FIREMARKNews from the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, Melbourne Australia

April, 2012

MFB launches KidzoneReaching out to young Melbournians

Toughest Firefighter Alive challenge

Fireys save kittens, win PETA award

The future of Emergency Services

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This month we have again demonstrated MFB’s interoperability skills as our firefighters were involved in a multi-agency exercise in the Melbourne Underground Rail Loop where MFB acted as the lead agency.MFB has shown it’s leadership and expertise when it comes to dealing with major incidents. This occurs during planned exercises, but also during many incidents we attend on a normal basis.

I recently received an email from Koppers’ Carbon Materials & Chemicals Operations Manager Nick Moretti praising the actions of MFB staff (firefighters and scientifc officers) at the chemical spill that occurred in Portland.

“The willingness of responders to give their time on the Saturday evening and Sunday for the initial response demonstrates their dedication to their jobs,” he wrote.

“The high level of commitment and professionalism of all persons involved in the emergency response was very apparent. Also apparent was the high level of planning necessary to ensure the response was handled in a controlled manner with no adverse impacts to the local area.”

To receive this sort of feedback gives credence to the emphasis MFB puts on skills development and training.

Meanwhile, MFB firefighters and corporate staff have continued to engage with the community.

Recent examples of this include our involvement in the Moomba Festival, the launch of our new children’s website - MFB Kidzone - and the Good Friday Appeal

MFB raised a total of $54,536.45 for the appeal, including $22,066.45 from the 24-hour MFB/CFA relay in the CBD and $32,470.45 from the tin shakers around Melbourne.

This is a great outcome. Congratulations to the hundreds of staff and volunteers that helped achieve this record total.

I would also like to congratulate the team of four corporate staff who embarked on the Oxfam Trailwalker 100km walk this month.

Chris Lagaris, Sheena Ligris, Aaron Rose and Robert Bolcich made it over the finish line in 35 hours and raised $2,155.

It’s heartening to see people in MFB challenge themselves and raise money for worthy charities in their personal time.

Nick Easy Chief Executive Officer MFB

From the CEO

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Boat fire in DocklandsMelbourne was blanketed in thick, acrid smoke from burning fibreglass as firefighters tackled a large boat fire in Docklands last month.

The incident occurred on March 21, just after 4:30pm, Fifty firefighters, with 13 appliances plus support units, attending the scene.

The 28-metre, $4 million luxury cruiser was fully involved when firefighters arrived at the marina near River Esplanade, Docklands. The owners had recently sailed the yacht from Queensland and had just refilled with 4000 litres of fuel when smoke was sighted.

The four people on board made a quick escape and were unharmed. The fire spread rapidly with flames engulfing the vessel in less than five minutes. From both land and the water, firefighters fought to stop the blaze spreading to other vessels in the harbour where the multi-million dollar yacht was moored.

Several Community Warnings were issued. It was clear that the boat could not be saved and firefighting priorities centred on protecting other craft and infrastructure.

Despite considerable difficulties, MFB crews managed to isolate the cruiser and tie it off to prevent

it drifting towards other vessels. This was achieved with firefighters working on the dock and in the MFB Fireboat 6. Firefighters also utilised the water police vessel to assist.

The fire tug “Keera” was called in to help extinguish the blaze but could not assist due to shallow water.

Chief Fire Officer Shane Wright said MFB and the government had committed up to $9.8 million to roll out the marine strategy over the next few years.

“MFB is in the process of obtaining two firefighting vessels - a nine-metre boat and a 12-metre boat. This has been a lengthy process and I anticipate we will have these on the water within 18 months,” CFO Wright said.

“The firefighters who attended the Docklands fire should be proud of their efforts. They did all they could with the current capabilites and managed to save many other boats in the harbour from the same fate by preventing the blaze from spreading.”

On Wednesday April 4 expressions of interest to identify potential suppliers of nine and 12 metre vessels were placed in the newspaper.

The marine unit is continuing to investigate interim options.

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The future of Emergency ServicesIn September last year the State Government published a green paper “Towards a more disaster resilient and safe Victoria”, which discussed some of the major issues confronting emergency service organisations.

The 60-page document, available HERE, offered 32 options relating to governance arrangements, state-wide capacity to deal with large-scale events, service delivery performance, and government working with communities to build resilience.

It’s a pivotal document designed to challenge current thinking about Victoria’s crisis and emergency management arrangements and to pose provocative questions about the practical options for reform.

Some of the key points to come out of the paper include:

• Moving towards an all hazards, all agencies approach;

• Developing a shared services model;

• Changing the emergency management arrangements for the state, and putting greater emphasis on the role of municipal governments;

• Introducing a single procurement model;

• Greater importance placed on government building community resilience; and

• Developing one board for the sector.

One of the major discussion points is to extend the responsibilities of the Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley.

This option would see the role encompass response to all major natural hazards and other kinds of hazards, such as outbreaks of disease or terrorist attacks so emergency service organisations could retain their day-to-day command structures and roles. Specialist agencies could also continue to be the controllers for relevant hazards.

There is also a push for the Victorian Government to learn from the UK and NZ disaster response models that give communities realistic information about how to deal with incidents.

Public consultation on the paper ended on 14 November and 91 submissions were received.

It will inform the white paper, due out this year, along with the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, the FSC’s Reform Action Plan, the MAV position paper on the role of local government in emergency management and Neil Comrie’s Victorian Floods Review.

No one agency or entity at any level, whether it be federal, state or local, has the length or the breadth of talent and expertise. We must work together. Law enforcement, quite simply, is only as good as its relationships.

~ Robert S. Mueller, “Responding to Terrorism” Speech by the Director of the Federal Bureau of

Investigations, 2001

Change your clocks Change your smoke

alarm batteries

MFB and CFA teamed up for a unique way to remind the community to change their smoke alarm batteries at the end of daylight savings on April 1.

Members of the High Angle Rescue Team abseilled from Flinders St Station wearing Duracell backbacks, much to the surprise of passing commuters.

MFB Commander Frank Stockton demonstrated to the media the importance of having a working smoke alarm.

FACT: Homes without a working smoke alarm

are 57% more likely to suffer property loss

and damage; residents are 25% more likely to

suffer serious injury; and four times more likely to die in a residential fire than people with

working smoke alarms.

2011 was a big year for recruits and new faces and 2012 promises to be more of the same.

This year we will be following some of our new firefighters from intake courses 103 and 104 as they pursue their dreams and discover the challenges and opportunities that come from being a serving MFB firefighter.

MFB’s Class of 2011

Recruit Course 103 - Duy TonWorking as an accountant at his aunty’s firm, Duy Ton (who has been affectionately nicknamed “George” by his new colleagues) dreaded going to work.

“I was sick of the nine-to-five, same thing everyday,” the 24-year-old said.

A friend from high school had gone on to become a firefighter and raved about it, so Duy thought he’d apply and was lucky to be selected the first time. Once through the selection process, Duy immersed himself in recruit training, learning all there is to know about MFB. On graduation day, he said he was overwhelmed by the feelings of pride and relief.

“The training was challenging but incredibly rewarding and fun,” he said. “I’ve met some great people and we all share a common goal.

“My life has changed dramatically from 12 months ago. I would get up dreading going to work; now I’m so glad I made the change.”

Duy said the recruits from his training course were particularly close, keeping in contact via email from their various stations.

Working in Footscray (fire station 47), Duy said speaking Vietnamese was a significant advantage.

“There’s a strong Vietnamese community here in Footscray, so knowing the language means I’m able to understand them and can translate for the SO,” he explained.

“Even my own family doesn’t fully understand our role; the language barrier can be tough.

“It’s also about helping to build awareness of what MFB does.”

Duy hopes to maintain his skills and knowledge by completing retention drills and attending call outs. His most serious fire to date has been a blaze in Niddrie at a $2 shop.

“We got taught the worst case scenario in recruits, so it was interesting to attend a third alarm call and see how it actually works,” he said.

Duy is looking forward to being a career firefighter and agrees with his old high school mate who encouraged him to join.

“It’s the best job in the world,” he said. “I’m here for the long haul,”

Clockwise: Duy is proud to work at Footscray fire station (47); waving to

the crowd after the Recruit Course 103 graduation display; Duy with his

supportive parents; and Chief Fire Officer Shane Wright inspects Duy

at the graduation ceremony.

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Recruit Course 104 - Luke SmithHe’s only been on shift for a few months, but Luke Smith has already been involved in several community events, including a display for international students and the Fallen Firefighter Memorial Dedication Ceremony.

The 26-year-old is stationed at one of Melbourne’s busier stations, Sunshine Fire Station. After spending two years trying to get into MFB, just getting to the graduation has been a major achievement, according to Luke, who worked in marketing, event management and public relations before joining MFB.

“Life has really changed,” he said. “Compared to this time last year it is a lot different. Most importantly I am not behind a desk anymore. I am out there doing something and fulfilling a dream.”

Luke, who grew up in Essendon and is now discovering new parts of Melbourne, said he was looking forward to the challenges of being out on shift.

“I am just going to keep my eyes and ears open and hopefully learn as much as I can in this first 12 months. That is my main goal and objective,” he said.

Luke said the recruit training course has been challenging and was a fantastic experience.

“On my graduation day I definitely felt a sense of pride,” he said. “It has been a great day all round … to be able to celebrate with all the team and the instructors.”

Luke said he was dedicated to his life with MFB and looking forward to the challenges ahead.

MFB’s Class of 2011

Clockwise: Luke and one of his new colleagues at Sunshine fire station ; wearing dress uniform at graduation; participating in a hose drill as part of the graduation display; Luke and his proud family at graduation.

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MFB firey beats Toughest Firefighter Alive in stair climbHe took on the toughest firefighter in the world and won. Leading Firefighter Sam Bach did MFB proud in a recent stair climb against German firefighter Joachim Posanz, in town to promote the upcoming 12th World Firefighter’s Games.

On February 29, the pair raced up Melbourne’s tallest office building, 120 Collins Street - a staggering 46 storey challenge. To increase the difficulty, both wore their turn-out gear and boots in the race.

Joachim went first, followed by Sam 30 seconds later. At the finish line the stopwatches proved Sam was a cut above the current Toughest Firefighter Alive with a time of 6:47 compared to Joachim’s 7:07.

Joachim was gracious in defeat, but has challenged Sam to vie for the TFA title at the Games in Sydney this October - a feat Sam is eager to achieve.

Joachim, 39, was named the Toughest Firefighter Alive at the 2010 World Firefighters Games in South Korea.

He currently works 24-hour shifts at his local fire station in Germany and is also a trained paramedic.

To earn the TFA title, Joachim completed a hose run and obstacle course in full firefighting kit and carrying a BA set. He also had to complete an 83-storey stair climb. There’s also a tower challenge where competitors are required to handle and pitch ladders and to carry firefighting equipment up ropes.

Sam, who is currently stationed at the Bundoora Fire Station, is an active member of the MFB Running Club and has competed in the World Fire and Police Games on several occasions.

He received two bronze medals in New York, silver and bronze in Vancouver and silver and gold in Adelaide. Last year he completed the Eureka Stair Climb, a whopping 88 storeys, in just nine minutes. The director of the World Firefighters Games Greg Hough, said he encouraged the healthy competition between firefighters from across the globe.

“Having the Toughest Firefighter Alive test his skills against Melbourne’s best, was a brilliant warm up to the games and it gave local competitors like Sam the chance to check out the competition coming our way in October,” he said.

The World Firefighter’s Games will be staged in Sydney from October 19 to 28, 2012.

www.worldfirefightersgames.com

Toughest Firefighter Alive Joachim Posanz (right) on top of 120 Collins St with LFF Sam Bach.

A great weekend out for MFB and families at MoombaMoomba - A celebration of all things that make Melbourne the fantastic city that it is.

MFB firefighters were this year granted the honour of leading the Moomba Parade through the city, with the Bronto Ladder Platform and a 1947 Fargo pumper. The Fargo was in service from 1947 to 1972 and would carry up to 360 metres of hose to fires and was effectively the ultra large pumper of its time.

Another important feature of MFB’s involvment at Moomba was the static display. This year Community Reslience took the opportunity to promote MFB Kidzone, as the display was located in a specially designated children’s education/activity area.

The march featured volunteers from the Melbourne Fire Services Museum wearing the old brass helmets and waving proudly from the old pumper. Marching ahead of the appliances were about 26 firefighters from the five districts.

“It was fantastic to be involved in Moomba and an honour to lead the parade,” Commander John Cranston said.

“The crowds were clapping and cheering as the firefighters marched along the packed Melbourne streets. Firefighters were high-fiving the kids, and stopping for photographs.

“The volunteers were just loving it, you could see it on their faces, and some of the firefighters’ children and families joined them, which was great to see the young and the old together.”

The MFB display was very popular with the crowds. Kids got to squirt a hose, climb through the back of a pumper, check out SmokeBUSter and try on junior firefighter uniforms. They were also given fold up cardboard firetrucks, stickers and ‘hoses and ladders’ games.

Commander Public Education John Rampling said the MFB display was a great success and a very worthwhile Community Resilience event.

“The weather was perfect, the queues unrelenting and all staff managed to keep smiling,” he said.

“It is one thing t o attend at an event like Moomba, but i t is another t o enthusiastically engage the masses as the staff did.

“The people of Melbourne would have found all MFB staff, both operational and corporate, to be very approachable and friendly and would have walked away thinking how good the MFB is and subconsciously taking on some home fire safety awareness.”

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The transition from CFA to MFB has been a smooth move for Station Officer Cameron McGregor, a participant in the pilot Secondment Program.

Since coming to the brigade late last November from the Patterson Lakes CFA station, Cam has been stationed at Windsor (Fire Station 35).

“The welcome from the guys and girls at Windsor has been great,” he said.

“I’ve received plenty of support from everyone to introduce me to the systems of work and helping me to appreciate the differences I needed to overcome.”

Apart from the occasional move up or out to another station, Cam has been the regular voice on the two-way radio for pumper 35B and is enjoying the challenges of the MFB.

“While the systems of work have changed somewhat to that of CFA, the day-to-day challenge of operating in a dynamic environment is just the same,” he said. “The decision making is similar; we still need to take whatever is dangerous in front of us and resolve it to make it safe for the community.”

One of the biggest differences between CFA and MFB for Cam has been the work group.

“For most of the past two years with the CFA, I’ve worked at a two-man station,” he explained. “Working with nine people at Windsor means time-management is completely different.

“There has been so much to fit in to each day, thankfully SSO Quinn and the other fireys haven’t lead me too far astray in managing the time frames,”

Cam is off to Port Melbourne (FS39) on the next roster to try somewhere different.

“I’m looking forward to the change of scenery, the heavy industry and the apartment living,” he said. “The new team at 39 will be a different experience again and I’m looking forward to it. But I really must thank the team of 35 for the patience and efforts in making me welcome and a part of their team.”

Top: Cam and his crew at Windsor;

Above: Cam in the front passenger seat of pumper.

Below: Two of Cam’s colleagues attend a call.

Bottom right: The busy streets of Windsor and Prahran have been a big change for the former CFA firefighter.

From CFA to big city - Cam settles in to MFB

Learning onlineMFB has launched a new website to engage children and educate them about fire safety in a new and interactive way.

An initiative of the Community Resilience department, MFB Kidzone is an innovative and interactive new online tool designed especially to educate the children of Melbourne, using interactive and downloadable games, activities, photos, videos, quizzes and fact sheets.

The site was developed with the assistance of Swinburne University of Technology’s Design Factory and Research Department, with input sought from firefighters, teachers and primary school students during a thorough research process.

MFB Public Education Manager Commander John Rampling said the website demonstrated MFB’s commitment to promoting fire safety to young Victorians.

“MFB Kidzone, is set up to support the work of our firefighters. We expect kids will jump on the site to play a game, watch a video or do a quiz and the home escape and fire prevention messages will be reinforced in a fun way,” he said.

MFB and the Royal Children’s Hospital have done extensive research into teaching fire safety to children.

MFB Education Specialist Marthese Kavanagh, a former special education teacher, said the earliest age at which MFB firefighters will teach children about fire safety was in Prep.

She said the new MFB Kidzone website allows the children to take home what they learn at school and learn while having fun.

Features on the website include information on the history of the brigade, firefighters’ roles, fire trucks, stations and equipment. Joining the children on their quest to learn more about fire safety are the two MFB Kidzone characters– firefighters Mel and Vic (pictured left) – who are colourful and fun and are designed to grab young children’s attention.

MFB Kidzone will be online from early March.

Log onto www.mfbkidzone.com.au.

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Canadian exchangeHe’d never been to Australia before, but firefighter Andrew Brannen took a leap of faith and is now participating in a 12-month exchange down under.

The 28-year-old Canadian is currently stationed at Eastern Hill and said he’s been made to feel very welcome.

“I’d been a firefighter in Richmond just south of Vancouver for five years and was ready for a change of scenery and something more exciting,” he said.

“I applied to be part of the exchange program and was accepted in Melbourne; I’d never even been to Australia before, but I love it here.”

There are several big changes between MFB and Richmond Fire Rescue.

“In Canada we use American trucks – so they’re really big and they don’t have hose reels,” he said. “The trucks here are smaller, but much more manoeuvrable in the city. Plus everything over there is measured in gallons, so here I have to convert it in my head.”

In the next few months Andrew hopes to work from several different fire stations, and is keen to turn out to some bigger incidents to see how MFB handles the situation.

“I want to learn ways and techniques of firefighting that I can take back and share with my managers,” he said.

“Ideally I’d also like to learn a thing or two so I can become a better firefighter.”

Andrew has been enjoying living by the beach and

working at Eastern Hill Fire Station

Heart of goldIn recognition of the ever-increasing importance of Emergency Medical Response and the integral role that Acting Commander Allan Morton has played in its establishment, Allan has been awarded the Australian Fire Services medal.

Allan has been involved with EMR right from the very beginning and he and Commander Dennis Rich did the pioneering work in the early 1990s.

The success of the pilot, which was conducted in seven fire stations in 1997, saw the program rolled out across the entire brigade in 2000.

“A lot of blood, sweat and tears went in to develop the program to where it is now,” Allan said. “I feel proud to have been part of introducing one of the most significant cultural changes that MFB has gone through in 100 years.

“MFB is the only fire service in Australia that has an established emergency medical response program. 20 years ago MFB had not even entered this field and now we are relied on as part the pre-hospital care system in Melbourne.”

The growth of EMR has been rapid. In the past decade more than 150 lives have been saved from MFB intervention and in many parts of Melbourne MFB is now responding to more EMR calls than fires.

The willingness of firefighters to upgrade their skills has been instrumental in the internal growth of the program. EMR training is voluntary yet thanks to specialist training at Monash University, all firefighters are able to provide basic life support, give CPR and use the defibrillators carried on all fire trucks.

Allan is now helping expand the program across regional Victoria and last year CFA began a trial of EMR. He said that he when he started as a firefighter in 1985 he had no had visions of saving lives through first-aid.

“I now have the personal satisfaction of doing something that is really making a difference in Melbourne and now Victoria,” he said.

Moving ForwardMFB firefighters helped a group of disengaged young people reconnect with their community through team building exercises and sparring earlier this month.

The Hume Whittlesea Local Learning and Employment Network (HWLLEN) is working with MFB and Northern District’s Multicultural Liaison Officer together to support young people from ages 10 to 19 years old.

A program called “The Moving Forward Project” aims to improve life and social skills, reduce risk and gain employment for young people through experiencing and gaining an insight into various industry groups, business, education and community organisations at a grass roots level.

Many of the young people involved are from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) background.

On Thursday March 15, a group of ten young people were invited to the display at FS44, where they had the chance to ‘ride’ in the ladder platform with support from Leading Fire Fighters Dave Robertson and Dave Organ.

Station Officer Alex Faris and LFF Brian “Henry” Lawson also demonstrated some of the capabilities of the Heavy Rescue and touched on issues around youth at risk and road safety.

The group were then taken to a boxing gym in Maribyrnong where they participated in some sparring with LFFs Sal Galofaro and Dave “Robbo” Robertson

The teenagers were put through their paces with three-minute bouts that included some coaching from Ron Jacobson the owner of the gym. Ron has been training boxers for 50 years and trained Sal to four gold medals at various world Police and Fire games.

After the sparring session, the group had a crack at the speed balls and punching bags, followed by a team building exercise.

“The young people involved gained an excellent insight to our organisation at the same time building their confidence and working as a team in supporting one another,” Muticultural Liaison Officer Danny Jacka said.

The co-ordinators supporting the group were incredibly impressed with the dedication and professionalism of all the firefighters involved and expressed their gratitude for MFB’s involvement.

Left: LFFs Sal Galofaro and Dave Robertson; Above: MLO Danny Jacka, LFF Dave Organ, LFF Galofaro,

Ron Jacobson, LFF Robertson and MFB intern Ibrahim Osman.

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Firefighters in Oakleigh mingled with the community at the annual Oakleigh Music Festival celebrating local culture last month.

Eastern District Multicultural Liasion Officer Frank Yaman and Senior Firefighter Adam Wilson attended the event to celebrate Cultural Diversity Week. This event was reportedly attended by over 10,000 people.

“The MFB stand was one of the most popular with people wanting information on home fire safety and were very interested in the role MFB plays in the community,” SFF Wilson said.

The event was buzzing with groups from a diverse cross-section of cultural backgrounds show-casing their traditional dances and music styles, including Greek, South American and Asian. Traditional food as well as conventional fare abounded leaving patrons spoilt for choice. Children were well catered for also,

with a myriad of activities on offer to keep them amused.

“In all, the event ran smoothly with everyone enjoying the day and the amount of positive feedback received from the public concerning the MFB was encouraging,” SFF Wilson said.

Cultural event in Oakleigh

It was a valiant effort by the MFB side, but the pros beat them in the end.

This was the first game held between MFB and the Fitzroy Stars Football and Netball Club, following a Memorandum of Understanding developed in 2011.

The MOU was borne out of the MFB’s current Reconciliation Action Plan and this initiative has allowed MFB to partner with the Stars in various community activities and events to raise awareness of fire safety and MFB employment opportunities within Melbourne’s indigenous communities.

At the same time it provides a unique opportunity for MFB firefighters and corporate staff to experience and engage with local Aboriginal people.

The match was co-ordinated by Multicultural Liasion Officer Danny Jacka and played at McAlister Oval, Royal Park Parkville on Saturday March 17.

Fitzroy Stars players make up a high proportion of the Victorian Aboriginal State Team that competes at the National Aboriginal Football Carnival. The football club plays in the Northern Football League and is made up mostly of indigenous footballers.

“The Fitzroy Stars Football and Netball Club are pleased to be playing against the MFB. We are excited that the MFB are a proud sponsor of our club and a game of football between the two organisations will strengthen our relationship,” Stars’ CEO, Simon Minton-Connell said.

“We currently have a number of our members applying for MFB employment so the link between The Stars and the MFB is important to both parties. I’m sure that this game will become an annual event.”

FINAL SCORE Fitzroy Stars 27.10.182 defeated Metropolitan Fire Brigade 4.6.30

MFB defeated by Aborignal footy stars

MFB spreads fire safety message at the ZooMFB Western District teamed up with City West Water to hold a special day at Werribee Zoo for international students last month.

More than 1000 English Second Language students (ESL) and newly arrived immigrants were bussed to the Zoo where they were introduced to “uniforms” from all emergency services including MFB, Victoria Police, Australian Federal Police, Ambulance Victoria, Department of Fisheries, Parks Victoria, and, our partner in this event, City West Water.

The day involved lots of planning and commitment from many within the organisation and Multicultural Liasion Officers from all districts were involved in making this year’s event a success.

On hand to assist on the day were Station Officer Peter Ferrie, Leading Firefighter Brendan Sparke and Firefighter Kenshi Wakamatsu, who helped spread the home fire safety and Change Your Clock Change Your Smoke Alarm Battery messages.

Under the guidance of our Community Resilience Assistant Chief Fire Officer Rob Purcell, Chin Tan chairperson from the Victorian Multicultural Commission and Ann Barker of City West Water, the day went off without a hitch.

“We received positive feedback from the ESL schools, who said the new students benefit greatly from the engagement with emergency services,” MLO Col Campbell said.

“Many of the students come from countries and villages that have not had power, gas or running water at their disposal. This is a great opportunity for MFB to meet the students and later visit the ESL schools to deliver Home Fire Safety talks.”

Are you following MFB on Facebook?Frequently updated with the latest news, photographs and fire safety warnings applicable to the public and staff.

There’s also competitions and interactive features.

Visit: www.facebook.com/Melbourne.MFB

Right: ACFO Rob Purcell addresses the crowd.

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MFB firefighters were among more than 130 personnel to take part in an emergency management exercise in the Melbourne Underground Rail Loop earlier this month.

The exercise was a drill type activity, involving Department of Transport, MFB, Ambulance Victoria, Victoria Police and Metro Trains staff, evaluating the operational response of emergency service agencies to a major incident on the train network.

For many months MFB firefighters have been training in preparation for the event, building necessary infrastructure such as the rail trolleys, and ensuring all equipment was on hand on the night - including Hazmat and Breathing Apparatus gear. MFB’s Scientific Officers also developed plume modelling, which assisted Victoria Police to develop an emergency evacuation plan.

The night ran relatively smoothly, with agencies identifying areas of improvement.

“These kinds of exercises are a great opportunity for us to work with our sister agencies to build on interoperability and resource sharing,” Chief Fire Officer Shane Wright said.

“MFB demonstrated great leadership as the lead agency in the early stages of the incident before a transition of control occurred later in the incident, handing over incident control to Victoria Police.

“Conducting an exercise in the Melbourne Underground Rail Loop provides us with a real opportunity to familiarise our staff with one of Victoria’s critical pieces of infrastructure.”

Not only was this a multi-agency event, it involved input from staff across all departments - both operational and support staff.

Emergency Management Exercise

Firefighters performed a difficult rescue after a man became wedged under his Richmond house last month.

The incident occurred on Wednesday March 28, when the 66-year-old man, who was renovating his bathroom, crawled under the house to check the plumbing.

He quickly became trapped and his wife rang triple zero for assistance at 3:45pm.

The distance between the ground and the bottom of the house was just 30 centimetres and the man was wedged tightly between the earth and a beam.

When fire crews arrived on scene, Leading Firefighter Chris Trevean volunteered to crawl in and help dig him out and an Ambulance Victoria paramedic later assisted him and monitored the man’s condition.

The pair used several tools to dig a trench so the man could be pulled out.

In the meantime, firefighters moved furniture and ripped up the carpet in the lounge room and were prepared to break through the floorboards to get the man out if he became distressed – however this was not necessary.

“Chris and Erin (the paramedic) did a great job in keeping the man calm and helping to dig him out,” Station Officer Mick Falzon said.

“It was a long time they were under there in cramped conditions, almost an hour-and-a-half, and he was very happy when they managed to get him out.”

SO Falzon said the man was shaking and sweaty when he got out, but very relieved.

The man was taken by ambulance to hospital for observation.

The rescue unit from West Melbourne Fire Station attended, along with the teleboom from Richmond Fire Station.

MFB rescue man trapped under house in Richmond

Easter long weekend marred by house firesThe Easter long weekend proved busy for MFB, with a spate of suspicious house fires.

Firefighters attended a house fire in Holberry St, Broadmeadows on Sunday April 8 just after 7:30pm.

The blaze involved a single storey brick and weatherboard house separated into two houses by a concrete party wall. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus conducted an initial search of the premises before extinguishing the well-advanced fire.

Several rooms in one of the houses and a section of the roof space has been severely damaged by fire. The premises were unoccupied at the time of the fire.

It took 14 firefighters just four minutes to get the fire under control.

The cause of the fire has been deemed to be of a suspicious nature and Police are investigating

On Monday April 9 just after midnight firefighters attended another house fire in Logan Avenue/Rush Court in Altona.

The fire originated in the rear bedroom before spreading up into the roof area of a single storey brick veneer house of approximately 20 squares. The rear room, including the contents and most of the roof area, was severely damaged with a partial collapse of a section of the roof. The remainder of the premises was damaged by heat and smoke.

Firefighters rescued two small kittens unharmed from the premises. It took 18 firefighters just under 20 minutes to get the fire under control. The blaze was also deemed suspicious.

Just before 1am, firefighters were again called to a house fire, this time in Macleod.

The blaze involved the front section of a single storey weatherboard and fibro house of 13 squares.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus searched the premises as it was unknown if anybody was home at the time of the fire. After an extensive search, neighbours later indicated that the residents were away for the weekend.

The front section including the contents and a section of the roof area has been severely damaged by fire. A portion of the remainder of the premises has been damaged by heat and smoke. It took 18 firefighters 25 minutes to get the fire under control. The fire has been deemed suspicious and police are investigating.

Above: MFB firefighters rescued these two kittens from a house fire in Altona over the Easter Long Weekend.

Pic: Herald Sun.

Firefighters involved in the rescue of the two kittens from the Altona house fire have been thanked for their compassion by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Director of Campaigns Jason Baker wrote to CEO Nick Easy on behalf of PETA Australia and its thousands of members and supporters.

“I am pleased to present you with our Compassionate Action Award for your team’s heroic actions to save two kittens from a burning house in Altona,” he said.

“Your kind action to save the kittens will hopefully inspire others always to come to the aid of animals in distress.”

PETA award for kitten rescue

page 16

FIREMARKNews from the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, Melbourne Australia

Next edition – June 2012 FireMark is the bi-monthly magazine from the Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board.

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A show of interoperability in PortlandIn February MFB firefighters travelled to Portland to assist CFA manage a major incident.

The significant hazmat incident at Portland in the South West of the state involved approximately 3700 tonnes of tar pitch leaking from a 4000-tonne tank within a bunded area adjacent to Portland Port.

MFB was called upon to supply firefighters with special hazmat expertise to assist crews from CFA and other agencies to bring this incident to a successful conclusion.

Senior Station Officer Mitch Simons, Leading Firefighters Tim McHenry and Grant O’Connor, and Firefighter Zane Jenkins, joined MFB Scientific Officer Barry Byrne, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Andrew Zammit and Acting ACFO Darren Davies on scene.

The Hazmat technicians provided detailed monitoring of the immediate and surrounding areas using specialist air monitoring and remote sensing equipment. A/ACFO Davies played an important role on scene as the MFB Liaison Officer for the duration of the incident.

MFB’s scientific staff provided ongoing advice in relation to hazard risk and prediction to the incident

controller and ACFO Zammit played an important role as a key member of the multi-agency risk strategy group who attended the site and developed a whole of State risk profile.

The incident occurred on Saturday February 17, and on Thursday the product within the damaged tank was decanted into a ship following a significant engineering process relying on a number of key inputs from a range of agencies including MFB staff.

This incident has highlighted the capacity within MFB to support other agencies when required, whist recognising that today in the Fire Service and across the broader Emergency Management sector, MFB operates as one, to plan for and manage the consequences of incidents.

MFB Chief Fire Officer Shane Wright congratulated those who participated and those that supported endeavors in bring this Incident to a successful conclusion.