Fire and emergency services. Protecting communities. Helping people. Saving lives.
Every day.
My Country. I love a sunburnt country, A land of sweeping plains, Of ragged mountain ranges, Of droughts and flooding rains. I love her far horizons, I love her jewel-sea, Her beauty and her terror – The wide brown land for me! Dorothea Mackellar Poem reproduced with permission of the Dorothea Mackellar Estate. Image Source: Š2011 ABC/ABC.net.au
A message from the Federal Minister for Justice
For most Australians, summer is about being outdoors and enjoying our diverse and beautiful landscape. But for some, it is a cruel reminder of how vulnerable we are to the damaging impact of natural disasters, and the lengthy recovery process as roads, bridges, homes and lives are rebuilt. Since I took office as the Minister responsible for emergency management, I have seen the devastating impact of natural disasters on our communities – lost homes, lost incomes, and most tragically, lost loved ones – and how floods, cyclones and bushfires are a fact of life for many Australians. But I have also been fortunate to witness the strength and dedication of our emergency services firsthand. Today, like most days, emergency service crews across Australia will attend on average almost 2,000 incidents or emergencies. From catastrophic bushfires to tropical cyclones and major search and rescue operations – they respond to all hazards, in all conditions, and in all terrains.
Our emergency services are part of the fabric of the Australian community, particularly in regional Australia. The start of another bushfire season provides an opportunity to reflect on the essential work of our near 300,000 strong fire and emergency services workforce – their efforts to strengthen the resilience of local communities, and support all Australians affected by natural disasters and other emergencies. Natural disasters do not respect state and territory borders. The Australian Government, through the Attorney-General’s Department, supports coordinated action across Australia’s 31 emergency service agencies, and provides additional support when requested by the states and territories. This publication offers a valuable glimpse into the daily work of our emergency services personnel, who are working together to improve the nation’s safety through their national industry council, the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC).
The Honourable Michael Keenan MP Minister for Justice
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Fire and emergency services – a ‘Fourth Arm of Defence’ Charles Bean, the Gallipoli war historian wrote the following comparisons of soldiers and those who combatted Australian bushfires. Subsequently firefighters and civil defence workers have been referred to as a ‘Fourth Arm of Defence’ for the nation.
“Fighting bushfires more than any other human experience, resembles the fighting of a pitched battle.” - Story of Anzac by C. E. W. Bean
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Image Source: David Geraghty/Newspix
Acknowledging the Fourth Arm of Defence
Safety from natural disasters and other emergencies for our local communities and their people is in the hands of 31 fire and emergency service agencies, working within and across our states and territories every day. Comprising 288,000 staff nationally (34,000 paid and 254,000 volunteer personnel) from urban, rural, state emergency service, land management agencies and airport fire services, our workforce is three times the size of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). This publication provides a brief insight into what fire and emergency services contribute to our country. It gives us a glimpse of the ethos and commitment of the men and women who profoundly impact our safety, protecting communities, saving lives, helping people, every day, everywhere.
The ADF’s mission is to defend Australia and its national interests, primarily focused on addressing these offshore. Fire and emergency services are tasked with safety onshore, from natural disasters and other emergencies within our urban, rural and remote communities and protecting our environment. As a former Australian serviceman, having served overseas on active duty in Somalia and subsequently specialising within emergency management, I understand the significant contribution these sectors make delivering public safety. In this Centenary of Anzac commemorative period, we salute the work of the ADF and look forward to continued collaboration, especially during those times that we work side-by-side in disaster recovery. Fire and emergency services are the responsibility of states and territories. The 31 member agencies come together as a national council (with New Zealand) known as AFAC – the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council. Through the lens of this national council, it becomes clear this capability is formidable, committed and highly proficient, albeit not well recognised as a national capability. I trust this publication better acknowledges what our people do every day.
Stuart Ellis AM CEO AFAC
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“I was alerted to the necessity of organisation, calm, discipline, trained personnel and proper equipment if such a fire is to be fought effectively and if anything is to be salvaged under such conditions.� - Sophus Falck - 1923
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Origins of Fire and Emergency Services The origins of urban fire services are insurance companies seeking to protect the assets they have insured, while in rural areas fire and emergency services have grown from the notion of assisting your neighbour and volunteerism. Despite the differing origins, all are connected by their core priority of protecting lives in times of need. The importance of banding together during times of crisis assists grass roots efforts to better prepare local communities and this has grown into national strategies promoting resilience. Australia has had urban and some rural capabilities since the 19th century, with the historically more centralised urban services and the more localised rural services. In rural areas, local government has provided significant support and this remains the case today. What has changed over the last 50 years is that most volunteer fire and emergency services are now organised on a state basis. Until the 1980’s, the focus of fire and emergency services was on response capability. Since that time, increasing research and effort has been on developing mitigation to reduce the risk and impact of natural disasters and informing communities so they can better prepare and make informed decisions.
Sophus Falck was a Danish pioneer in the area of firefighting and rescue services. His company later evolved into one of the world’s biggest private emergency services corporations.
Early capabilities were limited, with decommissioned military equipment and vehicles often used in rural areas. However, today’s training, vehicles, equipment and personal protection are world class, providing communities with the best possible capability and protection. Now all states and territories have well organised, equipped and trained urban and rural fire services, emergency services (SES) and environmental agencies. All land management agencies have staff dedicated to fire management, both mitigation and fuel reduction activities and fire response. AFAC was formed in 1993, bringing together urban and rural fire associations. This included land management agencies with responsibilities for fire on public land. In the subsequent 21 years AFAC has welcomed SES and now supports an industry that engages 288,000 volunteers and staff. The fire and emergency services industry collectively expends over $4bn annually protecting local communities. In addition, there is a very significant volunteer contribution. National capabilities have been nurtured and promoted by AFAC including professional training and development, aerial firefighting and research. While services are delivered through 31 agencies, considered as a national capability, fire and emergency services are well trained, equipped and organised in order to protect communities every day from natural disasters and other emergencies.
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Guiding Principles and Setting Direction The strategic priorities, values and aspirations of the emergency services sector are articulated in its national strategic directions framework, Strategic Directions for Fire and Emergency Services 2014-2016. The document was prepared by AFAC, supported by the AustraliaNew Zealand Emergency Management Committee and endorsed by the former Standing Council on Police and Emergency Management. The strategy communicates four National Principles and five Strategic Directions to shape and strengthen the industry now and in the future.
National Principles • Primacy of life • Trust • Interoperability • Accountability
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“With Australian Government, State and Territory Government, ANZEMC and member agency support, AFAC for the first time has been able to clearly communicate its priorities and what it values. We now have four National Principles and five Strategic Directions to help further shape and strengthen our industry.” _ Commissioner Greg Mullins, President of AFAC
The Directions • Supporting resilient communities through risk reduction: Once policy, planning decisions, construction options, compliance requirements and individual choice have all contributed to community resilience, fire and emergency services need to focus on preparedness and risk reduction, while remaining responsible for response to any residual risk, should an emergency still occur. • Providing trusted response: When individuals dial 000/132 500, they are experiencing a major crisis and are seeking support, reassurance and practical help in a hurry. All responses need to be trusted by the community and a service that can be relied upon. • A source of credible and timely information: Concurrently with response, fire and emergency services are also committed to providing credible and timely information to enable individuals to make appropriate and informed decisions.
• Informed by research: Research can reinforce current practice, explore and challenge new approaches, as well as provide evidence and options to do things better and differently.
STRATEGIC
DIRECTION
S
FOR FIRE AN D IN AUSTRAL EMERGENCY SERVIC IA AND NEW ES ZEAL AND
2014 - 2016
• Effective governance and resource management: Fire and emergency services have a national workforce of near 300,000 and a total national budget exceeding $4bn, which does not account for volunteer contributions. Governance and resource management must be of a high standard.
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National Capabilities Delivered Across 31 Agencies The fire and emergency services sector continues to undergo significant change. Traditionally, the focus was on reacting to emergencies. Today, the priorities are working proactively and collaboratively to minimise risk; developing and delivering response capabilities; and providing effective relief and recovery services. More than ever before, fire and emergency services are planning and responding within an ‘all agency, all hazard environment, all the time’.
Risk mitigation services
Mitigation activities School visits and community engagement activities such as fitting smoke alarms and bushfire education are largely organised on a local basis. They occur across the country every week and amount to 1,000s of engagements annually across Australia.
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• Providing warnings, notification and advice • Helping individuals and communities make informed decisions • Conducting strategic and landscape based risk assessments • Providing local government with bushfire and flood planning development advice • Planning and delivering fuel reduction and bushfire mitigation programs • Reinforcing community resilience • Where legislated, inspecting mitigation and safety measures • Supporting local volunteerism • Educating children about fire and natural hazards • Developing and supporting young people
“First priority of governments is protecting communities...” - The Hon. Tony Abbott MP, August 2014
Response capabilities
Learning and development
Extensive response capabilities exist in the following areas: • Incident management using AIIMS* • Firefighting • Road accident and vertical rescue • Land search and rescue • Urban search and rescue • Severe weather and cyclone response • Hazardous Materials (HazMat) including decontamination services • Consequence management • Aerial support and aviation management • Structural fire response • Emergency medical response • Flood, inundation and swift water rescue
Fire and emergency services deliver over 100,000 training places a year, through 25 Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).
Relief and recovery services Increasingly, fire and emergency services are being called to assist with consequence management that includes: • Aviation support • Relocation of community members • Advice on rebuilds to local government
*Australasian Interservice Incident Management SystemTM
Infrastructure Over 4,000 fire stations, unit buildings and command centres operate across Australia.
Firefighting vehicles Nearly 13,000 firefighting vehicles operate across Australia including: Rural tankers Vehicles for combatting hazardous materials Urban pumpers Aviation firefighting vehicles Aerial appliances Firefighting boats
9,170 2,270 1,200 160 90 50
Flood and storm vehicles Over 13,000 flood and storm vehicles operate across Australia including: Storm damage vehicles High clearance vehicles Boats
9,650 2,850 1,040
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Image Source: News Ltd
Information and Response Fire and emergency services provide two key services: Information and Response The information services are provided to: • inform communities of the risks they face and how they can mitigate these. This occurs well before natural disasters. • critical information is provided when the threat is imminent through a broad range of electronic and social media, telephone alert services and direct contact with communities. Adjacent is an example of the ‘information capability’ provided by a single emergency service during one campaign fire.
Critical response capabilities are relied upon every day, providing emergency response to communities and individuals. Adjacent is the annual and daily demand for a range of response services provided by fire and emergency services.
Information During the Blue Mountains fire from 17-26 October 2013, NSW Rural Fire Service provided the following information to the public: Emergency Alert ‘campaigns’ 418,247 messages (the message service to individual telephones)
NSW RFS Website
5.7 million visitors 14.1 million page views
NSW RFS Facebook
108.4 million impressions
NSW RFS Twitter
24.2 million impressions
‘Fire near me’ app
219,000 searches per hour at peak
Emergency responses on any day around Australia Number of overall responses
Average Average per year* per day 717,994
1,968
344,758
944
Number of structure fire responses
46,614
128
Number of rescue responses
14,300
40
Number of HazMat responses
5,942
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Number of rural fire responses
*This is an extract from the AIRS national database drawn from the last three financial years extrapolated to reflect the level of delivery across all agencies.
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Cooperation, Commitment and Comradery Close to 300,000 paid staff and volunteers work in fire and emergency services across Australia Workforce: Percentage of total workforce by segment National Urban Rural SES Land Management
2% 11% 75% 8% 4%
300,000
400,000
Workforce Comparison: 102,000 288,000 0
100,000
200,000 Total Personnel
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Australian Defence Force (regular, active and standby reserves) Fire and Emergency Services (paid and volunteer)
“Fire and emergency workers are special people. They are prepared to miss birthdays and other personal celebrations. They put themselves out for others. They help other people and at times, are in danger in the process.” – Partner of a volunteer
Fire and emergency crews are highly effective operational teams that can deploy for a diverse range of services because of their leadership, team work and operational capabilities:
With these capabilities, firefighters and emergency workers increasingly provide assistance with emergency medical response, facilitating crisis care until ambulance support arrives.
Interpersonal skills • Have established command and control procedures • Operate effectively in a small team environment • Their presence and training often de-escalates a situation • Have knowledge and understanding of how to assist vulnerable people in communities
Belonging to an emergency service provides:
Operational skills • Often arrive first at the scene of an emergency • Are effective at gaining emergency entry when required • Have personal communications equipment • Have the required capability to lift, move and relocate • Are first aid trained, often in the use of specialist equipment • Conduct dynamic risk assessments and deal with immediate threats or potential harm • Are trained to provide effective handovers to other emergency crews
• Multiple skills that are nationally recognised • Strong sense of community belonging • Leadership training • Comradery • Organisational management • A strong sense of teamwork
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On any day around Australia...
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Strengthening Capability and Enhancing Performance National research capability and utilisation The capability and performance of fire and emergency services is enhanced by working closely with the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre, CSIRO, the Bureau of Meterology and other research organisations. Research and evidence is used to strengthen capability and decision making.
Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) The Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC is providing a long-term research base that directly supports the fire and emergency services as they work to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters. The research program is largely end-user driven. This means that the fire and emergency service agencies, government departments and non-government organisations, including AFAC, have a significant role in the ongoing development and delivery of the research program. The research is based around three broad themes which span the priorities for those working in a multi-hazard environment. The themes are: • Economics, policy and decision-making • Resilient people, infrastructure and institutions • Bushfire and natural hazard risks The utilisation of the research to benefit the broader Australian community is critical to the whole process. This is one of the key drivers of the research capability that is building a more disaster resilient Australia.
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National aerial capability Working with aerial firefighters enhances performance on the ground for fire and emergency services.
National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) Now in its 11th year NAFC remains a highly effective vehicle for joint Australian Government and state/territory operations supporting local communities through increased aviation support. The Australian Government provides nearly $15m per annum for the standing costs and positioning of the national fleet. Through NAFC, over 100 aircraft services are contracted annually to provide increased protection to communities in every state and territory. These vary from large air cranes or Helitaks (like Elvis) to smaller, fixed wing, single engine ‘fire-spotters’. States and territories engage a further 700 aircraft over summer to provide additional capability delivering fire retardant and suppressant, air attack supervision, intelligence gathering and crew and cargo transport.
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Improving Performance, Building Trust As an industry, emergency service agencies look inward and outward for knowledge, resources and insight to improve operational performance, build capability and deliver improved public safety outcomes. The emergency services sector is analysing ‘what does operational success look like’ against a range of criteria. This is often dependent on who is asking the question. For 98% of the time, communities consider fire and emergency services are very successful. During major natural disasters however, shortcomings have been recognised. To date four critical success factors have been identified:* • Readiness: having the resources and capability that can be deployed when required • Compliance: Meeting frameworks and requirements specified under state and territory policy and legislation • Trust and confidence: maintaining community reassurance during times of fear and uncertainty • Integrated emergency management: agencies working seamlessly towards common objectives
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*AFAC Discussion Paper 2014 ‘What is Operational Success for Fire and Emergency Services’, 2014
“...I know I am standing on the shoulders of giants...”
- Anna Bligh former Premier, Queensland,
Media conference QLD floods, February 2011
Firefighters and other emergency services workers are consistently rated the most trusted professionals. In the annual Readers Digest poll in 2013, the top place is shared jointly between firefighters and paramedics. Firefighters, in the words of one poll participant from Queensland, are worthy of our trust because, “Anyone running into a burning building when everybody else is running out deserves your full trust.” 1. Firefighters and paramedics 3. Rescue volunteers 4. Nurses 5. Pilots
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The following agencies contribute to a truly formidable emergency management national capability everyday and are all members of AFAC • ACT Emergency Services Agency • ACT Parks and Conservation Service • ACT State Emergency Service • Airservices Australia • Attorney-General’s Department (Emergency Management Australia) • Bushfires NT • Country Fire Authority, VIC • Department of Environment and Primary Industries, VIC • Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, SA • Department of Fire and Emergency Services, WA • Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing - Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services • Department of Parks and Wildlife, WA • Fire & Rescue NSW • Forestry Corporation of NSW • ForestrySA • Forestry Tasmania
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New Zealand Fire Service is a member of AFAC but has not been included in this Australian publication.
• Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board, Melbourne • Northern Territory Emergency Service • Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service • NSW Rural Fire Service • NSW State Emergency Service • Office of Environment and Heritage, NSW • Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania • Parks Victoria • Queensland Fire and Emergency Services • South Australian Country Fire Service • South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service • South Australian State Emergency Service • Tasmania Fire Service • Tasmania State Emergency Service • Victoria State Emergency Service
Level 1, 340 Albert Street, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3002 T +61 3 9419 2388 | F +61 3 9419 2389 | E afac@afac.com.au
www.afac.com.au
Professionals in risk and emergency management