D14 Operations Report November 2011

Watch the video report here:

Safety

All personnel are reminded to review the principles outlined in the SPADRA process (Safe Person Approach, Dynamic Risk assessment) which is a process which can used at all levels to minimise risk to individuals, crews and teams.

Operations

We have eventually been able to successfully manage the arrangements to allow the Wallan brigade, Mount Macedon Group and Romsey Group to fully become operational with their respective districts. This finalised on Sunday 6 of November. Please familiarise yourselves with our current Comms plans which will be released soon.

There are some key operational messages this month:

• BA procedures - all personnel are to be reminded of their BA procedures and SOPs, in particular, lessons learned from the recent fire at South Morang – jointly with MFB – focused on BA entry points.
• Crew leader and above briefing dates – Sunday 4 December to and including Thursday 8 November, Operations Officers will be working with their Group Officers to set up.
• This year we have been advised that our planning levels for preparedness are based on a 1-6 level scale, based around the Fire Danger Rating “wheel”. We have asked each Group to consider use of these prep levels as a guide to their own Group prep as we lead up to ‘trigger’ days.
• The Chief Officer has some key messages he wishes key operational leaders to be aware of this summer. He has likened this year to 1977 (fast running grass fires). Primacy of life is paramount; due to fires this year potentially developing quickly; please consider the following four key “intents”, to be considered by all personnel in leadership roles.
-We need an Incident Action Plan summary, if we cant write it down, do it by phone or radio, what your key objectives and strategies
-Consider quick predictive maps, could be a pen drawing on a photocopy of a Melways, then faxed/emailed to us as quickly as possible, it really assists.
-We need to warn our communities in the path of the fire; the more info we get from the fireground – wordbacks/sitreps.etc – helps us form the key messages to get out via all of the media methods, this season including Twitter and Facebook.
-Local Incident Controllers – Crew Leaders/Level 1 I/C’s and up – should always develop priorities for the fires they are managing according to the greatest threat to life.
• A reminder to all personnel to review their procedures re: radio discipline. At all levels we need to reinforce the need for it and practise – “communications is the lifeblood of operations!” (refer to the reminder in this seasons Ops update)
• Groups have recently been consulted about introduction of the 2011/2012 FDP, my thoughts are around mid December but weather dependent of course, we will always try and link up as best as we can with surrounding municipalities and Districts

Planning

Our Future Operational Infrastructure Planning (FOIPs) process is continuing well with recent update forums held over two nights in mid October, this should see our final draft plans start to be distributed and used for consultation amongst brigades but more importantly key external stakeholders, Municipalities, MFB, DSE, VicPol.etc.

People News

You will probably see some new faces around the place at our integrated locations. We have done very well out of the recent round of recruit placements – and the future ones. Please familiarise yourselves with these people and hopefully over time we can get them all to see when they apply for fulltime roles that D14 is an “employer of choice” and “the place to be”.

Ops team wise - Currently Jamie Hansen is acting as OIC Eltham, Paul Hopkins is OIC Melton – James D is on a brief secondment at Fiskville, Carly Simpson is on secondment to Fiskville as well and being covered quite ably by Carmen Coolman. SSO Wayne Elliot is covering Crash Anderson whilst he gets his knee operated on – good luck Crash!, Sean Kennedy is covering Trevor Roberts at Point Cook and Charlie Cleary is covering Brian Wright at Craigieburn. Woo, there is a bit going on!

Also, our sincere and heartfelt condolences to Dianne English and family after the recent tragic loss of husband Barry in a tragic accident in the early hours of Saturday morning. Our thoughts and feelings are with you all at this time. We will confirm funeral arrangements shortly and advise all.

This report is an accompaniment to the District 14 Operations video report. Search for ‘District 14 Operations Report’ in the video section of CFA Connect, on CFA TV in Youtube and on Facebook (search North West Metro).