@formerguest
I no longer really have my finger on the pulse, I'm only giving a pretty dated perspective.
Nowadays I'm pretty sure all states manage fire using the same emergency planning and coordination system (I can't remember what it's called). This is so that everybody involved knows how an incident (like fire) will be managed and coordinated from start to finish.
When an incident is first identified the local people (eg Nat Parks, Forestry, Brigade etc) will be responsible for first response if its on their patch. If it grows, then an already developed Incident management plan will be engaged and responsibility for the incident will be passed up the line to an incident controller who I think these days is usually a state brigade firey but could also be someone in Police. In my day whoever was the first controller on the incident remained as the primary controller but after some of the big Sydney fires, I think it was Phil Koperberg, changed it to what it is now.
The Incident Controller's first job is to set up an incident response team (from people identified in the plan) which includes things like ground coordination and comms support, a WHS officer, media liaison, Liaison for brigades and government bodies, expert advisors etc. The Incident control center can get pretty big.
The reason I'm referring to an incident rather than a fire is the response plan could be activated by something like a chemical spill as well. It could also result from multiple incidents like a major fire burning onto a fuel or chemical storage area so the relevant expertise has to become involved. Pretty much any incident where multiple organisations are required to respond and the coordination of those parties is required.
I would be interested to see how the incident plans for theses fires in NSW and QLD are being implemented, and see the structures emplaced. I'm not sure I'd want to be in the Incident control room though.
I no longer really have my finger on the pulse, I'm only giving a pretty dated perspective.
Nowadays I'm pretty sure all states manage fire using the same emergency planning and coordination system (I can't remember what it's called). This is so that everybody involved knows how an incident (like fire) will be managed and coordinated from start to finish.
When an incident is first identified the local people (eg Nat Parks, Forestry, Brigade etc) will be responsible for first response if its on their patch. If it grows, then an already developed Incident management plan will be engaged and responsibility for the incident will be passed up the line to an incident controller who I think these days is usually a state brigade firey but could also be someone in Police. In my day whoever was the first controller on the incident remained as the primary controller but after some of the big Sydney fires, I think it was Phil Koperberg, changed it to what it is now.
The Incident Controller's first job is to set up an incident response team (from people identified in the plan) which includes things like ground coordination and comms support, a WHS officer, media liaison, Liaison for brigades and government bodies, expert advisors etc. The Incident control center can get pretty big.
The reason I'm referring to an incident rather than a fire is the response plan could be activated by something like a chemical spill as well. It could also result from multiple incidents like a major fire burning onto a fuel or chemical storage area so the relevant expertise has to become involved. Pretty much any incident where multiple organisations are required to respond and the coordination of those parties is required.
I would be interested to see how the incident plans for theses fires in NSW and QLD are being implemented, and see the structures emplaced. I'm not sure I'd want to be in the Incident control room though.
