State Fire Commission
State Fire Protection Plan
Effective Date: / 21 December 2009Approval Authority: / State Fire Commission
Review Date: / 21 December 2010
Table of Contents-
Section 1:Overview
Glossary
Introduction
Section 2: Governance and Management...... 8
Legislative Environment...... 8
Section 3: Emergency Management Arrangements
Fire Risk...... 9
Section 4: Plan Administration
Plan Contact
Review Requirements and Issue History
Distribution List
Consultation for this Issue
Communications Plan Summary
Validation of this Plan
Section 5: Appendices
Section 1:Overview
Glossary
AIIMS – The Australasian Inter-service Incident Management System.
CISM - Critical Incident Stress Management
Command – The internal direction of an organisations resources in an emergency. (Tasmanian Emergency Management Plan Issue 6)
Community Fire Refuges - A place for public use where people may seek short term shelter from the fire front during a bush fire
Community Warnings – Warnings to the community advising of a fire or other emergency.
Emergency Alert(EA)- A national telephone-based emergency warning system is being implemented this summer to warn the public in the event of major emergencies, including serious bushfires.
Standard Emergency Warning Signal (SEWS) - The Standard Emergency Warning Signal is a siren played for a few seconds at the beginning of a critical emergency warning message on radio or television, to warn the public in the event of major emergencies, including serious bushfires.
Control – The overall direction and management of response/recovery activities for an emergency. The authority for control can be established in legislation or in an emergency plan and includes tasking and coordinating other organisations resources to meet the needs of the situation. (Tasmanian Emergency Management Plan Issue 6)
Coordination – The systematic acquisition and application of resources during response/recovery. Coordination can operate vertically within an organisation as a function of command as well as horizontally across an organisation as a function of control. (Tasmanian Emergency Management Plan Issue 6)
FDI – Fire Danger Index. A relative number denoting an evaluation of rate of spread, or suppression difficulty for specific combinations of temperature,
Glossary - Continued
FDR – Fire Danger Rating. A relative class denoting an evaluation of rate of spread, or suppression difficulty for specific combinations of temperature, relative humidity, drought effects and wind speed. Rated as low/moderate, high, very high, severe, extreme or catastrophic indicating the relative evaluation of fire danger. (AFAC Knowledge Web)
relative humidity, drought effects and wind speed. The numbers range from 1 to in excess of 100.
Hot Day Response – Enhanced response to vegetation fires on days where the FDI is forecast to be in excess of 24, normally a two brigade response.
ICC – Incident Control Centre, where the IMT is based.
ICS - Incident Control System
IMT – Incident Management Team, established where the nature of an incident is likely to exceed the incident management capacity of the local brigade and/or resources.
JFLIP - Juvenile Fire Lighter Intervention Program
Level 1 incident – Incidents involving a single brigade that have a limited duration (TFS SOP ICS – Incident Control System [Incident Management]).
Level 2 incident – Incidents involving two or more brigades with a duration of up to eight hours (TFS SOP ICS – Incident Control System [Incident Management]).
Level 3 incident – Incidents involving multiple brigades, groups or agencies or any major incident with a duration of more than eight hours (TFS SOP ICS – Incident Control System [Incident Management]).
MAC Group – Multi-Agency Coordination Group comprised of senior representatives of TFS, Forestry Tasmania and Parks and Wildlife Service.
Neighborhood Safer Place – Is a location where people facing immediate threat to their personal safety or property can gather and seek shelter from a bush fire
Preparedness – the results of measures to ensure, if an emergency occurs, that communities, resources and services are capable of responding to, and coping with, the effects.
Prevention – the results of measures taken in advance of an emergency aimed at decreasing or eliminating its impact on the community and the environment.
Recovery – the results of strategies and services to return agencies to a state of preparedness after emergency situations, and the results of strategies and services to support affected individuals and communities in their reconstruction of physical infrastructure and their restoration of emotional, social economic, and physical wellbeing.
Response – the results of strategies and services to control, limit or modify the emergency to reduce its consequences.
Preparedness – the results of measures to ensure, if an emergency occurs, that communities, resources and services are capable of responding to, and coping with, the effects.
Prevention – the results of measures taken in advance of an emergency aimed at decreasing or eliminating its impact on the community and the environment.
Response – the results of strategies and services to control, limit or modify the emergency to reduce its consequences.
TasPol – Tasmania Police
TFS – Tasmania Fire Service
Introduction
Tasmania has a number of different fire risks that are managed and or mitigated by a range of strategies. In this Plan each of the fire risks are treated using various strategies which are grouped in accordance with the Prevention, Preparedness, Response, Recovery emergency management model.
The main undertakings of the State Fire Commission, put into effect by the TFS, are:
- to provide an effective emergency response; and
- To assist the community to reduce the incidence and impact of unwanted fires and to empower people to act safely when fire threatens.
The TFS undertakes emergency response through its career brigades in Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie and an additional 224 volunteer brigades throughout the State. Receipt of emergency calls and dispatch of brigades are centrally managed by FireComm which is located in Hobart. Training is provided to both career and volunteer firefighters, enabling them to be safe and effective members of TFS. Training is delivered both on-station, in local venues and at TFS’ hot-fire training facilities at Cambridge, Launceston and Burnie.
The other major role of TFS is to assist the community to reduce the incidence and impact of unwanted fires, and to empower people to act safely when fire threatens. TFS pursues these goals through publicity, training and education programs, through the sale and maintenance of fire protection equipment, and through monitoring and administering the application of fire safety legislation, codes and standards.
Authority
The State Fire Protection Plan (SFPP) has been developed pursuant to Section 8(1)(d) of the Fire Service Act1979 (the Act) to ensure effective fire prevention and protection measures are provided throughout Tasmania.
These measures shall be implemented by TFS, established under Section 6 of the Act.
Aim
In implementing this plan, TFS shall focus on the protection of life, property and the environment from fire by developing appropriate fire prevention, preparedness, response and recovery strategies.
Objectives
The objectives of the SFPP are to:
- Outline the TFSfire risks.
- Outline the TFS arrangements for prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.
Scope and Application
This plan sets the framework for effective fire prevention and protection measures that are the responsibility of the TFS as required under the Act.
Context Statement
The Commission’s primary purpose is to minimise the social, economic and environmental impact of fire on the Tasmanian community. This will be achieved through TFS implementing strategies to develop community self reliance to prevent and prepare for fires, supported by a timely and effective response to emergencies.
The TFS is also responsible for road accident rescue in assigned areas, managing incidents involving hazardous materials, undertaking urban search and rescue (USAR), and providing a response to terrorist incidents involving chemical, biological and radiological agents.
Version 2 - Approved by the State Fire Commission on 21 Dec 09Page 1 of 16
Section 2: Governance and Management
Legislative Environment
The State FireCommission is a statutory authority created by the Act. The TFS is the operational arm of the Commission, delivering services to the community through career and volunteer brigades and Community Fire Safety.
The functions of the Commission are:
a)to formulate the policy in respect of the administration and operation of the Fire Service;
b)to coordinate and direct the development of all fire services throughout the State;
c)to develop effective fire prevention and protection measures throughout the State;
d)to develop and promulgate a State Fire Protection Plan;
e)to standardise, as far as is practicable, fire brigade equipment throughout the State;
f)to establish and maintain training facilities for brigades;
g)to conduct such investigations into fires as it considers necessary, and to prepare reports and recommendations to the Minister arising from those investigations;
h)to conduct such investigations into the use of fire as it considers necessary, to instruct the public in the wise use of fire, and to disseminate information regarding fire protection measures and other related matters;
i)to advise the Minister on such matters relating to the administration of this Act as may be referred to it by the Minister, and on matters that, in the opinion of the Commission, should be brought to the attention of the Minister; and
j)to exercise such other functions vested in or imposed on it by this Act or such other functions relating to the preventing or extinguishing of fires as may be imposed on it by the Minister from time to time.
Section 3: Emergency Management Arrangements
Bushfires
South-eastern Australia, including Tasmania, experiences some of the most intense bushfires on the planet. The combination of flammable vegetation with dry, windy weather often results in high intensity bushfires that threaten lives, property and the environment over broad areas.
The people that leave in or near bushland are at most risk from bushfires. Geographical and climatic influences cause south-eastern Tasmania to be particularly vulnerable.
The Parks and Wildlife Service is responsible for responding to and managing fires occurring in Tasmania’s national parks and reserves. Forestry Tasmania is responsible for responding to and managing fires occurring on Forestry property. TFS is generally responsible for fires on privately held land. TFS, Forestry Tasmania and the Parks and Wildlife cooperate and share resources.
Bushfire Risk
Prevention Strategies DescriptionFire Permit System / Fire permits assist in preventing fires through the imposition of conditions that enable fires to be lit safely. The Fire Permit Period is generally declared based on local government areas when significant potential exists for damaging fires to occur.
Total Fire Ban / A Total Fire Ban is the ultimate community warning of very high to extreme bushfire danger, prohibiting the use of fire outdoors.
Fire Weather Warnings / The Bureau of Meteorology issues Fire Weather Warnings when forecast weather parameters exceed prescribed thresholds creating very high fire danger to discourage inappropriate fire lighting activity. These notifications are disseminated at Very High FDR 38 and above.
Fire Management Plans / Assist land managers to develop and implement Fire Management Plans. Fire Management Area Committees are required to prepare Fire Protection Plans.
Preparedness Strategies
Establishment of Brigades / Establish and maintain a network of brigades located to facilitate rapid response to bushfires.
Internal Training / Ensure brigades receive appropriate training in bushfire fighting tactics, safe work practices and emergency management.
Maintenance of Appliances / Provide and maintain appropriately designed and equipped firefighting appliances.
Communication and Paging Networks / Develop and maintain the capacity to communicate with brigades to facilitate dispatch and emergency management.
Interagency Protocols / Develop protocols with emergency services and land management agencies to maximise the effectiveness and efficiency of services and resources for fire fighting. Refer Memorandums of understanding(MoU) with TasPol, MAC and Gunns
Community awareness / Distribute appropriate information and material to people at risk to ensure they are prepared for and able to respond appropriately to bushfires. This includes identifying and promoting “community fire refuges and neighborhood safer places.”
School Fire Education Program / A formal program delivered by firefighters in all primary schools to teach children about how to prevent fires and live safely with fire.
External Training / Offer to land managers and local government training courses that prepare people to defend property from bushfire.
Development Planning / Provide local government with advice on safe building and development practices in bushfire prone areas.
Mitigation works / Take action to mitigate potential fire hazards by ensuring a defendable space. Work with local government to ensure effective fire hazard abatement.
Response Strategies
Firefighting / Dispatch brigades to respond to fires, this includes “Hot day response” procedures.
Use the Australian Interagency Incident Management System (AIIMS) Incident Control System to manage incidents.
Liaise and cooperate with emergency services and land managers to ensure fires are managed effectively using the collective resources of agencies.
Develop and maintain Remote Area Teams to control fires in remote areas of Tasmania
Community alerts / Use appropriate resources including TFS website, pamphlets and electronic media to encourage an appropriate community response. This includes the use of SEWS and EA in warnings to communities that maybe threatened.
Aerial Capacity / Maintain a capability and formal arrangements with aircraft operators to use aircraft for reconnaissance, aerial fire attack and rapid deployment to remote fires.
Recovery
Restoration / Facilitate access to fire affected areas to service providers seeking to restore essential services.
Rehabilitation Plans / Restore the environment to an extent reasonably possible where TFS has impacted the area during operations.
Post Fire Support / Provide appropriate information to members of the community negatively impacted by fire.
Fire Investigation / Conduct investigations into fire to establish the cause and identify trends to inform the development of strategy or policy.
Critical Incident Stress Management / Adopt and promote CISM systems, when appropriate, to help members deal with traumatic experiences.
Operational Analysis / Analyse operations following fire incidents in order to improve operational response.
Domestic Residential Fires
With its cooler climate, older population and lower average household income, Tasmania experiences the highest accidental house fire rate and the highest fire fatality rate of any Australian jurisdiction. Almost all fire fatalities in Tasmania occur in dwellings.
People most at risk include the elderly, the very young, people with disabilities and people affected by medication, illicit drugs and alcohol. People living in low income households are particularly vulnerable to fires in the home.
Domestic Residential Risk
Prevention StrategiesCommunity Education / Deliver programs to teach vulnerable people, including the young, elderly, disabled and people in low income households how to prevent fires in the home.
Juvenile Fire Lighter Intervention Program / Implement programs, including JFLIP, to minimise inappropriate fire lighting behavior amongst children.
Liaison with TasPol / Collaborate with Tasmania Police to reduce the incidence of arson in the community. Refer TasPol MoU
Preparedness Strategies
Establishment of Brigades / Establish and maintain a network of brigades located to facilitate rapid response to fires.
Internal Training / Ensure brigades receive appropriate training in fire fighting tactics, safe work practices and emergency management.
Maintenance of Appliances / Provide and maintain appropriately designed and equipped firefighting appliances. Develop and maintain a whole of fleet maintenance and replacement program
Communication and Paging Networks / Develop and maintain the capacity to communicate with brigades to facilitate dispatch and emergency management.
Community awareness / Distribute appropriate information and material to people at risk to ensure they are prepared for and able to respond appropriately to fires.
School Fire Education Program / A program delivered by firefighters in all primary schools to teach children about how to prevent fires and live safely with fire.
Project Wake Up! / A program aimed to improve fire safety in the homes of people with disabilities and the aged through free home fire safety checks and the installation of free smoke alarms when necessary.
Promotion of Smoke alarms / Promote the installation and maintenance of smoke alarms in residential property.
Response Strategies
Firefighting / Dispatch brigades to respond to fires.
Use the Australian Interagency Incident Management System (AIIMS) Incident Control System to manage incidents.
Recovery
Restoration / Facilitate access to fire affected areas to service providers seeking to restore essential services.
Post Fire Support / Provide appropriate information to members of the community negatively impacted by fire.
Fire Investigation / Conduct investigations into fire to establish the cause and identify trends to inform the development of strategy or policy.
Critical Incident Stress Management / Adopt and promote CISM systems, when appropriate, to help members deal with traumatic experiences.
Operational Analysis / Analyse operations following fire incidents in order to improve operational response.
Public Utilities/Business/Industry Fires
Fires occur from time to time in industrial and non-industrial buildings other than dwellings, threatening lives, property, commerce and the environment.
The focus for fire prevention and protection measures is on buildings that present higher risk to life from fires, including schools, medical facilities and nursing homes, and residential parts of hotels, and those that threaten key infrastructure.
Public Utilities/ Business Industry Risk
Prevention StrategiesRegulations/ Codes/ Standards / Seek to influence the development of improved regulations, codes and standards focusing on fire prevention.
External Training / Offer training and provide information in a variety of formats to workplaces on how to prevent fires.
Preparedness Strategies
Establishment of Brigades / Establish and maintain a network of brigades located to facilitate rapid response to fires.
Internal Training / Ensure brigades receive appropriate training in fire fighting tactics, safe work practices and emergency management.
Maintenance of Appliances / Provide and maintain appropriately designed and equipped firefighting appliances.
Communication and Paging Networks / Develop and maintain the capacity to communicate with brigades to facilitate dispatch and emergency management.
Interagency Protocols / Develop protocols with emergency services and land management agencies to ensure that sufficient resources are available for fire fighting.
Community awareness / Distribute appropriate information and material to people at risk to ensure they are prepared for and able to respond appropriately to fires.
External Training / Offer training and provide information in a variety of formats on how to respond appropriately to fires in the workplace.
Promotion of Evacuation Plans / Ensure owners and occupiers of specified buildings have evacuation plans and an appropriate means of escape.
Pre-incident planning / Establish pre incident plans for all alarmed and sprinkledbuildings andprovide fire protection planning for major events.
Fire Protection Systems / Ensure owners and occupiers of prescribed buildings meet equipment standards and maintain required fire protection equipment.
TasFire Equipment / Ensure that equipment maintenance services are available in areas not serviced by private providers.
Response Strategies
Firefighting / Dispatch brigades to respond to fires.
Interagency Coordination / Liaise with emergency services and land management agencies to ensure fires are managed effectively using the collective resources of agencies.
External Training / Provide appropriate training to workplace emergency response teams to ensure that people respond safely and effectively to fire.
Recovery
Restoration / Facilitate access to fire affected areas to service providers seeking to restore essential services.
Post Fire Support / Provide appropriate information to members of the community negatively impacted by fire.
Fire Investigation / Conduct investigations into fire to establish the cause and identify trends to inform the development of strategy or policy.
Critical Incident Stress Management / Adopt CISM systems, when appropriate, to help members deal with traumatic experiences.
Operational Analysis / Analyse operations following fire incidents in order to improve operational response.
Other fires / TFS will provide the resources necessary to effectively respond to all other fires.
Other fires