COMMISH’S CORNER

Friday 13 February 2009 Number 457
The Rumour Mill No (02) 9265 2627

CURRENT NATIONAL SECURITY ALERT LEVEL : MEDIUM

Victorian bushfires

Today, I have been in Victoria at the Country Fire Authority (CFA) command centre. Like all of Australia, I am shocked and dismayed at the level of death and destruction that the bushfires have caused.

Firefighters, other emergency service personnel, government agencies and volunteer organisations have been working around the clock to respond to the disaster and help bushfire affected communities.

On Sunday, we deployed two Strike Teams crewed by 40 retained firefighters from Regional South and West to Victoria to assist with the fire fighting effort and NSWFB firefighters have been predominantly located near the township of Yea.

We have also provided liaison and logistics staff to the CFA Headquarters in Victoria, incident management team personnel, and a team of fire investigation and research experts.

On Wednesday, firefighters from the same areas headed to Victoria to relieve their colleagues, and the CFA has indicated the likelihood that a further 72 hour deployment will be required.

Our offer of a USAR response team has been declined, however any other requests received from our Victorian colleagues for fire fighting or other forms of assistance will be filled if within our capability.

This is by far Australia’s worst bushfire disaster. Victoria has seen many bushfire emergencies, with major fires in 1851, Black Friday in January 1939 (more than 1 000 homes destroyed and 50 dead), and Ash Wednesday in 1983 (around 2 000 homes destroyed and 49 dead). In 1967 fires in Hobart destroyed 1 400 homes and left 62 dead. However the weather conditions experienced last week were the worst ever recorded, and the ferocity of the fires unparalleled. The staggering loss of life and property will be studied and no doubt many lessons will be learned. We will assist in the research and seek to adopt the learnings that come from this terrible disaster.


Bushfire appeal

We have also set up an account with the NSWFB Credit Union and all staff can make contributions to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund. As at Friday morning, we have raised an incredible $16 641. At an appropriate
time we will make a one off donation on behalf of all firefighters and staff to the 2009 Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund and I am sure that all NSWFB staff will contribute generously to help our fellow Australians in their hour of need.



NSWFB commemorates 125 years of service to the community

This year, the NSWFB commemorates 125 years of service to the NSW community since the formation of the Fire Brigades Board on 14 February 1884, and 100 years since the creation of the Board of Fire Commissioners under the Fire Brigades Act, on 1 December 1909. 

We have come a long way since our humble beginnings and are now Australia’s largest urban fire and rescue service and the world’s fifth largest, with 339 fire stations located across the state, more than 600 fire appliances, 6 800 full‑time and part‑time professional firefighters, supported by 380 administration and trades staff and 5 500 Community Fire Unit volunteers. 

Our firefighters now do much more than just provide rapid response to fires and other emergencies. We attend rescues, chemical spills, storms and floods and firefighters are making people more aware of fire safety with education programs such as FireEd, RescueEd, and the Smoke Alarm Battery Replacement scheme for the Elderly. In a handful of locations we also operate as community first responders to provide rapid life‑saving
response until arrival of the NSW Ambulance Service.

The NSWFB is the lead agency for hazardous materials incidents and managing the consequences of counter terrorism where they involve fire, CBR or USAR operations. We have 180 accredited rescue units and our
expertise in urban search anWe also work with other government agencies to minimise the impact of
bushfires, storms, floods, landslides, building collapse, car accidents and other emergencies.

The NSWFB has responded to some of Australia’s most devastating fire and emergency situations and is a vital part of the state’s emergency response capability. Major incidents including the Granville rail disaster, the 1994 Bowlers Club fire in Sydney’s central business district, the Waterfall and Glenbrook derailments, the Down Under
Backpacker Hostel fire, the Newcastle Earthquake, Thredbo landslide, Sydney hailstorm, and major bushfires in 1925, 1939, 1944, 1957, 1968, 1977, 1979, 1990, 1994, 2001, 2002 and the present emergency in Victoria
highlight the expertise, courage and dedication of NSWFB firefighters.

We have also been called on by other states and international neighbours to assist them in their time of need and we have been able to assist the USA, Taiwan, Turkey, Thailand, New Zealand, The Maldives, Sri Lanka, the
Solomon Islands and Indonesia in sharing our fire investigation skills, administering training to foreign fire departments and helping to tackle major incidents such as bushfires in the USA, earthquakes in Taiwan,
Turkey and Indonesia, and the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. 

A key part of our work is to continue to expand our work in community education and fire prevention, targeting all sectors of the diverse NSW community as we strive to build community resilience by providing the people of NSW with the skills and knowledge they need to prepare for and prevent fires and other emergencies. Community Fire Units in particular are providing communities living on the state’s urban fringe with the skills and equipment to defend their homes against ember attack.

We have a proud history and traditions and are highly respected by the community because of the reliability, professionalism and courage of firefighters. Through the efforts of today’s firefighters and support staff and those who follow, the NSWFB will prosper and continue to serve and protect the people of NSW. Thank you and congratulations to all members of the service.


5th Alarm bushfire in Lane Cove National Park

NSWFB firefighters have also been dealing with bushfires around NSW. On Friday 6 February, firefighters from 10 stations across Sydney responded to a bushfire in the Lane Cove National Park. This was a challenging fire due to variable wind conditions, several fires burning in areas which were difficult to access, a heavy fuel load and numerous properties requiring protection. By nightfall, firefighters had contained the blaze and crews patrolled the area throughout the night. The following day firefighters extinguished the remaining pockets of fire and carried out blacking-out operations. Several NSWFB Community Fire Units were activated, providing firefighters with excellent support in extinguishing spot fires and protecting their homes from ember attack. In total, 22 stations from across Sydney, assisted by firefighters from the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the RFS,
including water-bombing helicopters, responded to this fire.


Peat’s Ridge bushfire

On Saturday 7 February, firefighters from the Central Coast responded to a bushfire on Nardoo Road, Peat’s Ridge, to provide assistance to the RFS. On arrival, firefighters were immediately tasked by the Wyong RFS
Group Officer to provide urgent assistance to a farmer whose paddocks were under ember attack. Sheds, farmhouses and equipment were all threatened. Firefighters battled a number of spot fires, and with the
assistance of a Heli Aust Helicopter which was water bombing the area, the crew were able to gain the upper hand and control the outbreaks. With numerous fires burning in the area, firefighters conducted some back-burning operations and were assigned to taskforce duties, with firefighters from nine stations on scene for a 24
hour period. 


Clean Up Australia Day 2009

Clean Up Australia Day 2009 will be held on Sunday 1 March and all NSWFB firefighters are encouraged to get involved with this worthwhile community activity. If you are involved in activities that might make a good photo opportunity please contact the Public Affairs and Communications Strategy Unit on 02 9265 2907. You can also use the media release template available on the intranet to promote your involvement with you local media. To register your station’s involvement in Clean Up Australia Day please contact Luke Pickering, Environmental Risk Advisor on 02 9265 2908 or luke.pickering@fire.nsw.gov.au


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