New Zealand Fire Service and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR)
Media update from Assistant National Commander Paul Baxter
7.00 pm Friday 4 March 2011
USAR
• Recovery phase progressing at pace.

• PGC – The search and recovery operation is now complete. A sincere thank you to the UK USAR team members who have been working on the site, for their dedicated and determined effort.

• CTV – Ongoing and painstaking deconstruction process here. Chinese, Japanese and New Zealand teams working on the building today (daylight hours). We expect the CTV operation to be completed in the next two to three days.

• Cathedral – 24 hour operation continues. US and NZ USAR teams are progressing well. We have started controlled clearance of the spire – starting with clearing the upper layer of a huge amount of debris. For safety reasons USAR personnel are working in a steel capsule, lowered into the base of the spire from a crane. The recovery operation is a very difficult one. Protecting as much as we can of the building while doing the job we have to do.

• Forsyth Barr – 24 hour operation continues. US USAR teams working their way down due to the collapsed stairwell. It is a substantial operation at each floor. Fire Service crew with a tanker on site for protection.

• USAR deconstruction work within the CBD has now been prioritised by engineers. This currently involves around 30 buildings.

USAR crews

• Australia - New South Wales (about 70 people) and Queensland (about 70) departed Christchurch today. They are being replaced with a fresh team from all states and territories (about 72) on Sunday (March 6).
• China (10) – the team is continuing to work at the CTV building – until Tuesday next week (March 8).

• Japan (32) – about half of team departed on Wednesday this week (March 2). The remaining team members are continuing to work at the CTV building - until Tuesday next week (March 8).

• New Zealand (150) – we continue to have three USAR NZ Taskforces (teams) in Christchurch. About 30 to 40 team members are now rotating out for a day or two of rest. No date has been put on how long the teams will remain in Christchurch.

• Singapore (55) – continuing work (no date for departure).

• Taiwan (22) – departed yesterday.

• UK (70) – working today. Length of stay is likely to be assessed tomorrow.

• USA (about 76) – will be scaling down on Sunday to leave about half the team here. Length of stay is likely to be assessed on Tuesday (March 8).

USAR Welfare

• Operations will continue for as long as required to complete the task and teams will continue to do what needs to be done. We do however have some physically and emotionally tired people and we need to ensure their welfare is considered in our future operations.

• For this reason, we are systematically rotating USAR crews on a planned basis. We will ensure we have sufficient resource to keep the recovery effort going and we have good support from foreign USAR teams and their governments.

• The Christchurch-based USAR teams have now started to stand down and will not return in the immediate future. It has been a hard decision for those teams to make as it is their city but it’s important that they have time with their own families and look after their own needs. These have been put second while this search has been underway. We would really like to thank their families for their patience during the last 11 days.

Fire
• Total fire ban still in place today and tomorrow. This is essential to ensure no fires in the city or surrounding areas divert our resources.

• We continue to offer an important support service for members of the public, particularly in the eastern suburbs, with safety concerns such as unstable chimneys or flooding. This includes distribution of fire safety leaflets.

• We have received reports that people are using candles in an unsafe manner. Never leave lit candles unattended and ensure they are extinguished before you go to bed.

• The planned resumption of power in homes in the Eastern Suburbs may increase fire risks. Key fire safety messages include:

• Ensure all home appliances and power outlets are turned off

• Ensure all electrical chords and appliances are unplugged from the wall socket

• Inspect electrical appliances for any visual damage and if damage is found do not use when electricity is restored.

• The main switch will isolate the entire electrical installation and should be used where extensive damage or exposed wiring is present. However, the main switch should never be relied upon for complete safety – always treat exposed wires with care. Remember turning off at the main switch does not mean that the wires feeding power to the house will be safe.

• Take extra care wherever water is present.

• If circuit breakers trip or fuses blow, this is a warning that something is wrong and qualified advice should be obtained and the circuit left off.

• If you received ‘tingles’ when touching electrical appliances or water taps, turn off the main switch immediately and seek assistance from a qualified person.

• Remember to be watchful of children near electrical equipment.

• Do not attempt to make temporary repairs to damaged or faulty electrical equipment.

ENDS

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