Update
on media issues
While
I was overseas a Sydney media outlet reported on a matter from 1989
where it is alleged an assault occurred in a fire station. The report
suggested that there may have been or may still be a culture of
bullying and harassment in the NSWFB. The matter from 1989 was passed
to the Police and ICAC for investigation some months ago, and the
NSWFB has and will continue to provide whatever reasonable assistance
we can to these agencies. I am sure that all members of the NSWFB will
be shocked by the allegations, by the effect that the matter has had
on individuals, and by any suggestion that the NSWFB, firefighters and
support staff would routinely engage in or tolerate such behaviours.
It needs to be made very clear – the NSWFB has no place for
bullying, harassment or assault in the workplace, and everybody needs
to be able to come to work without any fear that they will be treated
improperly. Be aware also that seemingly “harmless” workplace
pranks or practical jokes can go horribly wrong. If something has the
potential to embarrass, distress, belittle, exclude, injure or not be
appreciated by the person it is aimed at, it is a problem. I have
spoken to the Fire Brigade Employees’ Union Secretary Jim Casey
about this matter and note that the FBEU has also made its position
very clear on its website – that all union members are entitled to a
safe workplace. Anybody who feels that they may be being bullied or
harassed should immediately advise their supervisor, a more senior
manager, or contact the Professional Standards and Conduct Officer,
Human Resources, go direct to a senior uniformed or non uniformed
officer, or contact your Union. In serious cases, you may even feel it
necessary to go to the Police or other external agencies. Please do
not ever feel that you have to put up with a situation where you feel
that you are being bullied or harassed, because it is not acceptable
to me or the NSWFB for anybody to be in such a position. The NSWFB is
engaging expert independent assistance to deal with current and
historical matters, to review our policies and training, and to advise
on how to reinforce the values of respect for others that are so
important to the NSWFB.
Update
on structural changes to the NSWFB
Earlier
this week the Departmental Amalgamations Order to restructure the
public sector was signed by the Governor of NSW, Professor Marie
Bashir AC. The restructure is in its very early stages but essentially
it means that public sector departments, including the NSW Fire
Brigades will be merged into 13 "super" departments. The
NSWFB will now become a part of Police and Emergency Services NSW,
which comprises the NSWFB, NSW Police, Rural Fire Service, State
Emergency Service, Emergency Management NSW, and the NSW Crime
Commission. It has been confirmed that the role of NSWFB
Commissioner and operational powers will remain, as will the name,
organisational and operational integrity of the NSWFB, however in the
new structure I will report to the new Director General of Police and
Emergency Services NSW, Commissioner Andrew Scipione APM. While this
transition occurs there may be some changes, and I thank everybody in
advance for your support and cooperation. I will provide staff with
regular updates as the nature of changes are determined and the
amalgamation progresses.
Our new Service Delivery Strategy
I
am pleased to announce publication of our new Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) 2009-2020
which
will guide the NSWFB’s service delivery and resource planning for
the next decade. This updated SDS replaces our previous SDS first
published in 1998. It supports the emergency management objectives of
Government and ensures the services we provide continue to meet the
requirements of the legislation under which we operate. It will also
help the NSWFB to improve its capabilities in a rapidly changing
operating environment in order to meet the needs and expectations of
the communities we serve and protect. My thanks to everyone who
contributed to the development of this important strategy. In
particular, my thanks go to our Lessons Learned Centre Senior Planner,
Shane Kempnich, who project managed and authored the document.
New
Raymond Terrace and Castle Hill fire stations officially opened
On
Wednesday 29 July, I was joined by the Member for Maitland Frank
Terenzini and Member for Port Stephens Craig Baumann to officially
open Raymond Terrace’s new fire station. The new double bay station
is more than twice the size of the old station and is built to the
standard fire station design. It is far better located to provide
response coverage to the growing area now and into the future. Earlier
this month, I joined the Minister for Emergency Services Steve Whan to
officially open the new 71 Station Castle Hill. The station has a
number of environmentally-friendly features including solar hot water
and a rain water tank. These new stations will help us to continue our
important work now and into the future.
New
Class 3 pumper for Broken Hill
Duty
MLC Tony Catanzariti visited Broken Hill Fire Station on Monday 27
July to officially hand over the new Class 3 pumper. He met B platoon
firefighters and handed the pumper keys over to Broken Hill Station
Officer Phil Eberle. New Class 3 Scania appliances are now being
delivered at a rate of about two per month.
Smoke
alarms for hearing impaired residents of Blacktown LGA
Firefighters
from 63 Blacktown, 97 Huntingwood, 96 Schofields and 32 Mount Druitt
have been working with the Deaf Society of NSW and the Rotary Club of
Blacktown City to install 25 smoke alarms for people with hearing
impairments thanks to a $12 250 grant provided through the Blacktown
Workers Club’s Community Development Support Expenditure scheme. The
smoke alarms are designed to alert people with hearing impairments to
a fire by a powerful flashing strobe light and a vibrating pad which
is placed under their pillow while they sleep. This is an example of a
great community initiative and I congratulate all the firefighters
involved. Firefighters from Broken Hill and the Sutherland Shire are
also undertaking similar projects in their local communities.
Commemorative
fire engine run marks 40 years
Forty
years after the first closed cabin Dennis fire appliance was
commissioned, firefighters accompanied the Historic Fire Engine
Association (HFEA) and four restored Dennis appliances on a commemorative drive from 64 Lakemba to 1
City of Sydney on Sunday 26 July. I am sure it was an interesting trip
down memory lane for many, and I recall with some sentimentality the
crash gearboxes of the Jaguars, and the speed and handling of the F44
and F49 Rolls Royces.
Overseas
trip
I
returned from an overseas study tour, partly funded by the Royal
United Services Institute (RUSI), on Saturday. RUSI organises an
annual International Joint Operations Command Conference in London,
and I was asked to deliver a presentation on Australian incident
management systems and fire services working with Police. The
conference provided an excellent opportunity for some of the world’s
senior emergency managers and policy makers to discuss plans,
practices and strategies for responding to major incidents and to find
ways to adapt to future challenges such as climate change. While in
the UK I spent time with the London Fire Brigade looking at training
and an electronic incident management support system. I then travelled
to New York City to spend two days with the Fire Department, to New
Orleans to discuss the response to Hurricane Katrina, and then a very
brief stopover in Los Angeles where I met with senior officers of LA
City Fire Department and the City’s Director of Emergency
Management. I look forward to sharing the latest information on
international developments with you as I continue my regular station
visit program.
Newport
boat fire
At
1430 hrs on Wednesday 22 July, firefighters from 6 Mona Vale and 60
Avalon responded to numerous Triple Zero (000) calls to boats alight
at a marina at Crescent Rd Newport. On arrival firefighters found
three large motor cruisers alight and requested assistance. This was a
challenging fire, as access to the boats was difficult and there was a
very strong wind blowing at the time, hampering firefighting
operations. Operations were carried out with assistance from the RFS,
both on land and from water craft, as well as crews from 68 Narrabeen,
69 Dee Why, 13 Alexandria, 53 Neutral Bay, 36 Crows Nest and Hazmat.
The Stop was sent by Duty ommander North at 1927 hrs, stating that six
boats had been destroyed and another two had suffered heat damage. The
fire was extinguished using 5 x 25mm and 10 x 38mm hoselines. Due to
the quick deployment of hydrocarbon booms by Hazmat personnel,
contamination of the surrounding waterway was kept to a minimum. The
subsequent hazardous material operation continued for the next few
days as each damaged craft was brought ashore.
House
fire in Broken Hill
At
0547 hrs on Saturday 25 July, Katoomba Comms received a Triple Zero
(000) call to a house alight in Broken Hill. Firefighters from 238
Broken Hill and 239 Broken Hill South were responded to the incident.
Crews were on scene within eight minutes to find smoke issuing from a
corrugated iron residence. A size up was conducted by the SO from 238
Broken Hill, and firefighters commenced fire attack and a primary
search. Under very heavy smoke conditions the search and rescue crew
were able to locate the resident who was semi-conscious at the time,
and remove him to safety. A rapid offensive attack was able to confine
the fire to the kitchen area. The professionalism by all present not
only in saving a man’s life, but minimised the damage to his
residence. A working smoke alarm alerted the neighbour to the fire,
who rang Triple Zero (000), reporting the presence of a fire next
door.
Surry
Hills Community Centre flooding
At
0702 hrs on Monday 27 July, firefighters from 1 City of Sydney and 10
Redfern responded to flooding in the Surry Hills Community Centre. On
arrival it was found that the community centre had major flooding in
its basement from an unidentified source. The water was up to ceiling
level in the basement, and approximately 150mm in depth on the ground
floor. The electrical switch room in the basement posed a major threat
until the electricity was confirmed isolated by the energy
authority. Additional resources from 4 Darlinghurst, 36 Crows
Nest, and 59 Eastwood were called for as crews commenced the long
process of removing an estimated 500,000 litres of water using two
water powered submersible pumps. The remainder of the water was
removed with electrical submersible pumps and water vacs.
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
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