QFES hits Home Run with Gold Coast Commonwealth Games exercise

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) personnel will be put through their paces today (Thursday) during an exercise to test preparedness and response ahead of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018).

Fire and Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford said Exercise Home Run would be the final QFES exercise preparing personnel working in the Event Coordination Centre and Event Control Rooms at Games venues.

“The exercise will run from Southport Fire and Rescue Station, which will host the Event Coordination Centre and Business Continuity Cell during the Games,” Mr Crawford said.

“Home Run will test personnel in real time, simulating a normal day of operations during the event.

“Today will be used as a final opportunity to confirm processes and procedures developed for the Games and will simulate a range of operational activities, including shift handovers and communications strategies.

“Exercise Home Run is yet another example of QFES’ commitment to ensuring the agency is ready to respond to any emergencies that may arise during the Games.”

Mr Crawford said the Palaszczuk Government’s $11 million QFES Commonwealth Games program will include the deployment of about 850 personnel.

He said the QFES response will include deployment of about 400 paid QFES employees and approximately 450 volunteers, undertaking a total of approximately 3500 shifts.

“This is part of a three-year program that has involved the establishment of a dedicated QFES Commonwealth Games Office (CGO) that employees 19 full-time staff,” he said.

QFES Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the Event Coordination Centre would play a pivotal role in ensuring public safety during the Games.

“The Event Coordination Centre will be the main base of operations for the QFES deployment and will coordinate all functional and operational requirements,” Ms Carroll said.

“It will be staffed by Fire and Rescue, State Emergency Services (SES) and Rural Fire Service (RFS) personnel, who are all hugely dedicated to providing the highest level of support and response during the Games.

“Exercise Home Run will strengthen the capabilities of our personnel, systems and strategies and places QFES in an excellent position as we head into the final stages of readiness for the Games.”

ENDS

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