Major Incidents Report 2017-18 1 Major Incidents Report 2017-18 2 The Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) is a Page 11 “Tropical Cyclone Joyce (05 S) over Western Australia” from NASA disaster resilience knowledge centre. We develop, maintain EarthData available at https://lance.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov./cgi-bin/imagery/ and share knowledge and learning to support a disaster single.cgi?image=Joyce.A2018012.0536.3km.jpg (unrestricted); “Tropical resilient Australia. 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However, the document Details of the relevant licence conditions are availalbe at http:// and related graphics could include technical inaccuracies creativecommons.org.au as well as the full legal code for the CC or typographical errors and the information may not be BY 4.0 license. appropriate to all situations. In no event shall the Australian The following third party content contained in this publication Institute for Disaster Resilience be liable for any damages is used in accordance with the Creative Commons licenses as whatsoever, whether in an action of contract, negligence or identified: other tortious action, arising out of or in connection with the use of or reliance on any of the information in this publication. Major Incidents Report 2017-18 1 Introduction This report provides an overview of major incidents that have involved the fire and emergency services sector during the 2017-18 financial year. The intent of this report is to highlight significant incidents The Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) that have been of impact or consequence for fire and acknowledges the contribution of Damien Killalea, Damien emergency services, as identified by the sector; providing Killalea Consulting, in the compilation and writing of this background information about the incident and the report. AIDR also thanks all contributing agencies and corresponding response. The report is not intended as a organisations; including the Bureau of Meteorology, who comprehensive account of all major incidents over the reviewed meteorological input, and its partners: the period. Australian Government, AFAC, the Bushfire and Natural This report includes key insights (where identified) in Hazards Cooperative Research Centre and the Australian relation to each incident and information on multi-agency Red Cross. collaboration and recovery operations where relevant. Robert Cameron OAM Director-General Emergency Management Australia Department of Home Affairs 2 Contents 1 4 6 Introduction Coral poisoning Coolaroo recycling plant fire SOUTH AUSTRALIA, MAY 2017 VICTORIA, JULY 2017 8 10 12 Canadian deployment Tropical cyclones and lows Abattoir fire BRITISH COLUMBIA, JULY 2017 WESTERN AUSTRALIA, 2017-18 SOUTH AUSTRALIA, JANUARY 2018 14 16 18 Daly River flood Flash flood Night firebombing trial NORTHERN TERRITORY, JANUARY 2018 AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY, VICTORIA, FEBRUARY 2018 FEBRUARY 2018 20 22 24 Tropical cyclone Marcus Tropical cyclone Nora South-west complex fires NORTHERN TERRITORY, MARCH 2018 QUEENSLAND, MARCH 2018 VICTORIA, MARCH-MAY 2018 Major Incidents Report 2017-18 3 26 28 30 Tathra bushfire Holsworthy bushfire Commonwealth Games NEW SOUTH WALES, MARCH 2018 NEW SOUTH WALES, APRIL 2018 QUEENSLAND, APRIL 2018 32 34 36 Triple Zero (000) outage Hobart flash flooding Albany escaped burns AUSTRALIA-WIDE, MAY 2018 TASMANIA, MAY 2018 WESTERN AUSTRALIA, MAY 2018 38 40 Port Kembla ship fire The Knowledge Hub NEW SOUTH WALES, JUNE 2018 4 South Australia, May 2017 Coral poisoning Just after 2.00am on Tuesday 2 May telephone call from the home to the SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) just before 2.00am the following morning. 2017, the South Australian Country First on-scene, SAPOL officers were advised by SACFS not to Fire Service (SACFS), the control agency enter the contaminated home. The occupants self-evacuated for hazardous materials incidents, and were transported by SAAS to hospital for treatment. They were quarantined for 48 hours and later released from responded to an incident involving hospital. the release of a palytoxin in a residence SACFS, and a Technical Advice Coordinator (TAC) engaged at Aldinga, 42 kilometres south of to provide specialist scientific advice, initially found only Adelaide. The toxin had been released limited information on palytoxin features, neutralising agents and site clean-up. However, by 2.00pm that afternoon, the from a zoanthid coral after an adult SACFS, TAC and Department of Health officials agreed on a occupant of the home cleaned a fish three-stage site clean-up: tank and the coral items it contained. • vacuuming of all soft furnishings in affected and adjacent areas with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtered vacuum cleaner The coral had been removed from the tank at about 5.00pm on 1 May and cleaned in the home’s living area with cold • application of a neutralising agent to all hard surfaces water, a hard-bristled brush and metal scrapers. This in affected and adjacent areas, allowed to sit for at treatment released non-airborne palytoxins from the coral. least 30 minutes (undiluted Domestos was used as it At about 7.00pm, exposed coral was left on the floor and contained the necessary neutralising chemicals) benches in the living area for further cleaning the following • dilution and clean-up of the neutralising solution with day. fresh water, with frequent emptying of buckets and At about 9.00pm, the adult and four children who had been rinsing of cleaning implements. in the living area while the coral was being cleaned began The clean-up commenced at 5.45pm and was completed to experience vomiting, shaking and difficulty breathing – within 90 minutes; the team wore liquid-tight suits and self- symptoms consistent with palytoxin poisoning. A second contained breathing apparatus.