Dear members,
Fire protection plays an essential role ensuring the safety
of the community, but it often goes unsung.
When it is done well, nobody notices. When it fails,
everybody does.
Yet, because of our industry, the public can live, work, and
play without giving the slightest thought to the potential risks of
fire and the active and passive systems and practices designed to
mitigate them.
This doesn't mean the risks aren't there.
In a sobering reminder, last weekend three people died in a
house fire in the south-western Sydney suburb of
Hinchinbrook.
Two women in their 40s and 60s, and a 10-year-old boy, when
a smoke alarm apparently failed to work.
Five other people, including two firefighters, were
hospitalised.
The tragedy has once again alerted to the dangers people
face in homes, businesses, and places of leisure, and how a lack of
attention to maintaining fire safety can have disastrous
ramifications.
While the source of the fire is still being investigated,
the fact that it is one of 500 house fires in NSW - causing
thirteen deaths - so far this winter, should be a cause for
concern.
Owners and occupants of commercial and industrial buildings,
while more protected by fire systems, should not be complacent
either, as fire protection is negligible if systems are not
maintained.
But, for the average person, knowledge and awareness about
fire safety is rather limited.
Their understanding of what the fire protection industry
does is even less.
So, to raise the profile of the industry and its
contributions to community safety, this September FPA Australia is
holding the inaugural National Fire Protection
Month.
To be launched by our Patron, His Excellency General the
Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), Governor-General of
Australia, and recognising the anniversary of 1666's Great Fire of
London, we aim to make the month an annual event and an important
ongoing reminder about safety.
Over 30 days, we will be running a series of seminars,
webinars, and demonstrations across the country to highlight the
role that our industry plays and examine topics of broader interest
related to fire protection.
The program is currently being finalised, and we'll release
it in mid-August, but there is sure to be something of interest for
everyone.
Through this program, we hope to reach out to the community,
explain what we do, and emphasise the importance of safety, rather
than compliance.
In coming weeks, keep your eyes open for further
announcements about the events, stories, and information that will
be released during National Fire Protection Month.
We are excited about this new initiative, and I hope to see
many of you at some of our events.
Until then, kind regards,
Bob Grieve
President