Purpose
To outline guidelines for lifesaving service response to a coastal fire event in support of the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSWRFS).
Policy
In the event of a major coastal fire emergency response procedures shall be undertaken to mitigate the risk to members, the public and other emergency services, under control/direction of the appropriate Combat Agency and Authorities (NSWRFS/NSW Police) and command of the State and Branch Duty Officers.
Procedure
Coastal fire events create a number of risks for lifesaving services in particular locations such as in national parks, forested areas and regional clubs which have limited access through forested areas.
In case of a major fire incident response where SLSNSW services have been requested by the Combat Agency a State Incident Management Team (IMT) might be stood up. The IMT will have its base operation out of the SLSNSW HQ. In addition – and depending on the severity of the incident – SLSNSW Laison Officers may be deployed to the NSW State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC, based at NSWRFS HQ) and/or other regional or local Incident Control Centres (ICCs).
Specific risks include:
- Direct threat to lifesaving personnel/facilities.
- Direct threat to bathing public/coastal communities.
- Isolation of beaches impacting evacuations (access cut – roads/tracks).
- Isolation of beaches preventing lifesaving service provision (access cut – roads/tracks). The following contingencies may be required in one or more of the above circumstances:
- Provision of shelter/refuge to lifesaving personnel, public, wider community in surf life saving clubs/facilities.
- Water-based evacuation of personnel/public from a existing patrolled beach and/or additional isolated coastal communities.
- Water-based provision of patrol services to isolated (but not threatened) coastal communities.
Response Procedures (General)
- Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES are any independent local deployments of any kind permitted.*
- Deployments will only occur following tasking through the SLSNSW State IMT.*
Lifesaving response to fire events shall be undertaken within the existing emergency response system, including State Duty officers, branch Duty Officers and the State Operations Centre (if during patrol hours).
As the combat agency/authority, the NSWRFS shall provide direction and incident control.
Lifesaving services may only undertake evacuation response activities (to locations other than club patrol locations) SAR within an authorised and coordinated State/Branch response plan under the direction of RFS.