Inquiry Search
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC322-4235 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | The Inspector-General Emergency Management recommends the Department of Environment and Science review the resourcing model to ensure surge capacity is available to support incident management functions during response operations. This includes processes to request assistance from other departments and entities with responsibilities for fire and incident management. |
REC322-4243 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | The Inspector-General Emergency Management recommends the Department of Environment and Science identify opportunities to increase Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service’s capability in incident management and multi-agency fire response, through exercising plans and procedures in collaboration with other stakeholders, including disaster and fire management groups at all levels. |
REC322-4245 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | The Inspector-General Emergency Management recommends the Department of Environment and Science establish pre-determined financial delegations and authority for Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Incident Controllers. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC319-4188 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Recovery governance: The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that the Victorian Government establish a permanent and comprehensive entity dedicated to recovery management with the authority, capability, capacity and resourcing to coordinate the planning and delivery of recovery functions for all emergencies. |
REC319-4191 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Relief governance: The Inspector General for Emergency Management recommends that Emergency Management Victoria lead the development of relief arrangements to achieve greater clarity of roles, reporting and accountability in relief across state, regional and incident tiers. These arrangements should: |
REC319-4192 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Relief governance: The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that the Emergency Management Commissioner strengthen the State Emergency Management Plan and supporting operational arrangements in accordance with his legislative obligations to ensure the roles and responsibilities of the State Emergency Relief Coordinator and the State Relief and Recovery Team are clear. These documents should enable: |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC318-4183 | 13 - Mapping and data quality | The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that Emergency Management Victoria – in consultation with relevant agencies – develop a system to manage personnel and asset deployments to all tiers of incident management to meet the needs of the emergency and support the health and wellbeing of personnel. Where appropriate and within occupational health and safety requirements, this may include: |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC307-2446 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Coordinated arrangements for liaison officer deployment should be considered and documented by disaster management groups across the full spectrum of risk identified for their area of responsibility, and not rely on a singular inflexible approach. |
REC307-2437 | 13 - Mapping and data quality | The ability to share, analyse, interrogate and display information from disparate entities should be progressed as a matter of some urgency. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC304-2413 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Authorise the Director of Bushfires NT to intervene in volunteer brigade affairs where necessary to maintain an effective fire management capacity in a brigade area. |
REC304-2412 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Maintain independence of volunteer brigades as community-based organisations and clarify the status and role of volunteers within the chain of command. |
REC304-2411 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Create new seasonal paid positions to coordinate and support groups of volunteer brigades. |
REC304-2410 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Authorise Bushfires NT to establish volunteer bushfire brigades and to give authority to volunteer firefighters to take part in fire suppression and mitigation operations. |
REC304-2414 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Clarify and streamline the allocation of powers to Bushfires NT staff and volunteers involved in bushfire management operations, using a system of delegation through a chain of command similar to the arrangements described in the NT Fire and Emergency Act. |
REC304-2406 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Retain the Regional Bushfires Committees as regional planning and consultative bodies tasked with monitoring, reviewing and making recommendations on fire management in a Fire Control Region. |
REC304-2414 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Clarify and streamline the allocation of powers to Bushfires NT staff and volunteers involved in bushfire management operations, using a system of delegation through a chain of command similar to the arrangements described in the NT Fire and Emergency Act. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC290-1212 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Resourcing models appropriate to local needs, including fire risk and remoteness |
REC290-1208 | 12 - EM agency and authority | A unified and integrated fire sector across the whole fire hazard |
REC290-1217 | 12 - EM agency and authority | IAP formats and processes appropriate to the nature of the emergency response. |
REC290-1216 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Resolve reoccurring issues with systems and processes |
REC290-1214 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Flexible pre‐formed multi‐ agency IMTs |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC277-1164 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Establish multi-agency preformed IMTs: An effective IMT for large and complex fire incidents requires the capacity and expertise of multiple agencies. Establishing multi-agency preformed IMTs will have three main benefits: adequate IMT resources can be deployed with ease • strong working relationships will be built between IMT members • common approaches to incident management and fire response can be embedded. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC265-1109 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Future appointments to the role of Incident Controller should be limited to one for the entire duration of the incident, with nominated Deputy Incident Controllers to assist or ‘take charge’ in the Incident Controller’s absence. This measure will provide for a single point of responsibility and control for the incident and assist with any subsequent review or enquiry. If it is not possible to implement this proposal for liability reasons, the number of Incident Controllers should nevertheless be reduced to the minimum. |
REC265-1104 | 12 - EM agency and authority | DFES should increase and maintain urban interface bushfire skills and expertise. Appointments to senior roles within the agency should include people with experience and credibility in bushfire firefighting and management. |
REC265-1122 | 18 - Access to fire ground | DFES, in consultation with bushfire volunteers should develop a procedure for the controlled entry and exit of volunteers to the fire ground |
REC265-1121 | 18 - Access to fire ground | A Restricted Access Permit system for the entry/ re-entry of residents, based on the one developed for the Parkerville Stoneville Mt Helena Bushfire should be finalised. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC254-1589 | 12 - EM agency and authority | In due course, acts of bravery are considered and recommendations for awards are submitted, including commendations for the delivery of First Aid. |
REC254-1587 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | WA adopts a culture of joint IMTs in future. At Regional and State levels, DFES and DEC maintain standing contributions. |
REC254-1585 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | DFES and Local Government Bushfire Brigades ensure that only those with the required AIIMS competence have the authority to manage Level 1 incidents, noting they may not be Fire Control Officers. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC226-0551 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | As presently implemented, the AIIMS planning role is under-developed and provides insufficient support to the Incident Controller. |
REC226-0575 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | In multi-agency responses the culture, training and equipment characteristics of each of the agencies should be considered in their employment. |
REC226-0587 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | To be effective, multi-agency IMTs will need to be exercised regularly and supported by sound and comprehensive doctrine. |
REC226-0558 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Predetermined locations for Level 3 IMTs should be reviewed and adequately resourced with necessary communications and IT capacity. |
REC226-0566 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Incident Controllers should be supported by a planning function that combines experienced weather forecasters, fire behaviour experts and local knowledge. |
REC226-0550 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Greater investment in training on specific functions within the AIIMS structure will improve the support provided to the Incident Controller. |
REC226-0574 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Clear direction to divisional and sector commanders and a common communications platform enables maximum return to be gained from the application of tactical resources and this rests on good incident action planning, and good command and control. |
REC226-0586 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | At Level 3, the available fire management expertise should be applied overwhelmingly to the fire management aspects of emergency management, possibly in incident control, and certainly in situations planning and operations roles. |
REC226-0557 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | An intensive exercise/training program should be developed and maintained across agencies to identify and establish a pool of current Incident Controllers who are capable of managing a Level 3 incident. |
REC226-0565 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Contingency planning is a critical function in the early stages of an escalating incident, and should provide the foundation of an IAP. |
REC226-0547 | 13 - Mapping and data quality | Fuel loads on private property need to be identified and included in understanding fire behaviour in determine the contribution they make to the burn risk assessment. |
REC226-0573 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Strategic direction seeks to identify and resource those areas of tactical action that offer the greatest advantage. |
REC226-0585 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | DEC’s fire management expertise should be augmented by multi-agency IMTs that incorporate the expertise of other agencies and in fast developing situations the appropriate decisions will need to be made early. |
REC226-0556 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Within the AIIMS IMT doctrine the roles of the Incident Controller and Deputy Incident Controllers should be defined and well-practiced. |
REC226-0564 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | The expected scenario, with a view to the worst-case scenario should provide the basis for an IAP. |
REC226-0546 | 13 - Mapping and data quality | Maps prepared for prescribed burns should address the fuel type and burn history of the burn area as well as surrounding areas. Predicted rates of spread under prescribed and other conditions should recognise the complexity of coastal heathlands. |
REC226-0572 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Contingency planning before the fire may have supported the IMT in recognising and seizing strategic opportunities earlier. |
REC226-0584 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Reporting and control should be through the incident chain of command and not through agency chains of command |
REC226-0555 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | The state should identify the number of fully trained, experienced and accredited Level 3 Incident Controllers required to be available at any time and establish a process for identification of suitable personnel, ongoing training and accreditation. |
REC226-0563 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Procedures to relocate IMTs need to be established in doctrine and exercised to ensure continuity of control. |
REC226-0570 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Logistics and resource officers in IMTs need to collaborate and establish full awareness and control over the available resources. |
REC226-0576 | 13 - Mapping and data quality | Better maps are required for urban/rural interface fires |
REC226-0554 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | For incidents of this complexity, effective control in the critical phase (first 24-36 hours of the fire) requires an appropriately resourced IMT. |
REC226-0562 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Opportunities be sought to utilise local government representatives in other areas of the IMT particularly in public information or other community related functions. |
REC226-0567 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | IMTs need to establish early and effective liaison with Local Governments. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC225-0538 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | WA adopts a culture of joint IMTs in future. At Regional and State levels, DFES and DEC maintain standing contributions. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC209-1665 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Develop a long term forecast of volunteer requirements, by region, and then review the adequacy of volunteer operational grants, equipment and facilities to meet this forecast. |
REC209-1664 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Review Bushfires NT brigade boundaries to increase the catchment for possible volunteers and maximise the availability and allocation of equipment. |
REC209-1663 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Review Bushfires CRC initiatives as the basis for the implementation of a recruitment drive in the Territory. |
REC209-1649 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Regular rotation of staff across other regions of the Territory to increase knowledge, skills and expertise that can be called upon to increase response effectiveness. |
REC209-1645 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Ensure that adequate administrative personnel are available within the incident control structure to provide administrative and knowledge management support for incident management. |
REC209-1668 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Maintain DNRETAS as the lead agency for all aspects of Bushfires NT’s role and maintain Bushfires NT as the lead organisation for both fire prevention and fire fighting operations in its specified districts and zones. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC203-0290 | 18 - Access to fire ground | VCPs are one of the instruments by which the Incident Controller manages the emergency. VCPs without communications cannot be fully effective in their role. Determine and implement an appropriate communications platform for emergency management |
REC203-0300 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Reporting and control should be through the incident chain of command, and not through agency chain of command. |
REC203-0289 | 18 - Access to fire ground | There needs to be a better appreciation of the role of Vehicle Control Points (VCPs) and how they are managed in bushfire emergencies by all key agencies and the community |
REC203-0295 | 12 - EM agency and authority | There would be benefit in progressively aligning the geographic boundaries of each of the agencies and seeking to co-locate their headquarters within those boundaries. |
REC203-0294 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Opportunities should be sought to embed other local government representatives in other areas of the IMT particularly in public information. |
REC203-0292 | 18 - Access to fire ground | There is a need for community education on how road-blocks and VCPs operate in the event of an emergency. |
REC203-0291 | 18 - Access to fire ground | Local knowledge should be accessed to inform the placement and operation of VCPs. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC196-0235 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Consider the ‘secondment’ of staff into Information Section roles during the fire season along the lines of the seasonal Project Fire Fighters model |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC195-0323 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Incident Controllers ensure that Emergency Management Teams consider, provide advice, and manage the broader consequences of actions, such as reopening roads, the resumption of public transport and school buses, and the welfare of those impacted by traffic management points. |
REC195-0320 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The Fire Services continue working towards a common and integrated information and communication platform to improve interoperability at state, regional and local levels. |
REC195-0317 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | The Fire Services ensure that an incident action plan (summary) is developed in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure J3.03. |
REC195-0316 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | The Fire Services continue to develop fire behaviour analysis and predictive science capability by ensuring the Fire Behaviour Analysis Team is appropriately resourced with accredited staff and available to provide services to the IMT. |
REC195-0315 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | The Fire Services, as part of the regular review of Incident Management Teams – Readiness Arrangements, reassess current resource sustainability and identify opportunities for a more flexible application. |
REC195-0330 | 13 - Mapping and data quality | The Fire Services develop a program that enables all communication mediums, including social media and agency websites, to be monitored in real time to provide quality assurance for outgoing messages and additional sources of information and intelligence relating to an emergency |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC172-0016 | 18 - Access to fire ground | Full briefings of traffic management personnel should be provided prior to dispatch to work areas – why road closed, what their authority level is, level of current risk etc |
REC172-0004 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | A formal IMG meeting should be convened as early as possible at initiating incidents with potential. At the very least early advice to potential IMG members should be made that a meeting is likely to be convened. The initial IMG should include all IMG representatives to ensure comprehensive briefing, agency specific situational awareness and issue identification. |
REC172-0035 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | At Level 3 incidents the Information Services Unit should be adequately resourced with information technology and at least 6 persons, all of whom are very experienced and capable in dealing with the information demands of a Level 3 incident. |
REC172-0009 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | When an OAMG is established, a formal declaration of its establishment needs to be transmitted to all organisation/agencies involved. The declaration should clearly establish the reporting arrangements for Incident Controllers to the OAM as described in Westplan Bushfire. |
REC172-0014 | 18 - Access to fire ground | The Interagency Guidelines for Road closure needs to be reviewed to incorporate a mechanism to identify bone-fide local landholders to facilitate their movement in and out of cordoned areas in sympathy with the Stay and Defend requirements. |
REC172-0027 | 13 - Mapping and data quality | Add an ‘Aviation’ map to the standard set of incident maps. The standard for this map will need to be developed by subject matter experts from the Air Ops group. |
REC172-0008 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Potential OAMG membership should be identified in DEMC protocols and local hazard management plans. The information needs to be kept current. The contact details for each member should be recorded. These plans and contact details need to be available to any IMT mobilised to deal with an incident within the jurisdiction. This means access to this information via internet and storage and maintenance at a centralised facility managed by FESA.] |
REC172-0013 | 18 - Access to fire ground | In preparing traffic management plans consideration should be given to which VCP’s are critical and need to be resourced with uniformed Police Officers and which VCP’s can be manned with civilian contractors. |
REC172-0024 | 12 - EM agency and authority | Transport plans for BFB resources should be prepared by the Ground Support Unit in close liaison with FESA who will liaise with the home jurisdictions of the brigades. Moving personnel whilst leaving the equipment at the fire ground staging areas is preferred to moving equipment in and out with every shift. |
REC172-0007 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | A formal OAMG meeting should be convened as early as possible for incidents with the potential to be Level 3 incidents. At the very least early advice to potential OAMG members should be made on days that exhibit extreme fire weather and other high ignition risk factors that a meeting is likely to be convened. The initial OAMG should include all OAMG representatives identified by LEMAC and DEMAC for each area to ensure comprehensive briefing, agency specific situational awareness and issue identification. |
REC172-0012 | 18 - Access to fire ground | Main Roads Western Australia, Police and LGA’s be encouraged via State emergency arrangements to establish a distributed cache of “hard” road barriers for deployment to major incidents |
REC172-0020 | 12 - EM agency and authority | The role of ‘BFB Task Force Liaison’ be defined and appropriately trained personnel be provided by the HMA (possibly from support brigades) to facilitate brigade movements on and off the fire ground. |
REC172-0006 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Prior to the bushfire season, potential IMG members, many of whom are members of the Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) should be made aware of, and possibly exercise, their role as an IMG member. |
REC172-0011 | 18 - Access to fire ground | At Level 3 incidents the position of ‘Traffic Operations Officer’ –be established and filled by a WAPOL officer. A role description for this position is required and should be included in the “Guidelines for the Operations of Road Closures During Bushfires 2008”. This officer is to be supported by a suitably qualified officer from MRWA that is capable of developing Traffic Management Plans that address risk and are cognisant of considerations associated with road type, appropriate speed limitations, signage requirements, traffic volumes, detours for local traffic and heavy haulage etc. This role should report to the IC and have strong links to the Operations Section, Planning Section (particularly the Situation Unit) and the Information Unit. |
REC172-0017 | 18 - Access to fire ground | Information packs to be provided to road traffic personnel to assist with enquiries by public or provision to members of public and landholders who are defending homes/stock etc |
REC172-0005 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Potential IMG membership should be identified in local hazard management plans. The information needs to be kept current. The contact details for each member should be recorded. These plans and contact details need to be available to any IMT mobilised to deal with an incident within the jurisdiction. This means access to this information via internet and storage and maintenance at a centralised facility managed by FESA. |
REC172-0039 | 18 - Access to fire ground | Dedicated information packages should be made available to personnel operating Vehicle Control Points at the shift briefing. |
REC172-0010 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | The responsibilities and obligations for an OAM and OAMG (when established) needs to clarified and codified in Westplan Bushfire with regard to • Provision of information to participating organisations about the progress and potential of an incident; • Dealing with information disseminated to the public; and • Sourcing, coordinating and prioritising resources required by incidents within the Operations Area. There is lack of clarity in current arrangements concerning the role of the agency undertaking control operations e.g. DEC or a local govt and the transfer of these responsibilities to an OAMG when established. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC163-1938 | 12 - EM agency and authority | That appropriate officers of the Rural Fire Service be granted the same powers as granted to officers of NSW Fire Brigades under section 19 of the Fire Brigades Act 1989. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC104-2267 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | That DSE and CFA develop an agreed process for the effective transfer of control from one Incident Control Centre to another, including processes for communicating this change to fire ground supervisors and local communities. |
REC104-2275 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | That the ‘Incident Objectives’ established for any response should reflect the endorsed Statewide ‘Fire Control Priorities’, and the relevant Municipal Fire Management Plan. |
REC104-2202 | 13 - Mapping and data quality | That DSE and CFA map all unplanned fires greater than four hectares on public and private land in order to further develop an understanding of the risk to rural Victoria from unplanned fires. |
REC104-2326 | 12 - EM agency and authority | That, as a matter of urgency, CFA and DSE: |
REC104-2262 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | That the practice of appointing Deputy Planning Officer, Deputy Operations Officer and Deputy Logistics Officer in an Incident Management Team be abandoned. This recommendation acknowledges the benefits of retaining a Deputy Incident Controller from the support agency (in accordance with section 4.2.6 of the Emergency Management Manual Victoria), to ensure that the command structure of that agency is preserved. |
REC104-2273 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | That personnel assigned the roles of Division Commander, Sector Commander and Strike Team Leader be given flexibility to alter tactics to take advantage of changed conditions on the fire ground. |
REC104-2191 | 13 - Mapping and data quality | That DSE and CFA, recognising that the Bureau of Meteorology does not routinely store all variables required to produce the calculations and indices necessary for research and planning into fire occurrence and behaviour, develop appropriate systems to ensure that such current and historical information is readily available and accessible. |
REC104-2320 | 13 - Mapping and data quality | That Government acknowledge the importance of spatial information as a key element of planning, operations and program evaluation, and support the Geospatial Emergency Information Network as a means of ensuring integrated and co-ordinated information management on a whole-ofGovernment basis. |
REC104-2258 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | That, wherever possible, Incident Management Team members from DSE, CFA and MFESB who are likely to be deployed together to manage fire, should train and exercise together. |
REC104-2272 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | That personnel assigned the roles of Division Commander, Sector Commander and Strike Team Leader on the fire ground are actively encouraged to provide input into the selection of strategies and tactics. |
REC104-2190 | 13 - Mapping and data quality | That DSE institute additional routine data storage and analysis to supplement current climate records with at least daily 3 pm values for the Grassland and Forest Fire Danger Index, and Keetch-Byram Drought Index, for selected high quality stations representing a cross-section of environments throughout Victoria. |
REC104-2319 | 13 - Mapping and data quality | That all emergency service agencies, CFA and DSE in particular, give greater priority to information management – especially the collection, maintenance and quality control of base data sets necessary for planning, operations and program evaluation. |
REC104-2248 | 12 - EM agency and authority | That Incident Control Centres and Municipal Emergency Co-ordination Centres be collocated, wherever practicable. |
REC104-2271 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | That DSE and CFA ensure that agreed strategy and tactics, and the rationale, be communicated to personnel involved in the fire fight and be included in briefings for fire line personnel. |
REC104-2280 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | That DSE and CFA ensure that: |
REC104-2237 | 12 - EM agency and authority | That CFA continues to work with its Brigades to complete the integration of AIIMS-ICS with the Group Structure for full implementation by the 2004-2005 fire season. |
REC104-2269 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | That the fire agencies ensure that Incident Action Plans developed by Incident Management Teams are consistent with, and built on, the agreed Fire Control Priorities. |
REC104-2279 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | That operational briefings in multi-agency fires should, wherever possible, be joint briefings of all agencies involved. |
REC104-2234 | 12 - EM agency and authority | That the fire agencies develop contingency plans in relation to access to water for firefighting, including where appropriate, the use of static, large volume water tanks. |
REC104-2334 | 12 - EM agency and authority | That the Fire Management Branch of DSE be prescribed as an ‘emergency service agency’ for the purposes of s21C (1)(a) of the Emergency Management Act 1986. |