Officers from the Blacktown, Mt Druitt, Huntingwood and St Marys stations listened to Commissioner Greg Mullins detail how the brigade's frontline would be involved in the event of a terrorist attack on Sydney.

Commissioner Mullins briefed the officers on a new training program to boost the number of specialist rescue personnel within their ranks.

The details are still being negotiated with the union but the program is expected in coming months.

Commissioner Mullins told his troops how he was "getting back to basics" and making sure the officers were ready for anything.

"We've always had the hazardous material role but we have generally dealing with accidental escapes [like chemical spills]," he said. "But it's a whole new ball game when people deliberately release Sarin gas in the underground as happened in Tokyo in 1995, affecting thousands of people.

"We have to train our people to get in there safely to rescue people to do mass decontamination of 5000 people or more.

"We are getting our most experienced officers to do that."

Commissioner Mullins said he had several units around the city specifically trained in dealing with the consequences of a terrorist attack.

"After something happens we move into the consequence management phase and the fire brigade takes a lead role with chemical, biological and radiological attacks," he said.

"We have specialist rescuers who can use snake cameras, fibre optic cameras and listening devices.

"In the Urban Search and Rescue Unit the officers learn techniques like tunnelling and sorting through rubble, cutting concrete and locating victims who are under rubble.

"Our officers are trained to go in after police have made sure it is safe for us.

"The job is never 100 per cent safe. That's why we train our officers in what to expect and how to protect themselves and their community."