The State Smoke Framework

When dealing with incidents and emergencies, our role is to create confident, safe and resilient communities that have the information needed to recognise and respond to potential fire and smoke hazards.

As a way to achieve this, an integrated, state-wide approach was developed in 2015.

The State Smoke Framework ensures relevant agencies work effectively with each other and the community before, during and after significant and prolonged events that generate smoke or other emissions.

It helps agencies to identify the types of events, such as bushfires, coal mine fires, landfill and peat fires, and planned burns.

It also outlines a range of supporting tools, such as standards, guidelines and operational procedures to help agencies respond appropriately to potential risks from smoke or other emissions generated by those events.

While we are always developing new tools, the existing ones provide you with detailed guidance, including the requirements for engaging with the community and responding effectively to potential public health risks that may be associated with smoke exposure.

The tools are designed to help guide planning, decision-making and response before, during and after the event.

They include guidelines for the deployment of community air quality monitoring by the Environment Protection Authority, the Standard for managing exposure to significant carbon monoxide emissions and the Community smoke, air quality health standard.

The Standard is likely to be used in many fires. It provides the air quality trigger levels for fine particles, or PM2.5, and related public health messaging and actions within Victoria's graduated Fine Particle Response Framework.

They also cover the Joint Standard Operating Procedures, such as Managing significant community exposure to fine particles from smoke. This JSOP details the arrangements for notifications when air quality trigger values have been reached, the process for getting health protection information out to the community, and the relevant health advice provided during a significant, complex, or prolonged event that generates smoke or other emissions.

Overall, the Framework contributes to improved community and responder safety and more confident, safe and resilient communities.

The State Smoke Framework and its supporting tools can be accessed by logging into the Emergency Management Common Operating Picture and clicking 'Library'.

And, in case there is no computer access during an emergency, it's best to keep hard copies on hand.

Keep our communities safe around smoke. Log into the EM-COP library today.