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"SYDNEY NURSING HOME FIRE UPDATE"
Posted: Friday, November, 25th, 2011
As of Today 26 November 2011 this tragic and senseless fire has now claimed it's 10th victim.
As the hours unfolded after the event it became evident that a carer that was working at this facility had possibly started this fire maliciously.
The fire appears to have been started in one room and than at a seperate location with bed linen piled up.
Although the smoke detection system functioned as required the time between the brigade responding and their arrival was about 4 minutes, which is pretty quick, unfortunately this is about all the time the fire needed to take hold and create mayhem and the ultimate tragedy.
Survival Solutions regularly provide emergency management training to a number of aged care facilities, whereby the emphases is always on following procedure, minising risk and avoiding accidental fire.
However it is very difficult to prepare and have an adequate contingency in place when someone internal commits arson.
The Fire protection Association of Australia have prepared an official statement that acknowledges the limitation and risk associated with older aged care facilities that are not equipped with fire suppression (sprinkler), which is not the case in new buildings.
The FPAA and Survival Solutions recommend that all owners of older aged care facilities investigate the options available to upgrade the building to include a sprinkler system although at this stage it is not mandatory.
In addition to this it is highly recommended that any emergency management education of staff and wardens, whom should be full time employees and not agency staff, regardless of seniority on shift include trial evacuation, preferably with a purpose built evacuation smoke machine.