ACEFAC 2014 * Shane Fitzsimmons AFSM
Commissioner
NSW Rural Fire Service
Having an informed and prepared community is vital to building disaster resilience. The NSW Rural Fire Service and other emergency services have invested in strong links with our communities, connections that ensure that vital messages about bush fire prevention and management get through to those at risk. With complacency and apathy in our communities continuing to be an ever present barrier, we must take advantage of the fire season we have had and the media coverage that followed to target our communities while we are still front of mind.
The ‘Mission Possible’ is to build disaster resilience in our communities. This can be achieved with a focus on sharing, adopting, adapting and applying good practice. Community engagement is central to ensuring no lives are lost, property loss is minimised and our communities are able to pull through devastating events.