Not enough Tasmanian fireys have received required marine fire training: United Firefighters Union

Firefighters have not received enough training to respond to marine incidents this summer, according to the union representing Tasmania Fire Service employees.

Not enough firefighters have received the necessary training to respond to marine incidents this summer, a union has said.

But the Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) is adamant that all fireys are trained in the “tactical fundamentals of marine/ship fires” and that further training is being delivered “as operationally determined”.

Following a blaze at the Lindisfarne Marina in 2018, which destroyed several vessels and caused $1.2 million worth of damage, the TFS identified a need for the provision of additional training relating to the use of personal floatation devices and swimming in personal protective equipment.

The cause of the Lindisfarne fire was never determined due to extensive damage to the cruiser on which it first broke out.

Fire at Lindisfarne marina involving yachts. Tasmania Fire Service in attendance. PICTURE: MATT THOMPSON

United Firefighters Union industrial organiser Stephen McCallum said until a firefighter received the additional training, they would not be able to respond to a marine fire.

“[The TFS] can send them [to an incident] but they’re not going to be able to do a whole lot,” he said.

“They’re required to provide [the training] to all the career firefighters – there’s about 350 of them – and all of the volunteers who are reasonably likely to need to respond to a marine incident.”

Mr McCallum estimated that up to 50 career fireys had received the new training, while no volunteers had received it.

“It means if you’ve got a fire on a boat or on a marina, firefighters can only, essentially, without the training, spray water from the shore,” he said.

“Most of our appliances don’t have the capability to shoot water over long distances. You’re meant to get relatively close to effectively fight a fire.

United Firefighters Union industrial organiser Stephen McCallum. Picture: Chris Kidd

“And if there’s a boat adrift or a boat tied up at the end of a marina and firefighters can’t go on the marina, then it’s going to be very difficult to stop the fire from spreading to the vessels.”

A TFS spokesperson said the fire service “maintains a marine firefighting response capability”.

“All firefighters are trained in the tactical fundamentals of marine/ship fires as they progress through their studies, and further training is delivered as operationally determined,” they said.

“Fire response on a marine vessel is the responsibility of the vessel captain, with support provided by TFS, on agreement with the captain of the vessel.

“TFS is currently assessing its marine firefighting equipment and service delivery to ensure it is fit for purpose.”

The spokesperson did not say how many firefighters had received the additional marine fire training.

Originally published as Not enough Tasmanian fireys have received required marine fire training: United Firefighters Union