Welcome
to 2010
Thankfully
Christmas 2009, despite the ominous build-up, was relatively fire-free
due to significant rains over much of the state. Rather than fighting
fires, a number of Brigades in the far west and
north west
of the state found themselves assisting the SES with flood
preparations and recovery. There is no place for complacency however,
as this week the south west and Riverina experienced Catastrophic fire
weather conditions which saw pre-deployment of NSWFB Strike Teams at a
number of locations.
I
hope that 2010 will be a safe and successful year for everybody in the
NSWFB. We will no doubt face a number of challenges this year, however
I know that with the continued dedication, team spirit and commitment
for which the NSWFB is renowned, we will overcome any problems
together, emerging stronger and better. I thank you in advance for the
work that you do and for the strong commitment always shown by
firefighters and support staff to their duty to protect the people,
infrastructure and environment of NSW.
Building
a Better Brigade – Workplace Culture Survey
A
new Workplace Culture Survey has now been launched. The survey aims to
find out your views on the current NSWFB culture and how we can
continue to build a more supportive, respectful and safe place to
work. The survey, which has been developed by consultants KPMG and
also involved consultation with staff and unions, is now available
online via the intranet.
All responses are anonymous with no individual responses identified.
The results will be collected by KPMG which is an independent third
party. KPMG will maintain confidentially of all data, and
present the overall findings in a report to the NSWFB after the survey
has closed. I will also ensure that the FBEU and PSA are briefed on
the findings. The survey closes on 26 February 2010. The results of
the survey will form the foundation for any necessary initiatives and
programs to Build a Better Brigade. Please take the time to complete
the survey and have your say. I am looking to you to help us build a
safer, more supportive, respectful and enjoyable workplace at NSWFB.
Memorial
for Granville rail disaster
Next
week marks the anniversary of the 1977 Granville train disaster in
which 83 people died and more than 200 people were injured when a road
overpass collapsed on a commuter train travelling from the
Blue Mountains
. The NSWFB was the first emergency service on scene and the last to
leave following the major rescue operation which involved all of the
emergency services. Following a memorial service and wreath laying
ceremony, NSWFB officers will help place 83 roses in honour of those
who lost their lives that day. Members wishing to attend should be at
the
Bold Street
overpass by 1100 hours and wear summer dress uniform with medals.
CFU
skills review sessions
Community
Fire Unit (CFU) members have been busily preparing for the bushfire
season through their attendance at Skills Review sessions. More
than 3085 operational CFU volunteers completed skills reviews last
year. The Bushland Urban Interface Section, together with Zone
Commanders and firefighters arranged sessions to assess volunteers’
abilities to work as teams, operate equipment safely, and show their
understanding of bushfire behaviour, property preparation and CFU
operations. CFU volunteers who were unable to complete a skills review
session this year will have their membership status temporarily
changed to Associate membership, which means they are only able to act
in a support capacity until they have their skills assessed after the
2009/10 bushfire season.
Retirement
of SO Terry Munsey AFSM
Any
discussion of CFUs is incomplete without mention of Station Officer
Terry Munsey, who in many ways could be considered the “father” of
the CFU Program. This week I wished Terry all the best for his
retirement, and thanked him for his incredible commitment and
achievements since the inception of the CFU concept. Terry steered the
CFU Program to become one of the state’s largest and most successful
community engagement and resilience programs, and we all owe him a
huge debt of gratitude. There are many homes still standing today that
would not be had it not been for his vision, drive and enthusiasm –
the first time CFUs
were activated “in anger” was in 1997 at Menai, and I remember
that day well. Properties were
destroyed in adjoining streets, but not where we had CFUs. My personal
thanks to Terry and I know that everybody will join me in wishing him
all the best for a long, happy and healthy retirement.
Fire
safety blitz for Big Day Out
The
NSWFB will inspect fire safety arrangements at the Sydney Showground
for the Big Day Out on 22 and 23 January to help ensure a fire-safe
environment for those attending. Many more inspections at major event
venues will be carried out over coming months with the Royal Easter
Show next on the agenda for the NSWFB.
The
great Spicer Jacket roundup
With
the arrival of our new NSWFB fleece jackets I encourage everyone to
get involved in the Great
Spicer Jacket Roundup initiative,
which will see old NSWFB parka, spicer or Castro style jackets donated
to charity and those who are less fortunate through a managed process.
This is a great initiative by firefighters from 53 Neutral Bay,
particularly QF Sam Wall.
Firefighters invited
to barbie for Prince William
Five of our firefighters will enjoy a barbecue in the Botanic Gardens
with Prince William next week during his short visit to
Australia
. QF
Edward Berti, QF Patrick Kwong, FF Micheal Packham, RF Michael Power
and SF Melanie Rebane have been invited to attend the event in honour
of the 27-year old prince who last visited Australia at the age of
one. Among
those also invited are Young Australian of the Year nominees, surf
lifesavers and colleagues from other emergency services.
Gunnedah
Captain a cover star!
Captain
Rod Byrnes of 314 Gunnedah is the new face of the Telstra White and
Yellow pages directory. He is among several “local heroes” chosen
to feature on the front cover of phone books that will be delivered to
100,000 homes across north-west NSW. Captain Byrnes was chosen in
honour of his exceptional work, stretching back more than three
decades. Well done Rod!
Fire
000 airs on Foxtel
If
you didn’t see the Fire 000 series
featuring the NSWFB last year, you may now have an opportunity to
catch it being replayed on Foxtel’s Bio Channel (117) at 9pm on
Tuesday nights and 10am on Wednesday mornings.
Recruit
graduation and awards presentation
Yesterday
I attended the graduation ceremony for our newest recruits, Class
04/2009, after they
successfully completed their recruit training program. I wish them all
the best with their careers. During
the ceremony I also had the opportunity to present QF
Malcolm Garbutt with
a Commendation for Courageous Action, SO’s
Paul Lynch and Jonathon Moore with Commendations for Meritorious
Service, and clasps to the National Medal to SO Jonathan Moore and SO
Leo McCrory. Two
members of the public were also recognised with Commissioner’s
Commendations presented in recognition of their efforts at a house
fire in Springwood.
Waste
the Waist registrations open
Many
NSWFB employees are starting 2010 with a healthy change by registering
for the Waste the Waist program. Registrations will remain open up
until the first week of February, with the competition officially
starting on Monday 1 February. For those taking the challenge, the
first time you log-in to the website, you will be prompted to enter
your cost centre – it is important you enter the correct cost
centre, as this will be how teams will be determined (there is no
charge for the program). Make sure you visit the FireFit
website
which will link you to the Waste the Waist registration page so that
you can make some healthy lifestyle changes, and be eligible for some
great prizes.
Old
WW2 bomb scare - Lithgow
At
about 1500hrs on Thursday 7 January workers inside a recycling factory
in
Inch Street
, Lithgow observed that an old WW2 device had been punctured by a fork
lift truck. The device was thought to be similar in appearance to a
Mustard Gas projectile, and a gel-like substance was leaking from the
ruptured cylinder. The crew from 363 Lithgow immediately implemented a
250 metre exclusion zone which required the evacuation of 350 local
residents from local homes. The local Emergency Plan was enacted with
an evacuation centre established at the Lithgow Worker’s Club.
FireAir1 was deployed to transport the Brigade’s scientific officer
with detection equipment to back up Hazmat crews. Crews from 363
Lithgow, 364 Lithgow West and 77 St Mary’s Heavy Hazmat assisted in
the delicate process of collecting various samples from the
contaminated area. Zone Commander Blue Mountains, Supt Tony Grant
together with two Duty Commanders and the Senior Instructor
co-ordinated incident operations. At 2130hrs it was determined that
the substance was a hydrocarbon based gel with properties similar to
Benzene. The area was declared safe and residents returned to their
homes at about 2200hrs.
Salvation Army Fire Yagoona – 2nd
Alarm
At 0108 on Sunday 10 January, crews were called to a rubbish fire at
the rear of the Salvation Army building on the
Hume Highway
at Yagoona. Despite 62 Bankstown arriving within six minutes of the
first of many Triple Zero calls, the fire had already spread to the
building itself. A 2nd Alarm was requested, with crews working for
over two hours to bring the fire under control. 47 Revesby’s aerial
pumper was deployed at the height of the fire to assist in
containment. Unfortunately all the contents were destroyed and the
building sustained substantial damage. The fire is believed to have
been deliberately lit in rubbish dumped at the rear of the building
overnight. Crews from 62
Bankstown
, 85
Chester
Hill, 47 Revesby, 30 Lidcombe, 27
Parramatta
and 34 Riverwood attended the fire. The fire highlighted increasing
problems being experienced by the Salvos through people dropping off
household rubbish, rather than useable, recyclable materials. Last
year the cost of removing such rubbish was around $5.5M – money that
could have been spent on helping the needy.
RUMOURS
Rumour: Is it true that local resources are
being overlooked in the strategic planning of events at Sydney Olympic
Park? If so, how does this encourage stations to do
familiarisations and Pre Incident Planning?
Response: At
recent events at the Sydney Olympic Park precinct such as the World
Masters Games Opening Ceremony and the V8 Supercar races, preference
has been given to local crews to participate in operations due to
their knowledge of the precinct. This will also be the case in the
upcoming Big Day Out event which will be held in the precinct in
January. However it is often the case, such as during the Olympics,
World Youth Day, and Royal Easter Show, that on-site resources are
required due to risk and congestion, in addition to external
resources.
Rumour: Is it
true that there are future plans for the NSWFB to develop 217 Batemans
Bay into a permanent station operating on the 10/14 roster? Is it true
that this is because of the station having a primary rescue and also a
hazmat responsibility while also providing coverage for the local fire
district, where current response times and staffing levels do not
provide adequate levels of response?
Response: Not
at this stage, although the situation is continually reviewed across
regional NSW. The retained firefighters attached to 217
Batemans
Bay
do a fantastic job and any potential change to staffing arrangements
will be assessed based on risk, workload and services provided.
Rumour: Is it
true that the NSWFB is investigating the feasibility of implementing
'Cluster' Stations where permanent firefighters with additional
resources would respond from a base station to backup and support the
retained staff in country areas? If this is to be the case, is it true
that special roster stations will become a 10/14 roster station to
carry out this new role?
Response: I
think what is being referred to here is a "hub station" and
if so, yes the concept is being explored. A general concept (yet to be
finalised) of a "hub station" is a station with both
permanent and retained staff with two pumpers. In the event of a call
to an adjoining area, say up to 30 minutes travel time, the permanent
crew would respond in support of either NSWFB or RFS resources. The
retained firefighters would provide primary fire protection within the
local fire district. In other words, the permanent crew would respond
across a larger area than just within the local fire district, and
provide rapid back up and assistance to other NSWFB and RFS brigades.
As indicated, this is at the conceptual stage only, and there has been
no approval for additional funding, stations, appliances or staff.
Rumour: Is it
true the NSWFB has handed over large areas of 'at risk' infrastructure
to the RFS at the request of the RFS. Is it also true that the RFS
have refused to hand over areas that have become residential
developments because they want to be given back other areas in return
within the GSA?
Response: No.
There is a process for NSWFB Fire District Boundary and Mutual Aid
Agreements which is overseen by the Review and Policy Sub Committee (RPSC)
that has membership from the NSWFB, RFS, FBEU and RFS Association. The
RPSC is currently reviewing boundary change processes based on
objective risk and service delivery measures, and this has resulted in
some delays to the boundary change process.
Rumour:
Is it true that 102 Regentville and 86 Penrith cannot be
actively turned out by Katoomba Comms Centre when needed in the
Blue Mountains
and must be turned out by Sydney Comms, sometimes adding as much as 10
minutes to stations being notified and turned out to emergency
incidents?
Response:
Yes, and no. Yes, the current FireCAD only allows NSWFB
appliances within the geographical responsibility of a particular
ComCen to be directly responded by that ComCen. But no, this does not
mean that there are substantial delays if appliances from an adjoining
ComCen area are required. Response details are electronically
transferred between ComCens by a system called ICEMS, and these are
processed rapidly in a similar manner to an AFA call. Our next
generation computer aided dispatch system will have a “virtual
environment” that will simplify this process even further and enable
direct dispatch.
Rumour:
Any truth to the rumour of a new superstation combining 62
Bankstown
rescue and 47 Revesby aerial at
Bankstown
airport to cover the introduction of domestic flights at the airport
and the forecast doubling of heavy vehicle traffic on the roads within
the next ten years
Response:
No.
Rumour:
Does one of the electrolyte drink powders supplied meet
Australian Standards as it does not have a date mark on it?
Response:
Due to reduced availability of a sports drink
sachet product, the NSWFB worked with a leading Australian Dietician to
review alternative products that meet the nutritional requirements. 'Squincher
Qwik Serve' was identified as the most suitable alternative,
containing all essential components necessary for maintaining optimal
human performance during sustained physical activity. In
accordance with the Australian Food Standards code, products with a
shelf life of greater than 24 months do not require a 'use by' or
'best before' date to be applied and it is therefore packaged in
accordance with this code.
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