Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) News

The agenda for this year’s AFAC22 Conference and Exhibition (AFAC22) is loaded with big topics, such as reducing risk in the changing climate, the new Australian Fire Danger Rating System, women in emergency management, lithium battery fires and so much more. It is the first time since the start of the COVID-19 global pandemic that the Australian and APAC emergency management industry is coming together in person. AFAC22 Conference and Exhibition will be held in 2022 at the Adelaide Conve...

The Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) program is redesigning the forecasting of fire danger in Australia. It aims to improve public safety and reduce the impacts of bushfires by improving the way that fire danger is calculated and communicated. As one enters the second quarter of 2021, the AFDRS Program is approaching major design milestones that will allow states and territories to trial the new system in parallel with current fire danger ratings. The trial of the AFDRS is a key ste...

Australia is at a turning point in the national conversation about sexual harassment and gender inequality. To make sure these conversations turn into action, the Diversity Council of Australia is asking Australian CEOs to take the #IStandForRespect diversity pledge. Advancing gender equality AFAC CEO Stuart Ellis recently signed the pledge, committing to: Stand against gendered harassment and violence in all its forms. Take steps to address sexual and sex-based harassment, to make the wor...

The Champions of Change Fire and Emergency Group have released their third progress report to provide a snapshot update on actions, outcomes and achievements over the past 12 months regarding gender equality priorities. This includes a detailed update on gender representation data from across the sector, including frontline service and delivery roles. The Champions of Change Fire and Emergency Group members remain committed to their goals of gender equality, advancing more women into leadership...

The AFAC National Resource Sharing Center (NRSC) was activated on Saturday 20 March 2021 to assist the New South Wales State Emergency Service (NSW SES) with coordinated interstate assistance with flood and severe weather operations. This has been the largest flood and storm deployment coordinated by NRSC, with a total of 342 interstate personnel deployed into NSW. Incident management personnel AFAC NRSC had a Deployment Manager and a Management Support Officer embedded within the NSW SES Sta...

Fire danger ratings are a shorthand way of describing the potential level of danger from bushfires. Ratings are used in many parts of the world and are especially important in the Australian context due to the prevalence of flammable vegetation and hot and dry conditions. The Australian landscape has evolved with fire, which is a natural part of many ecosystems. However, under certain conditions these environments are dangerous to communities, infrastructure, property, ecosystems and population...

The use of suppressants and retardants for bushfire fighting can give firefighters tactical advantages by slowing down the spread of the fire. National Technology and Development Program offers descriptions of the differences between the chemicals used and how they are assessed as fit for purpose. Retardant is usually lain by aerial firefighting assets, whereas water enhancers (gels) and foams can be used by both aerial and ground fighting resources. During the 2019/20 bushfire season pressure...

In 2018 Standards Australia initiated the development of Standard AS 2419.4 (Fire hydrant installations - Part 4: Storz fittings for firefighting purposes) under Australian Standards committee FP-009, Fire Hydrant Installations. AFAC has two representatives on this committee, Mark Porter (Fire and Rescue NSW) and David Kearsley (Fire Rescue Victoria). Storz fittings The new standard intends to specify minimum requirements for the design, manufacture, performance, and testing of Storz fittings...

Australia will develop a nationally consistent bushfire modeling and prediction capability under an agreement announced between CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and AFAC, the National Council for Fire and Emergency Services. The partnership involves the development of Spark Operational, a cutting-edge bushfire simulation tool based on CSIRO’s ‘Spark’ fire prediction platform. Bushfire prediction opportunities Fire and emergency services agencies across Austr...

Andrew and Nicola Forrest have committed 50 million Australian dollars (US$35 million) to the Fire and Flood Resilience initiative through Minderoo Foundation, with a goal of raising an additional 450 million (US$320 million) in direct or in-kind support over the life of the program. The goal of the ambitious investment is to make Australia the global leader in fire and flood resistance by the year 2025. It is an audacious vision that requires an innovative approach, and the organization takes...

It is with deep regret that the organizers of the Australian AFAC declared that the 2020 edition of the conference and fair on protection and rescue has been postponed. This is due to the conditions and restrictions caused by the current COVID 19 pandemic. The AFAC powered by INTERSCHUTZ, scheduled for August, will now be held one year later - from August 17 to 20, 2021, in Sydney at the International Convention Center (ICC). AFAC had chosen Adelaide as a venue in southern Australia. The AFAC o...

AFAC19 powered by INTERSCHUTZ is the biggest-ever edition of the event. This is due in part to the first-time inclusion of the national conference of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) in the AFAC program, which also includes the Australian Disaster Resilience Conference. The high-caliber Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research Forum will once again cover all the latest research findings on natural catastrophes and resilience, while a German group pavilion with 11 companies will also be...

The Metropolitan “Metro” Fire Chiefs Association, a Section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) held its 2019 annual conference in Edmonton, Alberta June 8-14. More than 110 Metro chiefs from Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Mexico, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States attended the conference and elected the Association’s 2019-2020 officers and board members. The officers are: Chi...

The still-young CEFE is set to become a major international platform for safety and security themes. It stands to benefit from the support of INTERSCHUTZ, the world’s leading trade fair for fire and rescue services, civil protection, safety and security. Taking place from 5 to 7 November 2019, the Shanghai-based trade fair will run for the first time under the name "CEFE powered by INTERSCHUTZ". CEFE Powered By INTERSCHUTZ By launching CEFE powered by INTERSCHUTZ, we are strengthening th...

The Congressional Fire Services Institute’s Board of Directors has chosen Chief Russ Sanders to receive the 2019 CFSI/Motorola Solutions Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award. The official award presentation will take place during the 31st Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner on April 25, 2019 in Washington, D.C. Public Safety And Prevention VFIS Executive Vice President Dr. Bill Jenaway noted, “Russ Sanders has distinguished himself on so many levels and in s...

The new exhibition, built on foundations of an AFAC event, will be called 'AFAC powered by INTERSCHUTZ' On Friday, June 5, Hannover Fairs Australia (an Australian subsidiary of Deutsche Messe AG) and the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) finalised a partnership agreement for a new exhibition in Australia. Now professional associations and solution providers can use this new showcase to pursue their objectives in Down Under, which will cover sim...

The anniversary of Black Friday in Australia has highlighted the need for continued research into bushfire Prominent fire management bodies highlight need for research into ongoing wildfire threats Australia's peak fire management and research organizations are calling for ongoing support for scientific research to deal with the bushfire threat to our communities. Tomorrow marks the 70th anniversary of Black Friday, Victoria's highest fatality bushfire event. From December...

Fire agencies in Australia are advising citizens to be fire ready Australian fire agencies today urged Australians to remain vigilant in light of the recent tragedy and urged all Australians to make sure they are fire ready. Research has shown that the "Prepare, stay and defend or go early policy" is the most effective way to protect life during a bushfire. "The tragic events of this weekend have been something that this country has never seen before, and while lessons will...