New Rescue Units
For anyone who missed my email last week, I announced that a new NSWFB Primary Rescue Unit came on line at 78 Dunheved in Sydney's western suburbs from midnight on 29 August. Following a review by the State Rescue Board, the area formerly serviced by the Penrith Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) has been divided into two. No. 78 Station has been assigned primary rescue responsibility for a large area to the east of The Northern Road, adjoined in the north by Hawkesbury SES rescue area, to the east by 63 Blacktown's rescue area, and to the south by 8 Liverpool's rescue area. The VRA at Penrith will continue to service areas west of The Northern Road.
In other State Rescue Board news, 80 Bundeena has been given preliminary accreditation as a Secondary Rescue Unit and will co-respond with the Primary unit from Caringbah (Ambulance Service of NSW) to rescues in the Royal National Park in southern Sydney from a date to be advised.
IT Restructure
The Business Systems and Information Technology (BSIT) Directorate is changing its name to Information Technology (IT). The Director, Richard Host, is leading a restructure that will improve delivery of IT systems and communications services to support the vision, values, purpose and programs of the NSWFB. My thanks to everybody in IT who always work hard to support the front line. More information on other changes is available on the intranet.
Reduced fire risk cigarettes one step closer
Following extensive work by the NSWFB (on behalf of AFAC), Standards Australia, the tobacco industry, fire protection industry and CSIRO, a draft Australian standard for reduced fire risk cigarettes has been released for public comment. Chief Superintendent Jim Smith represents AFAC on the Standards Committee, and has worked tirelessly on this project.
Minister Kelly has been a strong supporter of this important NSWFB initiative, and it is pleasing to see we are closer to these specialised cigarettes, which are designed to self-extinguish when they are not being smoked. Every other fire service in Australia has supported the initiative, as have Emergency Services Ministers from every state and territory.
Interested parties and members of the public can provide comment on draft Australian Standard DR 06483 - Determination of the Extinction Propensity of Cigarettes via the Standards Australia web site http://www.standards.org.au/ by 6 October 2006. Read more in the intranet story.
State Championships launch
Yesterday Deputy Commissioner John Benson represented me at the media launch for the NSWFB Firefighter State Championships 2006. The Championships will be held from 21-27 October at Port Macquarie and traditionally enjoy great community support. The event was a great success with many media outlets showing interest in covering the Championships. I would remind all teams who have not yet entered to send their forms to the Firefighter Championships Association. I look forward to meeting with all the competitors in October.
NSWFB/AAMI Spring Safety Calendar launch
On Tuesday, Assistant Commissioner Murray Kear, Director Risk Management, represented me at the launch of the NSWFB/AAMI Spring Community Fire Safety Calendar at Wollongong Fire Station. By all accounts it was a successful event, and thank you to everyone in Community Risk Management and Illawarra Area Management for their role in it.
The safety topic for September is Spring Clean for A Safer Home. Use the materials on the intranet to encourage the community to use their annual spring clean to remove fire hazards in and around the home, such as disused furniture, piles of paper, and unwanted chemicals.
Coming to the aid of the Dubbo Community
Congratulations to the crews at 280 Dubbo, who recently demonstrated yet again the community spirit for which the NSWFB is renowned. In a 24-hour period the 280’s social club donated $500 to radio station STAR FM’s charity drive, ‘Give me five for kids’, for the Children’s Ward at Dubbo Base Hospital. They also donated $900 to the West Dubbo Pre School, which was destroyed by fire on Tuesday 22 August. Crews spent the greater part of the shift on Wednesday 23 August, along with Inspector Greg Lewis and Superintendent Neil Harris, salvaging and decontaminating toys and learning equipment as well as critical records/files for the pre school.
Bluey Day
Thank you to all those people who participated in Bluey Day events and donated money towards this worthwhile cause, and to Jim Smith for his coordination role. People who have pledged donations can pay them via NSWFB Employees Credit Union Bluey Day Account #97944 (S1 Account) BSB # 802825. Peter Murgatroyd also has a Credit Union Account for his shave off - NSWFB Employees Credit Union Bluey Day Account #113523 (S1 Account) BSB # 802825.
Retained Firefighter Alerting System
Upgrades to the system are complete and retained firefighters can now choose how many alerts they receive by phone. See the intranet for more information.
Notification of Events
Please be aware that our Events Co-ordinator, Maree James, is to be advised of all events you are planning where you would like to have senior officer attendance from Head Office. Maree is an excellent source of information and will be able to help schedule your event so that it does not clash with the many functions attended by the Deputy Commissioners and I. Please also refer to the electronic events calendar located on the intranet homepage.
Hard work and dedication recognised
Congratulations to the six NSWFB employees who received awards at an investiture ceremony at Government House I attended yesterday. The NSW Governor, Professor Marie Bashir AC, presented the Public Service Medal (PSM) to Nick Nicolopoulos, NSWFB Manager of Strategic Information Services. Governor Bashir also presented Chief Superintendent Michael Hurley, Inspector Bill Powell, Inspector Bob Aspinall, Leading Firefighter Greg Watson and Captain Bill Lenthall from Macksville with the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM). The PSM and AFSM are among the highest honours that government employees can receive and recognise the hard work and dedication of these individuals.
Memorandum enhances cooperation between the NSWFB and the Country Fire Authority of Victoria
On Tuesday, I signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the NSWFB and the Country Fire Authority of Victoria (CFA) with CFA CEO Neil Bibby. The Memorandum establishes protocols for joint emergency management, joint service delivery and mutual aid between the NSWFB and CFA. It will enable a better and coordinated response of resources from each fire service along the NSW-Victorian border. The Memorandum formalises our existing relationship with the CFA and ensures we will continue to work cooperatively to deal with what is shaping up as a major bushfire season. Read more in the intranet story.
RUMOUR MILL
Rumour: It seems that there are a lot of thermal imaging cameras in the Sydney area. Why does N3 only have two thermal imaging cameras, one attached to HAZMAT 260? What do we have to do to get more thermal imaging cameras for the pumpers in the area considering Zone N3 has 23 stations covering a large area?
Response: Last year we had funding of $250,000 to purchase 10 TICs, two of which were for replacement of unserviceable units. This year, following a successful submission to Treasury, we have been given funding of $775,000 to purchase 31 TICs. This equates to 18 new units and 13 replacement units. Specialised Operations will be liaising with Area and Zone Managers to establish a priority list for allocation, taking into account level of risk, history of incidents and proximity to existing TICs.
Rumour: Is it true that the NSWFB is investigating the possibility of members swiping their NSWFB ID cards on fire station equipment to indicate attendance at work and then linking this to the Inspectors work stations and AIRS data?
Response: No, and there are no plans to do so in the future.
Rumour: Is the rumour true that the NSWFB pays for flying lessons for one of its Senior Officers?
Response: No, the NSWFB does not pay for flying lessons for any of its members.
Rumour: The latest Union circular said that the Commissioner (“its most senior executive”) received a 14% wage increase last year. Why do firefighters have to struggle to achieve increases while executives get such huge increases handed out to them?
Response: If the Union circular was referring to the Commissioner or any other “senior executive” in the NSWFB, it is simply untrue. In 2005 the Commissioner received an increase of 4%, following a performance review by the Minister. This increase was exactly the same as that contained in the 2005 award for both PFF and RETF.
INCIDENTS
Warehouse Fire, Alexandria - 30 August 2006
Woolooware marina blaze
MVA at Albion Park Rail
EVENTS
RescuED a big hit in Shellharbour
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