Rural Fire Bulletin JUNE 2018 - IN THIS ISSUE: June 2018 Edition
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Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
Rural Fire Service
Rural Fire Bulletin JUNE 2018
IN THIS ISSUE:
- 2018 RFS Volunteer Summit
- GC2018 Commonwealth Games Wrap Up
- Predictive Services
CONTENTS: Toowong Hands and Hearts Fair
Toowong Hands and Hearts 02 On 21 October 2017, Tony Thomson Rural Fire Service
Fair Volunteer Community Educator of the Mungar Yerra Rural
Assistant Commissioner’s 03 Fire Brigade delivered a Prepare Act Survive presentation
Message to members of the deaf community at the Toowong Hands
and Heart Fair.
GIS 04
Volunteering Queensland 06 The fair organisers have expressed their gratitude and
Youth Volunteering Award appreciate and look forward to including the Rural Fire
Service in the 2018 fair.
Broncos Queensland Heroes 07
ANZAC Day in Maryborough 08
Rural Fire Brigade Manual 10
Gladstone Brigade 11
Workshop
Esther McInnes - still 12
protecting the Curra
Community
ate of Appreciatio
RFS 2018 Volunteer Summit 14
r t i fi c
Ce n
RFS Fleet to Receive Life- 21
Saving Technology
P3 Mask Update 22
Caboolture Area Medal 23 Queensland Rural Fire Service
presented to ___________________________________________________
Presentation and Appliance on behalf of Toowong Hands and Hearts Fair
State S
Handover executive committee 2017 ow
ong ch
o
To
ol
Working Together to Benefit 24 Toowong
S TAT E S C H O O L
the Community P & C A S S O C I AT I O N Toowong State School, 37 St Osyth Steet, Toowong QLD 4066
Conflict of Interest 25
GC2018 Wrap Up 26
Stakeholder Engagement in 28
Wandoan
Bushfire Brigade Trucks in 29
the 80s
Predictive Services 30
Caloundra Area Fire Officer 32
Forum
No Smoke, No Fire 33
Cool Bushfire Risk Mitigation
Strategies in SWR
Central Region VCE 24
Workshop - Planning the
Future in a Cave
•••2
Assistant
Commissioner’s
Message
Volunteer Summit 2018 Operation Cool Burn
The weekend of May 25 – 27 saw approximately Operation Cool Burn 2018 commenced in early
200 volunteers, staff and Rural Fire Brigade April and will be the main operational focus for
Association Queensland (RFBAQ) representatives the Rural Fire Service (RFS) over the coming winter
attend the 2018 Volunteer Summit at Twin Waters. months. This is an important period for RFS and
I was pleased to have the opportunity to connect we must be at the forefront of preparing for the
with volunteers from around the state as we upcoming fire season on behalf of Queensland
delved into stakeholder engagement. The event Fire and Emergency Services (QFES). The Office
was a huge success and I’d like to congratulate of Bushfire Mitigation has been working with
and thank the staff behind the scenes at State Brigades and Areas to facilitate this process and
Office who delivered another rewarding event. will continue to provide support and assistance
throughout Cool Burn.
RFS Week 2018
We recently celebrated another RFS Week. Finally, I would like to thank Gary McCormack
Congratulations to a large number of our volunteers and Tony Johnstone for their work at State Office
who received both Diligent and Ethical Services during my extended leave. Their support and hard
claps and plaques, and Queensland Fire and work is an invaluable asset to the RFS.
Emergency Services Medals and claps during the
week. RFS Week is an opportunity for the broader Tom Dawson
QFES and Queensland communities to recognise Assistant Commissioner
and thank the dedicated volunteers of the RFS. On Rural Fire Service
behalf of everyone at QFES I would like to once
again thank you for your commitment and support.
3•••
GIS
The Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Unit would like to thank all the Rural Fire Service (RFS)
volunteers and staff who stopped by our information table and said hello at the Volunteer Summit in May.
We always enjoy attending the Summit to let people know that we are here and working hard to provide
them with maps and technology to make their work easier. For those of you who were not able to attend the
summit, we would like to remind you of some of the services and support we can offer to brigades.
• The GIS Unit creates Rural Fire Brigade and Fire Warden maps for distribution in paper format.
If the age of your maps is more than 12 months and your operational area is experiencing
development, you can contact your Area Office to request a new version. We receive updated road
and property information every quarter so maps can quickly become outdated.
• Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
(QFES) endorses several mapping
applications to supplement the hard copy
maps available to each brigade. QFES has
purchased licenses of the OziExplorer
mapping software for each brigade. The
GIS Team can supply topographic maps in
electronic format for use as basemaps in
OziExplorer. OziExplorer is a great tool for
viewing data that has been collected using
a Global Positioning System (GPS) such as:
-- resources such as dams, gates, fence
lines, tracks, etc
-- operational activities such as
backburns, fire scars, sectors, and
command locations
-- location information such as local road
and property names.
• Avenza is a mapping application that allows users to load maps in PDF format onto a mobile device
and then capture location using the portable devices inbuilt GPS. Avenza can be purchased for Apple
IOS and Android and costs are born by the brigade. The advantage of Avenza over OziExplorer is that
Avenza can be used offline on a portable device and OziExplorer is only available on a laptop or PC.
•••4
• QTopo is the Queensland Governments platform for delivering a range of topographic map products
via the website http://qtopo.dnrm.qld.gov.au. The public can access standard 1:25,000, 1:50,000
and 1:100,000 scale topographic map sheets or create a printable map of a custom area. These
maps are maintained by the Department of Natural Resources and include property boundaries, lot
numbers and property names. QTopo is a handy tool for finding an address or coordinates on the
map. QTopo maps can be loaded into Avenza.
For more information about any of the mapping
resources mentioned above, please contact your
Area Office.
Addie Zannes
Senior GIS Analyst
Public Safety Business Agency
5•••
Youth Volunteering Award The 2018 Queensland Volunteering Awards Presentation Ceremony was held on Friday 25 May at Brisbane City Hall, coinciding with National Volunteer Week. These prestigious awards acknowledge the value and vital contribution of volunteering to communities across Queensland. Brittany Lea-Hewson, Crew Leader of the Black Mountain Rural Fire Brigade (RFB) and Brigade Training and Support Officer (BTSO) at the Caloundra Area Office was the recipient of the Youth Volunteering Award. Brittany’s motivation, determination and drive to the volunteer service and community is shown by her detail and commitment to the delivery of training and advice to both rural volunteer firefighters and the community in relation to property preparedness and hazard mitigation. Brittany has taken a lead role in the role out of the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) NEXUS project to 300 Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteers within the Caloundra Area. She organised and delivered NEXUS end user training on 36 separate occasions to volunteers. This ensured that volunteers within the area had multiple opportunities to learn and receive direction about the new system. By her actions Brittany has ensured that volunteers are now better educated and informed and are ready to access and utilise NEXUS. Her commitment to this project and volunteering within her community is outstanding. Ken Stockton Area Training and Support Officer Caloundra Area Office Rural Fire Service •••6
BRONCOS QUEENSLAND HEROES
Each year, NRMA Insurance and the Brisbane
Broncos join together in the NRMA Insurance
Broncos Queensland Heroes community initiative, a
program that acknowledges the role of community
members in Queensland that have gone above and
beyond to help their communities.
In April, Troy Harris of the Boreen Point Rural Fire
Brigade was the selected recipient of this honour.
Troy is a dedicated Second Officer of his brigade
who participates not just at the brigade level but
is also involved in with the Noosa Rural Fire Group
and Rural Fire Service (RFS) Caloundra Area Office.
Unfortunately, Troy has recently been diagnosed
with a brain tumour. The tumour is located around
an optic nerve, which is threatening Troy’s eyesight.
Neurosurgery is now the best course of action, the
costs of which the family is unprepared for. Troy’s
family and friends have banded together to start a
Go Fund Me page to help raise funds towards the
surgery:
https://www.gofundme.com/treatmentfortroy.
Local fundraising events are also underway in the
Cooroy area, with updates being posted on the Troy
Harris Appeal facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/thetroyharrisappeal/.
It’s amazing to see the community giving back to a
volunteer who has supported them and needs their
help in his time of trouble.
7•••
ANZAC Day in Maryborough •••8
9•••
Rural Fire Brigade Manual
With each edition of the Bulletin we provide you with a summary of changes
made to the Rural Fire Brigade Manual (RFBM) and any new, updated or
deleted Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Policies and
Procedures, State Standing Orders and Operations Doctrine.
An updated full version of the RFBM can be downloaded from the Volunteer
Portal. We recommend brigades download the updated version each quarter
onto their brigade manual USB. This is the best way to ensure you always
have the most current version. Any urgent changes made to procedures and
forms are noted on the Volunteer Portal home page and RFBM page.
Minor Changes:
• D5.2 - Appliances
• D5.6 – Command / Support Vehicles
Forms:
• CSO 068 – Community Education Orders
• CSO 075 – Out of Pocket Expenses – Volunteer Reimbursement
• OBM 130 – Volunteer ID Card Request
• OBM 132 – Rural Fire Brigade Three-Year Plan
• OBM 135 – Notification of Conflict of Interest
• OBM 138 – Appliance Modification Assessment (NEW)
• OM 139 – Volunteer Uniform Order
QFES Policy and Procedures:
• Policy 3.11 - Personal Achievement and Development
• Policy 3.12 - Management of Complaints
• Policy 3.13 - Workforce Conduct
• Policy 3.14 - Personal Use of Social Media
• Policy 3.15 - Recruitment and Selection
• Procedure PR 1002.1.0 – Conflict of Interest
• Procedure PR 3025.1.0 - Personal Achievement and Development Plan
• Procedure PR 3026.1.1 - Management of Complaints about Staff,
Volunteers and Contractors
• Procedure PR 3027.1.0 - Public Interest Disclosure
• Procedure PR3028.1.0 - Recruitment and Selection
• Procedure PR 3034.1.0 - Customer Complaints
• Procedure PR 3040.1.0 - Job Evaluation
Standing Orders:
• SO-Q-OM-3.69 Operation Paratus 2018
• SO-Q-OM-3.71 Operation Cool Burn 2018
• • • 10Gladstone Brigade Workshop
Over 100 volunteers and staff from across Central can support brigades and volunteers on the fire
Region descended on the Gladstone Exhibition ground. Acting Area Training and Support Officer
and Convention Centre for the annual Brigade (ATSO) Shane Hopton also gave a presentation on
Executive Workshop. Volunteers were treated to the Jigija course which he had recently completed.
presentations from Deputy Commissioner (DC)
Mike Wassing, DC Doug Smith and Acting Regional The day also included numerous medal presentations
Manager Craig Magick to name a few. This year with the National Medal and Queensland Fire and
the theme was ‘Moving Brigades into the Future’ Emergency Services’ medals being presented to a
and the presentation from DC Smith showed what number of volunteers.
information technology systems are out there and Wartburg Rural Fire Brigade were also lucky enough to
what could be used in the future. This included be handed keys to their new Light Attack Ford Ranger.
how brigades where notified of incidents and how
they responded. The day was enjoyed by all and a massive thank you
to all who attended and congratulations to all who
Acting Inspector Mark Saunders also provided were involved in organising the day.
a presentation on future appliances and gave
information on what was included in the current Daniel Sandeman
build, and potential future builds. Inspector Acting Brigade Training and Support Officer
Andrew Sturgess from the Predictive Services Gladstone Area
Unit (PSU) gave in-depth insight on how the PSU Rural Fire Service
A bridge ATC on display New Wartburg 41 Appliance
11 • • •Esther McInnes… still protecting the Curra Community We go through life meeting so many different people and in 2006 I was fortunate enough to meet Esther McInnes, and like many family and friends she left an impression that I will treasure. She had just come back to the station after a hazard reduction burn, covered head to toe in soot, but with the biggest welcoming smile on her face. This smile and her down to earth manner were her trademarks within the Curra Community and the Curra Rural Fire Brigade (RFB). When you consider the fact that Esther was already fighting cancer at this time yet she could be so enthusiastic about life and everyone around her. A dedication ceremony was held on 7 April 2018 to honour Esther by naming the Curra RFB 51 appliance after her. Guests travelled from Cairns, Airlie Beach, Caboolture, Brisbane, Wondai, Murgon and Maryborough to help commemorate the occasion. They included Esther’s mother Anne Eliza McInnes, brothers, sisters, cousins and nephew; Lawrence Laing who is the Regional Manager, Far North Region Rural Fire Service(RFS). RFS was represented locally by Peter Hollier, Regional Manager North Coast Region and Ross Stacy, Acting Area Director, Maryborough as well as friends and Curra RFB members past and present. Guests were asked to write things about Esther up on the blackboard. Awesome, Brave, Courageous, Integrity, Ethical, Friendly, Helpful, and Accepting • • • 12
were just a few of the many quite often the driver of
things listed. These traits were the brigade 51 appliance at
evident all throughout her fight Hazard Reduction Burns and
with cancer, which she sadly Incidents. Her professionalism
lost in 2012. and knowledge was evident
when she was on the job, as
Third in a family of eight was her willingness to help
children, Esther moved new members to the brigade.
from New Zealand (NZ) with Always willing to give her time
partner Don Simons in the and efforts to the community,
mid 90’s,setting up house in never expecting recognition or
Curra soon after their arrival. anything in return, she was an
She and Don shared a love of exceptional human being.
flying, both were pilots and
ran a flying school in NZ before The members of our brigade
moving to Australia. are proud to be driving around
our community in ‘The Esther
She joined the Curra brigade McInnes’, helping Curra and
in August 1999, holding officer areas beyond just as Esther did
and treasurer positions until in the past and will do so into
shortly before her death. the future.
Esther’s sister Mary said that
“she fought fires alongside Julie Anderson
cancer for eight years”. Secretary Curra Rural Fire Brigade
As the holder of a Medium
Rigid (MR) licence she was
13 • • •Rural Fire Service
2018
Volunteer Summit
Twin Waters
25th - 27th May
The weekend 25 - 27 May 2018 saw 160 Volunteers • Mark Smith, First Officer of the Doonan
and Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland Rural Fire Brigade (RFB) who reflected on
(RFBAQ) representatives gather at Twin Waters on the Coolum Wildfires; and
the Sunshine Coast for the 2018 Rural Fire Service • Bevan Love of the Ormeau RFB who spoke
(RFS) Volunteer Summit. Held every two years, on how volunteering matters.
the summit is an opportunity for volunteers to
engage with fellow volunteers, Queensland Fire The round-table format of the event provided an
and Emergency Services (QFES) staff and invited opportunity for open table discussion on each
guests. topic. In addition to the key note speakers, the
tables were split into three streams to view a
This year the summit focused on Stakeholder range of additional presentations. Each group
Engagement, with volunteers hearing from a participated in:
number of key stakeholders, reflecting on who
• Building our Knowledge Generation
our stakeholders are, the importance of building
local and state wide relationships and how we • Jarlo Jargu Boma (Striking Fire to Ground)
work in partnership to better support Queensland • Community Spontaneous Volunteers,
communities. where do they fit into the Queensland
disaster management arrangements?
Several Key not sessions were delivered to the
• Volunteers and Local Government, Working
full group of attendees across the event including
Together
addresses from:
• Managing Fire After the Storm
• The honourable Craig Crawford, Minister
for Fire and Emergency Services • Area Fire Management Groups -
Empowering Land Managers
• Katarina Carroll, Commissioner QFES who
spoke on QFES Stakeholder Engagement • Social Media - Making it Work for your
Brigade and Community.
• Mike Wassing, Deputy Commissioner
Emergency Management, Volunteerism Attendees received copies of the presentations
and Community Resilience QFES who on a USB, however they are also available on
spoke on Volunteers, Volunteerism and the Volunteer Portal. Should you have trouble
Volunteering and Growing QFES together. downloading the PDFs please contact
• Doug Smith, Deputy Commissioner and ruralfire.servicequeensland@qfes.qld.gov.au
Chief Strategy Officer Capability and
With 2018 marking ten years since the RFS started
Performance Division QFES who addressed
hosting the Volunteer Summits, it was great to see
QFES Governance
such a successful event come together. The next
• Tom Dawson, Assistant Commissioner RFS Volunteer Summit is scheduled for 2020, so keep
• Ian Pike, President of the RFBAQ an eye out in late 2019 for your chance to nominate
to attend.
• • • 1415 • • •
“The opportunity
with other volunt
concept of the ro
was brilliant”
Nellie Baron
Charters Towers R
brigad
r ac ting with
“ In te ers has
lu n te e r memb
vo
e”
a w e s om
ultman
Lucile B
RF B
T inaroo
“Presentations
were informat
I took a lot ou ive.
t of it ”
Kerrie Dar rach
Westowe RF B
Mr
The Honourable Craig Crawford, Minister
for Fire and Emergency Services
• • • 16y to interact
teers and the
otating streams
RFB
de and
s b e en
Concept Vehicles on display
rigades
d e n t R u ral Fire B
e, Presi Inc.
r Ian Pik n Q ueensland Meg Lowe, Director
Asso c ia t io Knowledge Hub QF
presenting on Build ES
ing our Knowledge
Generation
17 • • •Deputy Com
“A brighter un Mike W
derstanding of
whole State an the
d RFS”
Jansen Bowen
Hopevale RF B
)
m (CAFS
d A ir F o am Syste
e
Compress ation Deputy Commissioner
demonstr
Doug Smith
• • • 18mmit to
o m m e n d the Su
“ I rec age:
lun te e r of any
any vo
Donalds
Ellen Mc
r y RF B
Woodbu
mmissioner
Wassing MCs Tim Chittenden and
Christine Murdoch Assis
tant
Com
Tom mi
Daw ssioner
son
Carroll
oner Katarina Presenter Brad Gard
Commissi ner
from QFES Media
19 • • •“Thought Provoking”
Bill Hitchener
Barrine RFB
James Haig and Tom Dawson with
presenters David Nalder and Dave Kington
from National Parks Queensland
Everyo
ne!
Presenter Bevan Love of
e.
the Ormeau Rural Fire Brigad
• • • 20RFS FLEET TO RECEIVE LIFE-SAVING TECHNOLOGY
On Saturday 26 May, at the 2018 Volunteer
Summit, The Honourable Craig Crawford, Minister
for Fire and Emergency Services announced that
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) will
be installed on all new Rural Fire Service (RFS)
appliances from 1 July 2018.
Commissioner Katarina Carroll then went on to
announce that in addition, Queensland Fire and
Emergency Services (QFES) will begin the process
of retrofitting AEDs to selected RFS appliances
where a brigade does not already posses an AED.
Mr Crawford said the life-saving technology would
be fitted as part of a QFES capital funding program.
“This initiative will result in about 50 new RFS
vehicles being fitted with AEDs each year, at an
annual cost of about $132,000,” Mr Crawford said.
“There will be programs in place to train staff in first
aid and maintenance of the equipment,” he said.
“The device will greatly enhance the safety of not
only QFES staff and volunteers, but also members
of the public. This is yet another example of how
QFES prioritises the safety of its workforce and
the community it services.”
Commissioner Carroll said there were more than
120 RFS vehicles across the state already fitted
with AEDs.
“For many years AEDs have been installed in
various brigades’ RFS trucks through grants,
additional funding and community group funding
including the Red Cross and Rotary Australia,” The
Commissioner said.
“The AEDs will equip those on the front line
protecting Queensland communities for the
long-term future, particularly brigades in remote
areas where medical assistance could be some
distance away.
“While they may never have to use it, it’s reassuring
for staff and volunteers to know they have the
equipment on hand to save a life,” she said.
21 • • •P3 FACE MASK UPDATE
An initial feasibility trial of an optional piece • The provision of adequate and appropriate
of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for hygiene facilities for the maintenance and
Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteers, known as cleaning of masks across Queensland.
the P3 Negative Pressure Full Face mask was
completed in July 2017. The trial was coordinated There is also recent guidance from the Australasian
through RFS but with significant support from Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) (AFAC) regarding working in smoke and protection
Special Operations who provided the accredited for firefighters which will assist this analysis. The
expertise covering facial-fit testing, breathing most effective protection is prevention and people
apparatus use (donning and doffing the P3 working on a fireground should make every effort
mask), training and assessment as well as skill to perform their duties from a safe area, up wind
development in the management of the “Toxirae; and out of the smoke wherever possible.
Carbon Monoxide detector”. It is important to note that RFS believes all
As an outcome of this trial, we have identified firefighters need protection from dust and smoke
several further issues that require investigation and recommends that respiratory protection be
and analysis to understand the impact to our fitted before entering a situation where dust
organisation as part of an implementation or smoke could be inhaled, such as an active
process for this type of device. These items relate fireground. P2 Respiratory Masks are designed
to the different requirements for use of P3 masks for this purpose. The masks currently provided
versus P2 masks and necessities under the by RFS meet the guidance in Australian Standard
relevant Australian Standard and include; AS/NZ1715 – Selection, use and maintenance of
respiratory protection equipment.
• Requirements for medical assessment of
wearers The outcomes and findings of the initial
• Additional work/fatigue load associated trial are currently being analysed by the RFS
with negative pressure masks Operational Capability Unit with a final report
• Effective, efficient and hygienic options for and recommendations due to be provided to the
hydration during use Assistant Commissioner, RFS in early July 2018.
During this time, the brigades that participated
• Facial hair management process for users
in the trial continue to be supported by RFS while
• Implementation and resourcing of an the evaluation and analysis work in conducted.
ongoing facial fit assessment program
• Training and skills maintenance of wearers For information or advice, please contact RFS
Operational Capability Unit at
• Suitability and effectiveness of carbon
RFS.OperationalCapability@qfes.qld.gov.au
monoxide detectors and alternative
options
• • • 22Caboolture Area
Medal Presentation and Appliance Handover
On Saturday 10 February 2018, Samford Rural Fire
Brigade (RFB) hosted the Caboolture Area medal
presentations and an official appliance handover to
Brookfield RFB at the Samford Station.
Member for Pine Rivers Nikki Boyd represented the
Minister for Fire and Emergency Services, the Hon.
Craig Crawford at the awards and presented 22
volunteers from Samford, Pumicestone, Toorbul,
and Rocksberg-Moorina Rural Fire Brigades and
Area Fire Wardens with the National Medal and
clasps, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
(QFES) Medal and clasps and associated Diligent
and Ethical Service clasps in recognition of their
dedicated and diligent service to their community Roger Daly from Pumicestone RFB received his QFES Medal
and surrounding districts.
Don Greenhalgh from the Samford RFB was
awarded a National Medal Third Clasp, representing
45 years of service. Congratulations Don.
The ceremony also included the official handover
of a new Mitsubishi Fuso medium attack appliance,
valued at $185,400 to the Brookfield RFB. This
appliance replaces an older vehicle as part of the
Rural Fire Service annual allocation.
Debra Brittingham
Administration Officer
Brisbane Region
Rural Fire Service
First Officer of Samford Rural Fire Brigade Alan Wells
receiving his DESM First Clasp
Samford Rural Fire Brigade Medal Recipients Proud moment for Don Greenhalgh, Member for Pine Rivers
Nikki Boyd presenting the National Medal Third Clasp
23 • • •WORKING TOGETHER TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY
In March 2018 the Thuringowa
Central Rotary Club invited
Round Mound Rural Fire
Brigade (RFB) to give a
presentation on brigade
growth and what volunteers
encounter on the fire ground.
As a thank you for their
presentation and in support
of the brigade Lynne and Bob
Bartlett from Thuringowa Central
Rotary Club later presented
Round Mountain RFB with a
new defibrillator for use in the
Round Mountain area. Rural Fire
Service Area Director Michael
Thompson and Townsville
City Council Councillor Mark
Molachino attended the
defibrillator presentation in
support of the community.
Wayne Gibson
Secretary Round Mountain Rural
Fire Brigade
Above (Left to Right): Councillor Mark Molachino, Rural Fire Service Area Director
Michael Thompson, Round Mountain RFB Member Glen Bird, Thuringowa Central
Rotary Club Representatives Lynne and Bob Bartlett, and First Officer Ian Hemerik.
Below: Presentation by Lynne and Bob Bartlett of the Thuringowa Central Rotary Club
to Round Mountain Rural Fire Brigade Members.
• • • 24Conflict of Interest
It is a requirement of the Queensland Audit Office for Queensland
Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) to record and report on all
Conflicts of Interest.
Accordingly, QFES has developed a new State-wide Conflict
of Interest Register, which will be managed by the Workplace
Conduct Branch. The Conflict of Interest Policy, Procedure and
Notification Form have also been reviewed and updated to reflect
these changes.
It is the responsibility of the QFES workforce (paid and volunteer)
to disclose all conflicts of interest and the responsibility of
Managers/Supervisors to determine whether a conflict of interest
exists, the specific nature of the conflict and how it will be
managed, including undertaking periodical reviews.
Conflicts of interest are not wrong in themselves, providing they
are managed correctly and in accordance with the QFES Conflict
of Interest Policy.
A conflict of interest may arise from a range of factors including,
but not limited to:
• Personal relationships which could include:
-- Family relationships (including spouse, de facto,
children, siblings, cousins, relations by marriage,
parents or other close relatives);
-- Emotional relationships (including sexual relationships
and friendships);
-- Financial relationships (including commercial
relationships where pecuniary interest is present)
• personal beliefs or opinions;
• disparity between public service ethics and professional
codes of ethics;
• employment outside QFES;
• previous employment history;
• membership of special interest groups; or
• employee ownership of shares, companies, or property.
The Policy and Procedure are available for download on the
Volunteer Portal. If you believe you may have a possible Conflict
of Interest please discuss this with your Brigade Management
Committee or Area Director.
For any further information or assistance, contact the Workforce
Liaison Unit via email QFES.WLU@qfes.qld.gov.au.
25 • • •GC2018 Wrap Up
The 2018 Commonwealth Games were held in April on the Gold Coast and our RFS volunteers were an integral
part of its success. 105 RFS members from South Eastern and Brisbane Regions supported Operation Paratus
over 11 days of competition. They worked alongside SES and Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) colleagues to fill a
range of roles and provide support to a number of GC2018 events.
Event Coordination Centre and Staging Area
RFS members worked alongside SES and Fire and
Rescue in the Operation Paratus Event Coordination
Centre and Staging Area, using their AIIMS skills
and experience to assist with the coordination of all
QFES resources deployed to GC2018.
Waterways
A dedicated waterways capability was established
and managed by local SES teams and included
the RFS Wasp Creek vessel ‘the Sea Wasp’. The
Waterways Operation provided QFES with an
alternative transport option to move crews and
resources around the Gold Coast during Games
time. As the traffic turned out to be very light, GC2018 Cycling Events
the Waterways team took the opportunity to train The GC2018 road cycling events were held in
together and maintain their skills out on the water! Currumbin and saw over 140 QFES volunteers
deployed to the Time Trial on Tuesday and over
Air Operations 170 to the Road Race on Saturday. Teams were
spread along more than 30km of the field of play
The Operation Paratus Air Operations gave QFES performing their role as Event Safety Observers
the capability to deploy crews and equipment into and were able to celebrate the event with local
isolated locations or areas inaccessible due to residents. A Flyer Team (made up of RFS, SES
traffic congestion. Crews were made up of USAR and FRS appliances) was strategically located
firefighters and QFES volunteers from SES and RFS in ‘landlocked’ communities as a first response
providing aviation support. capability to support the Currumbin community.
• • • 26GC2018 Mountain Bikes GC2018 events, ensuring they were briefed,
provided equipment and fed at the start and end
The GC2018 Mountain Bike race was a great of some very longs days.
spectator event, and QFES volunteers had front
row seats to all the activity. 18 RFS members
provided assistance to GOLDOC Security and Key statistics
Sports teams, as Event Safety Observers in • Total QFES volunteer deployed: 439
the trails in the Nerang National Park. 18 SES • Volunteer hours: 11,000hrs
members were also onsite to provide crucial • 13 roles
medical support to the Games medical teams,
• 13 areas of operation
assisting with injured athletes and spectators.
Two RFS crews and appliances were strategically • 4 GC2018 events supported
located up in the trails to respond to any fire
incidents in the Nerang National Park. Ayla Curtis
Project Manager
Volunteering and Emergency Management
GC2018 Marathon Commonwealth Games Office
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
Sunday 15 April was the last day of the event
and also the largest volunteer day, with over 270
volunteers deployed into the field in the various
roles. The biggest contingent was at the Marathon
event, where 220 SES and RFS volunteers supported
GOLDOC and the QPS to maintain the integrity of the
field of play. Positioned along the course, our teams
had front row seats to this exciting competition,
watching Aussies Kurt Fearnley and Madison de
Rozario take home the T54 marathon gold medals!
Mobilisation Centres
Teams of RFS and SES members ran the 4
volunteer mobilisation centres located around
the Gold Coast and Brisbane. They did an
amazing job of supporting our crews at the
27 • • •Stakeholder Engagement in Wandoan
Wandoan is a small town located in the Western Moving forward, the Wandoan Stakeholders
Downs Region of Queensland, situated about group now have plans in place to meet again
halfway between Taroom and Miles. It is before the start of the 2018/2019 fire season
the centre for the local agricultural industry to discuss capability and response strategies.
traditionally based around wheat, sorghum and This area is continuously growing and so will the
cattle. Over several years the area has expanded stakeholders group, with the introduction of more
and become home to the energy sector including coal mines and solar farms on the horizon. Staff
many gas mines, coal mines, and solar farms. are continuing to work with the community and
This industry is ever expanding and increasing the local rural fire brigades, fire wardens and other
population and infrastructure in the area. stakeholders to support the changing environment
and mitigate fire risk.
In late 2017 staff from the Darling Downs Area
Office recognised this area as a priority for Katie Mann
mitigation activities. Staff in the Darling Downs Acting Area Training and Support Officer
Dalby office began reaching out to and building Darling Downs Area, Dalby
relationships with local stakeholders within the Rural Fire Service
area, including:
• local landowners/occupiers,
• emergency management and land care
teams from the various Gas companies in
the area such as Origin, Queensland Gas
Company and Glencore,
• Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service,
• Western Downs Regional Council,
• local Police and
• other Agencies such as Department of Stakeholders engaged in conversation with RFS staff.
Transport and Main Roads, Powerlink and
SunWater.
Four short months later, the Darling Downs
Area Office held the first of many ‘Wandoan
Stakeholder Meetings’. The inaugural meeting
was a great success with huge interest from all
stakeholders. Local Rural Fire Brigades and staff
from the Darling Downs and Gladstone Rural Fire
Service areas came together at the Wandoan
Cultural Centre to discuss capability, response
and mitigation strategies for the surrounding
areas leading into Operation Coolburn 2018.
The Wandoan Information Centre
• • • 28Bushfire Brigade Trucks in the 80s
Do you remember the ‘early’ days of the Bushfire
Brigades with hessian bags and beaters? You
may remember the ‘pride of the fleet’ in 1980, the
International Truck 4x4. Our fleet has certainly
changed since.
Volunteers of Yuleba Creek Rural Fire Brigade, a
Primary Producer Brigade have done an amazing
job keeping history alive and preserving a fully
operational fire truck for their own firefighting
purpose on private property. Some local
engineering skills added modifications onto this
truck to make it more efficient for firefighting
operations in this local landscape.
The truck is still a solid workhorse on this local
property and going strong.
Goetz Graf
Area Director Roma
Rural Fire Service
29 • • •PREDICTIVE SERVICES
Part of our commitment in the Predictive Services
Unit (PSU) is to continue to improve our products
and services. There are a number of drivers for
this approach including developments in the
scientific community that underpin our systems,
relationships with other agencies, such as the
Department of Environment and Science (DES)
that provide access to data of higher resolution
and/or increased production frequency, and most
importantly the individuals determination to
better support decision makers from our frontline
volunteers to the executive leadership.
We have recently developed several new products
and services including;
1. An online Snap report. The purpose of these
reports is to provide rapid essential information
to crews prior, to a more comprehensive
prediction being provided once the location of
the fire and more information about the overall
situation is available. To date these reports
have been “pushed’ via email by the PSU. They
are now available to anyone that has a log in to
SABRE. These online reports can be customised
by the user with the tool able to be set to the
locality, fuel type/load, slope and also includes
a choice between hazard reduction burn (HRB)
or wildfire guidance.
2. Daily state wide Prescribed burning guidance
now uses the most appropriate fire spread
model for the fuel type to create a range of
products. The guidance also includes a Relative
Humidity, peak wind speed, Drought Factor and
curing map. These are downloaded three times
per day from the Bureau of Meteorology.
3. Another area we have made significant
improvement in is our grass fuel map. This
data underpins our fire behaviour tools in
this vegetation type. Grasslands are the most
widespread vegetation type in Queensland
and for all of Australia. The new map uses
the AussieGRASS model and then modifies
the load to account for patchiness using the
fractional cover product from the Remote
Sensing specialist team at DES. This is a
seasonal product that will provide significant
improvement in our prediction tools.
Andrew Sturgess
Manager Predictive Services Unit
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
• • • 30Above: Grass Fuel Load Map
Left: Fire Behaviour Overview
Left: Six Days Hazard Reduction
Burn Guidance
31 • • •Caloundra Area First Officer Forum The Caloundra Area First Officer Forum was held at Surf Air Marcoola on Sunday 29 April 2018. The annual event was well attended by many brigades in the area. The Caloundra Area staff held a range of information sessions along with the regional staff including Regional Manager Peter Hollier and the Bushfire Safety Officers. Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland (RFBAQ) president and First Officer of the Federal Rural Fire Brigaded, Ian Pike also presented to the group. The forum was a great opportunity to promote networking between brigades and assisting in the provision of new and important information to brigades. Forums such as these assist in encouraging everyone getting the same message in an open forum that promotes discussion and questions. Nigel Terrell Acting Brigade Training and Support Officer Caloundra Area Rural Fire Service • • • 32
NO SMOKE, NO FIRE
Cool Bushfire Risk Mitigation Strategies in SWR
If you travel south west into the Roma area, you will
find cattle grazing along the Warrego or Carnarvon
Highway and may wonder what is going on.
Bushfire risk mitigation strategies under ‘Operation
Coolburn’ can have different applications. It is not
all about burning vegetation.
There are approximately 8,500 head of cattle in
various mobs munching vegetation along the
highway in strategic places between Mitchell, Roma
and Injune. Members of the bovine brigade do an
amazing job, happily and quietly grazing along the
road and reducing the fuel load and bushfire risk in
the most holistic land management aspect. What
a great way to reduce bushfire risk, maintain bio
diversity, reduce weeds and improve the pasture
with natural fertilizer. In this case: No fire, no
smoke.
This is a great way to see communities and
stakeholders collaboratively working together and
helping each other, especially in areas which are
still impacted by drought, as every blade of grass
is still valuable fodder. Some of the cattle have
travelled from as far as Riverina in New South
Wales (NSW).
Other bushfire risk mitigation strategies applied by
stakeholders such as the Department of Transport
and Main Roads (DTMR) and local Council is also
bailing of hay or slashing along the roadside, before
hazard reduction burns are conducted.
Goetz Graf
Area Director Roma
Rural Fire Service
33 • • •Central Region VCE Workshop
Planning the Future in a Cave
The 9 – 11 March 2018 saw a group of The highlight of the weekend was a night time
enthusiastic Volunteer Community Educators tour of the Cathedral Cave. The tour took the
(VCEs) and staff from across Central Region participants out of their comfort zone as they
meet at the Capricorn Caves, a beautiful location encountered various obstacles and challenges.
near Rockhampton for a weekend workshop. Every single participant made it through and
The contingent also included some State all were challenged by some aspect of the tour.
Emergency Service (SES) VCEs and staff. The This activity built bonds and forged friendships.
aim of this workshop was to equip and empower
the regional VCEs to conduct community The weekend was a great success with
engagement activities and risk identification. approximately 70% of the Central Region VCEs
attending. I would like to thank the VCE Area
There were two days of challenging activities Coordinators for their willingness to be so
planned. Activities included a public speaking involved in the planning and running of the
workshop conducted by Toastmasters, a workshop. Thank you also to all the volunteers
session on how to organise and conduct public and staff who invested a weekend to attend this
meetings, a risk identification session and a workshop and make it such a great event.
highly entertaining door knocking scenario.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Fiona Quirk
Media provided a very informative session Acting Bushfire Safety Officer, North Coast Region
and there was also opportunity to workshop Rural Fire Service
various barriers and roadblocks that VCEs have
encountered, as well as a leadership discussion.
• • • 3435 • • •
AREA OFFICE CONTACTS
OFFICE PHONE FAX EMAIL
Far Northern Region
Cairns Area Office (07) 4232 5468 RFSQ.Cairns@qfes.qld.gov.au
Innisfail Area Office (07) 4061 0650 (07) 4061 0651 RFSQ.Innisfail@qfes.qld.gov.au
Northern Region
Charters Towers Area Office (07) 4761 5130 (07) 4787 4708 RFSQ.ChartersTowers@qfes.qld.gov.au
Townsville Area Office (07) 4769 9082 (07) 4799 7184 RFSQ.Townsville@qfes.qld.gov.au
Central Region
Barcaldine Area Office (07) 4651 1190 (07) 4651 1803 RFSQ.Barcaldine@qfes.qld.gov.au
Emerald Area Office (07) 4983 7580 (07) 4983 7585 RFSQ.Emerald@qfes.qld.gov.au
Gladstone Area Office (07) 4899 2200 (07) 4972 0704 RFSQ.Gladstone@qfes.qld.gov.au
Mackay Area Office (07) 4965 6641 (07) 4965 6640 RFSQ.Mackay@qfes.qld.gov.au
Rockhampton Area Office (07) 4938 4736 (07) 4922 2768 RFSQ.Rockhampton@qfes.qld.gov.au
North Coast Region
Bundaberg Area Office (07) 4153 3244 (07) 4151 2166 RFSQ.Bundaberg@qfes.qld.gov.au
Burnett Area Office (07) 4172 8700 RFSQ.Burnett@qfes.qld.gov.au
Caloundra Area Office (07) 5420 7517 (07) 5420 7521 RFSQ.Caloundra@qfes.qld.gov.au
Maryborough Area Office (07) 4190 4839 (07) 4190 4853 RFSQ.Maryborough@qfes.qld.gov.au
South West Region
Roma Area Office (07) 4622 2074 (07) 4622 1451 RFSQ.Roma@qfes.qld.gov.au
Darling Downs Area Office (07) 4616 1945 (07) 4616 1939 RFSQ.DarlingDowns@qfes.qld.gov.au
South East Region
South Coast Area Office (07) 5587 4101 (07) 5559 0696 RFSQ.SouthCoast@qfes.qld.gov.au
West Moreton Area Office (07) 3294 4944 (07) 3294 4933 RFSQ.WestMoreton@qfes.qld.gov.au
Brisbane Region
Caboolture Area Office (07) 5420 3733 (07) 5432 3863 RFSQ.Caboolture@qfes.qld.gov.au
Rural Fire Service
GPO Box 1425, Brisbane QLD 4001
Web: www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au
Email: ruralfire.servicequeensland@qfes.qld.gov.auYou can also read
