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HELENSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOL

BUSHFIRE EMERGENCY

MANAGEMENT PLAN

2014 -2015 SEASON

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BUSHFIRE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN

Letters to parents outlining school procedures

Check parent mobile contacts and test SMS system

Newsletter articles

School Website links and news blog posts

Fire drill and remove leaf and litter threats

Prepare Bushfire Kit for the school hall

School Bushfire Emergency Management Plan produced as an easy reference

booklet for parents and community (to be finalised)

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Bushfire Emergency Management Plan

Fire Danger Rating Procedures

1. CATASTROPHIC FDR

Communication

School/Principal will be notified (best case, by 4:30 pm

the day before) via email and telephone by the WHS

Directorate that a catastrophic fire danger rating is to

be implemented.

Principal to contact – Director Public Schools, WH&S

Directorate, Safety and Security Unit. The school will be directed to relocate or temporarily

cease operations for the period the rating is in force.

If declaration after 4:30 pm – parents have been advised

pre-season to check the school news blog,

www.helensburgh-ps.com ,listen to local radio, check

www.nswrfs.gov.au , twitter and facebook,

Parents will also receive a school generated SMS

advising that the school is closed and students are to

stay at home until advised to return.

The school message board will indicate that the school

will be closed until advised – GA responsibility

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STAFF

Staff will be advised by SMS and email not to report

to work

Local staff are to stay home

All other staff will report for duty to the nearest

public school to their home (IF SAFE TO DO SO)

This includes SASS and Cleaners

OoHS and community groups will be advised not to

come to the school by telephone and email

ACTIVITIES

All excursions will be cancelled or postponed

Students away on overnight excursions to remain at

their present location or billeted at a local school until

rating has been lifted and it is safe for them to return or

their parents to pick them up

RECOVERY

Parents will be advised when students may return to

school by school news blog, local radio, SMS

Counsellor services will be available for students and for

staff through WHS Directorate

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2. EXTREME FDR or (Heavy smoke affected)

COMMUNICATION

Parents notified that an Extreme fire danger rating has

been implemented and the procedures the day before

by note, news blog post and SMS message

Principal to contact – Director Public Schools, WH&S

Directorate, Safety and Security Unit

Consider temporarily ceasing operations if conditions

are hazardous or staff cannot get to school

Staff to be notified by email

Parents to consider keeping at home students who have

current Asthma Plans

OoHS and community groups will be advised of limited

activity at school, by telephone and email

STAFF

Preparation Measures

1. Cease outdoor activities and games

2. Activate water sprinklers in the area surrounding the

hall including the gas tank

3. Gates opened for Fire Brigade & emergency services

access

4. Duties as per Wet Weather times (NO OUTSIDE PLAY)

5. Collect all Asthma puffers and spacer & epipens for

students in your class

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STUDENTS

Follow the direction of teachers at all times

Limit outside movement, no running around

If required have your puffer with you at all times or your

teacher

Bring plenty of water with you to school in drink bottles

ACTIVITIES

No Outdoor activity for staff and students

No mowing or slashing by staff or contractors

No Excursions to bushland or areas that would create

access problems returning to school (Principal’s

decision)

RECOVERY

Parents to be advised to check the school news blog,

www.helensburgh-ps.com ,listen to local radio, check

www.nswrfs.gov.au , twitter and facebook, for weather

forecasts and further updates.

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IMMINENT LOCAL THREAT (Fire Impact)

(A) School notified that a fire is in the local area

(B) School takes action during immediate ember attack

Considerations:

Trigger Action

Hot day, start of fire season, bush fires are present in NSW.

Be more aware of bush fire, watch local media for news of fires, weather reports.

See / hear / smell possible fire activity / smoke in the area or are aware of fire activity nearby.

Identify where fire is – RFS Website, 1800 NSW RFS, Fires Near Me App, FCC. Monitor fire threat if detected in surrounding areas.

a) Cannot determine Fire Threat… b) Fire threat is identified in local

area…

Commence shelter in place procedure. Continue to seek information regarding nature of fire characteristics in area.

COMMUNICATION

School/Principal notified via email and telephone by the

WHS Directorate or SEOC or IFCC that there is a possible

imminent danger to the school

Parents notified of situation and procedures as soon as

possible by the Principal via school news blog and SMS

message (A) “Students safe in the hall – don’t come to

school”, (B) “Students locked down & safe –stay where

you are safe, don’t come to school”.

Principal to contact – Director Public Schools, WH&S

Directorate, Safety and Security Unit.

(A) Bushfire Warning signal initiated - Principal

(B) Lockdown signal initiated – Principal

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Principal to call “all clear” if advised by Emergency

Services or if the Principal is satisfied there is no fire

threat.

STAFF

(A) Bushfire Warning signal initiated (Fire in the Area)

Relocate school operations to the hall

Teachers and SLSOs – relocate students to the school

hall with their bags, water bottles and hard copy of class

roll

SASS relocate to school canteen – new command centre

with outside telephone, be prepared to move to hall if

necessary

APs – Deputy Wardens – assign supervision duties, toilet

monitors, check rolls & student numbers – close doors,

block drafts, close whirly air vents, and communicate

with Warden (Principal) via 2way radio or mobile or

school intercom.

Parents are not to take students from hall – unless

permission is gained from Principal

Keep students calm waiting for the all clear

School First Aid officer take first aid kit, medications and

towels to hall

(B) Lockdown signal initiated (Ember Attack)

Lockdown procedures to be implemented with the

addition of the following procedures

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Students bring their bags into the classroom with their

water bottles

Relocate away from windows and doors block any drafts

Know where the fire extinguishers are in your

building/room

Keep in communication with the school office via

intercom and/or mobile

No one is to leave the room or leave with parents.

Parents and community are to shelter until the threat

has passed and an all clear has been sounded.

STUDENTS

(A) Move in an orderly fashion at the direction of the

teachers to the school hall

(B) Return to or remain in their classroom or the nearest

room supervised by a teacher

(A) + (B) Stay in the room or the hall until the teacher

tells you it is safe

(A) + (B) Stay calm you will be safe

ACTIVITIES

All school activities cease immediately

Students away on an excursion or playing sport to

remain at their present location (if safe to do so) and

not return to school. If on route be directed to a safe

location by emergency services

Students away on overnight excursions to remain at

their present location or billeted at a local school until

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rating has been lifted and it is safe for them to return or

their parents to pick them up

RECOVERY

Parents to be advised to check the school news blog,

www.helensburgh-ps.com ,listen to local radio, check

www.nswrfs.gov.au , twitter and facebook, for weather

forecasts and further updates.

Counsellor services will be available for students and for

staff through the WHS Directorate

NOTES

Bushfire Kit for Hall

PPE for Principal + APs (P2 masks, overalls, gloves, goggles)

Portable battery operated radio

Torches and spare batteries

First Aid kit and Medication for students

DVDs to entertain students

Contact lists – copy of Emergency Plan

Class lists

Towels for under doorways

Appendix:

1. School map

2. Procedures for temporarily ceasing operations at a school due to an emergency or

potential emergency situation DN/14/00057

SCHOOL MAP

Location of School LIBRARY

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LIBRARY WHOLE

SCHOOL RELOCATION

SHELTER WHEN FIRE

IN THE AREA

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