Dear Fire and Emergency New Zealand,

The independent review of the 2017 incident stated that “A fundamental learning from the Port Hills fires was that interoperability is essential for emergency services” and “A single incident management system, well-rehearsed and practiced, is critical to the success of Fire and Emergency New Zealand”.

You have advised that the Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS) was not implemented for the Port Hills 2024 fire (Your Ref 154670). Somewhat incredibly, you also advised that “that incomplete IAPs were drafted only as a precaution should direct suppression of the incident last longer than 48 hours and a larger Incident Management Team be required”.

Under the provisions of the Official Information Act I request the following additional information:

1. A copy of the relevant section of FENZ’s national Command and Control documentation that prescribes when a single incident management system will be implemented. In particular, how this decision is based upon elapsed time (48 hours) and not predicted fire development, forecasted fire weather, fire behavior, values at risk, multi-agency response required, etc.

2. Advise what single incident management system FENZ implemented within the first 48 hours of the 2024 Port Hills fire and provide copies of the plans that this system produced as would be required to brief and task resources. Eg, SITREP, Objectives, IMT Structure, Strategies, Tasks, Resources and Assignments, Communications Plan, Medical Plan, Safety Plan, Fire Weather, Fire Ground Maps, etc.

3. Advise what single incident management system FENZ implemented after the first 48 hours of the 2024 Port Hills fire and provide copies of the plans that this system produced for the next 5 Operational Periods to brief and task resources as in 2 above.

Yours faithfully,

Alan Thompson