Official magazine of the Fire & Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia Issue 3, 2010 As another year comes to an end it is a good time to state, which has put the bushfire season six weeks ahead reflect on all of the achievements we have reached of previous years. together in 2010. This will no doubt test our services, but we have proven Over the past twelve months we have been faced with over the past twelve months that we can effectively some of the toughest challenges imaginable including respond to the toughest disasters and I am confident the devastating Toodyay and Badgingarra bushfires, a the people of Western Australia are in very safe and category 5 cyclone, the destructive March hailstorm and capable hands. the worst earthquake to impact Kalgoorlie-Boulder in FESA’s response capabilities have been considerably 50 years. Then there are the countless incidents we have enhanced in the recent Budget with the State Government’s responded to in between. commitment to investing more than $128 million in The search and rescue of young solo sailor Abby frontline services in WA over the next four years. Sunderland involving our own SES volunteers made The state is also better placed to respond to major headlines around the world. This edition of 24seven bushfires following a number of changes made prior to the highlights the wonderful work of SES volunteers who last bushfire season. These include new laws regarding played a crucial role in the rescue and I am sure you taking control of major fires, Total Fire Bans and improved will all enjoy reading about it. community information and warnings systems such I am proud of the way that we have been able to as StateAlert. respond to all of these emergencies head on, and provide comfort and support to those in need. We are fortunate Additionally, FESA has had the opportunity to undertake to have such skilled and devoted emergency services significant reforms in bushfire management over the personnel, and I would like to thank you for your last year as a result of the Victorian Bushfire Royal continued commitment and dedication to the cause. Commission findings and the Major Incident Review into the Toodyay bushfire which included 13 areas A number of award ceremonies have been held recently. of recommendation. This is just one way we can show our appreciation for the vital service you provide and acknowledge those who have Not only did the Toodyay review provide us with opportun- gone above and beyond normal expectations. ities to learn and further enhance our operations, it also found the response from emergency services was to be Another significant achievement we can reflect on is the 2,000th mission of the RAC Rescue helicopter. This was commended. Once again, congratulations to all the staff a major milestone for the service that began operating in and volunteers involved in this incident – without you the 2003 and continues to play a vital role in saving the lives outcome could have been far worse. of West Australians. As we move towards the Christmas period I would like to The next few months will again be a challenging time for wish everyone a safe and happy break and thank you all for your continued efforts over the last year. CEO’s message CEO’s our emergency services personnel with a busy cyclone and bushfire season expected. WA has just experienced Jo Harrison-Ward its driest winter on record throughout many areas of the Chief Executive Officer Operational Incidents 3 General News 13 Training, Resources & Equipment 23 Bushfire Season 40 Awards & Recognition 46 Contents Youth 56 SES Mounted Section riders (l-r): Lizzie Iles, Sharleen Hall, Liesl Simons, Jean Jensen, Alex Stevens and Linda Leadbetter. Managing Editor: Michelle Harris Magazine articles are welcome – please send to: Editor – 24seven, FESA Media and Public Affairs, GPO BOX P1174, Perth WA 6844 or email: [email protected] Editor: Kris Smith Stories should be up to 450 words in length and submitted with accompanying images wherever Contributors: Jessica Reid, Raeley Nind, possible. Digital photographs are required to be taken on a 4+ megapixel camera at the highest Deanna Foster, Allen Gale, Aleisha Orr, Lyn Bryant, possible resolution setting to ensure acceptable quality for printing. Photographic prints are also welcome – please mark with name and address if return is required. Darren O’Malley, Chris Lawson For permission to use material in this publication, please contact the Editor on (08) 9323 9570. Design and Production: key2design 2 24seven OPERATIONAL INCIDENTS Chopper meets the challenge After seven years of saving the lives of West Australians, the RAC Rescue helicopter Horse rider thankful to RAC Rescue reached its 2,000th mission in “Extraordinary” is the word six ribs, one of which had punctured September. Fiona Adolph used to describe a lung. For this milestone the crew flew to the job performed by the RAC While laying on the ground, unable to Wickepin where they attended to a 17 Rescue helicopter when a fun move and having difficulty breathing, Fiona thought she may not make it. year old male driver who had crashed Saturday afternoon turned into his car into a tree before it rolled. “At some level you know something a life or death situation. Local emergency service crews worked catastrophic has happened, and I had quickly to free the man from the car Fiona and her 11 year old niece Clara a sense I might die,” she said. and he was then taken by the rescue Lipscombe were enjoying a two But Fiona’s 11 year old niece proved helicopter to Royal Perth Hospital hour trail ride in bushland between to be a huge comfort to her aunt. where he was treated for non-life Joondalup and Yanchep when the The pair was off the main riding track, threatening injuries. horse Fiona was on became startled. a long distance from the stables and Since its first mission RAC Rescue has Fiona then lost her balance in the any roads. They had not brought a helped thousands of people, flown saddle and tipped to one side. As the mobile phone with them because more than 503,000 kilometres and been horse ran towards a tree, Fiona’s body on a previous occasion there was airborne for 3,200 hours. crashed into it at speed and she fell to no reception. the ground. The majority of missions are in response Fiona recalled Clara repeating “look at to serious road crashes, but the She was later told the impact was me Fiona, remember to breathe.” helicopter and its crew have also been equivalent to a high speed car crash. She said Clara kept promising her involved in searches for missing people, Fiona did not know what the damage she would not leave and that by the aircraft, vessels and the emergency was at the time, but she had broken end of the day she would be safe in a transfer of critically ill patients. her clavicle in five places as well as hospital bed. RAC Rescue helicopter and St John Ambulance crews at the scene of Fiona Adolph’s horse riding accident. 24seven 3 OPERATIONAL INCIDENTS “Honestly, without that constant support I would not have gotten through,” Fiona said. “Although I felt nauseous, I just tried to stay with it.” “As soon After about two hours the pair heard as I was in some more horse riders coming along the track. Clara told the young women what their hands I had happened and used their mobile knew I would phone to call triple zero. The riders then stayed with Clara and be okay. What Fiona and waited for the ambulance to they do is arrive, but it was taking quite a while. “I started to think there was no ambul- extraordinary.” ance coming,” Fiona said. “I told Clara I needed a helicopter to bring help or I might not make it.” What Fiona and the others with her did Fiona Adolph and her niece Clara Lipscombe. not know, was that the ambulance had become bogged as it tried to access the As she received medical attention, more Major Trauma Unit who would be trying to bushland spot. people arrived in the form of paramedics figure out what her injuries were. Clara called triple zero once more to say from the bogged ambulance. They had “I was really glad he explained that,” the ambulance had not arrived. managed to flag down a 4WD and Fiona said. convince the driver to lend them their After spending eight weeks out of work After being on the ground in the middle of while recovering, Fiona is now feeling the bush for more than three hours, Clara vehicle. much better. told her aunt she could hear a helicopter. To allow the helicopter to land a short distance away they had to use “I am grateful to the crew of the RAC “I thought she was fibbing to keep my Rescue helicopter who came to my aid,” chainsaws to bring down trees. spirits up,” Fiona said. she said. There was not enough clear space for Fiona was ferried in the borrowed “They were very capable and as soon as I the chopper to land, so the RAC Rescue 4WD to the spot where the helicopter was in their hands I knew I would be okay. helicopter’s critical care paramedic was had landed. “What they do is extraordinary - words are winched down to the ground. While in the chopper she was told by inadequate to describe it. “That was when I experienced a feeling the paramedic to be prepared for lots “The rescue helicopter is something we of absolute relief,” Fiona said.