State Operations Controller

Scope

The State Operations Controller (SOC) has primary responsibility for supervising NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) operations to control bush fires in NSW and respond to other emergencies for which it or the Commissioner are responsible.

Fundamental Protocols underpin the actions of all RFS members and must be adhered to at all times. They outline the Principles of being an RFS member and provide guidance on conduct to support the safety and wellbeing of members.

Accountabilities

• Implementing and ensuring compliance with the levels of bush fire alert and operational readiness.
• Preparing, issuing and ensuring implementation of, and compliance with, State Operations Plans.
• Preparing public warnings about bush fires and bush fire threats for the purpose of protecting life and property and ensuring that they are issued.
• Preparing appropriate messages, alerts and warnings to be provided to fire fighters and other emergency service personnel in relation to bush fires in NSW and other emergencies for which the RFS or Commissioner are responsible and ensuring that they are issued.
• Managing the State Operations Centre (OpsCen) and the personnel assigned to it (including other agency representatives) during periods of significant operational activity.
• Supporting and monitoring operations to control bush fires in NSW and/or the RFS response to other emergencies for which it or the Commissioner are responsible.
• Identifying and rectifying any shortcomings in operations to control bush fires in NSW and/or the RFS response to other emergencies for which it or the Commissioner are responsible.
• Liaising with all State Operations functions regarding operations, safety issues and maintaining situational awareness.
• Providing advice and recommendations to the Deputy Commissioners in relation to the management of RFS operations.
• Ensuring a record is maintained of significant decisions taken, the rationale for those decisions, and to whom, when and how they were communicated.
• In discharging these duties, the SOC will ensure that timely information and recommendations are received from other members of the RFS and/or other emergency service personnel and disseminated as appropriate and regularly report to the Deputy Commissioners and/or the Commissioner as appropriate.
• The SOC may direct another member of the RFS to discharge any of these duties and supervise his or her discharge of those duties. At times this may include the appointment of a Deputy State Operations Controller (DSOC) who in the absence of the SOC will carry out the functions of the SOC.

Special Considerations

• The Commissioner has allocated these duties to the SOC, pursuant to s12(2) of the Rural Fires Act 1997.

Related Information

• Policy 4.1.1 - Financial Delegations
• Rural Fires Act 1997