❓ Hon Martin Aldridge questions the Minister for Emergency Services regarding the temporary suspension of a procedure (SAP 5.1.A section 8) related to fire response capability and its impact during periods of elevated fire risk. The Minister provides details on the suspension period, fire behaviour index levels, and instances of uncrewed urban tankers, attributing the measures to staff shortages and industrial action.
AnsweredQoN 55Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FIRE AND EMERGENCY
SERVICES — SECTION 8 OF SAP 5.1.A
55. Hon
MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to the temporary suspension
by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services of section 8 of SAP 5.1.A
relating to ensuring adequate response capability is maintained according to
risk.
(1) On what date did the suspension
commence, and is the suspension currently in force?
(2) On how many
occasions since the suspension of the procedure have the four Swan fire weather
districts recorded a combined fire behaviour index greater than 128 and 152
respectively?
(3) Of those
occasions identified in (2) how many of the urban tankers were not crewed for
day shift and day/night shift respectively?
(4) Why is the
government no longer ensuring adequate responsibility capability is maintained
on days of elevated fire risk to the community?
SERVICES — SECTION 8 OF SAP 5.1.A
55. Hon
MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to the temporary suspension
by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services of section 8 of SAP 5.1.A
relating to ensuring adequate response capability is maintained according to
risk.
(1) On what date did the suspension
commence, and is the suspension currently in force?
(2) On how many
occasions since the suspension of the procedure have the four Swan fire weather
districts recorded a combined fire behaviour index greater than 128 and 152
respectively?
(3) Of those
occasions identified in (2) how many of the urban tankers were not crewed for
day shift and day/night shift respectively?
(4) Why is the
government no longer ensuring adequate responsibility capability is maintained
on days of elevated fire risk to the community?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has provided
the following advice.
(1) Section 8 of SAP 5.1.A was temporarily rescinded
on 31 January 2023 and was reinstated on 8 February 2023.
(2) During the
eight days the procedure was rescinded across the four metropolitan fire
weather districts there were six occasions when there was a combined FBI of 128
or greater and four occasions when there was a combined FBI of 152 or greater.
(3) The information on the day and night shifts not crewed is
in tabular form.
I seek leave to have that incorporated into Hansard .
[Leave
granted for the following material to be incorporated.]
Date
Day Shift (not crewed)
Night Shift (not crewed)
31/1/23
Maddington Urban Tanker
N/A
1/2/23
Maddington Urban Tanker
Maddington Urban Tanker
2/2/23
N/A
Hope Valley, Ellenbrook, Maddington Urban Tankers
3/2/23
Hope Valley and Ellenbrook Urban Tankers
Hope Valley, Ellenbrook, Maddington Urban Tankers
(4) These measures were temporarily implemented due to
staff shortages and fatigue management issues as a direct result of industrial
action. These measures were risk based and had no measurable impact on operations.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has provided
the following advice.
(1) Section 8 of SAP 5.1.A was temporarily rescinded
on 31 January 2023 and was reinstated on 8 February 2023.
(2) During the
eight days the procedure was rescinded across the four metropolitan fire
weather districts there were six occasions when there was a combined FBI of 128
or greater and four occasions when there was a combined FBI of 152 or greater.
(3) The information on the day and night shifts not crewed is
in tabular form.
I seek leave to have that incorporated into Hansard .
[Leave
granted for the following material to be incorporated.]
Date
Day Shift (not crewed)
Night Shift (not crewed)
31/1/23
Maddington Urban Tanker
N/A
1/2/23
Maddington Urban Tanker
Maddington Urban Tanker
2/2/23
N/A
Hope Valley, Ellenbrook, Maddington Urban Tankers
3/2/23
Hope Valley and Ellenbrook Urban Tankers
Hope Valley, Ellenbrook, Maddington Urban Tankers
(4) These measures were temporarily implemented due to
staff shortages and fatigue management issues as a direct result of industrial
action. These measures were risk based and had no measurable impact on operations.
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