New Temporary Station Closed Policy

[JAFO]

Hi all,

Well most will not be aware of the NSW Fire Brigades new Temporary Station Closure Policy that has just been introduced.

Up till now, under the minimal Safe Crewing Policy the Brigade had to maintain a minimum safe crewing level of 4 Firefighters for each and every Station Pump in the State, working Standbys with either Permanent or Retained Firefighters to keep 4 Firefighter available to turn out on each and every station pump/s across that State, this included 2nd Call - Bravo Pumps.

What has happen now with the New Award, is that the Brigade has identified to the IRC 130 odd Retained Stations or 2nd Call Pumps that could be Temporary Closed / Taken Off-line with another Neighbouring Station to cover that Stations area for emergency calls.

Now if you look at Bathurst with 2 Stations, that means that if 105 Kelso Fire Station was only able to have 3 Retained FFs available for a day, then 105 Station will be Temporary Closed / Taken Off-line with 216 Bathurst covering 105’s area, possibility with the 3 Kelso Retained FFs responding to 216 Station to man 216 Tanker.

The problem we have with this move, is if a foreseeable need was seen to establish a Station for increases fire protection, then if it can be proven that these identified 130 odd Retained Stations can be Temporary Closed / Taken Off-line and covered by a Neighbouring Station, then the Brigade can also argue the Permanent Closures of these 130 odd Stations if it can be proven that Neighbouring Station can cover those Temporary Closed / Taken Off-line station with no reduced level of service.

Well these are the Stations that their PUMPS will be taken off-line under the New Temporary Station Closure Policy.

Basically, if 4 Retained Firefighters are not available to staff the station Pump, the Pump will be taken Off-Line by the Fire Comm Operator, but Station Pagers will still be activated but any crew members who turn up will not be allowed to respond in the Station Appliance unless they have a crew of 4 on the appliance.

Statewide

All Bravo pumpers

Sydney

48 Mortdale
79 Ingleburn
66 Rhodes
72 Merrylands
83 Riverstone

Newcastle/Central Coast

231 Boolaroo
252 Carrington
357 Lambton
376 Merewether
404 New Lambton
484 Wallsend
460 The Entrance

Illawarra
210 Balgownie
258 Coledale
269 Corrimal
461 Thirroul

Lower Hunter

202 Abermain *
220 Bellbird
344 Kearsley
349 Kurri Kurri *
382 Morpeth
455 Telarah
497 Weston *

Note: A safe and effective minimum crew of four firefighters must be maintained at no less than one of the three stations marked with an asterix (*) at all times.

Other areas

361 Leura
514 Tweed River
284 Delroy
206 Albury North
209 Albury Civic
480 Wagga Wagga
239 Broken Hill South
508 West Tamworth
105 Kelso
307 South Grafton
364 Lithgow West

Note: Adjoining fire stations, or a Bravo pumper and fire station in the same fire district, must not be taken off line at the same time.

[col05_au]

Grant,

thanks for the info, however a quick question?

So as you have not listed then, could I assume the Blue Mountains stations 301, 445, 359, 495, 226, 386.

Are unaffected by this change ?

If this is the case what happens when these stations cannot field a crew of 4?

Col

[JAFO]

Grant,

thanks for the info, however a quick question?

So as you have not listed then, could I assume the Blue Mountains stations 301, 445, 359, 495, 226, 386.

Are unaffected by this change ?

If this is the case what happens when these stations cannot field a crew of 4?

Col

Col,

With regards to 301, 445, 359, 495, 226, 386 stn's, firefighters (Permanent or Retained) will still have to be re-called to maintain a minum crew of 4 at those stations.

[col05_au]

Thanks Grant,

the reason I ask is I have seen a couple of times where a least one of these stations has turned a pump out with a crew of less than 4

I guess you can't pre plan everything....

Col

[JAFO]

Col,

Retained Brigades are allowed to turn-out with a minim of 2 Retained Members on a Pump, providing that they know another 2 Retained members are available and will attend the same call in their private vehicles. For Crew safety the 2 Retained Members on the Pump are not permitted to commit to Search & Rescue or defensive firefighting tactics, so basically footpath firefighting only.

As most would understand, turning out with only 2 firefighters on any pump is not a practise that the Department or the Union would prefer when crew safety is taken into consideration and affect ness of the crew to protect the general public.

[system_tech]

Hi, perhaps a tale from a while ago (just before rescue accreditation) but I experienced a retained pumper turn out 1 up and attended a head on collsion requiring protracted rescue.

You would think the only fire appliance at such a job would set up some sort of fire protection (minor fuel spillage involved), but no, the only firefighter on scene started doing rescue! Hmmmmm.

Local RFS finally arrived and set up fire protection, totally flabagasted by the performance of the "the" NSWFB member.

Official complaints from a number of attending agencies including the 2 units tasked with rescue by Police, NSWFB was dispatched for fire protection not rescue.

[JAFO]

For those interested, this Policy has now been extended to "All Station's", both Permanent & Retained and the Temporary Closure of Permanent Staffed Station's has been in operation since Early December 2012.