RIT - Operation Storm the Beach

Over the weekend volunteers took part in a combined emergency services scenario, to sharpen their skills and improve their response time.

Operation Storm the Beach was led by Wasp Creek’s Rural Fire Brigade, setting out to fight a simulated escalating bushfire emergency on South Stradbroke Island that needed to be responded to within a set timeframe.

The operation involved the mobilisation of 50 Rural Fire Service staff and volunteers, with assistance from marine rescue volunteers and Queensland’s State Emergency Service within two-and-a-half hours of time of call.

Bringing volunteers and equipment over from the mainland was just part of the task.

Among the challenges were remote access and connectivity issues personnel had to overcome.

Activities undertaken on the day included rake hoe exercises, chainsaw work and pumping trials, pushing the physical limits of the crews involved under a testing environment of rain and resulting mud.

All the exercises were spearheaded by the Incident Control Point at Wasp Creek Station, with the overall mission a resounding success.

The real-time operation provided members of the Marine Rescue Implementation Program who attended with invaluable insights into the demands and critical decision making that will form the backbone of Marine Rescue Queensland (post proclamation of the Marine Rescue Queensland Act 2023).