Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) provides fire and emergency services throughout the country. They ensure a coordinated and efficient response to national and local emergencies, including firefighting events, rescue operations, and hazardous material incidents.
Over the last few years, an increase in the frequency of severe weather events has highlighted the risk posed by actual and potential landslides. In 2023, Cyclone Gabrielle triggered hundreds of thousands of landslides across the North Island, resulting in large-scale damage to property and, sadly, loss of life.
The subsequent FENZ investigation identified that personnel attending incidents involving landslides were not sufficiently aware of the risks. Despite well-embedded risk management tools, such as the Safe Person Concept (SPC) and Dynamic Risk Assessment (DRA), it was identified that personnel had insufficient knowledge of risks and warning signs to inform their processes.
The report concluded that targeted information and training on the risk of landslides was required through out the agency.
After consultation with stakeholders, it was agreed that the most effective approach would be a new style of station-based training.
This training would increase working knowledge about the causes and influences that produce landslides, the risks posed by landslides, the warning signs of imminent landslides, and the application of the SPC and DRA tools in landslide situations.
The training had to cater to officers, firefighters (career and volunteer) and operational support. The sessions would be leader-facilitated during a shift, cater to groups of four to thirty, and be able to be delivered either in-person or virtually to reach every local firefighter.
Our blended, station-based solution included the following elements:
1. A 15min eLearning Awareness Module
(highly visual and interactive, for individual or group learning)
2. A 10min Impactful Video
(bringing the reality, gravity and emotion from fellow firefighters who had previously experienced landslide incidents)
3. A 90min Leader-led Session Pack
(a no-preparation presentation, session guide and resources with real-life scenarios, interactive group activities, and questions to challenge thinking)
As a result, FENZ has:
· Prepared their operational crews for future severe weather events
· Trained over 80% of their firefighting personnel
· Greatly reduced the risk of future landslide casualties
· Adopted a new approach to station-based training
· Extended this life-saving training by sharing with partner agencies, such as Police, RCC & Maritime NZ.
