Role statement - Country Fire Authority

Reduce the number of fires and hazardous incidents through:

• developing/enforcing of relevant legislation and regulations

1.1

• applying risk management strategies to identified community risk

1.5

• increasing the understanding of the use of fire protection and detection systems

1.2, 1.4

• changing community behaviour through public education and legislation

1.1, 2.1

• increasing community involvement and awareness in hazard prevention

1.4, 2.1

• broadening community awareness and preparedness to minimise the impact of an emergency on the community

2.1, 6.3

Engage with communities to build their resilience in preventing and managing emergencies, through targeted and general education programs

6.4

Participating agency for the following bushfire mitigation activities:

• land use planning
• landscape fuel management including legislative requirements
• fire ignition controls including, fire danger period determination, total fire ban days and arson programs
• community education, awareness and engagement to prevent and respond to bushfire and bushfire smoke
• seasonal arrangements to ensure capability

Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation

Participating agency for the following hazardous materials (including industrial waste) incident mitigation activities:

• Reduction/substitution of HAZMAT use (including inventory minimisation)
• HAZMAT storage design and maintenance (including transport design)
• HAZMAT transport requirements (e.g. prohibitions, material volume and selection, route and timing selection, transport mode, stakeholder engagement (e.g. Worksafe Victoria, FRV, DTP, CFA, transporter, receiver)
• pre-transport consequence modelling and readiness including plume modelling
• Dangerous Goods transporter maintenance, training, licensing, inspection etc. (road/rail/marine/pipeline)
• Legislation, regulation and enforcement (e.g. Major Hazard Facilities. Dangerous Goods Code)

Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation

Participating agency for the following mine, quarry and petroleum (exploration or production site) emergency mitigation activity:

Legislation, regulation and enforcement of legislation, including but not limited to, the Mineral Resources Sustainable Development Act 1990 and regulations (licensing and approvals process for operators of mines, quarries and coal mines), Emergency Management Act 2013, EM (Critical Infrastructure Resilience) Regulations 2015, Country Fire Authority Act 1958 and Regulations 2014, Energy Safe Victoria Act 2005, and Petroleum Act 1998

Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation

Control agency for response:

• fire in the country area of Victoria, which is that part of Victoria which lies outside the FRV fire district, but does not include any State forest, national park or protected public land
• fire and explosion incidents, including those involving aircraft, marine vessels (outside designated Port of Melbourne Waters), boilers and pressure vessels
• hazardous materials [1], high consequence dangerous goods or dangerous goods (including leaks and spills)
• hazardous pollution of inland waters
• rescue incidents involving lifts, scaffolding or amusement structures, building-structure collapse and/or risk of collapse, rail and industrial
• other accidents involving gas leakage, lifts, scaffolding and amusement structures

[1] For the purposes of the SEMP, 'hazardous' is defined as any contaminants or materials that are harmful to human health (including substances that are dangerous goods as defined by Dangerous Goods Act 1985), and 'non-hazardous' is defined as any contaminants or materials (not identified as hazardous) that are not harmful to human health (noting these may be harmful to the environment and/or biodiversity (including plants and animals)). Where there is any doubt, contaminants or materials are to be deemed hazardous until such time as the Control Agency or support agency confirm they are non-hazardous.

- Utilising USAR Category - 1 FRV/CFA and Category 1 VICSES
- Aircraft rescues that occur within designated airports are a Class 2 major emergency, led by ARFFS

3.1, 7.2, 12.3

Table 9: Control agencies for response

Lead Response Support Agency (RSA) for the functional areas of:

• responder agencies
• rescue: aircraft, building/structure collapse, vehicle into building/structure, rail, industrial and road

Table 10: Support agencies for response

Protect life, property and the environment from the effects of fire, accidents and other hazards through:

• providing advice to threatened and affected communities on actions to take during an emergency event

2.1, 2.3, 3.5

• controlling accidents involving boilers/pressure vessels; dangerous goods/hazardous materials; lifts; building collapse and explosions (e.g. gas)

3.1

• suppression of uncontrolled fires

7.1, 7.2

• rescue of persons from other emergencies, including fire; road, rail and aircraft accidents; industrial accidents and other emergencies (including provision of steep and high angle rescues)

12.3

• investigation into the causes of fire 

• Mines Rescue capability across Victoria in accordance with state arrangements

3.2, 12.3

Provide key support for:

• tunnel and trench rescue incidents

3.2, 12.3

• USAR capability across Victoria in accordance with state arrangements

3.2, 12.3

• Fire Medical Response (FMR) from designated stations to relevant events to support AV

3.2, 14.2, 14.4

Support the Controller by providing assistance, advice and information to other agencies responsible for, or involved in, recovery activities

3.2, 4.5

Assess, restore, clear and rehabilitate CFA managed public buildings and assets

19.2, 19.3, 19.4, 19.7

Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) to:

• assist rural land holders to repair and restore fences damaged by suppression activities on private land or bushfire on the public/private land boundary

19.2, 19.4, 19.7

Table 16: Recovery coordination: Economic environment

• replace essential stock and domestic water used during bushfire firefighting operation activities

18.3, 18.4

Table 17: Recovery coordination: Built environment