Non–fire Outcomes

This sub-section summarises the Commission’s performance in achieving its non-fire outcomes. The Commission provides a range of services to minimise the consequences of non-fire emergencies for communities.

Response to Other Emergencies

National Goal Provide a professional response to non-fire emergencies.

The purpose of this outcome is to recognise and monitor the contribution the Commission makes to reducing the consequences from non-fire emergencies. By using its existing response capability the Fire Service responds to a range of non-fire emergencies to minimise the resulting consequences. However, the legislative accountability for non-fire emergency outcomes lies with other organisations. This outcome measure
recognises the large call on our resources for non-fire emergencies and seeks to quantify the size of our contribution. The graph shows the rolling 12-month totals for the number of non-fire emergency incidents attended. The steep spike in other non-fire emergencies is related to extreme weather conditions, particularly the flooding in early 2004.

National Goal Adopt national standards for response activities.

The Fire Service commenced research and development of national response standards during 2006/2007. Development work will continue in 2007/2008 before standards can be finalised and used to locate and
deploy resources.

Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Capability

National Goal Three urban search and rescue teams developed and maintained to International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) medium level.

The three urban search and rescue teams were upgraded following equipment and training investments in the first quarter of 2006/2007. These upgrades were to meet the final INSARAG medium level requirements.

National Goal Volunteer staff trained to USAR Cat1 awareness level and career staff trained to USAR Cat1 response level.

Training has been conducted over the last two years for both career and volunteer staff. A major review of the status of the training and employee capability will be carried out in early 2007/2008. A revised training and assessment programme will be developed and implemented to achieve the national goal within the next two to three years. An ongoing maintenance training and reassessment programme will also be developed and implemented as part of the overall USAR capability.

Intermediate Outcomes

This sub-section summarises the results of the Commission’s annual fire knowledge survey. The telephone survey asks people aged 13 years and over a series of fire safety questions and is carried out between August and September of each year. It monitors the effectiveness of fire safety promotions by measuring the direct impact services (outputs) have on maintaining and improving the level of public fire safety knowledge and
fire-safe behaviour.

National Goal Improve the fire safety knowledge and behaviour of the public.

In 2006 and 2007 the conversion model was included in the fire knowledge survey. The conversion model measures people’s commitment to a fire-safe lifestyle and clusters people into groups depending on the level
of their commitment to that lifestyle. The picture below shows the results from the 2007 survey.

The Commission has successfully converted six percent of the population to a more fire-safe lifestyle. In 2006, 60% were in the opportunity category and 34% were committed. By 2007 the number of people committed to a fire-safe lifestyle had risen to 40%. The percent in the opportunity category had dropped by a corresponding six percent to 54%.