New warning system explained

- Forecast fire danger advice will be issued throughout the media and will be aligned to the new fire danger ratings (which is based on the fire danger index)

- Key messages have been designed to clearly communicate what is likely to occur if and when a fire starts for each of the fire danger ratings.  Messages will include specific actions for the community to take during this outlook period.

- The ratings are as follows;

- The states are still working on a suitable graphic representation of the ratings. This will be communicated as soon as it is available.

- The CFA Chief Officer will have responsibility for issuing warnings to the community during fires; delegated to local Incident Controllers with a backup in the State Duty Officer in the iECC.

- Information units will have operational guidelines and the technological capability in place to enable them to quickly issue accurate warnings. Approval will occur at local incident level by the IC or deputy IC.

- Where an ICC has not yet been established, warnings can be issued on behalf of the IC by information units in the RECC or iECC.

- Warnings will be disseminated throughout a variety of media, for example websites, local radio and VBIL simultaneously via a single entry tool known as One Source One Message (OSOM).  This will ensure that warnings are provided to all sources at the same time, will appear in the same format and contain the same language.

- The iECC (or SECC) Information Unit will play a monitoring and auditing role in relation to community warnings, as well as a pro-active role when a warning hasn’t been issued or released.

- All areas will have access to OSOM (warning system). It can be issued at a very local level (for example at a regional office before an ICC has been set up) or in the iECC which will be manned throughout high fire danger rating or fire danger indicator days

- In accordance with Royal Commission recommendations, there will be two warning categories, and three levels of information

o          Advice

o          Watch and Act

o          Emergency Warning

- ’Watch and Act’ messages are to alert the community that there is a heightened level of threat, and that they need to stay informed and take appropriate action.

- ‘Emergency Warning’ is an alert that there is an imminent threat and immediate action is required to protect life.

National Framework for Scaled Advice and Warnings

The National Framework for Scaled Advice and Warnings was agreed and adopted by all States and Territories at the Australian Emergency Management Committee meeting on 3^rd and 4^th September. This includes a new Fire Danger Ratings, the slogan Prepare, Act Survive and an agreed format for scaled warnings.

All States and Territories are now planning to roll out these changes, with the exception of NT and QLD, who will do so in mid-2010 as their fire season has already commenced. Specific timing for roll out is still being determined in Victoria. Work is underway to design how the Fire Danger Rating will be visually represented to the community. Further detail will be announced in coming weeks.

Overview of Fire Danger Ratings

- Fire danger ratings are used to indicate the type of threat  bushfires may pose on any day given the forecast weather conditions.

- The fire danger ratings provide the community with an indication of the sort of bushfire behaviour that could be experienced on that day.

- There is a new fire danger rating for an index of above 100 that will be known as Catastrophic (Code Red).

- Under these types of weather conditions fires will be unpredictable, uncontrollable and fast moving.  The fires on February 7 are an example of the types of fires that may be experienced under a ‘Catastrophic’ rating.

- Advice to communities under these conditions will be that leaving is the safest option for survival.

- The other fire danger ratings have been altered to provide greater differentiation above a fire danger index of 50.  In the past ‘extreme’ was the top category, now we have catastrophic as outlined, as well as ‘severe’ for when the fire danger index is between 50 and 74.

- The top categories rate in order of severe, extreme and catastrophic. The key differences between these ratings is the expected impact a bushfire might have, therefore the community needs to have appropriate plans in place to deal with fires of these different types of severity.

- The Bureau of Meteorology will use this terminology in fire weather forecasts so that the community can improve their understanding about what the threat from bushfires is, and to help in using consistent language for the community to understand.

- Victoria is going to trial the new Fire Danger Rating over the coming season and will assess the success and the take up of it post season.

Community Warnings During Bushfire Events – Trigger Points

-Any bushfires that start will be posted on the CFA and DSE websites to essentially provide ‘advice’ to the community that there is a bushfire in their area.

- In accordance with Royal Commission recommendations there will be two warning categories, and three levels of information

Advice

Watch and Act

Emergency Warning

- ‘Watch and Act’ messages are to alert the community that there is a heightened level of threat, and that they need to stay informed and take appropriate action.

- ‘Emergency Warning’ is an alert that there is an imminent threat and immediate action is required to protect life.

- The Standard Emergency Warning Signal will be used at the same time as the Emergency Warning as appropriate. Work is being done to establish the appropriate frequency and use of SEWS.

Prepare, Act Survive

The Prepare, Act Survive slogan will have specific safety messaging and action attached to each of the three words.  Some of preliminary thinking around this messaging is:

PREPARE

-          Physically, mentally

-          Property prepared

-          Having/preparing a plan

-          Know where to seek information

-          Thinking ahead

ACT

-          Respond to forecasts – weather and fire danger rating

-          Putting your plan into action

-          Act decisively / take decisive action – do not wait

-          Let people know what you are doing

SURVIVE

-          Your life and your family’s lives are your priority

The Prepare, Act Survive slogan will form a key component of Victoria’s fire safety messaging, and the awareness campaign. The slogan will also be a key part of SA and NSW fire awareness campaigns.