COMMISSIONER’S REQUIREMENTS
Fire Incident Reporting and Monitoring
Section
CR Number
1. Security and Control
1.3.2
Current Issue Date
August 2015
Corrections Act 1986
Legislation & Policy
Emergency Management Act 2013
Dangerous Goods Handling and Storage Regulations 2000
Standard
Attachments
Safety and Security Services - Incident Reporting
Nil
Victorian Prisons Fire Report
FAO Monthly Fire Awareness Activity Report
Forms
Prisons Quarterly Fire Awareness Report
Fire Evacuation Drill Report
Fire Drill Exercise Report
1
PURPOSE
All prisons have a duty to comply with the Emergency Management Act 2013 in terms of
response to and recovery from emergencies, including fires. A prison’s duty of care to staff,
prisoners and visitors will be reflected in the prison’s fire planning, procedures, and
management.
2
REQUIREMENT
2.1
For fires that require an immediate response, and have not been advised by an automated
alarm, emergency services must be contacted immediately by calling 000.
2.2
For all other fires, notification is to be made to the responding fire service within 30 minutes
of any fire, irrespective of its size or if it has been extinguished at a local level. The fire
service must be given all details in relation to the fire. They will then determine their
response.
3
CONTEXT
The reporting of fire incidents within prisons must be structured and consistent.
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Commissioner’s Requirement – Fire Incident Reporting and Monitoring
COMMISSIONER’S REQUIREMENTS
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INSTRUCTION
4.1
Protocol
4.1.1
Major fires include those incidents where:

serious injury has been sustained, or evacuation has been necessary (as opposed to a
precautionary measure);

considerable damage has occurred and the use of breathing apparatus or fire fighting
equipment (e.g. fire extinguisher, hose) has been necessary; or

major disruption has occurred to prisoner accommodation.
4.1.2
Minor fires are typically those incidents where there has been nil or minimal damage
sustained, no injuries or nil disruption to use of prisoner accommodation and may include
an evacuation or the use of breathing apparatus equipment as a precaution.
4.1.3
Major fires are notifiable incidents and must be reported to the Assistant Director, Custodial
Services/Duty Director, by telephone within 30 minutes of the incident occurring.
4.1.4
Minor fires are reportable incidents and a written report must be submitted within 24 hours.
The written report Victorian Prisons Fire Report, must be emailed to DOJ-CV-Prison Incidents
(for public prisons) or prisonincidents@justice.vic.gov.au (for private prisons) with all other
incident paperwork within 24 hours of the incident occurring.
4.1.5
Reporting of fires to WorkSafe shall occur in accordance with WorkSafe requirements.
4.1.6
Fire exercises are conducted as part of the training for staff and volunteer prisoner fire
teams (if formed) under the supervision of the Fire Awareness Officer (FAO).
4.1.7
Fire evacuation drills must occur at least once per month in different locations throughout
the prison.
4.1.8
A full fire exercise must occur at least annually in consultation with the local fire service
and the Security Standards Unit within the Security & Intelligence Division.
4.1.9
All prisons will refer to the Security Standards Unit regarding the schedule for the
conducting of Code Red Practical exercises.
4.1.10 All exercises must be recorded on Fire Evacuation Drill Report and Fire Drill Exercise Report
respectively.
4.1.11 Each prison will complete the FAO Monthly Fire Awareness Activity Report for the prison
General Manager.
4.1.12 For Statewide compliance monitoring purposes, the General Manager or their delegated
Operations Manager, must forward a Prisons Quarterly Fire Awareness Report to the Security
Standards Unit, via email cv.prisonsemergencymgt@justice.vic.gov.au. The Security
Standards Unit will review the quarterly fire awareness reports, provide a quarterly report to
the Assistant Commissioner, Security & Intelligence Division and liaise with the prisons and
the Security and Emergency Services Group (SESG) as required.
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Commissioner’s Requirement – Fire Incident Reporting and Monitoring
COMMISSIONER’S REQUIREMENTS
Jan Shuard PSM
Commissioner
Information below this point is administrative supporting detail
only and not subject to Commissioner’s review or approval.
Acronyms
FAO
Fire Awareness Officer
SSU
Security Standards Unit
SESG
Security and Emergency Services Group
Definitions
Nil
Associated Commissioner’s Requirements
1.3.1 - Incident Reporting
Document Detail
Title:
Fire Incident Reporting and Monitoring
Owner:
Assistant Commissioner, Security & Intelligence Division
Version Control
Version
Date
Description
V3
Aug-15
Update
V2
Aug-14
Update
V1
Dec-12
First Issue
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Commissioner’s Requirement – Fire Incident Reporting and Monitoring