The Be Ready Warrandyte pilot scenario planning event was held on Tuesday 14 May 2013 at the Warrandyte Community Church. This event was conducted as a pilot to invited guests, emergency services personnel and committee members.
Glenn Cockram, Manager Community Infrastructure, CFA District 14 led us through a scenario where a fire was initiated in the area of Mt Pleasant Rd, Eltham and travelled into Warrandyte and North Warrandyte. During the scenario we were continually challenged. “And what would you be doing now? What does your plan say?”
It was thought-provoking and a great way to test the effectiveness of our bushfire survival plans.
We asked participants 5 questions prior to the workshop, then another 5 questions at the end of the workshop. Here is a summary of the responses received;
Pre-workshop
75% – have a written family fire plan
85% – families are aware of the plan and their roles
54% – have practiced their plan
78% – consider their plans to be effective
74% – plans cater for a situation where evacuation is impossible
Post-workshop
89% – their plan helped them through the simulation
65% – still consider their fire plan to be effective
91% – advised if they couldn’t leave early they now have, or plan to have, a B, C, D plan. (Although some people advised they already had back up plans – fabulous!)
89% – Would recommend this event to family and friends
To get through the entire scenario in the 2 hours allocated not all issues could be covered on the evening. The purpose was to test fire plans, not emergency services operations or bushfire equipment. It was decided to ‘park’ 3 issues which we didn’t have time to fully explore and we will look at addressing these issues in the near future.
– Scanners
– Sprinklers – are they proven?
– School fire plans – who verifies?
We were joined by graphic recorders Jock Macneish and Robert Black who produced a series of images capturing the essence of the workshop – see below.
There are many people to thank for contributing to the success of the evening: the participants, the volunteers, emergency services personnel (CFA, Police, DSE, Parks), emergency management personnel (Manningham and Nillumbik), WCA committee, Be Ready Warrandyte committee and the fabulous Warrandyte Community Church for use of their premises. Special thanks to Glenn Cockram (CFA) for walking us through the scenario so brilliantly, challenging us along the way and to Bruce Turner for keeping us on track.
The next event is on 28 November 2013, 7-9pm, Anderson’s Creek Primary School, Warrandyte.
