COMMISH’S CORNER

GENERAL

Encouraging drivers to move out of the way

Last Friday I joined Minister Michael Gallacher and representatives from the other emergency services at a press conference to urge drivers to move out of the way of emergency vehicles travelling under lights and sirens. The message follows concerns raised by many firefighters and other emergency service workers about drivers not providing clear passage for vehicles responding to incidents. One of the initiatives we've implemented to alert drivers of the need to move out of the way is the new air horn that we're installing on some existing and new fire appliances. We are hoping these new air horns, with their distinctive sound, will further draw the attention of drivers and pedestrians to appliances travelling under lights and sirens. Another area of review at present is "rumbler" sirens which give 20 second bursts of low frequency noise, in tandem with the normal siren. The rumbler is felt rather than heard and may be useful when people have windows closed, air-conditioning on, and the stereo turned up. City of Sydney Flyer trialled the new air horn, and it is planned to trial a rumbler siren on COS Runner.

Getting ready for the bushfire danger season

July proved to be one of the driest, and the hottest, ever recorded. The Westerly winds have started and grasslands from Blacktown to the Central West are "crisping up" due to a number of frosts. While modeling by the Bureau of Meteorology at present does not suggest a severe bushfire season is imminent, as we saw last year just a week of hot, dry weather can drastically change things. Last week the RFS held a major statewide multi-agency exercise simulating a day of Extreme bushfire danger with multiple major fires, including in FRNSW areas such as Lane Cove National Park. Senior FRNSW officers and support staff worked at RFS State Operations and in our own fire control centres as the scenarios unfolded. This was a useful learning experience which highlighted a number of areas for focus by Operational Capability and Metropolitan Operations prior to the main danger period.  

Pride of the Illawarra awards

Last Friday night I attended the 2013 Rotary Pride of the Illawarra Awards with Zone Commander Illawarra Steve Baker. The awards night, held at the University of Wollongong, recognises the exemplary efforts of paid and volunteer emergency service workers across the Illawarra.
Nominees from seven emergency service agencies in the Illawarra and around 400 guests and agency dignitaries attended the gala dinner. The FRNSW finalists were SO Andrew Erlik from Wollongong, A/Capt. and President of the Firefighter Championship Association Greg Fredericks from Balgownie and Capt. Peter Mitchell and Deputy Capt.Terry Dryburgh, both from Kiama.
During the evening, 23 finalists representing all emergency services were announced, with Station Officer Andrew Erlik progressing to the final round. Snr Constable Robert Minns from the NSW Police Force was overall winner of the paid category, and Sandra Heurs from the RFS won the volunteer category. Due to the success of this program, the combined Rotary Clubs of the Illawarra are now expanding the program to other clubs across NSW to enhance public awareness and recognise the efforts of emergency services workers. My congratulations go to all the nominees, especially our FRNSW representatives.

Presenting medals in the west

It was my pleasure to personally present medals to firefighters from Dubbo, Delroy and Gilgandra on my recent Central West tour of stations. Congratulations to medal recipients Insp. Jeremy Fewtrell, Duty Commander RW1(National Medal); SF Brett Slavin and RFF Scott Drady, Dubbo (both receiving Long Service and Good Conduct Medals); RFF Wayne Redfern, Dubbo (2nd Clasp to National Medal); Capt. Bernie Reid, Delroy (2nd Clasp to Long Service and Good Conduct Medal); and RFF Terry Nangle. Gilgandra (3^rd Clasp to the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal). .

New Corporate Plan released

After a comprehensive process of consultation within FRNSW and with external partners across Government, the FRNSW Corporate Plan 2013-2017 and the Future Outlook – Future Directions for Fire & Rescue NSW Towards 2033 have now been released. The consultation process included a survey, responded to by nearly 1300 staff, a video conference linking 220 participants in six locations across NSW, online discussion boards, and publication of working papers and Corporate Plan drafts on the FRNSW intranet for comment. Interviews were held with senior staff from other key State government agencies including the NSW Rural Fire Service, NSW State Emergency Service, Ambulance Service of NSW and NSW Police Force.
The new Corporate Plan sets out our vision, mission, values, priorities and strategies to ensure that FRNSW provides an effective service to the people of NSW and continues to be recognised as a leading emergency service in Australia and internationally. It will be implemented through annual Directorate Business Plans for 2013/14. The performance of FRNSW in actioning the new Corporate Plan will be reported each year through the Annual Report.

Inspector Promotional Program Pre-Entry Test

On 1 August I emailed all staff to give an update on developments in the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) regarding proposed changes to the IPP Pre-Entry Test. The IRC is attempting to conciliate between the parties and the matter will go to the IRC on Monday 19 August for further mention. I regret that this dispute has resulted in the closing date for Station Officers to submit their applications being put on hold. I know many SOs who are considering applying to become Inspectors are disappointed with the delay and FRNSW has impressed upon the IRC the need to resolve this matter as quickly as possible. I am committed to improving the Inspector Promotional Program Pre-Entry Test based on the overwhelming positive feedback from Station Officers on the proposed changes, and almost unanimous view that the old test is onerous and unproductive. A further update will be provided after the IRC conciliation next Monday.

Staffing changes at Holmesville Fire Station

On Monday last week I announced planned staffing changes at Holmesville Fire Station to enable the deployment of 16 permanent firefighters into the Newcastle and Hunter network to fill absences, reduce overtime cost over-runs, and to reduce the number of retained fire stations being taken temporarily offline. There are no plans for changes at other fire stations – Holmesville's response workload has remained lower than most retained fire stations in Newcastle, and the staff are being under-utilised. For more information click here.

World Police and Fire Games

Congratulations to all FRNSW athletes competing at the World Police and Fire Games in Belfast, Ireland this month. I was very impressed to hear of the prowess in the pool of Chief Supt. Ken Murphy, Inspector Stephen Jones, Inspector Phil Sheedy and Supt. Lindsay West, who between them managed to win an impressive 17 medals on the second day of competition. Station Officer Bill King from Mosman, at 74 years of age, won Silver in the 2000 metres indoor rowing event. For updates on the Games you can visit their website at www.2013wpfg.com. A great effort from our FRNSW athletes attending the Games. This year there were 27 members from FRNSW competing.

City-to-Surf

Last Saturday in spectacular Sydney sunshine, a contingent of 11 FRNSW athletes joined colleagues from Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade along with 85,000 other competitors in running the annual City to Surf Race. While finishing times were fiercely competitive, so too was the battle for the FRNSW/MFB City-to-Surf Shield Trophy.
This year the trophy, based on a team's three fastest times, was wrested from the MFB's grasp. FRNSW representative QF Brett Bond from Katoomba recorded the fastest time of 57 minutes 27 seconds. Retired FRNSW Inspector Ted Thompson AFSM has competed in every City-to-Surf since it started, and this year was no exception.
The athletes and their families took advantage of the warm weather and enjoyed a picnic of salad sandwiches on Bondi Beach afterwards. Congratulations to all those from FRNSW who competed.

INCIDENTS

Oil spill on M5 East

Last Thursday at around 0800 hours a major hydraulic oil spill occurred on the M5 East. The spill ran from the Cooks River exit to the end of the tunnel, approximately five kilometres in length. An accident involving a motorbike rider slipping on the spill about one kilometre into the tunnel alerted M5 staff to the spill. The incident led to the Cooks River Bridge, M5 East Tunnel westbound lanes and the westbound entrance to Marsh St being closed to traffic, and diversions put in place while the spill was cleaned up.
Firefighters along with Roads and Maritime Services crews used drysorb and sphagsorb to soak up the spill. FRNSW resources responding were P35 Botany, P29 Arncliffe, P26 Mascot, HP13 Alexandria and P56 Matraville. Duty Commander and Zone Commander MS2 also responded. Police and M5 workers were also on scene to assist. The motorbike rider was taken to hospital. The M5 East was reopened to traffic just before midday after crews finished cleaning up.

Spate of residential fires continues

Last Commissioner's Corner I urged everyone to continue promoting our winter fire safety messages in light of the continuing number of residential fires.
Unfortunately this tragic trend has continued. In the last two weeks, 155 residential fires - 117 house fires and 38 unit fires - have occurred, causing at least one death, numerous injuries and hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. FRNSW fire data shows that more than 60% of home fire deaths occur during the cooler months of May to September. Since January this year, kitchen fires have accounted for 62% of all residential fires. A third of these were caused by cooking catching alight. The peak time of day for home fires was between 5pm and 7pm.
Early last week FRNSW responded to two residential fires that attracted considerable media attention. Late afternoon on Monday 5 August at a fire in a 3-storey unit block at Bexley, one adult and a child were taken to hospital with smoke inhalation, with 50 people also being evacuated. At Liverpool around 0230 hours next morning, one man suffered burns and another six people were treated for smoke inhalation after another unit fire. This second fire is suspected to have been started by a candle left unattended. I provided media comment following these incidents, and FRNSW issued a media release. 
I encourage all firefighters to continue spreading the message to their local communities not to leave home fire safety to chance. The best way for people to keep their family out of harm's way and identify potential risks is by doing a FRNSW/GIO online home fire safety audit, and to make sure they have working smoke alarms and a practised home escape plan.

Fatal house fire, Engadine

At approximately 0330 hours on Wednesday 14 August, crews from 33 Engadine, 46 Sutherland and 90 Menai responded to a house fire at Caldarra Avenue, Engadine. The single level brick and tile house had a fire in the loungeroom. Two people, a young man and his girlfriend, had self-evacuated but were unable to save the male's parents who were trapped inside. Crews commenced search and rescue with the aid of a Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC) in extremely difficult conditions. The smoke was very heavy due to a lack of ventilation because of roller shutters on the windows and a security door which was locked from the inside, making access difficult and the heat intense. The bedroom from which firefighters removed the two trapped people was dangerously close to a flashover. Firefighters were able to quickly locate and remove the two people and get them to waiting Paramedics on scene for treatment. Unfortunately they were unable to save the 65-year-old male who was pronounced deceased at about 0450 hours at St George Hospital. A 62-year-old female was transported to Concord Hospital where she remains in a critical condition. FIRU are investigating the cause of the fatal fire but have confirmed there was no working smoke alarm in the house. My congratulations to all crews for their rescue of the couple in difficult circumstances.

Blue Mountains horse rescue

Just before 1100 hours on Tuesday 13 August, FRNSW crews were called to a horse rescue on a rural property at Lawson. The 20-year-old mare had been missing for several days before her owners finally located her lying on her side, bogged and trapped in a muddy creek. Crews from 359 Lawson and 343 Katoomba attended with Police Rescue and the RSPCA, working for several hours to free the horse, Kiparra, using the Police Rescue winch and rescue glide.
Firefighters supplied the manpower to drag the horse up onto the rescue glide, carving a smooth ramp out of the creek bed to assist in her removal. Police Rescue's electric winch was utilised to drag the rescue glide with the horse securely fastened, clear of the creek to solid ground where the RSPCA and attending veterinarian could assess her condition.
It took a few hours and a number of attempts after being removed from the creek for Kiparra to be able to stand, when she was then loaded onto a float and transferred to RSPCA horse stables at Yarramundi for treatment and recovery. Latest reports are that she is doing well, on her feet and feeding.

3rd Alarm factory fire at Greenacre

At 0214 hours on Saturday 10 August, crews were called to a tyre factory fire at Claremont Avenue and Brunker Road, Greenacre. First arriving crews quickly escalated the call to a 3^rd Alarm . The building was well alight and offensive fire attack operations commenced. The factory, known as Claremont Wheel Power sustained extensive damage and 500 tyres, 1000 assorted aluminium and mag wheels and 2 motor vehicles were destroyed by fire, heat and smoke. The rear of the building was saved but structure damage to the steel beams at the front of the building was sustained. There were no casualties or evacuations. The stop message was sent at 1253 hours.

ASK THE COMMISSIONER

Q. I am aware that there are rescue/extrication gloves on the market that offer superior protection, dexterity and are easier to work with than the current issued GP glove which are very difficult to work with.
It is necessary to remove the gloves during some operations, which can place the operator at risk of injury which contravenes the Work Health and Safety Act and Regulations 2011.
Is it possible for rescue qualified firefighters to be supplied with a glove that was specifically designed for rescue work?
If not, can rescue qualified firefighters source their own gloves, provided they comply with any relevant Australian standards?
A. The answer to your first question is - yes it is possible. Please forward your suggestion to our Equipment Research & Design Section (9742 7174) and it will be investigated and recommendations made to the relevant directors. The outcome will depend on whether the benefits exceed the cost and will be prioritised against other competing priorities.
The answer to your second question is no. All equipment goes through a rigorous testing, trialling and validation procedure supported by recommended practices and worksheets where necessary. This process forms a vital part of our Safety Management System. Allowing or condoning the purchase of equipment by individuals outside this process could lead to unsafe practices.
Commissioner's email: Commissioner@fire.nsw.gov.au
Sandra Garcia, EA to Commissioner: 9265 2930