Weekly Media Report

• 28 January 2011

Kris Perkovic
Media & Marketing Coordinator
CFA Northern & Western Metropolitan Region

Out of the Ashes - screening ABC1 13 Feb 2011

The upcoming screening of a TV documentary "Out of the Ashes" on the recovery of nature following the Black Saturday bushfires is on ABC 1 at 7:30 pm, Sunday 13/2/11.

Trailer:

Minutes - General Meeting - 6th December 2010

Minutes of last general meeting: 6th December 2010. Also available in the "Brigade Documents" page.

Thanks very much to Sue for producing them.

Geoff

Local burn-off laws

Michael has been provided a copy of the Nillumbik Shire Council - Local Laws No. 5 which includes local laws relating to burn-offs.  Refer to pages 13-14.

This document is also linked from the "Operations" tab above.

BoM Seasonal Outlook - January 2011

The BoM's quarterly seasonal outlook for February to April 2011 was issued Wednesday 19th January. Headlines for our area (if you wish to believe them):

• Rainfall: drier than average conditions: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/rain.seaus.shtml
• Temperature: warmer daytime and night-time temperatures: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/temp.seaus.shtml

 Click on the links for more details.

Home Bushfire Advice Service

Letter from Lisa Sturzenegger re CFA's Home Bushfire Advice Service.

Flood updates

• VICSES Flood Event - State Situation Report # 24
• VICSES State Flood Controllers Intent Statement- 24 to 28 January 2011

MO for ST1422

Here is the movement order for ST 1422D1

Cheers

Geoff McGill
Operations Officer
OIC Point Cook Fire Brigade
Wyndham Catchment officer
District 14 Melton

IMPORTANT SAFETY UPDATE - Safety Fact Sheet (Fatigue) - from State Control Centre - 23 Jan 2011 @ 1640 hrs

The State Control Centre (SCC) on behalf of the State Controller Flood will shall be issuing Safety Updates on behalf of all agencies, to all agencies for distribution to members involved in the current Victorian Flood Operations. If your agency wishes to attach specific agency protocols or SOPs, please attach them to this safety update and distribute to your members as required.

• Fatigue – Emergency Response Activities

Deployment of ST 1422 east

Please be aware we have had a request to deploy another ST to Kerang to aid in flood support.

Clean up activities,

The deployment is for 4 days beginning tomorrow morning. Monday to Thursday inclusive.

As is now normal practice we can have blocks of 2 days to spread the load amongst our members.

Accommodation will be at Huntly and it is a fair drive to that location from Kerang, it would be wise to include a second driver among the crews being dispatched.

In regard to safety, it would be a good idea to advise members to bring along some appropriate headwear and eye protection (UV exposure)

I am sure a specific briefing will take place prior to dispatch and on arrival at Kerang.

Could you all please make the necessary arrangements to brief the respective 1422 on duty Fire Brigades.

I will soon page out this information and request activation for tomorrow morning via VicFire.

Any concerns

Geoff McGill
Operations Officer
OIC Point Cook Fire Brigade
Wyndham Catchment officer
District 14 Melton

VicSES Flood Event State Situation Report No 22 0600 23 January 2011

• VICSES State Sitrep 22

Another request has been received from the SCC at 0845 this morning.

The SCC is requesting that the ST 1421D2 be extended for another 4 days.

Can all group personnel please get back to me with some detail about supplying relief crews tonight for deployment tonight via bus.

Another question, do we send up a fresh st such 1422 and give 1421 a break?
If all groups could decide on the approach you would like to take please advise.

Many thanks,

Geoff McGill
Operations Officer
OIC Point Cook Fire Brigade
Wyndham Catchment officer
District 14 Melton

SMEACS - Fire Agency Recovery Support

FYI and dissemination as necessary.

• SMEACS regarding the Fire Agencies Recovery Support
• Structure Chart, which is referred to in the SMEACS briefing

I will provide an update to the current deployment and any future requests from SCC for flood support and IMT roles.

Warning Order and Flood Safety Update

A couple of CFA documents related to working in flood areas.  Please read, particularly if you intend on volunteering to help out in the north-west.

• CFA Warning Order
• Flood Safety Update

Strathewen Commemoration Gathering - Sunday 6th Feb

Please find attached an invitation to the Arthurs Creek /Strathewen RFB and the Auxillary to attend the Strathewen Commemoration Gathering on Sunday 6th Feb. This is a shorter and more relaxed event than last year. We hope you all can make it.

• Invitation
• Program of Events

Regards,

Diana Robertson
Res Support Sub-committee
SCRA.

Media Report and new District 14 Facebook page

Please find attached this week’s Media Report. As usual, it would be appreciated if this could be forwarded on to members at the brigade.

Check out the District 14 Facebook Page

District 14 now has a Facebook page! That’s right, we’ve now joined the legions of Facebook adherents with a presence on the world’s pre-eminent social networking site.

VFBV Volunteer Support Fund for Flood Affected Regions

We have been fielding many calls from Brigades and Members about how they can assist volunteers affected by the recent floods. Whilst it is still early days for Victoria, we have quickly made arrangements in anticipation of volunteers needing some prompt and swift support in those affected areas.

Free day at the races for volunteers, family and friends

Saturday, January 22 at Flemington

As a reward and recognition to VFBV and all CFA volunteers, the Victoria Racing Club is holding a free race meeting at Flemington on the 22nd January 2011.

Media release re: Queensland volunteers affected by floods

This is a media release giving details of the Queensland Rural Fire Brigades Association’s fund to assist volunteer firefighters.

VFBV is encouraging Victorians to donate, and has also published the details on our website.

Regards

Peter J Beaton
Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria

FDP Declaration 3rd of January 2011

Please find attached formal notification that the Fire Danger Period (fire restrictions) for the municipalities within District 14 have had the formal approval from the CFA Chief Officer, will commence at 0100 hrs on Monday the 3rd of January 2010.

Please distribute as required.

John Deering
Operations Manager
CFA District 14
Northern and Western Metropolitan Region

AFAC/ Bushfire CRC Conference and call for papers

Attached is a pdf to the AFAC/ Bushfire CRC Conference scheduled from 29 August to 1 September 2011 and billed as ‘Australasia’s foremost annual emergency services conference, attracting over 1,000 delegates from all over the world.’

Conference organisers are inviting papers, also known as ‘abstract submissions’ from emergency services staff and volunteers, researchers and academics, industry and government bodies. Papers will need to be linked to the conference theme and/or the panel session themes, and are due by 1 February.

Full details are contained within the attached pdf.

Regards

Kris Perkovic
Media & Marketing Coordinator
CFA Northern & Western Metropolitan Region

Weekly Media Report

• 13 January 2010

Kris Perkovic
Media & Marketing Coordinator
CFA Northern & Western Metropolitan Region

Roster Update

The roster has been updated again to correct Owen's phone numbers (sorry, Owen - cut and paste error) and to include pager numbers for those that now have them.

Roster is also available on the "Brigade Documents" page.

Geoff

IBM & KidSmart

The attached video is an internal IBM video that features Craig from Doreen, who many of you know.

For your viewing pleasure...  Note that it is a large file.

Thanks to Roger for providing (sorry for sitting on it for so long).

Millicent Reid

Millicent Reid passed away recently.  Her funeral service is at the Hazel Glen Uniting Church on Tuesday 18 January at 2 pm.  They expect to arrive at Arthurs Creek Cemetery around 3.30 p.m.

Lindsay Mottram

Lindsay Mottram passed away recently and Shirley wanted Brigade people to know. The funeral service was held on 6 January at St. John’s in Diamond Creek.

Briefing Note on Class action relating to Kilmore East fire

Some of you may be aware of the Commercial Action that has been initiated against SPI Electricity for the Kilmore East fire and that CFA (and others) have been joined by SPI in their defence. The attached Briefing Note provides some background information, and some details of CFA Media and Welfare arrangements in relation to this matter. A number of you have already had this information provided at briefing sessions.

Please distribute this information broadly within your locations. Should you have any queries, please contact any one of us that are listed in the contacts section of the Briefing Note.

Regards

Greg Esnouf AFSM
Deputy Chief Officer
Regional Manager
Northern and Western Metropolitan Region

Fire Commissioner's Website

The Fire Commissioner has created a new website: http://www.firecommissioner.vic.gov.au/

The link has also been added to the "Useful Links" page.