Commissioner

Official opening of 78 Station Ropes Crossing

On 11 November, the Minister for Emergency Services, David Elliott MP, joined me to officially open the new $3.4 million Ropes Crossing Fire Station. The former Dunheved Fire Station has been renamed and relocated to improve response coverage in this rapidly growing area of western Sydney which will also benefit from the pending relocation of 32 Mt Druitt. The new 2-storey station has a double engine bay, a pole for rapid response from the top floor, and all of the amenities that we now expect as standard in a modern facility including separate male / female facilities. For more information and photos, see the intranet story.

Quakers Hill Nursing Home fire – five years on

Last Friday was the 5th anniversary of the tragic Quakers Hill Nursing Home fire on 18 November 2011, which led to the deaths of at least 14 residents. This was one of the most tragic and shocking fires in NSW’s history, and highlighted the vulnerability of mobility-impaired and bedridden residents of aged care facilities.

Many people’s lives were affected by this fire; residents, staff and families who will never forget what happened, and our hearts still go out to them in sympathy. Amongst those affected by the tragic scene and events that day are all of the emergency responders, particularly the firefighters who braved an intense fire to locate and rescue dozens of frail, elderly people. It is certainly a scene that I will never forget, although I wish that I could.

From every tragedy, hopefully some good eventually follows. I am therefore pleased to say that over the last five years, we have used the lessons learned on that day to implement changes that will reduce the fire risk for residents of aged care facilities across NSW.

Largely as a result of investigations carried out by our Fire Investigation and Research Unit, laws came into effect in 2013 requiring sprinklers to be installed in all aged care facilities. Our Community Safety Directorate was actively involved in implementing these laws and as at 1 April 2016, more than 93% of aged care facilities in NSW are protected by sprinklers. This is an outstanding achievement and a lasting change that will benefit the entire community.

In March 2015, the Deputy State Coroner handed down the inquest findings which spoke glowingly of FRNSW and recognised the difficulties faced and overcome by all who responded. The Coroner also recommended a number of actions which FRNSW has now fully implemented. I commend all FRNSW staff who contributed to ensuring that residents of aged care facilities are better protected from fire and that firefighters are better prepared to deal with emergencies in these facilities. For more details about the changes made and the recently produced lessons learned video, see the intranet story.

Bushfire season – a warning of what may lie ahead

Despite a relatively slow start to the bushfire season, we have already seen a number of significant bushfires. Over the first weekend in November, we responded to at least five major bushfires, two of which resulted in emergency declarations under S.44 of the Rural Fires Act. The following weeks brought more high temperatures and bushfires in the Greater Sydney Area. These have tested both our own response capability and the coordination of our efforts with the NSWRFS.

I note that today the drought index for Sydney reached 100, an “extreme” rating, and the level at which I start to get concerned about the possibility of significant “campaign” fires. In 1993 we had a not dissimilar build up to a late fire season, which saw hundreds of homes lost over an extended period of heatwave from early January. Weather patterns are not the same as back then, but they could quickly deteriorate – we need to be ready for whatever comes our way.

Therefore I once again urge all officers to work with your crews to review bushfire operational readiness and procedures and ensure that all required safety gear required for protracted deployments is correctly stowed and ready for use. Drive around and have a look at hazardous areas in your station areas noting fuel loads, traditional fire paths, and water supplies, including static supplies. Take a leaf from the book of 460 The Entrance and speak to your local RFS brigades to build on a strong relationship – why not organise a joint drill or BBQ and draw on the knowledge of FRNSW and RFS “old timers” (maybe you could consider inviting along experienced retired members?). Above all, don’t be blasé about what could rapidly deteriorate into a serious, and dangerous season.

Summer fire safety messages

Summer is right around the corner but as we all know, house fires can and do still happen over the warmer months. The Media and Communications Unit (MCU) has worked with Community Safety to prepare a series of template media releases to help crews spread summer home fire safety messages via local media, social media, community activities and station noticeboards. All the releases are available in the Media Kit on the intranet (Toolkits > Organisation Wide > Media Kit). If you have any questions or need assistance, contact the Media Team on 9265 2907 or media@fire.nsw.gov.au.

FRNSW commencing further PFAS environmental investigations at five sites

Over the next few weeks we will commence the next stage of the environmental investigation to identify the extent and levels of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from legacy use of AFFF foams at our Armidale, Albion Park, Deniliquin, Alexandria and Greenacre sites. The investigation is part of our review of facilities where old firefighting foams containing PFAS were stored, used or disposed of. A specialist environmental consultant is conducting the investigation which will commence shortly and is expected to last 12 weeks. FRNSW is committed to being open and transparent about the investigation and will update staff as the investigation progresses.

PFAS are an emerging contaminant, which means that they do not have established health standards and their ecological and/or human health effects are unclear. FRNSW is working closely with the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), NSW Health and other authorities, to further understand any effects of the historical use of firefighting foam containing PFAS.

Further information on PFAS and the investigation program can be found on the EPA website at www.epa.nsw.gov.au/Mediainformation/pfasinvestigation.htm. If you have specific questions about FRNSW’s investigation program, contact the project team at pfasinvestigation@fire.nsw.gov.au.

Conference discusses how to create diverse and inclusive workplaces

On 16 November I travelled to Canberra as an invited speaker at the ‘Public Sector Women in Leadership Conference’. The conference highlighted methods for providing equal opportunity through inspirational messages from women who have overcome adversity and from men who are championing change. The speakers, who were drawn from a range of government agencies, shared the strategies and business practices which they had put in place to promote gender equality in their organisations and to create inclusive and equitable workplaces. The audience was very interested in what the fire services, particularly FRNSW and ACT Fire & Rescue, are doing in the equity and diversity space.

80 Bundeena firefighters graduate as Community First Responders

On 22 October the crew from 80 Bundeena graduated in Certificate II in Emergency Medical Response. The station has been carrying out Community First Response (CFR) since 2008 and around 45% of their calls are now CFR related. Half of the crew were given recognition of prior learning on some of the subjects and completed other subjects during regular training sessions. New crew members attained their certification through a two-week course with several practical exams at the end and mandatory skills maintenance. In total, 17 firefighters graduated.

The graduation was attended by senior management from FRNSW and Ambulance NSW. Chief Supt Craig Brierley, Area Commander Metro South, and NSW Ambulance Superintendent Sue Webster spoke about the program’s importance and the relationship between the two services at both the local and organisation-wide levels. RetF David Willis also described his experience in becoming a CFR-qualified firefighter. For more information, see the intranet story.

Recognising our CFU members on International Volunteer Day

5 December is International Volunteer Day, a global celebration of volunteering. Our Community Fire Unit (CFU) members are among the more than six million Australians who contribute to their local communities as volunteers. We originally set up the CFU program following the devastating 1994 bushfires. The program has grown steadily and today comprises more than 6,000 volunteer members operating in approximately 580 units in both metropolitan and regional areas. CFU volunteers are trained in how to prepare themselves, their families and homes ahead of the bushfire season; how to make informed decisions about whether to leave early or stay and defend their property when bushfires threaten; and how to mop up and deal with embers before and after a fire front passes. I thank all of our CFU volunteers for their commitment and support in increasing bushfire awareness, preparedness and resilience in their local communities.

Annual report now available online

Our 2015/16 Annual Report is now available online. The report highlights our performance across the broad range of services we provide to the community, outlined against the five strategic directions set out in our current Corporate Plan. It provides a useful snapshot of our service, and highlights both the challenges we are facing and our many achievements over the last 12 months. Click on the following links to access the report on our intranet and internet websites.

9th Alarm bushfire at Lansdowne

Once again we have been reminded of what may lie ahead for us in the summer months ahead. On Sunday 13 November at 1416 hrs we received the first of many calls to a quickly developing grass fire in the Lansdowne Reserve near Naughton Street at Lansdowne.

85 Chester Hill was first on scene and reported a large area of bush alight that was developing quickly due to strong winds, high temperature and low humidity. Within a few minutes the fire had jumped a fire break and a 2nd Alarm was initially requested. Strong erratic winds continued to push the fire towards multiple houses in a number of surrounding streets and further assistance was requested.

The firefighting operation was hampered by a lack of suitable water supplies combined with a burst water main in nearby Lucinda Avenue. To complicate matters even more, firefighters became aware of sightseers and pedestrians entering a number of walking tracks that led directly into the vicinity of the growing fire. Police were called to urgently to close down the surrounding streets and evacuate the many pedestrians within the bushland reserve.

The response grew to a 9th Alarm as the fire continued to escalate and began impinging on the rear of a number of houses. At the height of the fire the RFS, in consultation with FRNSW, issued a “Watch and Act” alert via SMS and landline, advising residents to “shelter in place”. The RFS also responded several tankers together with a bulk water tanker to the incident and arranged an aerial helicopter attack. With the coordinated efforts of all involved, crews successfully defended the many houses that backed onto the large reserve area. The 15ha fire was finally brought under control by about 1730 hrs with blacking out operations continuing for most of the evening.

It was a great effort by all involved with no reports of any property damage or injuries, however the fire was another clear reminder that crews need to ensure they are prepared and ready for the predicted difficult bushfire season ahead.

3rd Alarm building fire in Queanbeyan

At 0940 hrs on Sunday 20 November Queanbeyan firefighters were alerted to a fire in a tyre service facility in Stephens Road, Queanbeyan. As soon as 428 Queanbeyan responded from their station they could see the quickly developing plume of thick black smoke and immediately requested resources from ACT Fire and Rescue to assist.

When they arrived on scene they were confronted with a large area of stacked tyres well alight and there were additional fears that an LPG cylinder could explode. The first priority was to protect the nearby building complex however crews had to withdraw from the building due to live solar panels on the roof which couldn’t be isolated. There were also concerns that a number of residents in nearby Lorn Road were being directly impacted by the thick smoke plume which was now visible for many kilometres across the region. Residents were advised to remain in doors with their windows closed.

ACT Fire and Rescue responded an aerial appliance together with a BA support vehicle, several Pumpers, two specialist CAFS units, and a senior officer, and played a major role in bringing the fire quickly under control within about one hour. The NSWRFS also responded resources to assist during the incident. About 20 workers were evacuated safely from surrounding businesses as a precaution.

Despite the large fire which destroyed multiple tyres, damage to the nearby building was limited to an awning at the rear of the building. A forklift was later brought in to break apart the large mass of tyres and allow final extinguishment later that evening. The use of CAFS via ground and aerial appliances was a decisive factor.

The owner of the tyre business, Mr Andrew Douglas, told media that the damage bill could have been far worse had it not been for the great work of the firefighters who quickly contained the fire. "We're extremely lucky," Mr Douglas said. "If it had got to the main warehouse we'd be finished."

Unfortunately, it appears as though the fire was deliberately lit and ACT Police are currently questioning two 12-year-old boys who were seen running from the scene shortly before the fire started.

The fire highlights the excellent cooperative firefighting arrangements we have with ACT Fire and Rescue, who in recent weeks have also assisted at major structure fires in Goulburn, and I wish to thank all responding crews, including our interstate colleagues for another successful save.

Q: Could you advise when the new MSA SCBA sets will be sent to my station so I can complete Part B of the training?

A: If you have already completed Part A found in the Learning Hub – well done. As you have identified, you must complete Part B (the station drill) with a new MSA SCBA set. You cannot complete this part using an existing Draeger set. MSA sets are scheduled to be rolled out across the State by mid-December to allow firefighters to complete Part B. However, the MSA sets will only replace the Draeger sets and become operational once 90% of attached station staff have completed all stages of the training package.

For more information about the new MSA sets, including details of the two-part training and Q&As, see the toolkit (Toolkits > Operational > Equipment > Hazmat Equipment > SCBA).

Q: Why haven’t we been advised who the new Commissioner is yet? It is common knowledge in fire stations who has been selected, so why not just confirm it?

A: Congratulations! You must be psychic, as the selection panel convened by the NSW Government to select the 22nd Chief Officer / Commissioner has not yet held any interviews. A useful tip: don’t believe “27’s truckie” all the time. The fire station rumour mill has, believe it or not, been known to be wrong (sorry – “inaccurate”) in the past. Interviews to select my replacement will not be completed until early December and hopefully a announcement will be made before Christmas.