Update 9 April 2009

These updates are designed to keep you updated on what is happening at CFA as we recover from the 2009 fires and prepare for the Royal Commission and other inquiries.

As happens each year, CFA is in the process of reviewing all aspects of its work in relation to our preparation and response to the fire season with a particular focus on; fire events of Saturday 7 February 2009, police investigations around some of the fires and upcoming coronial inquiries.

After every fire season a review process of our performance is undertaken and areas for improvement from feedback through debriefs and other reporting mechanisms are identified. The magnitude of the fires this year has led to other processes such as the Royal Commission, Coronial inquiries and police investigation and prosecution also being conducted.

There is an enormous amount of work being undertaken from the highest government levels to the hands on work with the community in fire affected areas. CFA staff are participating in a range of these activities.

CFA 2009 Fires Taskforce

A Taskforce has been established to manage the work of CFA in reviewing fire planning and activities over the fire season. It is overseen by a Board appointed Steering Committee.

The 2009 Fires Taskforce Steering Committee comprises; CFA Board Chairman Kerry Murphy (Taskforce Chairman), CFA Board members, Peter Harmsworth, David Gibbs and Claire Higgins, CEO Neil Bibby, Director Community Safety Lisa Sturzenegger, Director Strategic Planning and Area Coordination Geoff Spring, Corporate Council Helen Proctor, Communications Adviser Consultant Kym Lynch and Maddocks Lawyers Catherine Dunlop. Observers are interim Taskforce Coordinator Greg Esnouf, Acting Emergency Management Team Leader Stewart Kreltszheim and Community Safety Team Leader Alan Rhodes.

Key pieces of work being undertaken by CFA 2009 Fires Taskforce

Debriefs

The Task Force is coordinating debriefs jointly with DSE. Local debriefs have already been held in many areas. Work has commenced on functional and regional debriefs and debriefs with other agencies in Victoria, as well as interstate and international agencies that assisted

Chronology project

Development of a joint CFA/DSE chronology of the fires is underway. An inter-agency intelligence committee has been established to share data on the fires.

Near miss investigations

Investigations are underway into over twenty accidents or near misses during the fire season.

Phoenix taskforce

A CFA liaison officer has been appointed to work with the Victoria Police Phoenix taskforce which is coordinating investigations into the cause of the key fires and is preparing the briefs for the Coroner. Police are interviewing relevant people, including some CFA members as part of these inquiries.

Fire Spread Mapping

A fire spread mapping group is coordinating fire behaviour and spread information to support police investigations, coronial inquiries, etc.

Strategic analysis of reviews

CFA is undertaking a strategic analysis of recommendations of all relevant previous reviews to assist with the continuous improvement process.

Bushfire CRC research

The Bushfire CRC is undertaking an extensive program of research on fire behaviour, building and planning issues, and community response/human behaviour issues. CFA, DSE and OESC are key stakeholders/end-users for the CRC research on the 2009 fires. An agreed project plan has been finalised.

CFA Research

CFA is undertaking a project to gather information from Community Fireguard groups affected by the fires. The project was initiated in Yarra Area and is collecting information on the impact of the fires, experiences of the fire and feedback on the program. Information from other Areas will also be collected later.

Royal Commission

The 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission was established on 16 February to investigate the causes and responses to the bushfires which swept through parts of Victoria in late January and February 2009.

The Commission will deliver an interim report by 17 August 2009 and a final report by 31 July 2010.

Terms of Reference for the role and scope of the Royal Commission can be accessed at www.royalcommission.vic.gov.au.

The Royal Commission is chaired by the Honourable Bernard Teague AO, supported by Commissioners Ron McLeod AM and Susan Pascoe AM.


Key dates for Royal Commission

• Community consultations were completed on Wednesday 8 April 2009
  

• Requests for leave to appear before the Royal Commission close on Thursday 9 April 2009.

• The Royal Commission will determine which parties it grants leave to appear at a hearing on 20 April. After the Commission has dealt with applications for leave to appear, the Chairperson of the Commission will make some preliminary remarks. Counsel assisting the Commission will then make an opening address in which he will outline the issues which are presently of interest to the Commission and which are likely to be the subject of investigation. Counsel assisting will outline the issues which are likely to be addressed in the Commission’s interim report.

• Public Hearings will commence on 11 May 2009 for an initial period of eight weeks. During the first block of public hearings, it is intended to lead evidence from senior Victorian emergency services personnel, in relation to the spread of the fires commencing in January 2009, and from the Bureau of Meteorology in relation to the weather conditions leading up to and on 7 February 2009. It is then intended to lead evidence concerning the warnings given to the public prior to and on 7 February 2009 and as to the operation of the “Stay or Go” policy. If time permits, it is intended to lead evidence concerning building standards in bushfire prone areas.

• It is expected that Chief Officer Russell Rees and Community Safety Team Leader Alan Rhodes will be called during these hearings.

• The interim Royal Commission report will be completed by Monday 17 August 2009.

• The final Royal Commission report will be completed by 31 July 2010

Overview of the Victorian Government approach to Royal Commission

CFA is a participant in the whole of government response to the Bushfires Royal Commission. Key elements of the Victorian Government structure include:

• The Legislation Committee of Cabinet (with the addition of the Ministers for Sustainability and Environment, Planning, and Police and Emergency Services) which will meet regularly to manage the high level direction of the State’s case;

• A sub-committee of the State Coordination and Management Committee (SC&MC) (with the addition of Neil Bibby, CFA CEO), which will provide strategic oversight and advice on the State’s case;

• Three working groups established by the SC&MC sub-committee:

• The emergency management working group (‘Stay or Go. Warnings, Evacuation) (CFA representatives: Neil Bibby and Russell Rees);

• The planning and building controls working group (CFA representatives: Lisa Sturzenegger and Andrew Andreou);

• The asset protection and vegetation management working group (CFA representatives; Lisa Sturzenegger and Andrew Andreou)

These groups are developing papers outlining key issues from all the stakeholders to inform government and the Commission. CFA representatives attend each of these groups. CFA responses on each of these groups are being coordinated through the Community Safety team leader Alan Rhodes

The Royal Commission has issued five summonses on Victorian agencies to provide relevant documents, four of which relate specifically to CFA:

1. ‘Stay or Go’, warnings and evacuations,
2. building for fire protection
3. Community Information and Warning Systems
4. Planning for fire protection and prevention

CFA is submitting documents in response to these summonses.