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Firegroundwinter 2014

n Scaling the heights

n Into a huddle

n At the coalface

n Firefighting championships

2 Fireground winter 2014

Contents

Official Journal of Tasmania Fire Service

CHIEF OFFICER and CHAIRMAN of the STATE FIRE COMMISSION Mike Brown

COMMISSION MEMBERS Rod Sweetnam, Paul Kingston, Bruce Corbett, Lyndsay Suhr, Dale Rayner and Hannah Rubenach

EDITOR Meaghan Newson EDITORIAL FIREGROUND, GPO Box 1526, HOBART TAS 7001

Email: [email protected] Web: www.fire.tas.gov.au

The opinions expressed in FIREGROUND are not necessarily those of the State Fire Commission

Published by Tasmania Fire Service Printed by MarkMedia 1 Sunderland Street, MOONAH ISSN 0727-6087

winter 2014

Printed on Monza Satin recycled paper (55% recycled - 30% pre consumer, 25% post-consumer & FSC certified pulp), with environmentally friendly vegetable ink.

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Cover photo Stuart Tuthill and Mark Nelson Cover photo courtesy Warren Frey.

From the Chief Officer 1Message from the Minister 2Recommendations from the Tasmanian Bushfires Inquiry: how are we tracking? 2Scaling the heights 4Into a huddle 6Australia’s first Coles store destroyed 8At the coalface 10Sharing skills - island to island 12Making bushfire-prone communities safer: Community Bushfire Mitigation Planning 14Fire season 2013-14: the facts and figures 16Break-Me-Neck Hill, Buckland 16Dorans Road, Sandford 17Wiggins Road, Wattle Hill 17Pine Tier, Bronte Park 17Fire Management Area Committees now reporting to State Fire Management Council 18Register your fire 20Sharing skilled resources in Tasmania 21State Government Interoperability Arrangements 21Presumptive Cancer Legislation: What is it? 22Why does fatigue matter? 24No one will read this article… 25Postcard from Hobart 26Postcard from Toronto 27Andrew Comer made IFE Companion Fellow 30Australian Fire Service Medal presentation 2014 30Emergency services workers honoured 31Photo Competition Winner 32Welcome Scott Wilson-Haffenden 34Michael D’Alton promoted 34AFAC Knowledge Event Series: Gas pipeline explosion at Ghislenghien, Belgium, July 2004 35Photo gallery 36Photo gallery 37Photo gallery 38Bushfire CRC fire note 39Step back in time: life in the Hobart Fire Brigade during the 1960s and 70s 43Not one, but two firefighting championships 44 No regrets: Ken Burns 48A heart still with the TFS - Mike Gallagher 49Defying the odds - Jack Campbell 50Celebrating Richard (Ritchie) Lang 50Kev calls it quits after 44 years of service 51The best job in the world 5110 minutes with: Robyn Pearce 5210 minutes with: Chris Allfree 53Tassie cleans up in New Zealand 54Sorell Group presentation 54Sharing the joy at Agfest 55Awards 56On the Move 58Board meets in Hobart 60Anzac Day march 60Laura Smith wins National Young Endeavour Award 60Letters 61

1Fireground winter 2014

MICHAEL BROWN

FROM THE Chief Officer

I returned only yesterday from attending and presenting at the 2014 Large Fires

Conference held in Missoula, Montana, hosted by the International Association of Wildland Fire.

US Wildfire authorities are rapidly changing

their approaches and policies around

wildfire (their term for what we call bushfire)

suppression and management. After more

than a century of ‘suppression at any cost’

and ‘all forest fires are bad fires’, the US

is now realising that such approaches are

unsustainable, and now programs around

strategic fuel management and increased

community understanding and engagement

are necessary for the future. There was even

talk of retiring their Smokey Bear.

My presentation focussed on our experience

and lessons from the Tasmanian 2012-13

catastrophic fires. There was much interest

and questions around our inter-agency

arrangements, our operational priorities

and our community protection planning

programs.

On a field trip to some of the areas

impacted by the major US fires of 2000,

I was surprised (and very proud) that

several of the fire authorities and local fire

community group members mentioned

they have now adopted the approaches of

the Australasian services. Indeed, a couple

of individuals specifically mentioned TFS’s

programs and their community fire safety

materials highlighted TFS materials and our

own TFS website as important references!

Separately to this conference, I also note

that TFS has received positive recognition

for our Community Fire Safety work and the

work of our Engineering Services in ‘best

practice’ fire appliance design. Two US-

based journals featured articles on both of

these areas of TFS’s work in recent weeks.

Our past summer season, while certainly

not as busy as the previous one, did test

our operational capability once again. Late

January and into February we were provided

with an abundance of dry grassland fuel

and days of very high and above (even

reaching ‘catastrophic’ on one occasion) fire

danger ratings. We had an above average,

eight days of total fire ban.

On the worst of the days RFOCs and the

SFOC went into action and many of you

participated in strike team deployments

to be ready for the outbreaks as they

occurred. That pre-emptive response was

most effective in ensuring that we had a

rapid and very strong ‘weight of attack’ at

the many fires we experienced. In several

cases, we had fires contained to less than

twenty hectares that we knew would have

developed into difficult fires of several

thousand hectares by late afternoon if they

were not responded to with the increased

presence.

Victoria had heard of our new capability

with our innovative CAFS fire appliance and

called upon us to provide the vehicle and

crews to assist at their complex Morwell

coal mine fire.

Feedback to date has been very

complimentary, both in regard to the

effectiveness of CAFS in dealing fire in the

coal seams, and the professional approach

of our people.

As we get into the cool of our Tasmanian

winter it’s unfortunately inevitable that

house fires and car crashes will feature

in our operational work. I ask you all to

take care in all that you do serving your

communities, and at this time also remind

you all to take care of your mental health as

well. Perhaps it’s timely to remind everyone

of our assistance available with Critical

Incident Stress Management (CISM) and

our Member Assistance Program through

Converge International.

Regards,

Mike Brown AFSMCHIEF OFFICER


With winter well and truly upon

us, it is always heartening to see

the continued dedication of the Fire

Service to keeping Tasmanians safe.

As Tasmanians retreat indoors to their

heaters, the TFS is once again doing a

remarkable job educating the public on

the importance of smoke alarms.

This vital safety campaign follows a

bushfire season which, while tough,

was expertly managed thanks to the

hard work and long hours put in by all

our firefighters, volunteers and support

staff.

Your efforts are greatly appreciated by the Government

and the people of Tasmania, and on their behalf I would

like to personally thank each and every one of you for

helping make Tasmania a safer place.

The Government is committed to supporting the TFS in all

its endeavours, reflected by a major announcement during

the campaign, investing $28.5 million over four years to

program increased strategic fuel reduction burning to

better protect Tasmania from wildfire incidents.

This will include work with private landowners to make

it easier for them to undertake controlled burns, helping

support the hard work done by the Fire Service.

I’ve received a draft report from the State Fire

Management Council (SFMC) addressing specifics of the

program, and am looking forward to attending the next

meeting of SFMC to advance these matters.

It won’t be long before we are once again preparing for

another busy summer season and it is reassuring that we

are in safe hands all year.

To everyone in the TFS and their families, thank you.

Rene Hidding

Minister for Police and Emergency Management

Message from the Minister

Recommendations from the Tasmanian Bushfires Inquiry: how are we tracking?

Phil Smith, Senior Station Officer

The Tasmanian Bushfire Inquiry Report, released in October 2013, made 103 recommendations relating to

emergency response, risk management and recovery.

Of these, 40 directly related to the Tasmania Fire

Service, and a few others, such as record and public

information, related indirectly. We have responded to

these recommendations and implemented change where

needed.

The Interdepartmental Committee (IDC) prioritised 16

recommendations for immediate action. These have now

been completed with the exception of recommendation

93, the strategic fuel management plan, which is on track

for completion by the end of May 2014.

Other recommendations have been implemented or are

undergoing implementation. These include the finalisation

of an audit process that will evidence to show how the

recommendations have been carried out, as required by

recommendation 103.

The remaining 24 recommendations have been

reported on once. TFS is now focused on completing

the implementation process, or reporting on why a

recommendation won’t be implemented.

For example, recommendation 16 for unified command

potentially provides for joint incident controllers from

different agencies. However, there is no intention to

change from the use of the AIIMS structure, which

identifies one incident controller.

See the tables for more information about the

four reporting groups that the 24 non-immediate

recommendations, centred on recommendations that

cover a similar theme, as well as the summary of progress

for each group.

This work is ongoing, with various proposed

implementation dates for completion. Monthly updates are

provided to to the Interdepartmental Committee, which

prepares a brief that is presented to Cabinet each month.

PS


REPORTING GROUP GOVERNANCE

Incident Management Teams IDC

LEAD AGENCY PROJECT MANAGER

TFS Ian Bounds

Fire Operations IDC


TFS Ian Bounds

Fire Policy and Legislation IDC


TFS Gavin Freeman

Understanding Risk IDC


TFS Gavin Freeman

Reporting Group Lead Agency

% of CompletionCompletion

Date1st Report (06/11/13)

2nd Report (11/12/13)

3rd Report (20/01/14)

Air Support Tasmania Fire Service 65% 45% 100% Complete

Communications & Warnings Tasmania Fire Service 80% 100% 100% Complete

Evacuation Department of Police & Emergency Management

50% 40% 100% Complete

Fire Operations Tasmania Fire Service 55% 65% 100% Complete

Forecasting & Modelling Tasmania Fire Service 40% 100% 100% Complete

Fuel Reduction Tasmania Fire Service 60% 70% 70% 30 May 2014

Joint Bushfire Arrangements

Department of Police & Emergency Management

50% 50% 100% Complete

Penalties & Enforcement Department of Justice 40% 40% 100% Complete

Records Department of Police & Emergency Management

50% 50% 100% Complete

Social Media Department of Police & Emergency Management

60% 70% 70% 31 March 2014

Traffic Control Department of Police & Emergency Management

30% 60% 100% Complete


Scaling the heightsIt’s been a busy start to the year for TFS vertical rescue technicians. Two advanced rope rescue courses were held in February and March, followed by a seven-day Structural Tower Rescue Workshop (STRW) at the Aurora training centre in Hobart and a seven-day Instructor Development Course at Coles Bay, writes Leading Firefighter Tim Crellin.

This year we have been fortunate to have Len Bately from Fire and Rescue Training Australia, as well as internationally

renowned rescue instructor Reed Thorn from Ropes that Rescue USA, come to Tasmania and instruct for a three-week period.

In the past TFS has sent small groups of firefighters interstate to participate in advanced and instructor level courses run by Fire and Rescue Training Australia. Attending these courses qualified new vertical rescue instructors and ensured we were keeping up with world’s best practice techniques and equipment.

This year, having Len and Reed in Tasmania has exposed a far greater number of TFS vertical rescue technicians to new techniques and skills than has previously occurred.

We invited Tasmania Police and the State Emergency Service to join us, with a handful of personnel from each agency attending a week’s training at Coles Bay.

Structural tower rescue workshop The seven-day structural tower rescue workshop was conducted on 19-25 February 2014, at the Aurora Training facility in Mornington and the Telstra communications tower on Chimney Pot Hill.

The aim of the course is to train rescue technicians to recover people from high-power transmission towers, communication towers, masts, and power lines in a safe and timely manner. This could include communication or power company employees or contractors, trespassers, or anyone else unlucky enough to find themselves stuck up a tower or tangled in power lines.

The structural tower rescue workshop is a popular course. Agencies involved included TFS, Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade, South Australian Fire and Rescue, the Country Fire Authority, civilian rope rescue companies, Hong Kong Police and New Zealand Fire and Rescue.

Over the course of the week, rescuers learned how to work safely around energized power lines up to 220,000 volts, and about types of towers and the hazards of radio and microwave energy.

Crews trained in numerous scenarios ranging from safely ascending a structure, accessing and packaging the casualty, and safely bringing them to the ground.

The high point of the course was a complex exercise on the Telstra communication tower at Chimney Pot Hill, where all the

new skills and techniques were put into practice on one of the largest towers in the state.

The structural tower rescue workshop was a great course and delivered valuable training, skills and capability to all who attended.

Instructor development course Coles Bay and the Hazards provided a spectacular location for the seven-day instructor development course. TFS Vertical Rescue instructors from across the state teamed up with SES and Tasmania Police for an intensive skills-based course in advanced rope rescue techniques.

The first couple of days were focused on knots, rigging, new hardware, patient packaging and theory sessions, with some physics thrown in to keep us on our toes.

Once the classroom lessons were finished, we headed out to White Water Wall on the ocean side of Freycinet National Park to practice these skills in a real rescue environment.

The White Water Wall area is famous for its rock climbing and is popular with recreational climbers and school groups. The camping area was full and we regularly had spectators keen to have a look at what we were up to.

The next four days involved the use of advanced rescue systems such as offsets and deflections, with a team of rescuers working on both sides of a 50-metre cliff directly over the water.

A ‘casualty’ would rappel down the cliff in order to be rescued and safely brought to the top utilizing each rescue technique and system.

The course culminated on day six, with the rigging of a large highline spanning over 60 metres. A highline is one of the most advanced techniques in vertical rescue. It requires a very high level of training, skill and knowledge to safely construct and use.

The ropes involved are exposed to high tension and load, and knots are generally avoided as they introduce weak points into the system.

Once the highline was constructed, the first rescuer across was SFF Matthew Pope, a C-shifter from Hobart Fire Brigade - a good test for the system, and we were all confident it could withstand a full rescue load with ease.

The highline was a great success and the course participants finished the day exhausted but with a great sense of achievement and a new milestone reached for many vertical rescue instructors.

Both the structural tower rescue workshop and instructor development course were huge successes. Len and Reed provide exceptional training and bring years of experience, knowledge, skill and passion to every course they run.

However, none of the training would have been possible without the hours of work and dedication of Vertical Rescue Co-coordinator LFF Simon Pilkington, and support from District Officer Mark Dobson.

TC


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Vertical Rescue Instructor Development Course, Coles Bay

Hawaiian Shirt Day - Stewart McKinlay and Simon Pilkington

Tim Crellin Simon Pilkington and Tim CrellinMarcus Skelly, Stewart McKinlay, Len Bately and Adrian Petrie

Into a huddleOn 1 December last year, the Tasmania Fire Service tested its bushfire season readiness in an exercise based on the conditions faced during the January 2013 fires, writes Andrew Fyfe.


Exercise Huddle aimed to enhance the knowledge of Tasmania Fire Service response protocols and procedures and

to enhance the interoperability capacity of key players.

For most of the participants it was an opportunity to understand what those rarely seen, strange characters in odd vests do while we are all out doing frontline firefighting.

I think that by the end of the day most, if not all, had a much better understanding of how the structures are put in place and what their purpose is.

A total of 282 personnel participated in Exercise Huddle, which was conducted at several locations around the state. All regional centres were involved, and career and volunteer members, Tasmania Police, the State Emergency Service, Parks and Wildlife Service, and staff from other emergency service agencies all participated.

The willing participation of all the members in the exercise was very much appreciated. Many personnel gave up their weekend to be involved at short notice.

A taskforce travelled from the north and northwest of the state and were accommodated at the Travelodge Hobart Airport Hotel before redeploying to the exercise. This deployment gave us a great opportunity to use and trial our convoy protocols, and I understand they worked very well.

The morning of the exercise saw all participants present at the Cambridge Training Complex bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, and remarkably all on time for the 8:00am sharp start.

From there, crews were engaged in exercises which saw them once again travelling in convoys to various sites where they were

briefed and participated in the following activities:

• StateFireOperationsCentre(SFOC)inHeadquarters

• RegionalFireOperationsCentre(RFOC)atCambridge

• IncidentManagementTeam(IMT)atCambridge

• HelicopterinformationboothatPassRoad,Rokeby

• Compressedairfoamsystem(CAFS)applianceat Pass Road, Rokeby

• CommunityinformationboothatMountNelsonfirestation

The north and northwest taskforce also participated with its own regional activities. Assembly areas and staging areas were stood up and a command structure was established to manage these locally. The North also undertook an exercise in mapping, utilising the most recent mapping tablets.

At the conclusion of the day, all of the participants assembled at Cambridge to be debriefed by Chief Officer Mike Brown and then-Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David O’Byrne, after which we were treated to a great meal provided by Ken’n’Barbie Catering.

Overwhelmingly feedback from the participants was that the day was very worthwhile and they now had a better understanding of how our incident management structures are set up and work. All in all, a great day was had by everyone.

Following on from the success of the first Huddle it is intended to run another statewide exercise in the north of the state later in 2014.

AF

Participants

Administrationand Support

Other EM

Agenies

Partner

PWS, FT

Career

Volunteer = 152

7%7%

14%

54%

18%

PARTICIPANTS


Structure protection at Dunalley Hotel

Neville Bingham AFSM OAM, Group Officer - Barrington

At 4.55am on 24 January, Wilmot Brigade received a pager message to attend a fire at the Wilmot General Store.

The brigade’s two units turned out to face a large structural

fire and no reticulated water. Brigade Captain Cameron Suna

found the shop owners, who lived in the rear, had escaped with

their son dressed only in night attire - thanks to a working

smoke alarm.

The brigade could only do firefighting from the outside, as the

building was fully involved. We placed the 3.1 unit at the front

and the 5.1 unit at the back to protect the exposures, including a

car, garage and store six metres away, and three vehicles parked

in an adjoining building nine metres away. All the exposures

were saved.

We sourced firefighting water from a creek 1.5 kilometres away,

and from the school’s supply of tank water.

Back-ups for the Wilmot Brigade are Forth 4.1, which is 30

minutes away; Turners Beach 4.1, 35 minutes away and

Ulverstone 3.1 and 4.1, which are 50 minutes away.

The Wilmot General Store was the centre of the community. It

served as the post office where locals picked up their mail and

papers daily, the coffee shop, hardware store, grocery shop,

newsagent, take away, Coles memorabilia room, petrol station,

gas bottle swap and the bottle shop, which was the only part of

the main building that was saved.

Residents and travellers alike sadly miss the well-stocked

community hub, as it was the only shop, fuel supply and EFTPOS

outlet between Forth and Cradle Mountain.

The Wilmot store had many owners from the time the original

was built in the 1890s. Between 1910 and 1921, it was owned

by Mr George Cole, whose sons went on to start the GJ Coles

retail empire.

The Wilmot General Store had been sold prior to the fire, with

the new owners taking possession at the end of January 2014.

Shipping containers have been set up as a temporary shop and

post office.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated.

Job well done by volunteers, who saved the bottle shop, strong

room, car and garage, as well as neighbours’ cars and buildings.

NB

Australia’s first Coles store destroyed All photos courtesy of the Advocate.


Paul Hill, District Officer - Mersey/Devonport

Early in February 2014, a deliberately lit bushfire threatened the settlement of Morwell and entered the Hazelwood coal mine via vegetation on an unused portion of the mine. The fire quickly spread around the mine face.

The wildfire was controlled in a matter of days; however, the coal mine face fire proved to be a major challenge.

Shortly before the fire, the Tasmania Fire Service had commissioned a new Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) truck and completed training for 16 career and volunteers members in its use.

We were invited to assist at the fire with our newly-introduced technology, which was a golden opportunity to not only assist our mainland colleagues, but to give the truck a ‘shake down’ and provide valuable experience for our crews.

Prior to our arrival, fire suppression was predominately by water, with very little or no A Class foam being used.

Because of the height of the mine banks, known as batters, water was delivered using telesquirts, ground monitors mounted on cranes fed by twin 64mm hoses, and a variety of stationary sprinklers and ground monitors spaced along the batters. The more inaccessible batters were being attacked using large choppers with buckets.

The array and number of fire vehicles used was astounding, and ranged from heavy tankers, urban pumpers, airport tenders, hose layers and recovery just to mention a few. Not what you would normally expect to see at a campaign fire.

The staging area situated next to the power station was virtually a temporary township. It catered for all the needs of the more than 300 firefighters, who were working 12-hour shifts, day and night. It included a health monitoring station that checked exposure to carbon monoxide contamination.

A big problem with the fire was that the water being used for suppression was accumulating on the mine floor. Some of this water was being recycled for firefighting. However, it had to be carefully monitored, as there was a pump station at the base of the mine, which supplied water for cooling in the Hazelwood power station.

If this pump house flooded, that would mean power production at the power station would cease, which in turn, would affect 25 per cent of Victoria’s power supply.

Another major issue was that the smoke was having a major impact on the local town, Morwell, and to a lesser extent, the towns of Churchill and Traralgon.

This is where CAFS really came to the fore. When A Class foam is used, as we normally do on most of our units, it is claimed to be three times more effective than water. By using A Class Compressed Air Foam (CAF), the effectiveness increases to five to seven times more than water.

I won’t bore you with the science and chemistry behind these figures but trust me, I am a firefighter, it is true.

In fact, this fire was a perfect opportunity to compare the area CAFS extinguished compared to straight water, and the result was a mind blowing - ten times more effective. Therefore, less water would be accumulating in the base of the mine.

A Class foam has an attraction to carbon. When sprayed through smoke it will bond with carbon molecules and take them to the ground. Combine this with foam blankets on the coal, and smoke emissions from the fire are greatly reduced.

Understandably, when we first arrived, not many people had knowledge of CAFS or what our truck was capable of, so the divisional commander was not sure of where or how to deploy us.

The major problem was that very few people understood the chemistry of A Class foam, let yet alone how much more effective CAFS is.

When we were finally tasked, it was on a coal face batter. A reading of the batter was taken with a thermal imaging camera with the temperature averaged between 350 to 500 degrees Centigrade.

After application of CAF, the temperature immediately dropped to 150C. The temperature was again taken about 20 minutes after application and the temperature had dropped to 27C.

The first few days we were swapped between the four sectors with a different sector commander every day. We were called ‘Tassie Tanker’ in the first few IAPs.

After a while the effectiveness of our product and our capability became evident to any doubters, and soon we were wanted from one end of the mine to the other.

After the potential of CAFS was realised, further units were requested from other states: two 8,000-litre and two 2,000-litre units from the Australian Capital Territory, and a CAFS-capable urban pumper from Queensland.

Most of our work was done by applying CAFS through our on-board monitors; however, on the higher sections, we were pumped CAFS though telebooms.

In the initial stages we were able to work in areas of heavy smoke and high levels of carbon monoxide, as the truck-mounted Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR) camera is capable of penetrating 200 metres of smoke. This enabled us to see the road, other equipment and hot spots.

At the coalfaceHazelwood coal mine fire, February 2014


The truck is fully pump and roll capable. The pump and monitors operate from within the truck cabin, enabling us to work in the hostile environment with the truck’s air conditioner in the recirculate mode.

Additionally, the monitors can be directed with a remote control from a support vehicle.

The truck, considering the technology on board and the dirty environment it worked in for an extended period, performed reliably.

It would be expected that something so new would have hiccups, but no. While other machines around us were experiencing problems, the Tassie truck just kept on delivering the goods.

In this case, the goods were in the form of pumping about 8,000 litres of foam concentrate and 3.5 million litres of water.

The efficiency of our truck and the effectiveness of the CAF product has seen Victoria’s Country Fire Authority look closely at what we achieved, and consider building CAFS units off our specifications.

Compared to other fire agencies on-site we had a very small crew, averaging five, but everyone had heard about our truck and how it was performing. There was an endless barrage of questions from the multitude of people seeking out the Tassie team to find out more about our truck and the CAFS technology.

I derived great pleasure watching our team proudly brag about what the Tasmania Fire Service had achieved.

I was extremely proud to be wearing the TFS badge, as I am sure all members of the Tassie crew were.

The TFS has participated in many mainland campaign fires and every time we have made an impact, but this time was exceptional. A very small team using the latest technology in the world played a major part in controlling an extremely difficult fire.

PH

The Hazelwood coal mine is a massive open cut mine situated in Gippsland, southeast Victoria. The mine was developed in the middle of the last century. The 60,000 tonnes per day of brown coal that is extracted from the mine is primarily used to feed the Hazelwood power station, which is situated next to the mine.

(L-R) Cambridge Volunteers 3rd Officer Geoff Kent, Brigade Chief Mark Brazendale, Leading Firefighter Tony Schultz and L&D Station Officer Steve Townsend


In November 2013 the Tasmania Fire Service hosted four firefighters from Nauru as part of our involvement with the Pacific Islands Fire Chief Association partnership.

TFS has previously sent Training Officers to Nauru to assist with their capability development and to better understand their

operational environment.

The four firefighters from Nauru were Deputy Chief Officer Nathan Hiram, Station Officer Asael Billeam and two firefighters, Diminski Reweru and Rajuir Deireragea. Nauru currently has 27 firefighters and their main focus is the Nauru Airport for firefighting and rescue operations.

Acting Station Officer Adam Salter and Station Officer Mark Bryant provided the training at the TFS training facility at Cambridge, near Hobart, between 25 November 6 December. The training covered had a theoretical component, but was mostly practical.

It was clearly evident that throughout many aspects of their training the group already had a high level of skill and applied themselves confidently to the scenarios.

A range of incident types were undertaken to provide as many practical opportunities as possible within the two-week period. These included simple car fires progressing through to rescues, house fires, petrol station fires and small high-rise building fires.

The group also completed BA training, testing and cleaning procedures, RECEO principles, Introduction to Road Crash Rescue, and our basic bushfire fighting awareness program.

For a number of years the TFS has delivered Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Category 1 qualifications to its staff and other response agencies in the State. This training and assessment was also incorporated into a very busy schedule for the Nauruans.

The Nauru firefighters were also trained in pump operations on a retired fire appliance that the Tasmania Fire Service will make available to the Nauruan Government (we are currently working through the logistical issues involved in getting the vehicle off our island on to theirs).

This training focussed on the use of high-pressure hose reels to suppress fires, as Nauru does not have reticulated water.

There was also a visit to Hobart Main Station to see how the day-to-day running of a station is managed, and how much work is required to maintain operational readiness.

On 1 December the Nauru firefighters participated in the TFS’s major Statewide exercise in preparation for the bushfire season,

Exercise Huddle. This exercise was designed to test Statewide inter-agency incident management team capability, and the deployment of firefighter and specialised equipment throughout the Tasmania.

Another component of the Nauruans’ training was undertaken at the Hobart International Airport in conjunction with Air Services Australia Aviation Rescue.

Between 4-6 December we joined fire crews at the Hobart International Airport, and trained with them at their facilities. Training included monitor operations, engine and wheel fires, cabin fires and search and rescue techniques, which all had practical and theoretical components.

The Nauruan firefighters also studied the possible types of aircraft for their island, including passenger capacities and fuel loads.

At the conclusion of the training, Chief Officer Mike Brown presented certificates to the Nauru firefighters, in recognition of their two-week program of professional development.

The TFS recognises the benefits of this program for all involved, and planning is underway for a similar development later this year.

I would like to thank Acting Station Officer Adam Salter and Station Officer Mark Bryant for their professionalism, enthusiasm and commitment in coordinating and delivering the two-week program.

I would also like to thank Simon Grafton, Air Services Australia international relationship manager for international programs, and the Hobart Airport officers and firefighters for their assistance in bringing this important opportunity together.

JS

Sharing skills - island to islandJeremy Smith, Regional Chief - South

The Nauruan firefighters get a taste for the Tasmanian bush


The Nauruan firefighting contingent: (L-R) Nathan Hiram, Rajvir Deireragea, Diminsky Reweru and Asael Billeam

Standing proud with Adam Salter (far left) and Mark Bryant (far right)

(L-R) The Nauruan firefighters with Air Services Australia firefighters: Firefighter Paul Jewell (2nd from left), Sub Station Offficer Scott Greenwood (4th from left), and Firefighter Brett Maloney and Fire Commander Brooke Chisholm (6th and 7th from left)


Chris Collins, Senior Planning Officer, Community Protection Planning

In recent months, Tasmania Fire Service’s Community Protection Planning unit (CPP) has been busy developing a planning framework for the production of Community Bushfire Mitigation Plans.

Mitigation plans represent the third instalment in the CPP program and complement Protection plans and Response

plans.

CPP distinguishes between mitigation strategies for entire communities and strategies for individual assets, both of which are being addressed through Community Bushfire Mitigation Planning.

In most circumstances, hazard reduction strategies prescribed for an entire community will provide a degree of protection for individual assets by reducing head fire intensity, flame length, and ember density. However, in some cases, mitigation strategies for entire communities may not be feasible, and even after hazard reduction works are undertaken a residual hazard remains, which increases over time until it is re-treated.

Therefore, the development of mitigation strategies for high-risk assets is considered an appropriate solution where broader risk mitigation strategies cannot be implemented, and/or the asset is of high value or vulnerability.

This article showcases the recent development and subsequent implementation of bushfire mitigation strategies for individual assets.

In the mitigation planning context, assets include buildings where there may be a significant risk to life (e.g. schools, aged care and health facilities), structures that provide an essential function in emergency management (e.g. communications towers), and facilities of high value to community recovery and resilience after bushfire (e.g. water treatment plants).

Many assets lack adequate bushfire protection measures for life and structural survivability for a given fire intensity, and evacuation of these sites may present an unacceptable risk to life and safety.

Therefore, to mitigate bushfire risk, protection measures are designed for these sites that greatly improve structural survival and facilitate a ‘shelter-on-site’ option to bushfire emergency management.

In designing a bushfire protection strategy, be it for an asset or a whole community, TFS bushfire planners first undertake a

Making bushfire-prone communities saferCommunity Bushfire Mitigation Planning

Chris Collins, Senior Planning Officer – Community Protection Planning and Damien Killalea, Director – Community Fire Safety

A vulnerable site where broader-scale mitigation works are not feasible.


detailed field-based survey of landscape features, bushfire fuels, topography, and building design.

Using field data, contemporary bushfire science, fire weather analysis and bushfire modelling, the key bushfire attack mechanisms of radiant heat, ember attack, and direct flame contact, are quantified.

Following this analysis, a bushfire protection strategy is developed, which, when implemented, reduces bushfire risk to an acceptable, quantified level to achieve a desired safety outcome, be it permitting ‘shelter-on-site’ at an asset, or improving a neighbourhood’s ability to be defended.

The net result is communities and assets that are much easier and safer to defend. Firefighting resources are not tied-up in high-risk situations defending or evacuating under-prepared sites, and incident managers can have greater comfort that at-risk people and infrastructure are better protected.

The Bushfire-Ready Schools initiative is one example of where CPP, in collaboration with the Department of Education, has achieved an improved bushfire safety outcome for a number of high-risk schools.

The Bushfire-Ready Schools Assessment Report categorises a site based on bushfire survivability, and provides specific and detailed guidance on the implementation and maintenance of bushfire protection measures.

Protection measures for these sites include both hazard management areas (asset protection zones) that prevent direct

Planning Officer Dan Hoar undertaking analysis.

flame contact and reduce radiant heat levels to an acceptable level, and practical ember protection retrofits that are consistent with Australian Standard for Building in Bushfire Prone Areas (AS3959-2009).

To date, 12 high risk schools have had extensive bushfire protection strategies implemented; thereby greatly improving survivability of these structures, hence increasing public safety and community resilience to bushfire.

For more information contact:[email protected] or 1800 000 699

Protection plans address community bushfire preparedness by identifying safe escape routes, emergency communications, and shelter options called Nearby Safer Places.

Response plans provide emergency responders and Incident Management Teams with local knowledge, and identify protection priorities as per TFS’s Operational Priorities when bushfires are burning out of control.

Mitigation plans continue the theme of community-scale planning, taking a local-level focus in reducing bushfire risk through prescribing fuel treatments to reduce bushfire attack levels, and recommending measures to protect assets against ember attack.


Coming off the biggest fire season for

many years, the 2013-14 season had many

firefighters ready in anticipation and focused

on what the season could bring for them as

individuals, and for their families.

As the season passed on by, the total number of incidents were on a par with the previous fire season. Crews were

kept busy across the state ranging from Flinders Island to White Beach, Nubeena and across to the West Coast.

Tasmania Fire Service, along with its partner fire agencies, once again performed to a very high standard and ensured the communities of Tasmania remained safe.

2013-14 statistics • Permit period: 24 December-5 April in the south and north

of the state; 22 January-5 April in the northwest

• Total fire bans: eight in total, three statewide

• 000 calls: from 1 December to 1 March, FireComm received 4,500 ‘000’ calls

MONTH ‘000’ CallsFire permits and registered burns

DECEMBER 1,154 1,066

JANUARY 2,019 906

FEBRUARY 1,890 38

MARCH 1,481 1,651

Of these incidents, 1,282 were bushfires

• Number of staff deployed: between all agencies, a total in excess of 4,500 personnel were deployed over the summer.

• Vehicle movements state-wide: 42,000

• ‘Advice’ messages: 27

• ‘Watch and act’ messages: 11

• Emergency warnings: 2

• ‘No alert level’ messages: 807

• Hours of operation for aircraft: NAFC - 290 flying hours; CWN - 177 flying hours

• Website visits: from 1 January to 31 March, 244,199 users and 4,754,643 page views

• Facebook page likes: 65,000

How did we go?While there may have been a perception that 2013-14 was a quiet season, the numbers reflect that, once again, most regions and brigades were kept busy.

Initial observations indicate that the increased pre-emptive arrangements such as pre-deployed strike teams have played a major part in keeping most fire starts relatively small.

Reviews are currently under way to evaluate our performances and to once again identify the lessons learned as we strive for improvement, so we can continue to provide the Tasmanian communities with an efficient fire service for many years to come.

MG

Fire season 2013-14: the facts and figuresMichael Goldsmith, A/Staff Officer - Office of the Chief Officer

TFS FACT In relation to volunteer members, we currently have

5,031 volunteers around the state. 4,082 are males,

and the remaining 949 are female.

Not all volunteers are operational. There are:

• 536juniorsandcadets.

• 412whoprovideoperationalsupport

• 106whoaresocialmembers,and

• 3977operationalvolunteers.

Fire Season 2013-14Break-Me-Neck Hill, Buckland11 March 2014

Gerald Crawford,

District Officer - Midlands

The Break-Me-Neck Hill fire started accidentally as a vehicle fire, and progressed to a vegetation fire on private

property. Brigades from the Southern Region as well as heavy machinery and aerial support attended this incident, which burnt 743 hectares by the time it was contained.

GC


Fire Season 2013-14Wiggins Road, Wattle Hill28 January 2014

Claudio Muench,

Station Officer - Southern Region

The Wiggins Road fire started on private property. Investigations were inconclusive into the exact cause;

however, it was most probable the fire was accidental.

Due to strong northwesterly winds, the fire progressed rapidly through grazed paddocks, eventually impacting bushland and a timber plantation.

The initial focus for fire crews was to protect various properties that were in direct path of the fire. Firefighting crews from all Districts within the Southern Region assisted with this incident. Two bulldozers, two helicopters, a strike team assembled at Cambridge and the Compressed Air Foam (CAFS) truck were also deployed to assist East Coast District crews in preventing any property loss, other than fences and plantation timber.

Back burning operations were conducted over two days to ensure the fire remained within established control lines. The incident remained in patrol for 13 days due to the continuous warm, dry weather, which caused heavier fuels to remain smouldering.

Once contained, the fire had burnt approximately 275 hectares.

CM

Fire Season 2013-14Dorans Road, Sandford6 February 2014

Claudio Muench,

Station Officer - Southern Region

The Sandford fire was caused by two separate fires that were deliberately lit in grass on the side of Dorans Road. Windy

conditions caused the fire to progress rapidly through farmland and rural acreages.

Properties were under threat along Dorans Road, but quick action by firefighting crews prevented any significant property loss. Fortunately, the wind blew the fire toward the River Derwent, which you would agree is a pretty good containment line. If the wind had been blowing north, northeast or east it would have been a different story, although the fire would still have reached the river after a few days.

Fire Season 2013-14Pine Tier, Bronte Park14 January - 17 February 2014

Gerald Crawford,

District Officer - Midlands

The cause of the Pine Tier fire was undetermined, but most likely deliberate. The reason the fire took so long from

start to finish was because the vegetation within the area was at different stages of drying. This meant that it was difficult to back burn all the area when we wanted to, because some areas were still not dry enough to burn and too difficult to fully extinguish.

As a result, the fire did cross the Marlborough Highway on one day, which resulted in the road being closed for several days due to unsafe trees.

Brigades from all districts in the Southern Region, as well as a RAT crew from the Northern Region, provided assistance on this fire.

GC

Two helicopters, two bulldozers and the Compressed Air Foam (CAFS) truck assisted firefighting crews in containing the fire. The CAFS truck proved invaluable in extinguishing the fire in heavy fuels, preventing it from spotting across a containment line in strong winds. It also stopped the fire from spreading into multiple piles of asbestos waste that were on private property, thereby negating any risk to firefighters.

Through direct and indirect attack firefighting crews also protected a Telstra mobile phone tower. Telstra later advised there was only a small amount of damage to a conduit. Its staff were very thankful that there was no other damage, as the tower plays a significant role in mobile network coverage in the Hobart area.

CM


Sandra Whight, Manager - State Fire Management Council

What is State Fire Management Council?

The State Fire Management Council (SFMC) is an

advisory body to the Minister on all matters relating to

the management of bushfires in Tasmania.

In the last 12 months, the Council has been supported

by a small team working out of Headquarters, to

undertake a strategic bushfire assessment for the state,

and to implement changes to the fire management area

committees and support them in their new roles.

The team is: Sandy Whight, Rochelle Richards, Kylie

Cornish, Sam Ferguson, Meg Lorang, Michael Phillips

and Steve Summers.

What has happened to fire management area committees?

Fire Management Area Committees (FMAC) that previously

reported to the State Fire Commission now report to

the SFMC. FMAC membership has also been changed,

to reflect broader strategic goals, and the committee

boundaries changed to reflect that bushfire is a landscape-

scale problem.

There are 10 FMACs covering the state (see map), with

boundaries based on bushfire risk and topography, largely

aligning to local government boundaries.

The current focus of the FMACs is to prepare a fire

protection plan for their fire management area, by

identifying and prioritising bushfire vegetation risks, and

identifying strategic works to mitigate these risks.

These changes have only been implemented in the last

12 months, and all committees are still in the process of

preparing their first fire protection plans, with the support

of SFMC – in particular the regional planners, Steve Summers

and Meg Lorang (both based in Youngtown), and Michael

Phillips (based in Hobart).

The priorities determined through these plans should

form the basis of a tenure-blind bushfire risk mitigation

program, which can be implemented on a priority basis

using the same underlying assessment of bushfire risk.

Fire Management Area Committees now reporting to State Fire Management Council

How do brigades get involved?

Outlined in the table are all the brigades and how they overlap

with the fire management areas. Some brigades overlap with

two fire management areas.

Each FMAC has a volunteer representative and a district officer

appointee. If there are issues your brigade would like to raise

through the FMAC – for example, an area of risk you think needs

to be highlighted, these people are your representatives on the

committees.

It is hoped through the fire protection plans, there will be a

common understanding of where the bushfire risk is, and some

priority actions that can be taken to address it.

SW


Fire Management

AreaBrigades Volunteer

RepresentativeChief Officer Appointee

Central North

Beulah, Bracknell, Burnie, Castra, Chudleigh, Claude Road, Cradle Mountain, Deloraine, Devonport, Elizabeth Town, Forth, Frankford/Birralee, Golden Valley, Gunns Plains, Heybridge, Kelso, Kimberley, Latrobe, Loongana, Lorinna, Meander, Melrose, Mole Creek, Moriarty, North Motton, Penguin, Port Sorell, Railton, Riana, Rubicon, Sassafras, Sheffield, Sprent, Stowport/Natone, Tarleton, Turners Beach, Ulverstone, Wesley Vale, Westbury, Wilmot

Neville Bingham DO Paul Hill

East Coast Bicheno, Buckland, Campbell Town, Coles Bay, Cranbrook, Dodges Ferry, Dunalley, Eaglehawk Neck, Koonya, Mayfield, Midway Point, Nubeena, Orielton, Pawtella, Port Arthur, Primrose Sands, Richmond, Runnymede, Swansea, Triabunna, Wattle Hill

Rob Elliot A/SO Steve Walkley

Flinders Cape Barren Island, Emita, Lackrana, Lady Barron, Memana, Whitemark Jim Grace DO Steve Lowe

Hobart Bridgewater ,Brighton, Cambridge, Campania, Claremont, Clarence, Collinsvale, Fern Tree, Glenorchy, Grove, Hobart, Kingston, Lachlan, Lauderdale, Magra, Midway Point, Molesworth, Mt Nelson, New Norfolk, Old Beach, Orielton, Richmond, Risdon Vale, Rokeby, Sandfly, Sandford, Seven Mile Beach, South Arm, Summerleas, Taroona, Tea Tree, Wellington

Andrew Johns DO Mark Klop

King Island Currie, Grassy, Naracoopa, North King Island Rod McGarvie DO Shane Batt

Midlands Arthurs Lake, Bagdad, Bothwell, Bradys Lake, Brighton, Broadmarsh, Campania, Colebrook, Ellendale, Great Lake, Gretna, Hamilton, Jericho, Kempton, Oatlands, Ouse, Parattah, Pawtella, Runnymede, Tea Tree, Tunbridge, Tunnack, Westerway, Woodsdale

Robin Howlett DO Gerald Crawford

Northeast Ansons Bay, Bicheno, Binalong Bay, Branxholm, Bridport, Derby, Falmouth, Fingal, Gladstone, Lebrina, Mathinna, Musselroe Bay, Pipers Brook, Pyengana, Ringarooma, Scamander, Scottsdale, St Helens, St Marys, Tomahawk, Waterhouse, Weldborough, Winnaleah

Rodney Moore DO Steve Lowe

Southern Bushy Park, Channel, Cradoc, Cygnet, Deep Bay, Dover, Franklin, Geeveston, Glendevie, Grove, Howden, Huonville, Kingston, Lachlan, Magra, Margate, Maydena, Middleton, New Norfolk, North Bruny, Sandfly, Snug, South Bruny, Southport, Upper Huon, Wattle Grove, Westerway

Malcolm Merchant DO Rod Sherrin

Tamar Avoca, Barton, Beaconsfield, Bell Bay, Bishopsbourne, Blessington, Bracknell, Bridgenorth, Campbell Town, Carrick, Cressy, Dilston, Epping, Evandale, Four Springs, Frankford/Birralee, George Town, Glengarry, Gravelly Beach, Hadspen, Hillwood, Karoola, Kelso, Lake River, Launceston, Lebrina, Legana, Lilydale, Longford, Nile, Perth, Pipers Brook, Pipers River, Poatina, Prospect, Ravenswood, Relbia, Rocherlea, Ross, Rossarden, Rowella, St Patricks River, Westbury, Weymouth, White Hills, Whitemore, Winkleigh, Woolmers

Andrew Taylor DO Steve Richardson

West Coast Arthur River, Boat Harbour, Burnie, Edith Creek, Forest, Hellyer, Irishtown, Marrawah, Mawbanna, Montagu, Montumana, Moorleah, Queenstown, Ridgely, Rosebery, Sisters Beach, Smithton, Somerset, Stanley, Stowport/Natone, Strahan, Togari, Tullah, Upper Calder, Waratah, Wynyard, Yolla, Zeehan

Rob Dawes DO Shane Batt

Which Fire Management Area Committee does your brigade belong to?


Peter Middleton,Community Development CoordinatorCommunity Education

The Register your fire card is a wallet-size card that clearly encourages people who are burning off to contact the Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) on free call 1800 000 699.

Regardless of whether it is a fire permit period or not, the TFS encourages anybody burning off to register their fire to help

prevent unnecessary call outs.

The card was developed in response to requests from brigades. The idea came from the Triabunna Brigade members, who noted that there had been a large number of call outs over a twelve-month period that could have been avoided if members of the public had registered their burn offs.

Subsequent talks led to the idea of a wallet-size card that could be kept in the appliances and issued to landowners when required. Triabunna Brigade approached TFS Community Education and the Register your fire card was developed with their assistance.

Other brigades in the state have put together similar types of cards in the past. The idea behind a common card is that it will encourage landowners to register their fires. It is great to see initiatives like this coming from our brigades.

All brigades have received an initial supply of these cards. If you would like to order more cards, please go to the TFS Community Education online ordering system http://www.tfseducation.com.au/order or contact Community Education on

1800 000 699 or email [email protected]

YOUR FIRE

BACK SIDE OF CARD

RegisterFRONT SIDE OF CARD

TFS FACT The average age of these personnel is as follows:

Male Female Average

Operational 44.3 35.7 43.8

Non Operational 50.1 49 50

Support 45.6 41.8 44.1

There are 318 TFS career brigade members. 298 are operational

personnel and 20 work in non operational roles such as TasFire

Training, Building Safety etc. Operationally, there are 272males and

8 female firefighters. FireComm employ 9 operational males and

9 operational females. Non operationally, there are 19 males and 1

female. Support members (administration, engineering, TFE etc) have

101 males and 62 females, although many of these personnel work

part time totalling only 153.8 full time equivalents.


Sharing skilled resources in TasmaniaState Government Interoperability Arrangements

Andrew Newell, Manager, Corporate Support

Elisa Lang, Project Officer, Corporate Support

Interoperability Arrangements are formal arrangements that facilitate the deployment of skilled employees from one Tasmanian Government agency to another, to assist with the management or coordination of a significant, complex or protracted emergency event.

Tasmania Fire Service is an active participant in this recently introduced, whole-of-government initiative.

Bushfire and flood events are the most prevalent emergencies in Tasmania. However, there is a requirement for authorities to prepare for all emergencies, both natural and human-caused. These could include pandemic, biosecurity, environmental pollution, earthquake, landslide or tsunami events.

The response to, and recovery from, a complex or protracted emergency will have significant resource implications for our State, particularly the services, agencies and organisations that have responsibilities assigned to them under Tasmania’s emergency management arrangements.

Whilst resource assistance may be sought from the Commonwealth, and the states and territories, there is a need for resilience within Tasmania.

The arrangements are documented in a State Special Emergency Management Plan, which our Chief Officer recently endorsed and supported.

The aim of the arrangements is to identify 100 Category A and B employees, whose details will be maintained on a central register with the Office of Security and Emergency Management, which is within the Department of Premier and Cabinet. Twelve agencies across Tasmania are involved in the arrangements.

Expressions of interest for permanent employees who wished to nominate for the interoperability arrangements have been circulated to staff. A total of 23 nominees expressed interest by addressing the required selection criteria. Of these, eight were operational staff (station officer and above) and 15 were operational support personnel.

The three categories for which staff could nominate included:

• CategoryA:Skillsalignedtoresponseandrecoveryoperations

• CategoryB-Administrativeskills

• CategoryC-TasmanianEmergencyInformationService(TEIS)

Some of the skills that may be called upon include:

• Logisticalexperience(e.g.acquiringandmaintainingresources)

• Financialmanagement(e.g.costcapturing)

• Administrationskillsincludingminutetaking,recordkeeping,office management, clerical and keyboard skills

• Managingorsupportingastagingareai.e.,alocationfromwhich operational resources are deployed

• Assistancewithinternalandexternalcommunicationse.g.the ability to prepare situation reports or briefing notes and papers

• Publicinformationexperiencee.g.medialiaison,theabilitytoprepare media releases

• Callcentreexperience

• Communityengagement

• Planningskills(abilitytoprepareplansinlinewithidentifiedobjectives)

• Abilitytoconductthreatandriskassessments

• Abilitytoperformarolewithinanassembly,evacuationand/or recovery centre

• Managingaerialassets(e.g.aerialplatformsforresponseorrecovery operations)

Nominees have undertaken a two-day training and information workshop at the Police Academy at Rokeby, which strengthened their knowledge of the arrangements. Opportunities to participate in emergency management educational sessions and/or exercises will also be provided.

The skills and knowledge gained by these participants will come in handy should the state find itself faced with an unfortunate natural or human-caused emergency.

AN & EL

TFS staff at the Interoperability Arrangements course, May 2014. Back row (L-R) Lisa Gilbert, Justin Plummer and Jess Mulcahy; front row (L-R) Gerald Parsons and Becky Howarth.


PRESUMPTIVE CANCER LEGISLATION:

What is it?Robyn Pearce

Director Human Services

Last year, there was a lot of talk in the media and in TFS circles about presumptive cancer legislation. Let’s consider what it is and what it means for us.

What is Presumptive Cancer Legislation?

In workers’ compensation language, ‘presumption’ means

that if a person has contracted a specified disease or illness,

it is presumed that the illness or disease was caused by the

person’s work. The Tasmanian workers compensation legislation

lists a number of illnesses or diseases which are presumed to

be caused by work. This presumption can be rebutted by the

employer (or the insurer acting for the employer) if there are

good reasons, for example a long, relevant family history. On

21 October 2013, 12 cancers were included on the basis that

it is presumed that work as a firefighter has caused the cancer.

In making this decision, the Tasmanian government took into

consideration scientific research that has been undertaken into

cancer in career firefighters working in the urban environment.

What Cancers are Covered?

There are 12 cancers covered by the legislation. There is also

a qualifying period for each of the cancers which has been

informed by medical advice about the latency period for each

type of cancer. The latency period is the time between the

exposure to a cancer-causing agent and the onset of a cancer.

For us, the latency period is the same as a member’s length of

TFS membership. The following table sets out the 12 cancers

and qualifying periods for each cancer.

Description of disease Qualifying period

Primary site brain cancer 5 years

Primary site bladder cancer 15 years

Primary site kidney cancer 15 years

Primary non-Hodgkins lymphoma 15 years

Primary leukemia 5 years

Primary site breast cancer 10 years

Primary site testicular cancer 10 years

Multiple myeloma 15 years

Primary site prostate cancer 15 years

Primary site ureter cancer 15 years

Primary site colorectal cancer 15 years

Primary site oesophageal cancer 25 years

How does the presumption work?

The presumption applies to TFS members diagnosed with cancer if:

• Onorafter21October2013,thememberisdiagnosedwithone of the 12 primary site cancers identified above; and

• ThediagnosistakesplacewhilethepersonisstillaTFSmember or within 10 years of them ceasing to be a member; and

• ThememberhasbeenintheTFSfortheperiodoftimesetout in the qualifying period for each cancer; and

• Forvolunteers,thememberhasatleast150exposureeventsin any 10 year period of the volunteer’s membership (or 5 year period for primary site brain cancer and primary site leukemia). An exposure event means an incident recorded on AIRS that a volunteer attends as a firefighter. It doesn’t include, however, avoidable call outs (for example false calls, turn backs etc). Where an incident lasts for more than one day, each day will count as a separate exposure incident.

Why are there different arrangements for

career and volunteer firefighters?

This has been the most difficult and emotional aspect of the new

legislation, and we understand why it is emotional. There are


reasons for the different arrangements though. The presumption

works differently for career and volunteer firefighters because of

the scientific evidence that exists about cancer and firefighting.

The research conducted around the world has so far only looked

at the incidence of cancer in career firefighters working in

urban environments. There has not been research into volunteer

firefighters or firefighters working in bushfire environments.

Based on this research, it is known that career firefighters have a

greater incidence of certain cancers than the general population.

It is also fair to say that volunteers who attend the same number

of incidents as career firefighters are also likely to have a greater

incidence of the same cancers. According to TFS incident data,

over a 10 year period career firefighters with 5 years’ service

attend a minimum of 260 incidents. Initially, 260 incidents was

going to be the threshold for volunteers. After discussions in

Parliament, however, it was decided to reduce the threshold

to cover more volunteers. The legislation has to be reviewed

every 12 months. So as more evidence is found about cancer

and firefighting, the provisions can be reviewed and changed if

warranted.

What happens if I make a workers

compensation claim because I have been

diagnosed with one of the 12 cancers?

If you are diagnosed with one of the 12 cancers, you need

to advise TFS as soon as possible and fill out a workers

compensation claim. Your claim will be sent to our workers’

compensation insurer. The insurer will need to get a specialist

medical report to identify if there are any reasons the claim

shouldn’t be accepted, for example the date of diagnosis, or

a long, relevant family history. The insurer will also ask TFS to

provide information such as the person’s length of membership

and, for volunteers, the number of incidents attended. The

process of accepting a claim can take up to 84 days. TFS

worker’s compensation staff will assist members to clarify

information regarding the claims assessment process and liaise

with the insurer during this time.

If the insurer is satisfied that the claim meets the requirements of

the presumption, then it is accepted. TFS will continue to work

with the member and liaise with the insurer regarding medical

treatments, expenses and return to work arrangements.

If the insurer believes there may be reasons not to accept the

claim, then you will be advised and the claim can be referred to

the Workers Compensation Tribunal. This can be a very difficult

time. During this time, TFS will liaise with the worker and the

insurer to try to make sure there is good communication and

understanding of the process.

Can I still make a workers compensation claim

for cancer if I don’t meet all the conditions for

the presumption?

If you contract a cancer not covered by the presumption, and

you believe it was caused by your work as a firefighter, you are

still able to make a workers compensation claim. Your claim

will be considered under the normal workers compensation

legislation. This means that the insurer will consider if the cancer

arose out of or in the course of your employment or that your

work as a firefighter substantially contributed to the illness.

What is TFS doing to reduce the chances of me

being exposed to cancer-causing substances?

TFS will be developing and implementing an occupational

hygiene strategy to reduce exposure to toxins as well as

developing reporting and data collection systems to provide the

information to support the assessment of compensable claims.

This will include:

• Gatheringadditionalinformationthroughincidentreportsthat can be recorded in AIRS;

• Datacollectionregardingactivitiesonthefiregroundincluding the level and type of exposure that has occurred;

• Developinganoccupationalhygieneplantofurtheridentifyand understand the type of exposures that occur during firefighting activities; and

• Aspartoftheoccupationalhygieneplan,puttingstepsin place to minimise exposures. Some areas already being

looked at include:

o Cleaning of turnout gear;

o Station layout and design;

o Diesel particulate exposure in stations;

o Minimising smoke exposure and its impacts at incidents.

Being tired and exhausted at times is something we all experience in our lives. For many of us, it can be a daily or weekly condition we deal with and probably take for granted as a normal part of the busy lives we lead.

Who hasn’t ever found themselves either at home or at work feeling really tired? It seems unavoidable. In a work context we refer to this condition as fatigue and the way Tasmania Fire Service deals with it is called fatigue management.

Fatigue is a significant workplace health and safety issue. Our fatigue levels have the potential to cause us to have an accident, or another person to have an accident. For example, think for a moment about truck drivers, pilots and surgeons doing their jobs in a fatigued state and what could go wrong.

The key issues for all of us are: understanding fatigue, how it affects us, that we are each responsible for managing our own fatigue and what we can do about it.

What are the causes?

Fatigue can have a single cause or a number of causes working in combination, for example:

1. Medical (e.g. sleep disorders, heart problems)

2. Lifestyle (e.g. lack of sleep, diet, alcohol, drugs)

3. Workplace (e.g. shift work, type of work)

4. Psychological (e.g. anxiety, stress, depression)

According to researchers, how long you have been awake and how much prior sleep you have had in the previous 24 and 48 hours are two key factors in determining how likely and how soon you will become fatigued over the next shift.

What are the symptoms?

Fatigue can produce a wide range of physical, mental and emotional symptoms, such as:

Often these symptoms will tend to creep up on us, so that we don’t notice their impact until we feel them at a more extreme or heightened level. Think about times you have been driving and found your eyes starting to feel heavy.

Alternatively, we may be well aware of the headache or tiredness, but for one reason or another we decide to try and ignore the problem and soldier on.

• Slowed Reflexes • Headaches • Chronic Tiredness

• Poor Concentration • Memory Problems

• Impaired Judgement • Reduced Concentration

• Muscle Weakness

Who is at risk?

As mentioned earlier, everyone experiences fatigue. However, it’s not just the person suffering fatigue that get can hurt in an accident.

Other people’s health and safety can be impacted by our actions and decisions when fatigued. Our workmates, family, friends or even complete strangers can be affected by what we do or don’t do.

An obvious example is driving a motor vehicle in a fatigued state. It’s an activity that has the potential to seriously injure or kill if the fatigued driver falls asleep, misjudges a corner or reacts slowly to a road hazard. Research has shown that performance is affected by fatigue in a manner similar to how alcohol affects driving ability.

Important tips

The following are a range of tips for helping to manage fatigue. However, according to one of Australia’s leading fatigue researchers, Dr Drew Dawson, sleep – particularly how much sleep we have had in the time leading up to a given work period - is the most essential factor. The amount of prior sleep will determine how long you can work safely before fatigue affects performance.

Conclusion

Obviously fatigue can have a big impact on how we feel and function, whether at home or at work. Fatigue is also a hazard that can genuinely put our own health and live at risk as well as others.

Fortunately, with a bit of knowledge and some basic systems and practical steps, we can manage fatigue so the risk to ourselves and people we care about, like our family and workmates, can be reduced quite significantly.

GK

17hoursawake– similar to a 0.05 blood alcohol level

24 hours awake – similar to a 0.10 blood alcohol level

MONITORWhat should I monitor?Monitor your own mental and physical state, as well keep an eye out for your team mates’ condition.

REPORTWho do I tell?Tell your supervisor if you or your team mates safety is at risk because you are feeling fatigued.

RESTWhen should I rest?Whenever the opportunity arises and for as long as possible.

SLEEP

How much should I sleep?Nothing is more important than sleep in preventing or overcoming fatigue. The risk becomes much higher with less than 5 hours sleep in 24 hours and less than 12 hours sleep in the previous 48 hours.

PACE Why not work hard and fast?If not absolutely necessary, pushing yourself or others and putting up with fatigue could be at the expense of an injury to you or someone else.

EAT & DRINK

Why not skip food?Without an adequate intake of food and drink, the symptoms of fatigue will set in far more quickly.

Gerald Kutzner, OH&S Officer - Human Services

Why does fatigue matter?



• AnemployeewasdismissedfromoneofAustralia’sleadingelectrical appliance retailers after posting a rant against a senior work colleague on Facebook. He posted comments on the social networking site at home on his day off to express frustration at long-running pay problems.

He took his case to Fair Work Australia, arguing his Facebook profile was set to the maximum privacy setting and that his employer was not mentioned anywhere on the page. However, about 11 colleagues were among his 70 Facebook friends. He was unsuccessful in his unfair dismissal claim.

• Lastyear,a19-year-oldteenagerfromAdelaidewasconvicted of criminal defamation after posting false and malicious material about a police officer on Facebook.

• ThisyearTheRoyalAustralianNavydismissedseveralsailorsfor posting racist comments on social media. They were found to have made inappropriate comment on social media and in some cases to have an affiliation with different social media groups that were not consistent with Navy values.

So, if in doubt, don’t post it. If you don’t feel comfortable with your post being front page news, reconsider your comments. Remember nothing is truly private in the digital environment.

Below are some points to consider when using social media. These questions can help you as an individual or guide you as a social media administrator for those brigades that have Facebook pages.

Things to consider

• Do I have anything on my social media which shows me as being part of TFS?

• Am I confident that my posts are not critical or offensive to anyone?

• Am I communicating with respect and courtesy?

• How would I feel if my child or partner was the subject of my comment or share?

• Am I being sensitive to diversity and other people’s perspectives?

• Am I certain that my posts don’t contain unauthorised references to TFS, its activities or confidential information?

• Have I taken reasonable steps to avoid conflict of interest?

• Am I sure I haven’t been associated with a group that doesn’t support TFS values?

• Have I posted photos from incidents I attended where people or locations can be identified?

• Have I protected the privacy of others?

TFS have also just released an Administrative Instruction and poster to help TFS members understand their responsibilities when using social media, a copy will be distributed to all work areas. If you would like further assistance contact your supervisor or District Officer.

DP

No one will read this article…but millions can see your social media posts

Debra Pope,

Internal Communications Officer - Human Services

13.2 million Facebook users, 12.7 million

YouTube users, 2.5 million active Twitter

accounts, 3.5 million LinkedIn profiles,

400,000 Pinterest pinners, over 1 million

Snapchat users, and 1.6 million active

Instagramers ….andthisisjust

in Australia!

There are thousands of social media sites and millions of users. This list continues to grow daily. Technology and, in particular

social media, allow us to do some pretty amazing things. We can share our lives with family and friends, find other people with common interests, and network and share information for work.

For everything we share, send or save, we create a digital record, often referred to as a digital footprint or tattoo. The idea that what you post, share and text can’t be taken back can sometimes easily be forgotten.

Sometimes we also find that our private and professional lives seem to merge in social media environments. The distinction between official TFS statements and independent comments can become blurred. For example, if your profile picture on Facebook shows you in TFS uniform or your profile associates you with the TFS, then your comments, posts and blogs on any subject will reflect on our organisation. The consequences may be unintended, but they are very real.

There have been quite a number of cases within Australia over the last couple of years where people have let this happen and have damaged their character and the reputation of their organisation. If you google “people who’ve lost jobs due to social media mistakes”, you’ll find many examples, such as:


I recall this time last year. I had convinced my wife that an exchange to Tasmania was far better than an exchange to Brisbane. The only time we’d ever heard about Tasmania came from a surfing instructor we met in Samoa years earlier.

On top of that, our four-month-old daughter was

the apple of both extended families’ eye. Would she really spend her first year growing up in the Land Down Under? Many questions without any answers.

One year later I am happy to look back and say that coming here has been one of the best decisions of my life. If we didn’t have such strong family ties back home we would pack up and move to Tasmania immediately.

From the moment we stepped off the plane we have been welcomed into the local community and the Hobart Fire Brigade family. I want to personally thank everyone I met, even if only once, for being so kind and courteous to us.

Despite not weighing in at 100kgs +, C shift welcomed me on board. Within the first few weeks it became apparent that there are two things you will recognise when you walk in to any fire station: the politics and the humour. I realised soon enough that I could get along famously with these blokes as long as I could catch on to the lingo they were using.

Getting used to the gear and procedures was one of the biggest challenges I faced on shift. Everything was essentially the same… only slightly different.

Sometimes it was the simple things that would hang me up. Calling a torch a flashlight, or a branch a nozzle. Things that in any other job wouldn’t be an issue, but when you’re running around a fire truck with a fully involved structure fire, could mean trouble.

It’s amazing to see how much responsibility rests on so few shoulders while on duty. Back in Canada, I am strictly a ‘bread and butter’ firefighter, meaning I respond mainly to fires.

We have 82 full time stations within the city limits. It goes without saying we are not short of manpower when jobs come

up. The men and women here have to be fully trained on road crash rescue, bushfires, vertical rescue, HAZMAT, and the list grows.

When the tones go off here, expect to work. The whole Tasmania Fire Service should be proud of the results that come from the day-to-day operations in Tasmania.

Of course, it hasn’t always been about work. Our family made a point to discover as much of Tasmania as we possibly could. We figured it wouldn’t be that hard with a whole year to explore.

Well, with one month remaining we are still scrambling to check off our bucket list of things to see in Tasmania. We have conquered all four corners of the state, walked 31 of the 60 great short walks, wined and dined in some of the best restaurants in Hobart, and experienced the greatest hospitality from our Aussie friends. My wife was quick to point out that everyone that lives here loves it.

To be leaving this island a year after knowing nothing about it, weighs heavily on our hearts. But our time here was not wasted.

Our daughter is now 14 months old and has officially been an Aussie longer than a Canadian. She loves Vegemite on her toast but can’t stand maple syrup on her pancakes.

My wife has more circles of friends here than I do in both countries combined. And I can come home to Canada a better father, husband, and firefighter. I have the exchange to thank for that.

If anyone is considering working abroad for a year, I can’t recommend it highly enough. My only advice as we leave in June is this: keep Tasmania as one of the best kept secrets in the world. I know we will.

Sincerely,Chris, Beck, and Norah

Postcard from HobartChris Pallister, Firefighter - Toronto Fire Brigade


In early August 2013, I was lucky enough to start my adventure to work with Toronto Fire Services in Canada as a part of the International Firefighter Exchange Fellowship.

The International Exchange Program is a reciprocal arrangement between numerous Fire Agencies around the

world. It allows firefighters the opportunity to swap jobs for a period of time, to gain valuable experience by working in another firefighting agency.

They learn not only the ways in which the host agency goes about their daily business, but also experience the lifestyle and culture of the host country.

It involves finding a suitable exchange partner and not only swapping jobs, but in my case swapping cars and houses. For those wondering, there is no means to be able to swap wives or husbands, or unruly children!

My partner Amy and I arrived into a sunny Toronto Airport on 1 August 2013, to be greeted by my exchange partner Toronto Firefighter Chris Pallister, his wife Becky and their gorgeous newborn daughter Norah.

Up until this stage, our only interaction with our exchange partners had been through email and Skype, working out

the relevant details of the exchange as well as giving them an introduction to the rules of Australian Football and Cricket.

I must admit, seeing Chris greet us was a great relief as it meant that he did actually exist, and we hadn’t been caught up in some elaborate scam.

We were lucky enough to spend our first few days in Canada with Chris, Becky and Norah, as well as their family.

This allowed us the opportunity to not only get to know the people that were going to be living in our house and driving my beloved Holden ute for a year, but to also learn some of the finer points of driving on the wrong side of the road and how to fish for Bass in the nearby Lake Ontario.

A few days later, we saw Chris and Becky off as they embarked on their own journey to the other side of the world.

We gave them advice about things they would encounter such as the savage Tasmanian devil - made famous in North America by the Warner Brothers cartoon character that stands up on two legs and spins around at 100 miles per hour - as well as the killer Tasmanian kangaroos that stand five metres tall, drink beer and try to mug you at city intersections.

We also gave them more realistic survival tips on how to stay alive when they encounter killer snakes, sharks, jellyfish, spiders, stingrays, floods and bushfires. I think at this stage they were wondering what they had got themselves into!

Postcard from TorontoLeading Firefighter Andrew (Roo) Emery - Hobart Fire Brigade


I began my transition training on 11 August at the Toronto Fire and EMS Academy, where I spent my first two weeks. There was a recruit course of 50 recruit firefighters starting the same day as me, ranging from age 23 all the way through to 50 years old. Toronto Fire Services can run upwards of four recruit classes of this size each year, dependent on staffing levels.

Interestingly, the vast majority of recruit firefighters in Canada and most of North America complete a full-time, live-in, one to two year pre-employment training course at a designated fire college prior to applying for and being accepted to a position with one of the two countries’ many fire services. Because of this, Toronto’s recruit classes generally only run for a duration of 9-10 weeks.

Beginning transition training at the same time as me was a firefighter from Dublin, Ireland. Between my staunch Australian accent and his Irish one, we tested the instructors’ listening skills.

My two weeks at the academy was extremely full-on and involved learning not only Toronto’s policy and procedures, but also about the different firefighting apparatus and equipment that is in use here.

Apart from the axes and ‘Halligan’ tools, I can safely say that almost every piece of gear that I encountered had either a large or subtle difference either in its construction or how it was utilised.

Perhaps the biggest difference I have experienced working in a North American fire department is the amount of medical calls I run as a part of my duty as a firefighter.

As Toronto Fire Services also respond to medical calls, I had to undertake very thorough and intensive medical training as well. Although exhaustive, it will be extremely valuable when I return home.

Toronto, like almost all North American fire services, runs a comprehensive first responder program, in which the nearest available fire crew is dispatched at the same time as the nearest EMS crew to any patient suffering from an illness or injury that is considered immediately dangerous to their life and health.

This program almost doubles the usual call rate but gives the community what I believe is a more comprehensive and rapid medical response in their time of need. It has also given me invaluable and constant hands-on medical experience and knowledge through working side by side with Toronto’s paramedics on a daily basis.

I have dragged some information about the City of Toronto and Toronto Fire Services from the internet, so although I can’t guarantee its complete authenticity, I have just had my Canadian Captain (Station Officer) proof read it and he said, “It sounds about right”.

The City of Toronto is the most populous city in Canada (about three million people in the City itself and six million people in the Greater Toronto Area) and it is the capital city of the province of Ontario.

As Toronto is also the largest city in Canada and business headquarters of the country, the city population swells to almost double its size during the business day. The city itself is on the


shores of Lake Ontario, which is the 14th largest lake in the world. (Thanks Google!)

Toronto Fire Service have two fire boats manned by full time crews, which service Lake Ontario as well as Toronto Island.

Toronto Fire Services is the largest fire department in Canada ahead of Montreal, Vancouver and Ottawa, and the fourth largest fire department in North America behind New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Toronto has 83 fire stations, which are split up into the four geographical divisions of North, South, East and West Commands, which are then divided into districts or battalions.

The stations are staffed entirely by career personnel and the entire firefighting force is a strength of over 3,100 firefighters - which makes it hard when trying to remember people’s names as well as finding myself answering the same questions about Mad Max and Crocodile Dundee over and over again.

After I completed my training at the Fire and EMS Academy, I was assigned as a crew member of a rescue pumper at Station 426 in Toronto’s West Command.

Station 426 is in the Toronto neighbourhood of Parkdale, which is largely a working-class neighbourhood with a mix of low and high income residents as well as many new immigrants.

Parkdale has a large concentration of low-rent apartment complexes and unfortunately is also an area rife with substandard rental apartment buildings and a higher than average crime rate.

Because of this, Station 426 is one of the busiest fire stations in Toronto and is giving me many great learning experiences in a firefighting capacity, as well as valuable medical exposure. In 2012, Station 426 alone responded to over 5,000 callouts.

There are three trucks in my station: a Pumper, a Rescue Pumper and an Aerial Ladder Truck with a 40-metre telescopic ladder.

I am now nearing the end of my exchange and therefore have been lucky, or unlucky enough to experience the huge seasonal weather extremes that living in Canada presents.

I have experienced the awesome warm, albeit humid, summer, as well as the beautiful colours of the Canadian autumn leaves. More impressively, I am proud to say that I lived through one of the coldest Ontario winters in recent history with temperatures as low as -42 degrees with the wind chill factor.

I won’t write too much about this as, one, I am trying to forget it, and two, it’s really hard to explain in words how much these temperatures hurt your face!

Shovelling snow away from my car in order to be able to drive

to work, following a staggered line of snow ploughs up the major highways to be able to drive to work and spending five minutes digging snow away from hydrants in order to connect up to them was the norm for four or five months.

The snow and the cold itself posed many challenges and differences than what I am used to in relation to firefighting.

Small things we take for granted such as having to leave the pump running to circulate water (to stop it freezing) whenever the truck is stationary outside and having to load used hoses on top of trucks when the water freezes inside them.

Occasionally it is hard to bring yourself actually put out fires as they are the only thing providing warmth!

Toronto Fire Services also run a 24-hour shift schedule, which is comprised of roughly eight full 24-hour shifts per month starting duty at 7:00am, then being relieved by the oncoming crew at 7:00am the following morning.

Although 24 hours seems like a crazy amount of time to be at work for one shift, it seems to work well in this urban firefighting environment, although I must admit that I have become a bit of a coffee addict (just to add to my newfound addiction to ice hockey, poutine, pork ribs and boston cream donuts!)

I am looking forward to catching up with all of you when I return to my usual position as a Leading Firefighter in Hobart in a couple of months, and sharing with you a more in-depth and comprehensive presentation of my time here as a Firefighter at Station 426, Toronto Fire Services.

If you happen to stumble across a Hobart firefighter with a strange accent, there is a fair chance that it might be Toronto Firefighter Chris Pallister, so introduce yourself and make him feel welcome.

Until then, I hope your pagers remain silent.

Stay safe.


Australian Fire Service Medal presentation 2014

Every year the Tasmania Fire Service has the opportunity to nominate up to three members from our organisation who

have given distinguished service worthy of recognition at the highest level.

This year we were privileged to nominate:

• HughJones,DeputyRegionalChiefSouth

• TrevorKingston,BrigadeChief,SmithtonBrigade

• RodneyMoore,BrigadeChief,GladstoneBrigade

These nominations were subsequently accepted by the Governor General.

Some of the highlights of these three members’ service:

Hugh Jones commenced his career in 1979, when he joined the Hobart Fire Brigade as a recruit firefighter and moved through the ranks and became Regional Chief South in 2013. He is well respected by staff, volunteers and the broader

Andrew Comer made IFE Companion Fellow

community. His qualities include fairness, consideration and diplomacy.

Trevor Kingston joined the Smithton Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1974 as a volunteer firefighter, and moved through the ranks and was elected as Brigade Chief in 1995. Through Trevor’s guidance and leadership, the Smithton Brigade is a strong and dedicated brigade with a strong record of providing effective fire and emergency response, both in Smithton and in support of surrounding brigades.

Rodney Moore joined the Gladstone Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1984 as a volunteer firefighter and in the same year was promoted to the position of Brigade Chief, a position he maintains today. He is also a Group Officer with the Mount Cameron Group of Brigades. Rodney is respected for his leadership, commitment, and knowledge.

We congratulate them all on receiving their AFSM.

Regional Chief – North, Andrew Comer, has received the prestigious award of Companion Fellow of the Institution of Fire Engineers. The grade of Fellow recognises Andrew’s exceptional contributions to the profession of fire engineering, and the title of Companion is an extra honour voted by his peers. “I was truly honoured,” he says.

Pictured at the award ceremony in Sydney earlier this year are (L-R) Grant Lupton, Chief Officer of the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (SAMFS) and International President of the Institution of Fire Engineers, Andrew Comer and Andrew Sharrad, SAMFS Station Officer and National President of IFE Australia Branch.

(L-R) Deputy Chief Officer Gavin Freeman, Gladstone Brigade Chief Rodney Moore, Smithton Brigade Chief Trevor Kingston, Deputy Regional Chief South Hugh Jones


The Tasmanian Australian Institute of Emergency Services held its AGM and PJ Parssey Award Night at the Balmoral Motor Inn on 1 March 2014.

Spirit of the Anzacs Award

The first award presented for the evening was the inaugural Tasmanian RSL Spirit of the Anzacs Emergency Service

Worker of the Year Award.

The three regional winners were:

• SouthernRegion:AltonBond,SESHuonville

• NorthernRegion:RodneyBrewer,Tasmania Fire Service and Ambulance Tasmania

• NorthwestRegion:JohnDuncombe,SESBurnie

Tasmanian President, Robert Dick, presented each winning nominee with an RSL shield and certificate before announcing Rodney Brewer as the inaugural winner.

PJ Parssey Award Next was our main award, the PJ Parssey Memorial Award. All our nominations this year came from our other partners in our awards, the Tasmanian Broadcasters Radio Network’s Emergency Service Volunteer Worker of the Year Awards.

Those nominated were:

• ScottClarke,TasmaniaFireServiceBurnie (7BU/SeaFM Radio Station)

• PaulBugg,TasmaniaFireServiceQueenstown (7XS Radio Station)

• SassafrasFireBrigade (7BU/SeaFM Radio Station)

• MelissaWest,AmbulanceTasmaniaGeorgeTown (7LA/Chilli FM Radio Station)

• ChrisRyan,CambridgeFireBrigade (7HO FM Radio Station).

Betty Parssey, wife of the late Peter Parssey, announced this year’s winner, Scott Clarke from Burnie.

Scott is currently the Second Officer with the Burnie Fire Brigade in the North West Region. He shares responsibility for the routine management and training of the Burnie volunteer firefighters, and also takes the lead role for workplace health and safety issues affecting the volunteers within the area.

Scott’s commitment and service extends over thirty years, with his first involvement commencing in 1980 as a junior member of the Queenstown Fire Brigade.

He has been a long-term volunteer in all emergency service organisations in Tasmania, with service to Tasmanian Ambulance Service, State Emergency Service, Tasmania Fire Service and St John Ambulance.

Scott played a critical role in mine rescue and occupational health and safety in the mining industry, and has also played a key role in the annual Tasmanian Mine Rescue Competitions for over 25 years, as a competitor and adjudicator.

Congratulations to all our award nominees for the fantastic work you are doing for your service and your community.

RJ

Emergency services workers honouredRon Jones FAIES - AIES State President

(L-R) Award organiser Peter Geard, Betty Parssey, award winner Scott Clarke, Ronald Jones

FiregroundProfessionalism - Being skilled, efficient, committed and innovative. Using our collective capabilities to deliver an excellent service.

Professionalism - Being skilled, efficient, committed and innovative. Using our collective capabilities to deliver an excellent service.

The winner of the Winter edition photo competition is Tony Schultz of Cambridge Brigade for this shot of the Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) truck in action at the Hazelwood Coal Mine fire, Victoria, February 2014.

Greg Butters congratulates Michael D’Alton on his promotion.

Michael D’Alton promoted Hugh Jones, Deputy Regional Chief - South

On 28 November 2013 Michael Dalton was promoted to Supervisor, Communications in FireComm.

Michael has been working in FireComm since May 1998, and has been involved in all facets of communications in this

specialised area – culminating in this supervisory position.

He brings a lot of skills and enthusiasm to the position as well as a significant amount of knowledge of the volunteer side of the service.

Michael has been heavily involved in the volunteer side of TFS and still is. He originally joined New Norfolk brigade in October 1983 as a junior and went on to the senior ranks in that brigade.

Later, Michael moved his family to the Kingston area and he transferred to Kingston brigade. During his time at Kingston, Michael also put his hand up to undertake the job of secretary of the Tasmanian Retained Volunteer Firefighters Association and represented his fellow firefighters in a number of forums for some years.

In 2005, Michael again moved house to the Margate area and subsequently joined the Margate brigade. After a couple of years settling in he then rose to the lofty heights of Brigade Chief.

Michael is still with Margate brigade but work and family commitments have prompted him to relinquish his officership for the time being and revert to being a firefighter.

Even though Michael is busy looking after FireComm and its responsibilities he is very approachable and is always takes time out to answer people’s questions in relation to the complexities of our communications hub!

We all wish Michael well in his new position and look forward to working with him for many years to come.

MA


Welcome Scott Wilson -Haffenden Mike Brown, Chief Officer

I’m sure you’ll join me in welcoming our new Director Corporate Services, Scott Wilson-Haffenden to the TFS family and Executive Leadership Team.

As you would be aware, Mike Gallagher,

our previous Director of Corporate Services

retired earlier this year following more than

twenty years of commendable service to TFS

(see page 49). I sought expressions of interest

from across the State Service for the vacancy,

and I was delighted to receive interest from

Scott.

Scott was well known to us from his previous

position as Director for Corporate Services

for the Department of Police and Emergency

Management (DPEM) and he clearly expressed

a very genuine interest in all matters relating

to Emergency Services and Emergency

Management sector. In addition, Scott was

attracted to TFS’s culture, reputation

and values.

In his new career move, Scott will lead up and

provide oversight to our financial functional

areas and technical support divisions (ISB,

Communications and Engineering)

You will hear and see more of Scott in the future

at our various get-togethers across the State.

Or, if you are a cyclist, you may see him at

mountain bike events pursuing his favourite

hobby.

MB

AFAC Knowledge Event SeriesGas pipeline explosion at Ghislenghien, Belgium, July 2004 - lessons learnedStuart Males, District Officer - Hobart Fire Brigade

In April 2014, the Tasmania Fire Service, in partnership with the Australasian Fire and Emergency Authorities Council (AFAC) and with the sponsorship of Motorola Solutions, hosted a one-day AFAC Knowledge Event series.

Kaptein Commandment Jan Jorissen of the Lommel Fire Brigade, Belgium, presented on the lessons learned from a gas pipeline explosion at Ghislenghien, Belgium in July 2004. Following on from this incident, Kaptein Commandment Jorissen led the commission into the investigation on how the disaster occurred.

When a high-pressure natural gas pipeline ruptured in the

town of Ghislenghien in July 2004, 29 people died and

more than 122 were injured. The disaster was the first of its

kind to claim the lives of local residents, construction workers

and emergency response personnel and, due to ongoing legal

proceedings in Belgium, many lessons have not been well

circulated.

Tasmania, as a major user of natural gas with a network of high-

pressure gas pipelines, has much to gain from reviewing this

incident.

The event was held at the Tasmania Police Training Academy,

with approximately 80 people attending from a mix of

organisations including the Tasmania Fire Service, Tasmania

Police, Ambulance Tasmania, SES, Department of Justice,

Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources, as well as

industry representation from TasGas Networks and Zinfra.

Kaptein Commandment Jorissen provided a case study of the

Ghislenghien incident and the subsequent findings from the

investigation into the failure in systems and procedures that led

to the pipeline breach and subsequent gas ignition.

This was followed by a presentation from TasGas networks

outlining the standards and regulations governing pipeline

construction, maintenance and monitoring in the Australian

context, followed by the TFS detailing local response, command

and control, and communication procedures to be adopted in a

similar scenario should it occur.

Overall, the feedback from the event was extremely positive,

with the many of the attendees commenting that their level of

understanding of the risks associated with gas pipelines was

greatly improved.

There was also better insight gained into the construction and

maintenance standards of these assets, providing a greater

degree of confidence that the prevention and preparedness

measure adopted by all agencies both government and private

will stand us in good stead should a pipeline incident of a similar

nature occur here in Tasmania.

SM


Kaptein Commandment Jan Jorissen, Lommel Fire Brigade, Belgium


Controlled burn on Mt Direction, as seen from Rosetta, 2013. Photo: Kelvin Ball

Forestry Tasmania burn at Adventure Bay, Bruny Island, 24 April 2014. Photo: Karen Davis

The Molesworth fire at Collins Cap Road, February 2013. Photo: Alastair Cooke

Burnt out car, Dunalley, January 2013. Photo: Jennifer McFarlane

PHOTO GALLERY

Trainee Firefighter applicant participating in physical assessment. Photo: Gerald Kutzner

’Buckets from heaven.’ Photo: Stuart Peel

Trainee Firefighter applicant participating in physical assessment. Photo: Gerald KutznerAerial firefighting at New Road, Franklin,

22 January 2014. Photo: Amelia Direen


Bridgewater 3.2 at a local school fair. Photo: Aleks Long

Bridgewater 5.1 at a hazard reduction burn near the East Derwent Highway. Photo: Aleks Long

Bridgewater 3.2 at a vegetation fire, May 2014. Photo: Aleks Long

Arthur Highway: The Dunalley Fire at Arthur Highway, Forcett, January 2013. Photo: Clare Hall

A small fire caused by a fallen tree on the A5 highway between Breona and Golden Valley, 2 April 2014. Photo: Anna Stewart

PHOTO GALLERY


Third prize winner in the photo competition: Trainee Firefighter applicant participating in physical assessment. Photo: Gerald Kutzner

Wellington, Glenorchy and Claremont Brigades attending the Jackson Street Scrapyard fire, Glenorchy, 26 January 2014. Photo: Kate Smith

Klause Stange wins second prize in the Winter 2014 photo competition for this photo of the Richmond Juniors participating in their junior field day event

Remote Area Team (RAT) work, Kings Road, Cambridge (L-R) Adrian Petrie, Jason McSherry, Will Russel. Photo: Luke Mellers

Lake Repulse fire, January 2013. Photo: Peta Stalker

PHOTO GALLERY


© Bushfire CrC Ltd 2013 1

Issue 111 june 2013

suMMARYAn outline of the Awake, Smoky and Hot (ASH) simulation is combined with a literature review in this Fire Note. Together they present the most up-to-date research about the detrimental impacts of three key stressors – heat, smoke and sleep restriction – on the physical and mental capacities of firefighters. Where earlier research examined these stressors in isolation or various dual combinations, the ASH simulation is believed to be a world first in researching the impacts of all three stressors simultaneously. It achieves this by ‘fighting fire without the fire’ – simulating bushfire suppression activities within an indoor environment so that temperature, carbon monoxide levels and the sleeping environment can be controlled. The study is delivering credible data that can help fire agencies to better manage the health and safety of personnel during bushfire suppression.

early findings from initial Ash simulations, together with educated estimates from the available literature, suggest that firefighters performing prolonged, intermittent work while exposed to the triple combination of heat, smoke and sleep restriction may experience greater physiological exertion and impaired mental performance than when faced with the stressors in isolation or dual combinations. shorter exposures, adequate sleep, faster task rotations and breaks may more effectively maintain fireground productivity, community safeguards and bushfire firefighters’ health and safety.

ABOuT THIs PROJeCTThis two-part Fire Note features a literature review and an outline of the Ash simulation. The Ash study is being undertaken in the Operational readiness of rural firefighters during bushfire suppression project, part of the Bushfire CrC Managing the threat program. This project is jointly coordinated by CQuniversity and deakin university.

AuTHORsAssociate Professor sally ferguson, CQuniversity, and dr Brad Aisbett, deakin university, are both project leaders of the Operational readiness of rural firefighters during bushfire suppression project. for more information, contact [email protected]

CONTeXTexposure to smoke and high temperatures, coupled with little sleep, can impair firefighters’ performance on the fireground. In isolation or in various dual combinations, heat, smoke, and sleep disruption can have negative effects on firefighters’ cognitive (mental) and physical capacities. However, very little is known about the combined effects of these stressors on firefighters during suppression activities. This project is addressing this gap by providing fire agencies with the best available evidence to enable fire agencies to better manage the risks to their firefighters.

BACKGROuNDLITeRATuRe ReVIeWBushfires can last anywhere between a few hours and a few months. As a result, firefighters may be deployed after a day at their regular employment, work long shifts across day and night in variable weather conditions (with or without the presence of bushfire smoke), be deployed for consecutive days with limited rest between shifts, and experience poor quality sleep in temporary accommodation.

Previous research looks at only one stressor (heat, smoke exposure or sleep deprivation) in isolation or in various dual combinations, but firefighters at work typically face these three conditions together. to the authors’ knowledge, based on this comprehensive literature review, no published studies have explored the combined impact of sleep disruption, smoke and heat exposure on cognitive or physical work.

Bushfire-specific research is critical to developing evidence-based strategies to preserve the health, safety and productivity of firefighters fighting bushfires. importantly, the goal is not to remove firefighters from the fireground; it is to provide fire agencies with the best available evidence that they can use to manage the risks to their firefighters.

Participants in the Ash study from CfA, Cfs and the nsW Parks and Wildlife service undertaking the physical simulation tasks.

AWAKe, sMOKY AND HOT – fIGHTING fIRe WITHOuT fIRe


22

shortened sleep The available, relevant research comes from sustained military operations that often involved heavy physical and mental work combined with restricted sleep. in broad summary, this research shows that sleep restriction impairs performance (haslam 1982).

in general, the research indicates that a minimum of six hours sleep per 24 hour period is needed to maintain cognitive (mental) performance. Laboratory-based studies show that physical performance on short tasks is generally not affected by sleep restriction, but when individuals are able to pace themselves on longer tasks, those who were sleep deprived worked more slowly (rodgers et al. 1995; symons et al. 1988).

smoke exposure Bushfire smoke is a complex mixture of particles, vapours and gases, including carbon monoxide (CO). The health impacts of smoke inhalation on the fireground can include short-term respiratory irritation and impairment (reisen et al. 2011). in contrast, much less is known about the impact of smoke on firefighters’ physical and cognitive performance.

Bunnell and horvarth (1988) suggest that cognitive brain function is unaffected until significant levels of CO, within the range found on a fireground, are experienced. rundell and Caviston (2008) report an association between exposure to high concentrations of various particles found in smoke with decreased work output.

however, little is known about the effects of bushfire smoke specifically. in particular, research still needs to expose participants to CO and other particulate matter in:

a) Concentrations consistent with the fireground.

b) Over durations that closely approximate typical fireground deployments.

c) in combination rather than just one compound at a time.

More information on firefighters exposure to smoke on the fireground is available in Fire Note 30 (Meyer et al. 2009).

Heat exposure Bushfires are synonymous with hot, dry and windy weather conditions. The limited research in this area reports that firefighters’ body temperatures rose more rapidly and their work capacity fell when ambient temperature increased from 25°C to 35°C. due to the nature of bushfires, firefighters are more likely to be working when temperatures are around the upper reaches of these measurements.

Additionally, in temperatures above 35°C, individuals were unable to keep working at a sustained pace. in an emergency, they were likely to maintain the required pace for shorter periods in hotter conditions and also to find the work more physiologically stressful. When setting their own pace, such as during clean up, firefighters were likely to work more slowly for longer periods of time, but find the work more physiologically taxing than in cooler conditions.

The impacts of heat on mental performance were studied at very high temperatures (51.5°C). Alertness, learning and reasoning were all significantly impaired. Additionally, cognitive tasks were performed more slowly in these hotter conditions in order to avoid mistakes. While these temperatures are extreme, the research confirms that the extremely high temperatures typically encountered on the fireground do negatively impact mental performance.

shortened sleep and heat exposureevidence informing this review about the direct impacts of hot working conditions and limited sleep on physical work was drawn from just one study. Kolka and stephenson

(1988) reported that in 35°C heat, the body’s cooling response may differ depending on the amount of sleep the individual has had.

smoke exposure and heat exposurefield simulations of bushfire suppression showed that physical performance was significantly impaired when working near fire, and that combining high temperatures with elevated CO was more taxing than either stressor in isolation. As CO in the blood increased during moderate intensity exercise at 40°C, heart rate and breathing rate also increased. Another study looked at performance on a 60 minute driving simulator following 60 minutes of moderate intensity exercise in three different combinations of temperature and blood CO concentrations (Walker et al. 2001). driving performance was significantly more affected under conditions combining high temperature (50°C) and CO (10-12% concentration) compared to high temperature alone. Additionally, performance that required both mental and physical coordination (for example driving a vehicle) was particularly susceptible to high temperatures, and may be further impaired by elevated CO.

The Ash simulation has been designed with input from firefighters to ensure realism. here, a firefighter performs a rake task.


Background briefings on emerging issues for fire managers from AfAC and Bushfire CrC.3 3

shortened sleep and smoke exposureThere are no published studies on the combined impact of smoke and sleep disruption on physical and cognitive performance. studies on smoke and sleep disruption in isolation indicate that increasing each stressor decreased cognitive performance. This suggests that shortened sleep and CO exposure could combine to further degrade mental performance. The combined impacts of the two could also be expected to slow self-paced work capacity and possibly increase firefighters’ exposure to CO.

Heat, smoke and fatigue – where to from here? Predictions from the individual and dual stressor studies suggest that experiencing shortened sleep, smoke and heat exposure simultaneously will have a strong negative impact on firefighters’ performance. These conditions are most likely to be encountered between the latter stages of the first day of a large-scale fire, to when the fire is controlled, which could be several days later. in a situation like this, the dose-dependent impairment of cognitive function through sleep deprivation and heat exposure could combine with elevated CO levels to further degrade mental performance.

This raises a critical management dilemma for firefighting agencies: how to balance the health and safety risks to firefighters exposed to these combined stressors, against the risks to people and property of withdrawing firefighters from the fireground. The Ash simulation is providing the evidence to help agencies address this dilemma.

heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure are measured to understand the effects of heat, smoke exposure and lack of sleep on tasks the firefighters perform regularly, such as rolling a hose.

BusHfIRe CRC ReseARCH DesIGNING THe AsH sIMuLATIONThe Ash project team is investigating the effects of high temperatures, CO and disrupted sleep on firefighters. The team has collaborated with the project’s lead end user, robyn Pearce, director human services at tasmania fire service, as well as partner agencies, volunteer firefighters, key industry advisers and human factors design specialists to develop a simulation of bushfire suppression activities. The simulation can be run indoors, enabling control of temperature, CO levels and the sleeping environment – in essence, the fighting without the fire.

The simulation focuses on creating realistic physical and cognitive workloads, crew scheduling and activities, combined with sufficient researcher control to enable conditions to be repeated across groups at different research sites.

The project focuses on replicating the specific tasks that firefighters do on the fireground, rather than trying to measure ‘fireground performance’.

using information collected on the timings of a deployment, and activities undertaken, the simulation was designed in collaboration with firefighters.

Creating a realistic firefighting simulationin preparing for this study, researchers collected information about firefighters’ physical and cognitive tasks, and measured changes to heart rate, breathing and blood pressure that occurred as they worked. Through the first phase of the Bushfire CrC (2003-2010), dr Brad Aisbett and his team completed a series of studies analysing the major tasks conducted by tanker-based firefighters during bushfire suppression. This research, previously highlighted in Fire Note 80, identified the seven most physically demanding tasks and determined the length of time firefighters spent doing each task (Aisbett et al. 2011). This study included designing a circuit of physical tasks that mimicked the tasks done on the fireground, such as advancing a charged hose.

initial tests of this circuit were conducted in the laboratory to ensure that measurements such as heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure were similar to documented experience of firefighters on the fireground. This created confidence that the simulation’s physiological effects are similar to real conditions.

The project team also collected information about the cognitive aspects of the work by tanker-based firefighters. This included

eND useR sTATeMeNTThe findings from this project will be of significant value to the fire industry. it is well known that firefighters are exposed to fatigue and often work through that fatigue to ‘get the job done’. The rule of thumb is to try and restrict shifts to a maximum of 12 hours, but we do not know for sure that this is the optimum shift duration to achieve peak performance.

historically it has been challenging for operational commanders to manage timely crew changeovers in a dynamic fire environment. This research will help determine how firefighters are really affected during fire suppression activities and allow agencies to manage the health and safety of firefighters in a more structured, and possibly more flexible, manner, based on the type of exposure they are presented with.

– Gavin freeman, Deputy Chief Officer, Tasmania fire service


Background briefings on emerging issues for fire managers from AfAC and Bushfire CrC.44

fire Note is published jointly by the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre (Bushfire CRC) and the Australasian fire and emergency service Authorities Council (AfAC). This fire Note is prepared from available research at the time of publication to encourage discussion and debate. The contents of the fire Note do not necessarily represent the views, policies, practices or positions of any of the individual agencies or organisations who are stakeholders of the Bushfire CRC.

Bushfire Cooperative Research CentreLevel 5/340 Albert street east Melbourne ViC 3002telephone: 03 9412 9600 www.bushfirecrc.com

Bushfire CrC is a national research centre in the Cooperative research Centre (CrC) program, formed in partnership with fire and land management agencies in 2003 to undertake end-user focused research.Bushfire CrC Limited ABn: 71 103 943 755

Australasian fire and emergency service Authorities CouncilLevel 5/340 Albert street east Melbourne ViC 3002telephone: 03 9419 2388 www.afac.com.au

AfAC is the peak representative body for fire, emergency services and land management agencies in the Australasia region. it was established in 1993 and has 35 full and 10 affiliate member organisations.

interviewing experienced firefighters about the cognitive abilities and skills they used on the fireground. These interviews covered a call-out and incident, from the first pager alert to the drive home. Aspects discussed included decision making, effective communication and information recall. Based on these interviews, a cognitive test circuit was created, incorporating tasks that measured responses such as short-term memory and reaction time.

AsH simulation conditionsThe Ash simulation requires firefighters to volunteer their time to take part. Participation requires a three-and-a-half day commitment (four nights), and is designed around a three-day campaign fire scenario.

Volunteers arrive on site on the pre-study evening. They then ‘work’ three, 12-hour day shifts and one two-hour morning shift and sleep on site each night. Participants undertake physical work tasks and computer-based tests designed to approximate the demands placed on firefighters during multi-day bushfire deployments. The tests involve intermittent physical hard work and cognitive tasks which challenge attention, concentration and memory.

Participants are randomly allocated to one of eight different conditions involving various combinations of raised heat, raised CO levels and reduced sleep. There is approximately 50% chance of experiencing any one of the specific conditions, either alone or in combination with another condition.

heat conditions involve 33°C days and 23°C nights. raised CO levels are 15 parts per million during the day and five parts per million during the night (within the Occupational health and safety guidelines for Australia). sleep deprivation conditions involve sleeping four hours per night.

each of these elements contributes to the realism of the simulation. These parameters are based on published observations from Australian bushfires in the last five years. The tasks undertaken during the work periods are designed to simulate the specific tasks that firefighters complete when fighting a bushfire.

RefeReNCes/fuRTHeR ReADING

Aisbett B, Larsen B, nichols d, 2011, firefighter health and safety, Fire Note 80.

Aisbett B, Wolkow A, sprajcer M, ferguson s, 2012, “Awake, smoky and hot”: providing an evience-base for managing the risks associated with occupational stressors encountered by wildland firefighters, , Applied Ergonomics, 916-925.

Bunnell d, horvarth s, 1998, interactive effects of physical work and carbon monoxide on cognitive task performance, , Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine, 1133 -1138.

haslam d, 1982, sleep loss, recovery sleep, and military performance, , Ergonomics, 163-178.

Kolka M, stephenson L, 1988, exercise thermoregulation after prolonged wakefulness, , Journal of Applied Physiology, 1575-1579.

Meyer C, reisen f, Maleknia s, Bell t, 2009, Bushfire smoke research: a progress report, Fire Note 30.

reisen f, hansen d, Meyer C, 2011, exposure to bushfire smoke during prescribed burns and wildfires: firefighters’ exposure risks and options,, Environmental International, 314-321.

rodgers C, Paterson d, Cunningham d, noble e, Pettigrew f, Myles W, taylor A, 1995, sleep deprivation: effects on work capacity, self-paced walking, contractile properties and perceived exertion, ,Sleep, 30-38.

rundell K, Caviston r, 2008, ultrafine and fine particulate matter inhalation decreases exercise performance in healthy subjects, , Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2-5.

symons j, Van helder t, Myles W, 1988, Physical performance and physiological respones following 60 hours of sleep deprivation, ,Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 374-380.

Walker s, Ackland t, dawson B, 2001, The combined effect of heat and carbon monoxide on the performance of motorsport athletes, 128(4), 709-718.

While the physical and cognitive tasks are conducted separately, tests have shown that the cognitive elements of the physical tasks have a very high level of realism and do assess the cognitive performance elements required of firefighters on the fireground.

A number of Ash simulations have already been completed, with more scheduled throughout 2013. it is expected that the overall results will be the basis of a future Fire Note (see future directions below).

HOW COuLD THe ReseARCH Be useDThe Ash simulation’s focus on measuring the combined impacts of heat, smoke and restricted sleep on firefighters’ performance will provide valuable insights that will feed directly into policy and practice in the industry. The findings from this research will provide an evidence base on which to develop specific training and guidelines to better

assist the health and safety of firefighters. The project may also in future answer questions about teamwork, recovery from deployments, the effectiveness of protective clothing and equipment, eating and drinking practices and alternative work practices such as split shifts. There are potential applications that extend well beyond bushfire incidents.

fuTuRe DIReCTIONsinitial simulations have been completed but many more are needed to gather enough data to inform the results. The research team is seeking more firefighters from all national agencies. simulations will take place in Adelaide and Melbourne in 2013, with the possibility of testing at other sites. A short video that shows the simulation in action can be viewed on the Bushfire CrC Youtube. for more information, contact the author of this Fire Note.


Part one of a five-part series

The history of the Hobart Fire Brigade stretches all the way from 19th Century horse-drawn appliances, to today’s high-tech firefighting capabilities. Here, DK Tomes recalls a period that was to prove a turning point in the brigade’s story: the eventful 1960s and 70s.

The Hobart Fire Brigade was formed in 1883 and many of its buildings were built in 1911 to garage horse-drawn

appliances.

With the advent of motorised fire appliances, which grew in size over the years, these vehicle stations were found to be very tight.

There was a lot of discussion at this time regarding a new fire station, many alternative sites were checked out. As money was extremely tight at the time no decisions were made.

The brigade worked out of the Argyle Street engine bays. The main station housed a 125-foot Metz (38-metre) ladder backed up to the chief officer’s doorway, with a utility parked in front for the chief (who had a driver supplied).

On the other side, in front of the watch room, was the first response unit with a salvage van behind it.

The new station, accessed by a passageway next door, housed a British Dennis Pumper appliance with a 50-foot (15-metre) Morris escape ladder.

This appliance was very large and only allowed approximately three inches clearance in the doorway from the rear vision mirrors; it was a powerful unit with a crash gearbox. The Metz ladder and all of the early appliances had crash gearboxes.

Fire hose differences prove disastrous

A room at the rear of the new station housed the fire hose storage and repair room. The bulk of the hose in use was a coarse canvas hose that oozed water to keep it cool under fire situations. This hose was very old and was being patched continuously.

Some rubber-lined hose was being purchased for use on the branch length to save water damage in buildings. All of the hose in use on appliances was 2.5 inch (64 mm).

The hose had a five-v thread; however, the northern brigades used an English round thread. This proved to be disastrous during the 1967 bushfires, as the hose was not compatible and assistance from the north of Oatlands was limited.

DKT

Step back in time: life in the Hobart Fire Brigade during the 1960s and 70s


November 2013 was an extremely busy time for the Tasmanian Fire Brigades Competitions Association. The first weekend saw the staging of the bi-annual Australasian Firefighters Championship, held for the very first time in Tasmania. Just one week later, the State Championships took place.

Australasian Firefighters Championship

Thirty teams from New South Wales, Victoria, the Northern Territory, New Zealand and Tasmania competed against

each other in 10 individual events over two days at Launceston’s Invermay Park, vying for the title of Australasian champions.

The Championships commenced in 2001 with the Centenary of Federation, and have been held in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and New Zealand since then. Echuca in Victoria has been selected as the host for the 2015 Championships.

TFS was very well represented in Launceston, with teams from Devonport, Sassafras, Kingston, Claremont, New Norfolk, Rokeby, Bushy Park and Prospect competing – some for the first time in the Championship’s short history.

Our own teams were joined by nine each from New South Wales and Victoria, three from ‘across the ditch’ in New Zealand, and one from the Northern Territory.

The Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade won the event, with the from Echuca (Vic) in second place, closely followed by Kelso (NSW) third, Dorrigo (NSW) fourth, and Silverdale (NZ) rounding out the top five.

The best placed Tasmanian team was Devonport, finishing in 11th place. Full results are available on the TFS website http://www.fire.tas.gov.au/Show?pageId=colAssociations.

The event attracted some excellent sponsors, with our major partners being Hino and FRM. Significant contributions were also received from Country Club Tasmania, Bendigo Bank, Caltex, Scania, RACT Insurance, Global Fire Solutions, Draeger, Kidde and Tassie Instant Marquees.

Logistical support was also received from Fire and Rescue NSW, in the form of timing equipment and an immense amount of ‘know-how’!

Sincere thanks must go to the organising committee comprised of Karina Lowe, Jess Mulcahy, Adam Meredith, Michael

Goldsmith, Faron Wall, Jaron Oosterloo and Daniel Beamish – a very small team who did an amazing amount of work to ensure the championships were a huge success.

State ChampionshipsOne week later, the annual State Firefighter Championships were again conducted at the same venue – yes, we are ‘gluttons for punishment’.

Our own championship continued to strengthen with 17 senior and 15 junior teams competing in 2013.

The Executive Committee is continuing to work hard behind the scenes to make the Championships just that little bit better each year, and the number of teams competing tells us we must be doing things right.

The 2013 senior State Champions were Devonport 2, closely followed by Kingston in second place, New Norfolk third, Prospect fourth and Claremont 1 in fifth place.

In the junior section, Claremont 1 pipped Sassafras by just six points for the title, followed by Kingston third, New Norfolk 1 in fourth place and Claremont 2 rounding out the top five placings. Full results can be viewed on the TFS website.

The 2014 State Firefighter Championships have been scheduled for the 8th and 9th of November, again at Invermay Park. The Launceston City Council continues to provide us with great support and a great venue so all we need is for more brigades to participate, and judging from recent feedback, this year promises to be the best attended Championship in recent times.

There will be some new events introduced this year in both senior and junior sections and all the information that’s needed will be available on the TFS website.

Finally, thanks to everyone who was involved in the championships last year, I look forward to your support again in 2014 and beyond.

MD

Not one, but two firefighting championships make for a busy NovemberMark Dobson, District Officer- President, Tasmanian Fire Brigades Competitions Association


Michael Brown & Ken Burns

No regrets: Ken BurnsMeaghan Newson

Ken Burns served the Tasmania Fire Service with distinction during a 37-year career that saw him progress to elite levels

while introducing new ways of managing the critical roles of fire communications, aerial firefighting and media liaison.

He also played a leadership role in TFS deployments to major fires on mainland Australia, and represented TFS and Australia internationally in the United States and Greece.

Despite an action-packed life in the organisation, he’s unequivocal in nominating his most rewarding role: that of training up-and-coming firefighters.

“I’ve always said that if see I the country ablaze after I retire, I know that it’s in good hands.

“As a training officer you have something people want – knowledge, skills and experience.

“You walk out of a session knowing that the people you have just trained have gone a little bit further towards meeting their own potential. It’s all about self-actualisation, both for them and for me.

“I look at some of the senior officers who I helped train years ago, and it gives me a great sense of satisfaction knowing the future of the organisation is in their hands.”

Chief Officer Mike Brown recalls Ken’s leadership developing the centralised Firecomm communications and dispatch centre.

“It was a major advance at a time when communications infrastructure was decentralised across five different control centres in the three regions.”

“That was a very challenging job,” Ken recalls, “some people lost jobs, others transferred, and there were lots of stakeholders involved.”

The manner in which Ken managed such a massive change continues to leave its mark some 18 years later, with the Firecomm team leaving a special note in recollection on his farewell card.

He says people now take it for granted that such a critical role is centralised.

“The kids that have joined us in the last 15 years know nothing different.”

Mike Brown also recognises the key role Ken played in changing the way TFS uses aircraft for firefighting.

“Ken managed aerial operations training, developed protocols for using aircraft, and represented Tasmania on the National Aerial Firefighting Centre.”

“In the early days,” Ken recalls, “if you wanted a light aircraft you almost had to get down on your hands and knees.

“Now, if there’s a job, our people have no hesitation in asking for aerial support if needed.

“When I look up during a busy time in the summer and our aircraft are flying around the countryside, I think, ‘there’s a little

bit of me in all those helicopters.’”

Another area in which Ken played a major role was the pro-active involvement of the news media in fire updates.

He says the way in which reporters and camera crews are provided with access to the fireground and incident control is a far cry from the days when reporters would show up unannounced and “shove a microphone in your face.”

“Our capacity now to report real time, accurate information to people in the path of fire is fantastic. Communities are so much more informed.

“We’ve come so far. We are a high-profile organisation and people have an acceptance that they live in a bushfire environment.

“They rightly expect that their fire service is safe, effective and efficient. Part of that expectation is that we keep them informed and educated, so they can in turn make some informed decisions.”

“I have always said, in times of an emergency the media are another of the emergency services, as without them, we can not manage emergencies effectively.”

When asked to reflect on what he will miss the most, Ken doesn’t hesitate to nominate the organisation’s team spirit.

“I have been fortunate to be involved in major fire events throughout Australia, the United States and Greece, and I’m proud to say our firefighters are as talented and skilled as any firefighters I have worked with anywhere.

“They are well-trained, well-led, well-equipped, and capable of dealing with whatever confronts them.

“Our volunteer firefighters give up a lot of time to attend incidents, to train, to fundraise, and to educate their communities. They miss out on a lot of things, like family outings, school sports days, and parents and friends meetings.

“Of course, it’s not just them, but their wives, their husbands, their kids and their employers standing behind them. The Tasmanian community has a great debt to their volunteer firefighters.”

Ken’s advice to people coming up through the ranks today is simple.

“My advice to young firies would be, if you want to reach your potential, you need to step outside your comfort zone.

“I’m where I am because I’ve taken advantage of the opportunities, and, along with a supportive family, made sacrifices along the way.

“In return, the memories, relationships and experiences are what have made this the greatest job in the world.”

MN

Ken Burns AFSM joined the TFS as a cadet fire control officer in 1977, after spending his summers working in an Australian Newsprint Mills fire tower near Tyenna. He gained operational experience in northwest Tasmania before being promoted to District Officer for West Coast, a posting that coincided with the height of the Franklin Dam protests, and which was the beginning of a long association with helicopters.

Following a period as District Officer for Midlands, Ken became Deputy Chief Training Officer at Cambridge, then progressed through a number of roles including District Officer State Operations and Deputy Regional Chief Launceston, which saw him play a key leadership role during the 2006 bushfires in northeast Tasmania. Ken also served as Deputy Regional Chief Southern Region, and Acting Regional Chief.

“I’ve had a ball,” he says. “I’ve been at the right places at the right time.”


A heart still with the TFSMike Gallagher, Director Corporate Services

Meaghan Newson

Mike Gallagher brought a rare combination of leadership qualities and business acumen to his career at the Tasmania Fire Service. He leaves behind a professional corporate services team that is fully equipped to support operational roles during major incidents.Mike joined the TFS in 1991 as Director Finance and Administration, after working at senior levels in private enterprise and the Tasmanian Government.

With a degree in accounting, his career included information technology and financial management roles across Treasury, the Department of Health, the former Department of Supply and Tender, and the former Department of Administration Services and Consumer Affairs.

Mike says the opportunity to work in a statutory authority was a major attraction after working for so many years in the public service.

“When I worked Treasury, the fire service always intrigued me. I was really keen to work for a statutory authority, where you really do stand alone. That side was really positive for me.”

Mike believes his parallel career in the Army Reserve also provided him with a good understanding of the distinctive TFS culture.

“The TFS is a semi-military organisation, and that side appealed to me. I’m an officer in the Army Reserve, which really complemented my job here.”

From the outset, Mike was tasked with the major challenges of modernising the organisation’s financial, IT and payroll systems.

“I had to make sure that no decision was made on finance unless it was referred to me,” says Mike. “Before that, the three regions had worked very independently.

“In terms of our thinking, we went from three regions with individual priorities, to one organisation.”

Chief Officer Mike Brown recalls him working “long and hard to put the human face on TFS Finance and Corporate Services, visiting workplaces, brigades, unions and associations, providing for much improvement in the understanding of operational and unit roles as well as very effective relationships back through to Corporate Services.”

Mike put these same skills to use representing the TFS on the

Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council.

“I worked very hard with AFAC to set up financial management taskforce, which was in charge of the collaborative purchasing and business purchasing groups. This role was a tremendous part of being in the fire service.”

An Army deployment to East Timor in 2000 proved to be the turning point for Mike to take on even bigger challenges within TFS.

“I’d been here for eight years by that time. I had the finances, administration and IT covered. Timor gave me six months to step back from my TFS career, and I thought, ‘I need a real challenge, otherwise I need to go.’”

“That was when I put the pressure on [then-Chief Officer] John Gledhill to take on engineering services and communications.”

Mike’s reason for identifying the challenges he wanted to take on was simple: he saw opportunities for TFS to do things better.

“I saw these roles as corporate services, and wanted to get non-operational people supporting the operational side of the organisation.

“I was keen to give the two managers guidance, and more importantly, support. ”

Mike Brown believes this integration of corporate services into operational support was Mike’s greatest contribution to the TFS.

“For several years now, we have been seeing the tremendous benefit of having all corporate services members being trained and developed to take on crucial roles in operational support.

“This approach has seen us having now an ‘all shoulders to the task’ response to major incidents, which has had a very positive cultural impact.

“Indeed, I am still in awe of the amazing support and professionalism provided by our traditionally ‘non-operational’ members over the challenging 2013 summer bushfire season.”

Mike believes that, during the 1990s, he worked on more enterprise bargaining agreements that anyone else in the Tasmanian Government. He says his proudest achievement in this regard is the TFS corporate uniform.

“It really did change the culture of the organisation. The uniforms made everyone – the operational and non-operational people - feel part of a professional team.”

Mike also supported the introduction of the TFS volunteer medal, which was in turn presented to him by the volunteer brigades association.

“Being a reservist myself, I have a great empathy with volunteer association. Not every careerist is given the volunteer medal – it was a was a great honour.”

Mike looks back on his time with TFS as the defining period of his career.

“There were potential promotion opportunities outside of the service, but even though it would have meant earning more money, I just couldn’t go. I wanted to retire as part of the fire service.

“I worked for three chief officers and had terrific rapport them with all. I was an honest, very loyal and hard worker.

“I will miss the people - it is a family in the fire service. Even though I’ve left, my heart is still here.”

MN

Meaghan Newson

Reaching retirement age is a milestone for most people, but for Store Clerk Jack Campbell, it was nothing short of a major achievement.

Having survived a workplace accident that left him with severe head injuries 10 years ago, Jack had a driving ambition to

work until age 60.

“I wanted to prove that I could do it, that I could go on. I decided I would work for the time that I wanted to.”

Jack joined wife Sandra at Tasmania Fire Service 28 years ago, after working as a storeman for many well-known Hobart companies, including Metro Motors (now DJ Motors), Sparco and Co-Operative Motors.

With all TFS stores centralised in Hobart, Jack played a critical role in making sure equipment and clothing were in stock and ready at a moment’s notice for staff and volunteers around the state.

It was a role in which he says there was always something to do, but which was especially busy in the bushfire season.

“In the summertime it’s hectic because of the fires. You have to make sure all equipment is ready in stock when people ask. At times you get a phone call, but at other times people just turn up.”

It was while retrieving a fluorescent light tube that Jack fell from a ladder onto a concrete floor.

Sandra recalls the daunting days and weeks that followed the accident.

“The doctors had to remove a blood clot from his brain. A few days later, his brain swelled, and they had to remove a section of his skull to relieve the swelling.”

On regaining consciousness, Jack had to relearn that he was married to Sandra, and who his two children, Amie and

Adam, were. However, he made astonishing progress and left the hospital two months later, although he remained in rehabilitation for another two years.

“In the first year, he went from zero to eighty per cent of his old self,” says Sandra.

“Jack’s rehabilitation doctor said he had patients with the same injuries who had been left in a wheelchair, so for him to walk, talk, and dress himself – and get back to work – that shows his determination.”

Jack’s manager Bruce Ludeke recalls the deep concern displayed by the other TFS staff.

“Jack’s popularity was demonstrated by the large number of people asking after him during his absence, and those who made a special trip to the store to welcome him back.”

Both Sandra and Jack are full of praise for the way in which TFS supported them through the rehabilitation process, which saw him return to work within 11 months. Jack says the support he received was one of the reasons he wanted to get back to work so quickly.

“Working at the TFS was the best job I ever had. The people helped me a lot - they were unbelievable. Because they looked after me, I wanted to look after them.”

Bruce praises Jack’s resilience, not only in coming back to work, but learning a new computer system after his head injury.

“When the new finance system was installed in 2010 Jack told his supervisor, Mick, that he was going to retire rather than learn a new system. After some persuasion Jack decided to learn the new system, and became quite proficient after a while.”

On reaching his goal, Jack says simply, “I made it in the end, just. I wanted to do my best. The accident could have happened to anyone, and I’m just lucky to be alive.”

And of his ‘huge send off,’ he modestly remarks, “I must have been liked by some people.”

MN

Defying the oddsJack Campbell


Richard (Ritchie) Lang recently retired after 45 years in the Kempton Brigade - 44 of those as captain. A few of the guys reminisced with Ritchie over past endeavours (L-R) Second-in-command Ray (Coop) Cooper, Bluey, Captain Ritchie Lang, Tim Kirkwood, Paul Lang. All of us at the Kempton Fire Brigade respect and love Ritchie and are thankful to have had his knowledge to draw on - David Deacon

Celebrating Richard (Ritchie) Lang

Meaghan Newson

Peter Plummer recently retired after 34 years, and an entire career, with the Tasmania Fire Service. He says working for the Hobart Fire Brigade was ‘the best job in the world.’

Peter started his life in the fire service in Derwent district in December 1979, before moving to the Hobart Fire Brigade in

1990. His career also included time in Building Safety.

“It’s been a very interesting road,” he says, “I’ve met some very interesting people. I’ve made some good friends over the years”

Peter’s role as Senior Station Officer saw him involved in the full gamut of emergencies, ranging from structure fires and HAZMAT incidents, to motor vehicle accidents and bushfires.

He says one of the memorable incidents of his career was being selected for Tasmania’s first-ever interstate deployment, to the devastating New South Wales bushfires in 1994.

The first day of the deployment is the one that stands out most in his mind.

“We travelled for four hours on a Hercules from Tasmania to the

Nowra Air Force base. We were then bussed to Gosford, where we sat in the middle of the oval and watched some of the town burn around us.”

Peter says the fire service has changed dramatically during his career, and that most of that change has been for the better.

“One of the significant advances has been CISM - critical incident stress management. It was a significant step up for the emergency services, and a really positive move as far as I’m concerned.

“Before it was introduced, the attitude was, ‘harden up and get back to work.’ CISM has given people the opportunity to talk about things, and to find out that they are not the only ones affected by an incident.”

While Peter says he is looking forward to relaxing and de-stressing, his involvement with the TFS hasn’t quite ended.

He has two sons employed in the service, assists at brigade competitions and is hoping to keep participating in regular D Platoon trips to Maria Island. With such a busy schedule, Peter says he’s keen to enjoy the camaraderie for some time yet.

MN

After 44 years as a volunteer for the Tasmania Fire Service, Kevin Hardwick has announced his retirement from the

Magra Fire Brigade. His tenure has included over 20 years as brigade chief, group officer (Lower Derwent), and general fern flicker.

Kev’s retirement was made official after a roast-type send off by brigade members and guests at the Magra station on the 18th of January 2014.

The night started early with pre-dinner drinks followed by a hearty meal of various roast meats and vegetables. Several brigade members spoke about some of Kev’s good, and not so good, exploits during the course of his long career, bringing plenty of laughter and merriment to the proceedings.

Following dessert, the presentation of mementos was made. Magra brigade chief Randal Garwood and second officer Wayne Marshall presented Kevin with clear-boxed fireman’s helmet, mounted alongside his many fire service medals.

Lower Derwent Group Officer Andrew Pegg presented a rejuvenated and highly polished hydrant stand with the inscription, ‘Kevie: Live and Breathe.’

It is worth noting that ‘Live and Breathe’ is the motto of the Magra Fire Brigade, introduced by Kevin himself. When inducting new members and handing them a pager Kev would always say, “Live and breathe, wear it always.”

‘The best job in the world’ Peter Plummer, Senior Station Officer - Hobart Fire Brigade

Andrew Pegg - Lower Derwent Group Officer

The final presentation of the night, an inscribed fire service plaque, was made by Midlands District Officer, Gerald Crawford.

Gerald heaped praise on Kevin for his service and leadership over four decades, and noted that it was Kevin who laid the groundwork over recent years that had resulted in the Magra Brigade being presented with a new 3.1 heavy tanker in December 2013.

The official part of the night was completed with some memorable words from former Midlands District Officer, Bill Burke.

In usual style, Kev himself had the final say, remarking how proud he was that the Magra Brigade was as strong as it is today, and he was sure that things had been left in safe hands. After the passing of the port, the night continued with many old yarns being retold well into the wee hours.

A special thanks to the Magra Country Women’s Association for a wonderful meal, and also the Tasmania Fire Service for their contribution towards the cost of the evening.

Finally, the Magra Volunteer Fire Brigade would like to pass on its sincere thanks and appreciation to Kevin for his work and support over 44 amazing years. We are a brigade with strong values and committed members and much of this can be attributed to the time and effort Kevin has given so freely.

Best wishes to both Kevin and his wife Rose during their retirement.

AP


Kev calls it quits after 44 years of service: 1969-2013


1. What is your role?Essentially, my role is to develop our people strategy to help achieve the organisational directions. A lot of this is about developing new directions, new or revised systems and processes, or giving advice on people issues.

It’s also about the ways in which we need the organisational behaviours and culture to change to support the direction in which we’re going. A lot of change management is involved – sometimes I’m guiding the organisation, at other times, I’m in there advocating for members.

2. How long have you been with TFS? 17 years – which is a lot longer than I ever thought I would be here. The bottom line is, it’s a great place to work. There’s no way I would have been here for 17 years if I didn’t enjoy the people and the culture where I worked.

3. What was your first job at TFS?Manager Human Resources. It was a newly created role - there wasn’t a HR function previously, and I was brought on as a consultant to the Chief Officer and the executive.

4. What’s the one biggest change you’ve seen in that time?

A lot of the strategies I started working on 17 years ago are now coming to fruition. When I started, the organisation wanted to build on its teamwork and culture, but to do that, we needed fundamental systems in place around issues such as grievances, bullying, harassment, and so on.

Following that, we moved into feedback systems, which provided a tool for people to have conversation about things that matter at work. That put us in a position to start talking about values, which has now given us the platform to launch into leadership development.

5. What has been your most memorable experience with TFS?

Seeing people genuinely trusting others so that they can have open and meaningful conversations about the organisation and workplace relationships, which are critical to getting work done. It’s happening more and more at the senior level which is really inspiring.

6. What would people be surprised to learn about you?

Outside work, it’s a bit Jekyll and Hyde. At a community level, I ran the Clifton Beach nipper surf life saving program for six years – great people and a great movement. Now I’m chairing basketball tribunals, which is interesting to say the least!

On the home front, though, we’re not big entertainers or socialisers – home is a sanctuary, a place to reconnect and re-energise.

7. What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve overcome?

I grew up the youngest of five children, and lost my father as a teenager. My mother did a wonderful job trying to keep the family together with a sick husband and five teenagers!

When I was 17, she gave me the greatest opportunity, which was also my biggest challenge - that helped shape me enormously. In Year 11 I applied for, and won, an exchange scholarship with AFS. I went overseas to live in Quebec, Canada, with a French-Canadian family (who spoke no English) in a small town on the banks of the St Lawrence River.

I went to high school and had the most incredible year; learning to fit into a new family, speak a new language, and become totally self-sufficient. There’s no way that I would be the person I am, doing what I am, if I hadn’t have had that experience.

One thing I discovered through that experience, and keep re-discovering, is that the best way to deal with something you are afraid of is to take a deep breath and do it. It never ends up being as scary as you fear.

8. Favourite TV show?Offspring, Janet King and Rockwiz.

9. If I am not working I am…Taking my daughter to sporting events, and reading – anything from science fiction and fantasy to murder mysteries and thrillers. I also love to read autobiographies of old film stars.

10. Most hated chore?Ironing. We just don’t do it, unless we have to.

11. If you could meet one person living or dead, who would it be?

Nelson Mandela. The courage of his convictions and the dignity with which he faced adversity and still held true to his values were extraordinarily admirable.

12. What are you most passionate about?Making a difference.

13. What frustrates you?Stagnation, and people letting their fears stand in the way of taking a chance at what may be a huge opportunity.

14. Describe your perfect day?Depends on my mood. Some days it could be lying on the couch with a book, or on others it could be spending time on the boat. Sometimes it’s just going for a walk with my dogs and my family.

15. Your worst habit?Procrastination.

16. Favourite icecream flavor?Hokey Pokey.

17. Don’t get between me and my…Family, dogs and iPad, in that order.

18. What do you wish you had invented?The iPad. I adore it.

19. Tea or coffee?Coffee

20. Dogs or cats?Dogs!

Robyn Pearce, Director Human Services10 minutes with:

1. What is your role?I’m a firefighter. I joined in the period after the Dunalley fire. I wanted to do something and rather than feeling helpless, I decided to join up.

2. How long have you been with TFS? 18 months. I’ve been out on a few incidents in that time, including the Risdon Vale and Buckland fires.

3. What is your day job?I’m a vet – I do general practice and surgery, and I manage the team at the Tasmanian Animal Hospital in Bellerive.

4. What has been your most memorable experience so far with TFS?

There are a lot of memorable experiences, but one thing that was pretty exciting was being involved in the Bronte Park fire. There was a wind shift after a quiet day, and we saw walls of flame and helicopters waterbombing overhead. It was confronting, but good to be with a team that kept you safe.

Taroona is an unbelievable team – I’m very interested in teams and what makes them work, and the energy and leadership in the brigade is inspiring.

5. What would people be surprised to learn about you?

I’m a beekeeper. I keep bees in our front garden in suburbia. It’s a nice hobby to have.

6. What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve overcome?

My late brother was a career firefighter, and becoming a volunteer firefighter was a way to honor his memory.

I’ve been very blessed in life though, and haven’t had to overcome too many big challenges.

7. Favourite TV show?Red Dwarf. I love seeing my kids grow up to enjoy it as much as I do.

8. If I am not working I am…. Gardening, fire training, beekeeping, kayaking, homework helping, cooking etc…basically everything, except remembering how to relax.

9. Most hated chore?Crawling under the house in the spider’s webs and dirt to extract a dead rat that seems to die there every March (not the same rat, I expect!)

10. If you could meet one person living or dead, who would it be?

Galileo. To be the first person to look through a telescope and see the moons of Jupiter, would have given him a whole new perspective on our place in the universe.

11. What are you most passionate about?Creating a sustainable, happy community around myself. I suspect that what we are told will make us happy and what really makes us happy are very different. People in the fire service understand that better than most I think.

12. What frustrates you? Eco toilets that you have to flush twice to do the job. What’s the point of that?

13. Describe your perfect day?Early morning kayak with my mates, a bike ride with my kids, extracting some honey in the afternoon (someone else cleans the mess while I have an afternoon nap) then a meal out at the pub with my wife in the evening.

14. Your worst habit?Giving unsolicited advice.

15. Favourite icecream flavor?I am a big ice cream fan, but would have to say rum and raisin.

16. Don’t get between me and my…Kayak time. I spent every Friday morning kayaking on the Derwent with a few mates, although we do more hanging out than actual kayaking. It’s my down time.

17. What do you wish you had invented?Dr Beats headphones. You might be interviewing me for a different reason then.

18. Tea or coffee?Tea, I’m not pretty on a caffeine high.

19. Dogs or cats?I won’t answer that on the grounds that I may incriminate myself!

Chris Allfree, Volunteer, Taroona Brigade10 minutes with:



Tassie cleans up in New Zealand

Australasian Fire Service Bowls Carnival, Masterton NZ, 12-18 April 2014

David Johns

The Tasmania Fire Service Bowls Club swept the board at the recent Australasian Fire Service Bowls Carnival, becoming the first state team to win all championships since the event began in 1984.

Thirty-eight members travelled to Masterton in NZ for a great

week of bowls, to meet with old and new friends and have a great time.

Our wins included Roly Coad in the singles, Peter Riley and Viv Brown – both new members – in the pairs, and Bruce Howard, Terry Manion, Derek Grundy and Ted Voss in the fours.

Our representatives Wayne Walker, Roly Coad, Terry Manion, Derek Grundy, David Welling and David Johns won the state championship for the second carnival running.

Tasmania also won the overall section, in which all players gain points, to complete what was a clean sweep and a very memorable carnival.

Our next carnival is in Victor Harbour, South Australia, in April 2016. We are always looking for new members to join our club and to represent the Tasmania Fire Service Bowls Club.

To play in these carnivals all you have to be is a member of the Tasmania Fire Service Bowls Club. However, to be eligible for our representative team, you must be either a volunteer or permanent member of a brigade or a past member of a brigade.

In between carnivals we play our yearly championships. If anyone is looking to join or find out more information about what we do, please don’t hesitate to contact our secretary and he can fill you in on the dates of our upcoming events.

Contact [email protected]

DJ

(L-R) Pairs winners Viv Brown and Peter Riley and runners up Roly Coad and Wayne Walker

(L-R) Fours winners Ted Voss, Derek Grundy, Terry Manion and Bruce Howard

Dodges Ferry Fire Brigade held a presentation ceremony on 23 May a presentation ceremony for Sorell Group members.

It was a pleasure for our brigade to host the event, which recognised members from Midway Point, Orielton, Dodges Ferry, Wattle Hill, Primrose Sands and Dunalley Brigades, who collectively, have given 195 years service to our communities. Steve Walkley and Claudio Muench presented the service badges.

We also took the opportunity to snap a photo of three generations of firefighters: Sorell Group Officer Gavan Rainbird, Dodges Ferry/Primrose Sands Firefighter Nicole Rainbird and Primrose Sands Brigade Chief Brian Rainbird.

Finally, we said a sad farewell Claudio Muench, as he is leaving us for a new position with TFS. We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Claudio and wish him well in his new role.

MH

Gavan Rainbird, Nicole Rainbird and Brian Rainbird.

Sorell Group presentationMargaret Hawkes - Dodges Ferry Fire Brigade

The average age of our operational volunteers is 44.9

for males, 40.9 for females (44.4 overall). The regional

breakdown is as follows:

Male Female Average

NorthWest 45.4 42.7 45

North 46 44.3 45.8

South 43.9 37.5 43

TFS FACT

As Tasmanians, we have come to know and love our iconic agricultural field day, Agfest, planned, organised and conducted by Rural Youth.

Attracting over 500 exhibitors and 60,000 patrons annually across three days, an event of this size requires the presence

of the Tasmania Fire Service to ensure the safety of all involved.

Enter a small, but dedicated and passionate group of volunteers and career staff, who step up to the plate year after year to do just that.

For the TFS, Agfest commenced on the Wednesday prior to the event opening, not only to provide fire protection, but to prepare the station for the onslaught of firefighters and patrons over the next four days.

We met DO Ian Cawthorn early Wednesday morning at northern region headquarters with vehicles full to the brim, ready to travel to Quercus Park for a day of cleaning, organising and shelter erecting.

We were aided and abetted in this venture by the lads from Building Safety, who conducted compliance checks, and Building Maintenance.

All indicators pointed to a normal day, but at 1:52pm, things were catapulted into abnormal territory when our Agfest pagers started beeping.

When you’re expecting to read a message for a rubbish bin or hay bale fire, reading ‘aircraft incident, east car park’ conjures up all sorts of interesting scenarios that are probably better suited to some exciting TV drama.

As we were rolling, I was pondering the worst case scenario and making a mental checklist of all the additional resources required, but there were no visible signs en route. Upon our arrival, the scene was calm and organised.

The Tasmanian Aero Club had been planning to display two planes at Agfest this year, but the combination of slippery airstrip and pilot error meant that their Cessna was unable to be pulled up in time, crashing through two fences and flipping onto its roof.

Miraculously, the pilot was shocked but otherwise unharmed, and quick action from his ground crew mitigated any risk of fuel leak or fire.

The Agfest Safety Officer was present at the time of the crash and notified the relevant authorities, so after cordoning off the area, we were able to leave the scene in the hands of Tasmania Police and Ambulance Tasmania.

The plane could not be removed until the following Monday, so some clever thinking from Rural Youth saw a large marquee pop up over the plane. Despite making the front page of Thursday’s Examiner, the incident went largely unnoticed by the public.

We presented for duty at 7:45am on Thursday, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready for briefing at 8:00am by long-time Operations Officer and Hadspen Brigade Chief, Wayne Preston (supplemented with amusing interjections from DOs Cawthorn and Crawford).

For us ‘Agfestians’, Thursday is like a family reunion, where we reacquaint ourselves with familiar faces and welcome new ones into the fold.

Resident chef and newly anointed Sassafras volunteer, Annie, cranked the coffee machines into high gear to help us cope with the frosty start to the day.

Whilst we are present in an emergency response capacity, we also generate a lot of public interest, and so we provide displays and information on all aspects of fire safety.

In addition, Tony from TasFire Equipment was on-site once again, with a selection of smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and blankets, as well as some larger bits and pieces for farms and other businesses.

This year, we were lucky enough to borrow CAFS 8.1, Sassafras 1.1, and a 1962 Mini Minor complete with lights and sirens. Parked side by side, they attracted fans of all ages, including an 18-month-old boy who squealed as though all his Christmases had come at once, running as fast as his little legs could carry him towards the CAFS truck.

To say that we’re fed well at Agfest is an understatement. After years of relying on external providers for catering, we realised that we had a cheaper and tastier option.

Aside from being the wife of a Brigade Chief and mother of a firefighter, Rowella’s Second Officer Julie Penney is a Work and Training whiz kid, who was able to put together a small team to cater in-house over the duration of Agfest.

Julie is also an excellent cook herself, and we enjoyed many delicious egg and bacon rolls and cups of homemade soup. She also whipped up a heavenly batch of scones for afternoon tea, accompanied by homemade raspberry jam, courtesy of Andrew Perry.

Unfortunately, Agfest is just like going away on deployment: you expect to lose five kilos, and end up gaining 10.

I have been attending Agfest with the TFS since 2010, and there are a few amongst our ranks that have been along for the ride since our inaugural year, when we didn’t even have a station.

Generally speaking, people don’t return to an event like this unless they have something to return for, and I can tell you right now, it’s not for the high volume of call outs (following the plane crash, there were no more incidents for the rest of Agfest).

The food may have something to do with it, but in my experience, it’s been the people, first and foremost. We only see each other a couple of times a year, but when our funny little family gets together, we always have a blast.

If good food and good times sound like your thing, you should definitely consider throwing your hat in the ring for Agfest 2015. We’re always happy to share the joy!

Finally, my sincere thanks to Ian, Wayne and Julie, and all of those who in some way, shape or form contributed to another successful year at Agfest, it’s been an absolute pleasure once again.

LS

Sharing the joy at AgfestLaura Smith, Firefighter - Rocherlea


Sorell Group presentationMargaret Hawkes - Dodges Ferry Fire Brigade


Loc/Brigade Name Award Loc/Brigade Name Award

Awards

Arthur River Ricky Triffitt National Medal Betty Murphy Long Service (15 years) Colin Jaeger Long Service (15 years)Bagdad Gregory Clifton Long Service (15 years) Kirstie Martin-Henry Long Service (15 years)Barton Hugh Skerritt Long Service (45 years) James Walch Long Service (25 years) David Taylor Long Service (15 years) John Taylor (Snr) Long Service (15 years)Bell Bay Don Mackrill 3rd Clasp to National Medal Long Service (40 years) Raymond Davie Long Service (30 years) Jason Mackrill Long Service (15 years)Binalong Bay Jim Challis National Medal Long Service (15 years)Bothwell Leslie Pulford 2nd Clasp to National Medal Stephen Eyles Long Service (35 years) Duncan Campbell Long Service (20 years) Shayne Jones Long Service (20 years)Broadmarsh Keith Barham Long Service (45 years) Jason McKenzie Long Service (20 years)Cambridge Matthew Fenton 1st Clasp to National Medal Michael Dare National MedalCampania Simon Tapp National MedalCampbell Town Warren Clarke Long Service (50 years) Andrew Grey Long Service (20 years)Cape Barren Knud Andersen Long Service (15 years) Vicki Little Long Service (15 years)Carrick Greg Cain Long Service (25 years) Stephen Simmons Long Service (25 years)Channel Michael Groth Long Service (30 years) Peter Hughes Long Service (30 years)Chudleigh Julie Mc Gregor Long Service (15 years)Claremont Russell Armstrong First Clasp to National MedalColebrook Rick Wilton National MedalCradoc Philip Duggan Long Service (40 years) Terrance Griggs Long Service (40 years)Cygnet John Duggan 2nd Clasp to National Medal James Shaw National Medal Shaun Clifford National Medal Peter Howard Long Service (20 years)Deep Bay Joe Turnbull Long Service (15 years)Deloraine David Sherriff 2nd Clasp to National Medal Errol Gleeson 2nd Clasp to National Medal Gregory Saltmarsh Long Service (25 years)Dodges Ferry Adam Hall National MedalDover Gavin Wass National MedalDunalley Kevin Daly 2nd Clasp to National Medal Paul Bird National MedalEaglehawk Neck Bob Clifford Long Service (25 years) Michael Clifford Long Service (25 years) John Green Long Service (20 years) Jonathon Mison Long Service (15 years) Josephine Mison Long Service (15 years) Julie Mison Long Service (15 years) Mark Linfoot Long Service (15 years)

Elizabeth Town Gerald Richards Long Service (25 years)Ellendale Nathan Ransley Long Service (20 years)Emita Robert Blyth Long Service (45 years)Fern Tree Matthew Shepperd National Medal Peter Scott National MedalForest Trevor Gale Long Service (30 years) Brian Johns Long Service (20 years) Bryan Lardner Long Service (20 years) Jeffrey Burgess Long Service (15 years) Ricky Kirkland Long Service (15 years)Four Springs Michael Heazlewood Long Service (40 years)Franklin Bruce Price Long Service (30 years)Geeveston Brett Burgess Long Service (35 years) Bill Chapman Long Service (20 years) Philip Cowmeadow Long Service (15 years)Georgetown Glenn Somers 1st Clasp to National Medal Long Service (30 years) Ricky Hill National Medal Andrew Taylor Long Service (30 years)Glendevie Ian Preston Long Service (20 years)Glengarry Bruce Comrie Long Service (35 years)Golden Valley Stephen Wilson Long Service (25 years)Gretna Colin Cunningham 1st Clasp to National Medal Trafford Harvey 1st Clasp to National Medal Terrance Leeson National MedalGrove Phillip Paul 1st Clasp to National Medal Stephen Bartels 1st Clasp to National MedalHamilton Timothy Parsons 1st Clasp to National Medal Richard Downie 2nd Clasp to National MedalHobart Mark O’Donnell 1st Clasp to National Medal Dale Rayner 1st Clasp to National Medal Philip Smith 1st Clasp to National Medal Wayne Smart 1st Clasp to National Medal John Hall 2nd Clasp to National Medal Aaron Blizzard National Medal Frank McGrath Long Service (35 years) Steven Percival Long Service (30 years) Jason McSherry Long Service (25 years) Paul Terry Long Service (25 years) Phil Smith Long Service (25 years) Michael Eaves Long Service (20 years) John Ling Long Service (15 years) Mark Bryant Long Service (15 years) Shane Hutton Long Service (15 years)Howden Lyndon Potter National Medal Peter Bennett National Medal Nancy Gear Long Service (30 years) Andrew Shelverton Long Service (15 years) Peter Bennett Long Service (15 years)Huonville Matthew Clark Long Service (15 years)Kempton John Smith National Medal Paul Lang National Medal Phillip Jones National Medal Richard Lang Long Service (45 years) Lyall Collis Long Service (30 years)

A LIST OF RECENT AWARDS PRESENTED WITHIN THE TFS


Loc/Brigade Name Award Loc/Brigade Name Award

Kingston David Jacobs Long Service (30 years) Peter Walker Long Service (25 years) Raymond Carter Long Service (20 years) Catherine Jolly Long Service (15 years) Dylan Lee Harper Long Service (15 years)Koonya Lindsay Kingston 1st Clasp to National Medal John Price Long Service (45 years) Charlie Kingston Long Service (25 years) Don Evans Long Service (20 years)Lachlan Tony Atkinson National Medal Long Service (15 years) Trevor Mapley National Medal Long Service (15 years) David Gleeson Long Service (30 years) Peter Evans Long Service (15 years)Lackrana John Cooper Long Service (35 years)Lady Barron Don Bailey Long Service (25 years)Lauderdale Andrew Mackey National Medal Long Service (15 years) Robert Rushton National Medal Andrew Calvert Long Service (25 years)Learning & Development Paul Salter 1st Clasp to National Medal Long Service (25 years) Paul Coad Long Service (30 years) David Pickrell Long Service (25 years)Lenah Valley Anthony Cooper First Clasp to National Medal Long Service (25 years) Richard Blackwell Long Service (25 years)Lilydale Kerry Brown 1st Clasp to National Medal Gavin Storay National MedalLongford Frederick (Jock) Bryan 3rd Clasp to National MedalMagra Brett Harrex National MedalMargate Christopher Nielsen Beck National Medal Long Service (15 years) Stewart Quinn National Medal Craig Woolford Long Service (20 years)Maydena Patrick Spinks Long Service (15 years)Meander Stephen Johnston Long Service (15 years)Memana Peter Sherriff Long Service (35 years) Trevor Nichols Long Service (35 years)Middleton Daniel Puller Long Service (15 years)Mole Creek Barry Richardson Long Service (50 years) Joanne Richardson Long Service (25 years)Molesworth Angela Ames Long Service (20 years)Moorleah Vernon Elphinstone Long Service (35 years) Don Hawley Long Service (25 years) Peter Moore Long Service (20 years)New Norfolk Douglas Mc Neil Long Service (15 years)Nubeena Rhett Cuthberton National Medal Long Service (15 years) John Burgess Long Service (20 years)Oatlands Barry Thomas 2nd Clasp to National Medal Long Service (35 years) Kerry Mancey 2nd Clasp to National Medal Long Service (35 years) James Chivers Long Service (20 years)Penguin Steve Webster Long Service (25 years)Perth Jim Stewart Long Service (15 years) Mark Jones Long Service (15 years) Peter Wheeldon Long Service (15 years)Pipers River Craig Ringsgwandl 2nd Clasp to National Medal Ian Sauer Long Service (30 years)Prospect Ken Claridge 1st Clasp to National Medal Matthew Mc Lean Long Service (15 years)

Queenstown Brian Mathewson Long Service (30 years) Paul McDermott Long Service (30 years) Jamie Nankivell Long Service (25 years) John Edwards Long Service (20 years)Rheban Tim Chesterman Long Service (40 years) Christopher Chesterman Long Service (20 years)Rokeby Rodney Heather Long Service (20 years)Ross Robert Freeman Long Service (15 years) William Bennett Long Service (15 years)Sandfly Arthur Reid National Medal Long Service (15 years) Ronald Moss National MedalSandford John Stalker Long Service (20 years)Seven Mile Beach James Percival Third Clasp to National Medal Long Service (45 years) Graham Percival Long Service (40 years) Anthony Butler Long Service (25 years)Sheffield Mark Furley Long Service (30 years) Geoff Creely Long Service (20 years)Snug Iain Freeman Long Service (45 years) Geoffrey Kemp Long Service (30 years)South Arm Richard Calvert Long Service (35 years)South Bruny Leigh Higgins Long Service (25 years) Christopher O’Meara Long Service (15 years)Southern Region Mark Klop 1st Clasp to National Medal Paul Horne 2nd Clasp to National MedalSouthport David Hay National Medal Wren Fraser National MedalSummerleas Phillip Mc Carthy Long Service (20 years)Taroona Neil Cripps National MedalTasFire Training Justin Young Long Service (25 years)Tasmania Fire Museum Graham Newbury Long Service (45 years) Lionel Williams Long Service (45 years) Roland Hill Long Service (45 years) John Johnson Long Service (35 years) Michael Sherrin Long Service (30 years) Peter Carson Long Service (30 years) Sharon Frazik Long Service (15 years)Triabunna Maxwell Berry Long Service (40 years) William Sullivan Long Service (40 years) Ian Izzard Long Service (35 years) John Ashlin Long Service (30 years)Tunbridge Lyell Lodge Long Service (45 years)Tunnack Leonard Byers Long Service (50 years) Harold Scott Long Service (45 years) Robert Scott Long Service (45 years) Cameron Scott Long Service (20 years) Edwin Scott Long Service (20 years) John Hoare Long Service (15 years)Upper Huon Bain Talbot Long Service (45 years) Adrian Bennett Long Service (15 years) David Lorkins Long Service (15 years) James Bell Long Service (15 years) Jim Woodward Long Service (15 years) Neil Bennett Long Service (15 years) Rodney Watson Long Service (15 years) Steven Woolley Long Service (15 years)Wattle Grove Craig Patterson Long Service (15 years)Wattle Hill Michael De Courcy 1st Clasp to National Medal Andrew Palfreyman Long Service (15 years)Westerway Kym Coombes National MedalWeymouth Ralph Berry Long Service (30 years) Duncan Hogarth Long Service (25 years) Ross Griffin Long Service (15 years)Whitemark Adrian Lees Long Service (40 years)

On the Move

A list of recent personnel changes within the TFS


The following Career personnel changes have occurred

ARRIVALS

Community Protection Planning Lyell Dean Planning Officer 18 November 2013

FireComm Carmen Lane Communications Officer 6 January 2014

FireComm Kate Smith Communications Officer 6 January 2014

FireComm Georgia Males Communications Officer 6 January 2014

Corporate Services Scott Wilson-Haffenden Director 6 January 2014

Corporate Services Nicholas Wilson Manager, Policy and Doctrine 11 March 2014

State Fire Management Council Michael Phillips Regional Planner 31 March 2014

State Fire Management Council Meg Lorang Regional Planner 31 March 2014

Human Services Robert Prestedge Systems Coordinator, Organisational Learning 29 April 2014

Human Services Adam Wilson OH&S Officer 1 May 2014

DEPARTuRES

FireComm Noelene Watt Leading Communications Officer 18 December 2013

Hobart Brigade Peter Plummer Senior Station Officer 31 December 2013

Corporate Services Michael Gallagher Director 3 January 2014

Corporate Services Jack Campbell Stores Clerk 26 February 2014

ELEVATIONS

Southern Region Andrew McGuinness District Officer 18 October 2013

Northern Region Neil Brooksbank District Officer 18 October 2013

FireComm Michael D’Alton Supervisor 28 November 2013

Northern Region Adrian Gill Station Officer 16 December 2013

Human Services Taya Dineley OH&S Officer 2 January 2014

Community Education Peter Middleton Community Development Coordinator 13 January 2014

Corporate Services Mark Sianski Senior Clerk, Information and Records 1 April 2014

Corporate Services Michael Strange Executive Officer, Purchasing 1 April 2014

Learning and Development Olivia Tamlyn Executive Officer, Learning and Development 19 May 2014

REDIRECTIONS

Southern Region Val Ansett Station Officer 16 December 2013

Southern Region Jason Vinen Station Officer 16 December 2013

Human Services Debra Pope Internal Communications Officer 17 February 2014

State Fire Management Council Kylie Cornish Clerk 11 March 2014


The following Volunteer Brigade Officers have been elected by their brigades

Bell Bay Clive Watson Brigade ChiefBothwell Laurence Jones Brigade Chief James Whittaker Second Officer Shayne Jones Third Officer Colin Cripps Fourth OfficerBracknell Ian MacKenzie Brigade Chief Brent Shelton Second Officer Clint Shelton Third Officer Steve Bye Fourth OfficerBridgewater Matthew Philpott First Officer Peter Saltmarsh Second Officer Andrew Zielinski Third Officer Aleks Long Fourth OfficerBridport Clint Eastley Brigade Chief Mathew Hartley Second Officer Dylan Olden Third Officer Trevor Finger Fourth OfficerBroadmarsh Peter Rowley Second OfficerBuckland Ian Walker Brigade Chief Jamie Farrow Second OfficerCampbell Town Zane Darke Brigade Chief Peter Wickham Second Officer Andrew Grey Third Officer Matthew Smith Fourth OfficerCircular Head Group Leo Berechree Group OfficerColes Bay Nick Johnston Brigade Chief Mark Kelly Second Officer Leon Dransfield Third Officer Collinsvale Ian Wade Brigade Chief Ben Cunningham Second OfficerCygnet Damien Clifford Third OfficerDevonport Samuel Fittkau Second OfficerDodges Ferry Oliver Torenius Second Officer Perry Sward Third Officer Beth Foster Fourth OfficerDunalley Aaron Millar Brigade Chief Danny Lacey Second Officer Andrew Daley Fourth OfficerEpping William Chilvers Brigade Chief Blue Perkins Second Officer James Fish Third OfficerFalmouth Shannon Hibberd Brigade Chief Brendan Jordan Second Officer Michael Tatnell Third OfficerGeeveston Amelia Direen Third OfficerGlengarry Jade Hall Third Officer Tony Britton Fourth OfficerGreat Lake Doug Lang Brigade Chief Michael Potter Second Officer Andrew Perry Third OfficerHamilton Richard Downie Brigade Chief Timothy Parsons Second Officer George Shea Third OfficerHowden Rocco Mangione Brigade ChiefKelso Steven Masters Brigade Chief Kevin Cleaver Second Officer Kris Maddox Third OfficerKimberley Robert Gaffney Second Officer Philip McCormick Third Officer

Koonya Charlie Kingston Brigade Chief John Price Second Officer Alan Kingston Third Officer Guy Dobner Fourth OfficerLachlan Victor Kaiser Second Officer Chris Leaman Third Officer Phil Pyke Fourth OfficerMargate Jim Mulder Second Officer Craig Woolford Fourth OfficerMidway Point Jonno Gallagher Third Officer Jim Nagy Fourth OfficerMole Creek Haydn Stedman Brigade Chief Anna Philpott Second Officer Sheridon Mackay Third OfficerMolesworth Mathew Ames Brigade Chief Andrew Smeal Second Officer Peter Eaton Third OfficerMoorleah Peter Moore Brigade Chief Vernon Elphinstone Second OfficerMoriarty Peter Lapthorne Brigade Chief Ashley Stott Second Officer Danial Johnson Third Officer Josh Colledge Fourth OfficerMt Nelson Andrew Johns First Officer Rod Betts Second Officer Nick Creese Third Officer Wayne Smart Fourth OfficerNew Norfolk Douglas McNeil Fourth OfficerOrielton Todd Birch Brigade Chief Les Axelsen Second Officer Nathan Jennings Third Officer David Lucas Fourth OfficerParattah David Palmer Brigade Chief Mark Wilson Second Officer Lance Bailey Third Officer Alex Webb Fourth OfficerPort Sorell Michael Connell Brigade Chief Adrian Singline Second Officer Stuart Ralph Third Officer Chris Richardson Fourth OfficerRowella Danny Penney Brigade Chief Julie Penney Second OfficerSomerset Robert Dawes Brigade Chief Craig Stirling Second Officer Damien Gale Third Officer Justin Artis Fourth OfficerSouth Bruny Kate Edwards Fourth OfficerTogari John Van Loon Brigade Chief Wayne Huisman Second OfficerTunnack Rodney Hughes Brigade Chief Chris Barwick Second Officer Robert Foster Fourth Officer Grant Joseph Brigade Chief Simon Adams Second Officer Tom Clark Third OfficerWest Coast Group Mark McDermott Group OfficerWeymouth Shaun Wells Brigade Chief Jeff Franklin Second Officer Alan Tuff Third Officer

BRIGADE OFFICER APPOINTMENT BRIGADE OFFICER APPOINTMENT


Laura Smith wins National Young Endeavour Award

Rocherlea Brigade’s Laura Smith is the winner of the 2014 Young Endeavour Award for the outstanding contributions she has made as a volunteer firefighter.

The Young Endeavour Award is a national honour presented by the Australian Institute of Emergency Services. It is

awarded annually to a volunteer aged between 18 and 25, who has made significant contributions to his or her emergency service, as well as to the broader community.

Laura joined the Tasmania Fire Service in 2008, and has demonstrated leadership by mentoring and training new members, participating in forums and conferences, and attending many community events.

She wins a voyage on the Young Endeavour, during which she will help to crew the ship from Brisbane to Sydney.

“It’s nice to be recognised,” said Laura, “I’d like to thank Andrew Comer for nominating me, Tasmanian AIES President Ron Jones, and the Institute.”

Board meets in HobartThe Board of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC met at

the Tasmania Fire Service in Hobart in March. Among the key items discussed by the Board:

• DrRichardThornton’songoingappointmentastheChiefExecutive Officer of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC was confirmed.

• Newmemberswerewelcomed–UniversityofNewEnglandand Central Queensland University.

• TheStrategicPlanandtheCommunicationsPlan,incorporating a Stakeholder Management Strategy, were discussed.

• TheAuditRiskandCompliance,andResearchandUtilisationcommittees’ composition and terms of reference were finalised.

Representatives from our Tasmanian partners joined the Board for a light lunch and a briefing on the progress of establishing the research program.

The next Board meeting is in Perth on 22 May, following the CRCA Association annual conference.

Proud members of the Ridgeley Fire Brigade Juniors/Cadets after their march in the Anzac Day Parade, 25 April 2014. Photo: Emma Richards

Career and volunteer firefighters from the Southern Region

participated in, and marshalled, the 2014 Hobart Anzac Day parade. Twelve personnel were involved in this year’s event - I would hope to increase this number for 2015, the 100th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli.

GC

Anzac Day march Gerald Crawford, District Officer - Midlands


Rescuing the holidayCanadian visitor Janet Li writes, “My family travelled from Vancouver, Canada to attend a wedding at Freycinet at the beginning of March this year. We stayed at the Red Awnings Hampden at Battery Point afterward and the fire alarm went off while we were cooking dinner one night. “Despite our desperate fanning to try to shut it up, the firemen arrived. Upon inspection, they discovered that it was actually the guests next to us that were making all the smoke. “Naturally, my sister and mother and myself

were very happy to see Australian firemen coming to the rescue and started shamefully snapping pictures as they investigated the cause of the alarm. “We were invited to take a picture with the shiny truck which almost made my mother swoon with excitement. In any case, we are very grateful that you added another highlight to our trip! Thank you!”

Vegetation Fire – Main Rd Granton 17/05/2014


Triple Zero Kids Challenge – 15/05/2014

Structure Fire – Moriarty Rd Latrobe 18/05/2014


To Whom It May Concern,

On Behalf of Aurora Energy

Operations North I would sincerely

like to pass on my thanks to 2

members of the Chudleigh volunteer

fire brigade for their assistance on

Saturday 8/02/2014 while Aurora

crews where on site at Mole Creek.

The crew provided piece of mind

and were ready in case any of our

activities resulted in the cause of a

fire. I appreciate that these members

are just volunteers and provide

an invaluable service and sacrifice

especially at this time of year. Please

pass on my thanks to Julie McGregor

and Brian Phillips.

Kindest Regards

Kane Sanders, Team Leader, Aurora Energy, Operations NorthWorks Delivery-North

An appropriate cake to celebrate Geeveston Third Officer Amelia Direen’s birthday, December 2013.


German Shepherd Rescue – South Hobart 11/05/2014


United Firefighters Union of AustraliaBranch Secretary - Greg CooperEmail: [email protected]: PO Box 20, North Hobart 7002Phone: 6234 9331Mobile: 0418 126 488 Website: www.ufutas.asn.au

Tasmanian Retained Volunteer Firefighters AssociationState Secretary - Mathew PhilpottMobile: 0417 499 088 Email: [email protected]: www.trvfa.org.au

Tasmanian Volunteer Fire Brigades AssociationState Secretary - Lyndy SmithPhone: 6473 3169Mobile: 0408 577 576Email: [email protected]: www.tvfba.org.au

CPSU (SPSFT) incGeneral Secretary - Tom LynchEmail: [email protected]: GPO Box 54, Hobart 7001Phone: 6234 1708Website: www.cpsu.com.au

As a courtesy Fireground now offers contact details for members’ representative organisations.

fireground - fire.tas.gov.au · photo gallery 36 photo gallery 37 photo gallery 38 bushfire crc...

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