FIREMARKNews from the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, Melbourne Australia

February 2012

Urban fringe reminderWestmeadows blaze narrowly avoids homes

National Emergency Award winners named

MFB celebrates Christmas & Australia Day

Fireys help Wildlife Victoria with donation

Photo: David Caird, Herald Sun

This is our first edition of Firemark for 2012 and as you will read, we have many goals to achieve and many accomplishments to be proud from the past two months.

So far this year, our organisation has been involved in several large public events, succeeded in saving property and lives in large-scale incidents, and had honours bestowed upon some of our finest firefighters.

MFB firefighters and staff perform with distinction all year round, but some are singled out for special mention. I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate three MFB firefighters who were recognised as part of the Australia Day Honours.

Senior Station Officer Allan Morton was awarded an Australian Fire Service Medal for providing outstanding service and exceptional leadership to MFB in the delivery of Emergency Medical Response and the establishment of best practice standards in the areas of operational systems, training, skills maintenance and automated and improved patient data transfer.

Meanwhile, Leading Firefighters Gabriel Mauehofer and Mick Whitty were amongst the inaugural recipients of the National Emergency Medal for their contributions to the Black Saturday emergency management effort. These two men humbly accepted their awards on behalf of the strike teams they were part of that worked in the aftermath of this devastating fire.

Earlier this month, LFFs Callum Donoghue and Matthew Collins were presented silver medals at the annual Royal Humane Society bravery

awards. In the face of potential death on Black Saturday, these two men managed to save the lives of 19 people, two dogs and several horses. I was interested to hear the men had forged their strong friendship during their recruit training with MFB back in 2003. This year we have four recruit courses running and I hope these men and women establish similar bonds and friendships that they can bring onto station when they graduate.

As mentioned, our staff has been involved in several large community events in the past few months. Leading up to Christmas firefighters and corporate staff spent evenings in the Bourke Street Mall teaching families about fire safety while allowing children to try on old uniforms and sit in the fire trucks. On Christmas morning I was among dozens of firefighters who entertained the children spending the day in hospital at the Royal Children’s Hospital. And on Australia Day crowds clapped and cheered as firefighters marched through the streets of Melbourne, with many people visiting the static display manned by Community Resilience staff at King’s Domain.

Being recognised and part of the community is an important factor of what we do. This month we have launched a campaign to remind those living on the urban fringe to have a fire plan in place. Residents of West Meadows were made well aware of the risks when a large grass fire threatened their properties in January.

Looking to the next few months, MFB will be involved in the Moomba parade and displays, the launch of a new interactive website to teach children about fire safety, and the World Police and Emergency Services Games in April.

All at MFB are passionate about being involved and assisting, as well as educating, the community. This form a vital part of our corporate social responsibility and fire prevention and planning measures, in order to create more resilient communities.

Nick Easy Chief Executive Officer MFB

From the CEO

page 2

Before Christmas MFB sent out brochures to 36,000 homes on the urban fringe to warn them of the dangers of grass and bushfires.

And in January nature proved it’s own reminder, with family homes under threat from a large grass fire in Westmeadows.

Just after 5pm on January 24 MFB responded to a call for a non-structure (grass fire) at Erinbank Crescent Westmeadows. Crews were confronted with a fast running grass fire which eventually burnt out about 40 hectares of grass and scrub.

More than 100 MFB, CFA and Parks Victoria firefighters battled the blaze, resulting in damage being limited to a number of rear fences. Due to the conditions and resultant rapid fire spread homes could easily have been lost.

Some residents were evacuated by Police, but the fire was brought under control after two and a quarter hours with no reported injuries and no loss of homes.

MFB Deputy Chief Fire Officer David Youssef said the fire travelled a kilometre and was up to 400m wide at its peak.

“Wind conditions were difficult making firefighting more challenging requiring the evacuation of homes as a necessary precaution. However, people were able to safely return to their homes before 7.30pm,” he said.

DCFO Youssef warned the fire served as a timely warning for people living on the urban fringe to be aware of their surroundings and have a fire plan in place.

“Summer is far from over and late rains have resulted in substantial grass growth, which is now curing and ready to burn,” he said.

“This was a well-run response with excellent cooperation between agencies.”

MFB is conducting a program to remind people who are living in higher risk areas of Melbourne that bush and grass fires can happen near them and to provide advice on how to manage the risk.

Fire risk on urban fringe

Front page photograph and action photos (right) courtesy David Baird, Herald Sun. Aerial shots taken by Victoria Police media. page 3

Two MFB firefighters were awarded the National Emergency Medal of Australia at the inaugural awards ceremony in Canberra last month.

LFF Gabriel Mauerhofer (top left) and LFF Mick Whitty were involved in the fire fighting and recovery efforts during Black Saturday. Prime Minister Julia Gillard presented LFF Mauerhofer with his medal at the ceremony in Canberra and LFF

Whitty met the PM the following day in Flowerdale where he received his.

Both said they were overwhelmed and honoured by the acknowledgement.

“The recognition around this medal is not something that I see as belonging to me, it’s really something that every firefighter who participated in that campaign - every person is worthy of that recognition,” LFF Whitty said.

“The Sunday morning after Black Saturday coming into Yea is one of the strongest things that I recollect. The people there, it’s the closest thing to a refugee camp that I’ve ever seen in my life.”

LFF Mauerhofer was sent to the devastating site several days after Black Saturday as part of the search and recovery team. They joined a NSW strike team in Marysville to carry out the task of looking for victims and survivors.

“I’m basically receiving this medal not on behalf of myself but on behalf of the wider fire brigade and the efforts we put in on that day and also the ensuing days to help all the people affected,” he said.

During the Canberra medal presentation, the Prime Minister said the recipients inspired the public with their courage and service during two of the most devastating summers of natural disaster Australia had ever witnessed.

“Some of our darkest days that were followed by some of our finest hours,” she said. “The long hours without rest or sleep. The stories of men and women who went to work to help others not knowing whether their own homes would be standing when they returned. Of those who risked injury or even death to help others. Or brought comfort to those who had lost everything they owned.”

The National Emergency Medal is an operational service medal which recognises significant or sustained service to others in a nationally significant emergency, for example, the bushfires in Victoria in 2009 and the floods and cyclones in Queensland in 2010 and 2011. The Medal was established by The Queen by Letters Patent and National Emergency Medal Regulations 2011, approved by The Queen on her visit to Australia in October 2011.

To view a video interview with LFF Gabriel Mauerhofer and LFF Mick Whitty about their experiences, click HERE.

Firefighters awarded inaugural National Emergency Medals for Black Saturday involvement

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In recognition of the ever-increasing importance of Emergency Management Response and the integral role that Acting Commander Allan Morton has played in its establishment, Allan has been awarded the Australian Fire Services medal.

Allan has been involved with EMR right from the very beginning, when EMR was just an embryonic idea, and he and Commander Dennis Rich did the pioneering work in the early 1990s.

After completing paramedic training with Ambulance Victoria and visiting the Los Angeles and New York fire services to examine their medical services Allan helped devise a system that MFB piloted in 1997.

The success of the pilot, which was conducted in seven fire stations, led to the program being rolled out across the entire brigade in 2000.

“A lot of blood, sweat and tears went in to develop the program to where it is now,” Allan said.

“I feel proud to have been part of introducing one of the most significant cultural changes that MFB has gone through in 100 years.

“MFB is the only fire service in Australia that has an established emergency medical response program. Twenty years ago MFB had not even entered this field and now we are relied on as part the pre-hospital care system in Melbourne.

“All our firefighters are recognised care providers and part of my role has been achieving that recognition of our capabilities.”

The growth of EMR in the community and within MFB has been rapid. In the past decade more than 150 lives have been saved from MFB intervention and in many parts of Melbourne MFB is now responding to more EMR calls than fires.

The willingness of firefighters to upgrade their skills has been instrumental in the internal growth of the program. EMR training is voluntary yet thanks to specialist training at Monash University, all firefighters are able to provide basic life support, give CPR and use the defibrillators carried on all fire trucks

This is very fortunate as the demand on EMR is expected to continue to grow due to Melbourne’s ageing and increasing population.

Another reason for being awarded the AFSM was that Allan is now helping expand the program across regional Victoria. Last year CFA began a trial of EMR which Allan has been assisting with.

He said that he when he started as a firefighter in 1985 he had no had visions of saving lives through first-aid.

“I now have the personal satisfaction of doing something that is really making a difference in Melbourne and now Victoria,” he said.

National recognition for medical response initiative

Left: A/Commander Allan Morton with an EMR kit.

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They met on recruit course and trained to work as career firefighters together. And when under pressure as the Black Saturday bushfire threatened their lives and loved ones, their friendship never faltered.

On February 7 2009 in Strawthewen, MFB Leading Firefighters Callum Donoghue, 38, and Matthew Collins, 33, saved the lives of 19 people and protected property. Earlier this month they were among 90 Victorians presented with bravery awards by The Royal Humane Society of Australasia at the Melbourne Town Hall.

They faced winds of up to 100km/h and temperatures of 1200C but their determination to protect those they care for saw them persevere.

Callum had left to go to work at Thomastown fire station about 6.30am that morning, kissing his wife goodbye and his three young children sleeping. That afternoon, as word of the bushfires spread, Callum and his friend LFF Matt Collins from the Broadmeadows fire station left work early to protect homes in the Strathewen area.

Callum volunteers for the CFA in his spare time and had left his pager at home while he went to work. His wife Margie had paid close attention to the messages coming through and as the fire threat increased, she took their three children to safety.

In harrowing conditions the pair drove between Callum and his neighbour’s homes trying to save the two properties - despite having little access to water and no electricity.

As the fire increased, they took shelter at the neighbour’s house. Along the way they assisted those panicked by the fires, including four teenage girls fleeing on horses.

Under a storm of embers and fierce winds, the duo took charge by making sure all doors and windows were sealed and reassured those in the house to stay calm and remain indoors. During lulls in the fire storm they went outside to extinguish fires around the house depite having difficulty breathing in the thick smoke and coping with a water pump which continued breaking down.

As the front passed they began clearing an escape route and let the occupants leave the house.

Their efforts saved the lives of five families - 19 people - two dogs and several horses. Sadly, the Donoghue home was unable to be saved and they lost everything.

At one point during the ordeal, Callum kissed his wife goodbye, not knowing if he would return.

“I kissed my wife and three children goodbye, honestly not knowing if I would see them again,” he said. “I said to Matt he didn’t have to come with me, but like the great mate he is he came out with me without a word.”

Donoghue and Collins met on their recruit course in 2003, and have remained close friend ever since.

Following the Black Saturday fires, Callum - a trained builder - has taken on the voluntary role of Community Liaison Officer where he receives house plans from the residents of Strathewen and assists them through the arduous task of having plans approved by council, enabling them to build their much-needed homes under the new regulations.

MFB Peer Support Co-ordinator Rod Egglestone supported the nomination for the bravery award.

“Selflessly Matthew Collins offered to go with Callum although he had no pecuniary interest other than to help a mate and fellow recruit member in trouble,” he said.

“The conditions they faced that day were unimaginable. When recalling their attempt to protect his home, you can’t even believe they are here today safe and alive to tell their story.”

Black Saturday heroes receive bravery awards

Above: LFF Callum Donoghue and LFF Matthew Collins receive their medals at Melbourne Town Hall.

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There’s nothing worse than spending Christmas Day in hospital, but MFB firefighters managed to make the day a little brighter for sick children and their families.

The Once A Year Club, made up of MFB firefighters, met at Eastern Hill Fire Station on Christmas morning, before dressing up in bright, cheery clown costumes. Joining them was Santa, musicians and firefighters in uniform.

As well as visiting the RCH, MFB also sent firefighting crews from the Clayton and Oakleigh fire station to deliver presents to children at the Monash Medical Centre.

MFB CEO Nick Easy and his wife joined the merry group as they toured the hospital giving out presents and entertaining the children and their families.

In current appliances and historical trucks from the museum, the group went to the RCH where they were met by hospital staff, children and the media. The band played Christmas carols, the clowns performed tricks and the firefighters handed out lollies to the children.

“The professionalism and empathy demonstrated by all those involved continues to ensure that these visits are a great success and feedback from both visits has been overwhelmingly positive,” Mr Easy said. “It is an honour to be in a position to bring a smile to all of these brave children”.

The concept of the ‘Once a Year Club’ began in 1928, when the MFB Band and Gym Team visited the sick child of a firefighter. The most recent visit was the first to the new Royal Children’s Hospital.

Once a Year Club spreads cheer at the RCH

page 7

Clockwise from top: Mitch Harris takes on a Rubik’s Cube champion; the clowns with puppets were a huge hit with the children; CEO Nick Easy with MFB clowns; the MFB band played a selection of Christmas carols; and the Harris family dressed as clowns, alongside firefighters from FS3.

Below, left to right: Dave Harris swoops a nurse off her feet; a family receives a gift and a visit from Santa and the MFB clowns.

page 8

MFB lights up the Bourke Street MallIt’s become a tradition as reliable as a visit from old St Nick, and last year MFB crews did not disappoint.

For the past 10 years Senior Station Officer David Sinnamon has coordinated the display, rounding up firefighters on night shift from surrounding stations. He promotes MFB by giving families something else to enjoy as they queue to see the Myer Christmas windows.

SSO Sinnamon said when they first started visiting the Mall, the aim was to show the children the trucks, however their role now includes teaching parents about fire safety.

“A warm night, the lights in the Mall, carols in the background and the smiles of families looking forward to Christmas, it’s a hard combination to beat,” he said.

Recently, the operation has increased and crews hand out lollies and bring along old tunics for children and tourists to try on and get photos in.

“We have enough that we can dress up a family and even if they never look at the photos again, the joy I see on their faces is enough to know that we have left a good impression of Melbourne for their memories,” SSO Sinnamon said.

“Each year I witness the delight in the children, the parents and the firefighters and get immense satisfaction seeing the happiness that is generated while we are there,” SSO Sinnamon said.

MFB was once again part of the annual Variety Club Christmas Party held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre in early December.

The event is for children from all over Victoria, especially

those living with physical and/or intellectual disabilities, autism and those who may be experiencing social disadvantage.

This is a great event for the fire brigade to be a part of and all of those involved find it extremely rewarding. The MFB display included a pumper from Vermont South fire station with Station Officer Trudy Walker, Leading Firefigher Kerry Hoey and Firefighter Stephen Rota.

The energetic group engaged with the children, took photos with the appliance and helped the team from Comm- unity Resilience, led by Marthese Kavanagh, give out various MFB promotional items including cardboard fire trucks, balloons, wrist bands, and MFB tattoos.

The MFB Display was supported by a visit from Community Resilience Department’s new Public Education Commander John Rampling.

Variety Club Christmas

Left: The pumper from FS38 is adorned with tinsel and Christmas decorations for the celebration.

MFB cheered on at Australia Day celebrationsFor the first time in recent memory, MFB crews were invited to take part in the People’s March through the streets of Melbourne to celebrate Australia Day.

Led by Station Officer Andrew Rundle with the MFB flag and newly-minted firefighter Robbie Bernaudo (from Recruit Course 103) with the MFB sign, crews from Bundoora, Hawthorn, Highett, Newport, and Sunshine joined Acting Commander Mark Carter and Commander Frank Stockton marching to the cheers of supporters along Swanston Street.

The group was closely followed by a pumper and historical society crew and vehicle. Firefighters in dress and turnout uniforms proudly waved the Aussie flags as they paraded down St Kilda Road before finishing in the Kings Domain Gardens near the MFB static display.

The display boasted the SmokeBUSter bus, firefighters East Melbourne, South Melbourne and West Melbourne, and a marquee with staff handing out MFB giveaways and copies of the new Home Fire Safety booklet.

Staff were also on hand to offer safety advice to the community and give children an opportunity to explore the fire trucks.

The concept was ‘2012 Australia Day: Our Day Our March’ and encouraged Victorians to come together on Australia Day to promote Our Rich Culture and Our Diverse Community.

• Click HERE for more Australia Day coverage.

Clockwise from top: thumbs up from SO Andrew Rundle and CMDR Frank Stockton; LFF Craig Simpson, A/SO Jo Ambrosi and QFF Warren Short at the static display in Kings Domain; Community Resilience staff Marthese Kavanagh and

Ally Ritchie; and LFF Shane Morgan gets creative with the Aussie flag; proud MFB firefighters marching through the city streets. page 9

MFB recently received a Certificate of Recognition from the Northern Indigenous Employment (NIE) Initiative for its outstanding contribution towards increasing indigenous employment opportunities.

ACFO Rob Purcell said the team of Multicultural Liaison Officers were thrilled to be presented with the award on behalf of MFB.

“We humbly accept the award and acknowledge that we still have a great deal of scope to

improve our efforts in this area,” he said. “We need to continue to build on the good intent of the MFB’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and continue to present ourselves to our indigenous and other diverse communities as a viable employment option.”

ACFO Purcell said MFB would continue to engage with the community through various District Multicultural Liaison Officers, Station Officers and Firefighters attending local events.

MFB promotes indigenous employment opportunities

From left: ACFO Rob Purcell, Executive Director of People and Culture Danielle Byrnes and Central District MLO Steve O’Malley.

Firefighters are often called to rescue various wildlife and animals, but rarely do they apply bandages to their furry victims.

So, when it came time to renew the dressings used by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, one animal-loving firey couldn’t bear to see the bandages go to waste.

Last month MFB’s Emergency Medical Services department decided to throw out the out-of-date and discontinued bandages to ensure the dressings in each first-aid kit on board each fire truck were consistent. Station Officer Janine Glenn approached

Wildlife Victoria to see whether the old bandages could be used for animal welfare, rather than being sent to landfill.

“The response we got from Wildlife Victoria was fantastic, they were really grateful for the donation and will definitely be able to put them to good use,” SO Glenn said. “This means all the non-compliant or out-of-date burns dressings can be used on injured native wildlife as part of their animal rescue function.”

MFB CEO Nick Easy said firefighters were often required to use the dressings when providing medical care to injured patients as part of their Emergency Medical Response (EMR) role.

“It is heartening to see the firefighters take the initiative to recycle the bandages in such a positive and helpful way,” he said. “The dressings are of various sizes and in perfectly good condition to be used on injured or wounded animals.”

The donation couldn’t have come at a better time with Wildlife Victoria about to launch a public appeal for donations and assistance.

“Wildlife Victoria would like to acknowledge and thank MFB who have supported Wildlife Victoria and volunteers on many occasions during some very interesting wildlife rescues,” CEO Karen Masson said.

Wildlife Victoria is a not-for-profit, volunteer-based organisation that relies on the kindness of the public for donations and has trained volunteer disaster response teams that can be called upon at any time to assist in wildlife rescue emergencies such as bushfires.

Fireys donate bandages for wildlife rescue

Above: Leading Firefighter Brett Pomroy with Piglet the baby wombat; left: LFF

Paul Lewis with a baby ringtail possum and LFF Pomroy with Piglet.

page 10

Firefighter by day, award-winning photographer by nightEighteen months ago Eastern Hill firefighter Frances Egan had no idea what made a good photograph, but as her passion for photography grew, so too did her knowledge and understanding.

Frances had moved to the inner city to be closer to work and decided to join the Melbourne Camera Club in South Melbourne.

“At the time, I couldn’t take a good photo to save myself,” she said.

After a year of just listening and learning about what does and doesn’t make a good photo, she was talked into buying her first SLR camera but knew absolutely nothing about them.

“I started entering images in the novice section of the club’s monthly competitions in 2011 and consistently received awards each month,” she said. “I was so happy with how my photography, and editing, was progressing that I tweaked my winning photos and entered the best ones in the club’s ‘End of Year’ competition.”

The gamble paid off and Frances won the novice section, taking home three first place prizes and three highly commended acknowledgements.

Frances won first prize for her photograph “Fitzroy Icon” in the People section of the competition.

Ibrahim Osman has joined MFB for a 16-week placement as part of The Bridge Project.

Multicultural Liaison Officer Steve O’Malley said “Ibby” was the fourth YMCA Bridge Project placement to work with MFB. He is sponsored by NW Metro Region and will be supervised and mentored by the Northern and Central District MLOs.

“Young people need us to make the effort – the Bridge Project is about providing meaningful opportunities to help young offenders reconnect and become valued members of their local community,” Leading Firefighter O’Malley said.

The Bridge Project was started by 30 community volunteers who completed Leadership Victoria WCLP in 2005.

It combines the talents of the state’s brightest young leaders with the expertise of the YMCA in youth justice, government, business, corporate and community sectors. This unique partnership model creates networks for the community to be actively involved in the rehabilitation process.

So far, Ibrahim has assisted at a graduation ceremony, attended and assisted at the Kensington Celebrating Community Festival and attended the “One Community, Many Faiths” Conference presented by Hume City Council at the Hume Global Learning Centre.

In January he organised an event for teenagers living in the Atherton Gardens office of housing high rise estate, involving them in a fire display and taking them on a tour of the Melbourne Fire Services Museum.

Unique partnership brings youth and MFB together

Ibrahim (left) assisting at the Recruit Course 104 Graduation last year.

page 11

Significant incidents

In another demonstration of how MFB’s EMR role is improving community outcomes following significant incidents, firefighters from Windsor Fire Station helped save the life of an eight-year-old girl earlier this month after she almost drowned in a friend’s pool.The crew was called to the house on Mary Street, St Kilda West, at 10.40am on January 3. They were met by an adult babysitter in bathers and a towel who directed them to the backyard where the girl lay unconscious. The woman’s cries for help had alerted two nearby painters, who had rushed to her aid. They were doing CPR with guidance from a 000 operator when the fire crew arrived.

The girl had no pulse and was blue, so firefighters quickly carried her from the pool area to a dry, shaded area. The MFB crew commenced EMR and the girl’s pulse was discovered once given some oxygen. A defibrillator did not need to be used.Shortly after, the Ambulance Victoria paramedics arrived on scene where they took over care and transported the girl to the Royal Children’s Hospital with a pulse and breathing.“I firmly believe the actions of the painters Ron and Robin kept the girl viable until our arrival,” Senior Station Officer Trevor Bowen said.“I would certainly like to see them honoured or recognised in some way.”This is an excellent example of how important it is for MFB firefighters to have EMR training. The crew, which included recent graduate FF Damien Ahchow, saved a life by acting swiftly.

Firefighters help save drowning girl

Painters Robin Ganser and Ron Chapman gave the girl CPR until firefighters arrived on scene. Photo: Leader Newspapers

Several times last month MFB issued Community Warnings, particularly following two large tip fires issuing potentially toxic smoke to neighbouring homes and businesses.

The first incident occured just after midnight on Sunday January 22 at the Brooklyn tip on Old Geelong Road.

Five crews attended the large rubbish fire, which burned through approximately six to nine thousand cubic metres of trash. Due to the deep-seated nature of the fire, excavators were called in to pull the burning material apart to extinguish the fire. In this instance, poor water pressure hampered firefighting

operations but crews were able to get the upper hand and managed to get it under control in 45 minutes.

The same day just before 5pm, crews attended the Norstar Metal Recyclers on Banbury Rd, Reservoir where thick, black acrid smoke was billowing from a fire in a large pile of unused cars.

Crews were confronted with a circular 20m x 30m x 9m high stack of recycled scrap metal in the middle of the recycling yard. Again earth-moving equipment was utilised, including front end loaders and fork lifts, to move the material. Foam as a wetting agent was used to assist with extinguishing the fire.

Several warnings were given to the local community in relation to the smoke given off by the burning material and the blaze was deemed under control in 34 minutes.

The decision to issue warnings is made by the Commander on the scene, who determines the potential risk for properties in the area. It’s not a decision made lightly and ensuring residents are aware of the warning is an ongoing challenge for MFB.

A Community Warning is put out via the MFB website, which is automatically tweeted on Twitter, and sent to media outlets who are instrumental in broadcasting the warning to the wider public.

Community Warnings issued following spate of tip fires

page 12

FIREMARKNews from the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, Melbourne Australia

February 2012

Next edition – April 2012 FireMark is the bi-monthly magazine from the Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board.

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A major fire extensively damaged the science wing of the Yarra Valley Grammar School in Kalinda Road Ringwood last month.

More than 100 firefighters attended the blaze on January 30, with 24 appliances from MFB and CFA on site.

The fire was reported just after 7pm and took almost three hours to bring under control. An aggressive attack and rapid intervention by both MFB and CFA crews managed to prevent the fire spreading to a nearby library and computer wing.

Firefighting operations were hampered by several issues including a lack of water pressure and access in and around the science block due to the site topography.

Two firefighters were slightly injured whilst fighting the blaze and were treated at the scene by Ambulance paramedics.

MFB issued Community Warnings on its website to alert local residents to the fire and to advise them of what to do to best protect themselves from the smoke.

The damage bill has been estimated at more than $1 million with the cause still under investigation.

A key feature of our response to this incident was the establishment of a recovery and safety plant (once the fire was out) to recover the stored chemicals from the school’s hazardous material compactors and storage room.

Chief Fire Officer Shane Wright congratulated all who were involved at this incident for the way in which it was managed and dealt with.

School science lab inferno

Photo courtesy Herald Sun.