CURRENT
NATIONAL SECURITY ALERT LEVEL: MEDIUM
Public
access to NSWFB information
The
Government
Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act)
replaced the Freedom
of Information Act (1989) on 1 July 2010. The
GIPA Act recognises the public’s right to government information in
NSW and will make accessing government information easier and more
open. The new legislation gives members of the public an enforceable
right to government information unless there is an overriding public
interest against disclosure. For more information, view the website,
and keep a look out for future updates on our intranet.
Recent
intranet developments
You
are probably already aware of some of the recent intranet
developments, and here are two to take a look at:
Building
a Better Brigade
- new site with important messages, guidance and resources, as we work
towards improving our workplace and processes. The Building a Better
Brigades booklet is also available here, along with the new corporate
values poster and pocket calendar. You can provide feedback by email consultation.nswfb@fire.nsw.gov.au
New
search engine
- this is a great improvement on what we had previously and allows for
a much easier search function of the many policies, procedures,
articles and other documents available through our intranet. Comments
can be sent to the Webmaster by email webmaster@fire.nsw.gov.au
Manager’s
meeting
Yesterday,
together with Deputy Commissioners Benson and Milkins, I addressed 75
Superintendents and non-uniformed Managers at the State Library about
challenges currently facing the NSWFB, the KPMG review and our
response to it, and the current reform and restructure programs that
will ensure that together we will build a better Brigade. As an
organisation we have been largely insulated from the scale of change
that has impacted most other government agencies over the last 20
years. We have adopted an incremental ‘evolution not revolution’
approach which until now has been quite successful. Because of this,
rapid change can be very unsettling to individuals, particularly where
job roles are changing, where there is uncertainty about job tenure,
and where there is a lack of information. Together with the Deputy and
Assistant Commissioners and Directors I will be visiting as many
workplaces as possible in coming weeks and months to explain the many
positive changes that are happening or planned, and to seek feedback
and ideas about our future direction.
Women
and Firefighting Conference
Australasia
The
NSWFB and Victorian Country Fire Authority are co-hosting the 3rd
Australasian Women and Firefighting Conference from 22 to 24 July. The
venue in the Yarra Valley, Victoria, is near an area that was severely
impacted by the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. It was specifically
chosen to support the economic recovery of the local community. The
theme ‘Resurgence - Becoming Stronger’, will focus on exploring
the challenges and opportunities for women in the fire industry and
learning to harness skills, knowledge and support networks to build
personal and professional strength and recover from setbacks.
I
will be attending the conference, and will introduce a keynote
speaker, Christine Nixon APM, former Chief Commissioner of the
Victorian Police, former Assistant Commissioner of NSW Police, and
Chair of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority.
The other keynote speaker is the inspirational Janine Shepherd AM, who
fought to walk again after breaking her neck and back in a cycling
accident, then gained her pilot’s licence and became the first
female director of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Deputy
Captain Agnes Castaigns from 349 Kurri Kurri is presenting a paper
focussed on the theme ‘building strength from difference’, and Ret
FF Marina Findeis from 77 St Marys will make a presentation on behalf
of the FBEU. The NSWFB and FBEU are jointly funding about 20 delegates
to attend this conference, as both the Brigade and
Union
see workforce diversity as a key issue for fire services.
Bushfire
Risk in a Changing World
Earlier
this year, Professor Ross Bradstock, a leading Australian fire
scientist from the Centre for Environmental Risk Management of
Bushfires, at the
University
of
Wollongong
, delivered a fascinating lecture on climate change and the local and
global nature of fire. By permission of Professor Bradstock, this
presentation is now available on FireTube
to help firefighters gain an insight into what factors and research
drive the prevailing strategies, the global perspective when looking
forward and what the future holds for fire services and the community.
The
presentation is in four parts, approximately 15 minutes each, and
covers: bushfire risk and how we measure it, risks to people and
environment, risk mitigation, global change consequences of a warming
climate, increased CO2 and other factors.
Home
Fire Safety Audit
In
partnership with GIO, we are helping to ensure that NSW residents are
well equipped when it comes to reducing the risk of fires and
protecting their homes. Next week we will be launching our joint
online Home Fire Safety Audit tool which takes users through a virtual
residential home to get a better understanding of key fire risks.
Based on the user’s interactive responses, the Home Fire Safety
Audit then provides a personalised action plan that they can use to
significantly reduce the fire risks in their own home.
The
audit tool will also give the NSWFB important insights into the
community’s behaviour and fire awareness which will allow us to
measure changes in fire-related behaviours over time. Keep an eye on
the intranet for more information and the launch date and consider
doing the online audit of your own home. Following the official launch
you can let your local community know about this great interactive
resource.
Firefighter
Championships
The
seventh round of the 2009/10 NSWFB Firefighter Championship series
will be held at Port Macquarie on the weekend of 24-25 July. Twenty
NSWFB teams, as well as 1 from
Queensland
and two from the RFS will pit their wits, skill and strength against
each other as they battle it out for the number one spot.
Unfortunately I will not be able to attend the Championships, however
I wish all teams the best of luck.
Triple
Zero postage
Australia
Post has just launched a series of Triple Zero (000) themed stamps
aimed at raising awareness of how and when to call emergency services.
There are four stamps in the series – one each for the police, fire,
ambulance and
Australia
’s Emergency Call Service. The stamps are designed to remind the
community of how to correctly use the number, and when calling Triple
Zero to stay focused, stay relevant, and stay on the line. A range of
products is available through Australia Post including self-adhesive
booklets and rolls of stamps, along with a first day cover.
The
new stamps were proposed to Australia Post by the Triple Zero
Awareness Work Group following the inspiration of Deputy Captain Jenni
Mowbray of 220 Bellbird. Well done everyone, for bringing such an
important message into the community’s everyday focus.
NSWFB
and Board of Fire Commissioners Annual Reports archive
The
NSWFB Library now houses digitised Annual Reports of the NSW Fire
Brigades and Board of Fire Commissioners dating back to 1904 (missing
1905 only). The searchable archive provides access to digital copies,
and gives quite an insight into just how advanced our service has
become since the Metropolitan Fire Brigade was formed in 1884, and the
NSW Fire Brigades was formed in 1910.
Australian
Red Cross Blood Service calls for donations
The
winter blood drive for the Australian Red Cross Blood Service is
running until 27 August. The blood drive appeals to healthy donors to
help with the seasonal demands for blood and blood products as many
people become unable to donate due to winter colds and illness. See
the intranet article for more information.
INCIDENTS
The
need for first aid training in the community
Last
Saturday 10 July, my wife (a Registered Nurse) and I were driving to
Armidale when we came across a serious MVA in a remote location on the
Bucketts Way
near
Stratford
. We administered oxygen and rendered first aid to the vehicle’s
trapped occupant until the arrival of Ambulance Paramedics. 282
Dungog’s Rescue Pumper also responded and the crew were most
impressive in the professional manner in which they operated,
releasing the driver quickly so that he could be airlifted. Once
again, while watching the Dungog crew, I was reminded of how proud I
am to be the leader of a fire and rescue service that daily
demonstrates its professionalism and commitment to serving the
community. A disturbing aspect however was that a number of motorists
were standing around when we arrived, and none had a first aid kit or
first aid training. Luckily, a local farmer and school teacher were
trying to assist as best they could. Recently, I assisted St John
Ambulance with an awareness campaign aimed at encouraging members of
the community to do a first aid course. This incident highlighted to
me just how essential this message is. http://www.stjohnfirstaid.com.au
On a lighter note, Chief Supt Steve Pearce and I are vying for the
title of ‘top disaster magnet’. Both he and I have come across
literally dozens of fires, accidents and other emergencies over the
years where we have had to render first aid or assist in other ways.
6th
Alarm factory fire at
Smithfield
At
1814 hours on Saturday 3 July, firefighters from 41
Smithfield
, 73
Fairfield
and 72 Merrylands were dispatched to numerous 000 calls to a factory
alight at
Smithfield
. When crews arrived, they found a 30 x 50m single level factory well
alight, with an exposure in Sector D, and requested a 3rd Alarm. A
defensive firefighting strategy was implemented and the response
quickly escalated to a 6th Alarm as a thorough size-up was completed.
I responded, together with the Incident Management Team, and watched
with admiration as firefighters successfully prevented the spread of
the fire to the neighbouring chemical factory. This was particularly
noteworthy as the fire had already involved stacks of 200 litre drums
and a large LPG tank that were stored in the rear yard, resulting in
several explosions and the LPG tank venting and catching alight. Crews
remained on scene all night and the stop was sent at 0804 hours the
next day.
Wingham
Hotel fire
At
0117 hours on Monday 5 July, firefighters from 502 Wingham and 453
Taree responded to a fire at the Wingham Hotel, Wingham. On arrival,
the crew found that the historic hotel was already totally involved in
fire and beyond saving. Capt Dave O’Donnell established that the
occupants had all self-evacuated and established defensive
firefighting operations, ensuring the fire did not spread to a rear
shed or a neighbouring service station. Crews from 303
Gloucester
, 295 Foster, 358 Laurieton, 424 Port Macquarie, the local RFS, and
the ladder platform from 260
Newcastle
all attended, making a total of 55 firefighters in attendance. It
required 3 ground monitors, 2 lines of 70mm hose and the ladder
platform to extinguish the fire. The stop was sent by DC North Coast
Tony Lenthal at 0905 hours.
Bus
fire on the Gore Hill Freeway
At
1824 hours on Tuesday 6 July, firefighters from 36 Crows Nest
responded to an incident on the Gore Hill Freeway. When the 36 rescue
pumper arrived, SO Jim Ballantyne sent messages advising that there
was a bus well alight, and a 2nd Alarm was required for water supply.
Sydney Comms then responded 61 Lane Cove, 53 Neutral Bay and 40
Willoughby
who had to be escorted by Police to reach the scene due to traffic
gridlock. The incident attracted a lot of media attention due to it
occurring on a major road during the peak period. The NSWFB, Police,
Ambulance and RTA worked together closely as NSWFB crews quickly
extinguished the fire enabling two southbound and all northbound lanes
to be opened by 1926 hours. The 32 passengers on the tourist bus had
been safely evacuated by the driver and two off-duty police officers.
They were transported from the scene with an unexpected story to add
to their tales of what they saw and did when they visited
Australia
.
COMMISH’S
CORNER
- Commissioner’s
email: Commissioner@fire.nsw.gov.au
- Kerri
Raymond, A/Commissioner’s PA: 9265 2930
- To
contribute a story to the intranet, please contact the Public
Affairs and Communications Strategy Unit: 9265 2907