
National Police medal would be awarded to state, territory and federal
Police in recognition of long and diligent service. They will no
longer be awarded the National Medal.
Is there any movements
for doing the same for fire services throughout
Australia
? A National Fire Medal would be more fitting than the current
National Medal which is given to a number of organisations. If not,
why shouldn’t Australian Fire Services have their own National
Medal? Prior to the National Medal (1975) we had the Queen’s Fire
Brigade Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Surely after the
devastating Victorian bushfires, a separate National Fire Medal is
warranted?
Response:
Yes. When the new Police medal was first proposed, the Honours
Secretariat in
Canberra
wrote to me and the other fire service heads in
Australia
asking our opinion. I responded by saying that the very same arguments
for instituting a new Police medal also held true for the fire
services. I am aware that other Fire Commissioners wrote in a similar
vein. Since then I contacted all Australian Chief Officers and
Commissioners and have asked them to support a submission via the
Australasian Fire and Emergency Services’ Authorities Council for a
national fire service medal. I will be writing this submission later
in the year, as I believe that firefighters should be specially
recognised for the amazing work that they do.
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