Winning the fake fire fight

By Melissa Meehan
It’s an area that’s been identified as an extreme fire risk and is close to residential properties and businesses.
So how do the emergency services approach this fire?
According to State Fire Controller Craig Lapsley, “local knowledge is the key”.
His statement was made in Pakenham on Sunday as emergency services in the Southern Metropolitan Region were tested in bushfire preparedness and response as part of eight multi-agency training exercises being held across Victoria.
Just under 100 representatives took part in the exercise, called Project Belenus, as they discussed what their roles would be in case of a bushfire.
But the most important discussion was gaining the local knowledge about the area that would best inform the fire force about what to expect and to make sure locals were aware of the dangers.
“If we are going to send a message out to the media there is no point trying to contain what is happening – to get the importance of the message through we need to pump it up,” Mr Lapsley said.
“If we are going to break into programming we need to get in there and tell them exactly what is happening.”
Mr Lapsley singled out Incident Management Team local knowledge liaison officer Ivan Smith as having the most important role in terms of a fire.
Mr Lapsley said that it was the type of knowledge the emergency services relied on.
“He knows the lie of the land, where the homes are, how the wind moves,” Ms Lapsley said.
“He knows the roads, how people will be able to get out, whether it’s safe to continue to evacuate them – his knowledge is the key.”
The eight exercises, which will be held across the state, are part of a new three-year training program designed to improve capacity and capability in the fire services.
“This program addresses one of the main recommendations of the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission which was for agencies to train together and prepare for major incidents,” Mr Lapsley said.
CFA Southern Metropolitan Regional Commander Dave Sherry said it was important for the emergency services within the Southern Metropolitan Region to exercise together and to understand and work within the state’s emergency management arrangements.