Author Topic: Keep the chatter up! (Read 9474 times)

kat · « **on:** January 19, 2005, 06:32:29 AM »

It'd be great if all the members of this new forum contributed a few lines. I think a lot of us are keen to see it be a success, which it can't without member contributions. Don't be shy, everyone has something worthwhile to say

MCFSFF · « **Reply #1 on:** February 02, 2005, 01:53:45 PM »

Let the chit chat start... someone took the time to start the board lets use it!

woth while to say ... mmm No nothing today...but good at answering questions

fire03rescue · « **Reply #2 on:** February 02, 2005, 03:12:15 PM »

Chit chat

now!

Problem is only 32 members

rescue5271 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 02, 2005, 07:49:56 PM »

there must be a few people out there that have something to say? How about a profile on your brigade or a chat about what it means to be a Volunteer in the CFS??

MCFSFF · « **Reply #4 on:** February 03, 2005, 06:53:56 AM »

Hi
Well I joined almost a year ago now as I moved up to the hills. They are pretty short on day crews most times as I am sure most brigades are. So I work from home I thought I could help out and joined up..

Its great to help out the community and that makes you feel good after! the job is done when the achievement sets in that you stopped the situation from being worse. I wish nothing happen but hey its not a perfect world and accidents happen and ***** light fires.

so any you Dudes / dudets log on during the day?

Fire03rescue I let some of my cfs mates know about the site.

corocfs · « **Reply #5 on:** February 03, 2005, 01:33:35 PM »

hey, MCFSFF, what brigade are you from?

my brigade has problems with day crews as well, but since we have a few MFS and SAAS employees in the brigade, we usually end up getting a driver and we have a couple of uni students as well so we can almost always fully crew a truck, and we have only ever once not been able to roll.... which is a good thing i guess.

MCFSFF · « **Reply #6 on:** February 03, 2005, 06:28:56 PM »

Hi corocfs

I am with Meadows we have always been able to roll a truck but it can be hit an miss on full truck dependent on the call out time.

Cool on the job!! Hope it all goes well for you.
I am thinking I may have to get a real job soon as not much income at he moment... but its the whole thing with my work as it all or nothing and I know there is some work coming soon just not sure on how much longer I can put up with the insecurity of its future and income level.

JamesGar · « **Reply #7 on:** February 03, 2005, 06:41:08 PM »

Hi, Day time crewing has been a bit of a problem in the past with Belair, but fortunately now seems to be sorted out. They can usually get one appliance and the tanker on the road when needed. I'm one of those SAAS employees whose been fortunate with shift work to crew during daytime, but at uni for a few months (doing my Intensive Care Paramedic course) so not much use... pity cos I really enjoy getting out for the occasional response!

Hope it's quiet for a while!

rescue5271 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 04, 2005, 05:37:53 AM »

we have the same problem here in Naracoorte some days we can crew 3 trucks others onlt one truck aswell as try and mann the group base.I work for the local hospital and my boss will not let me go unless the brigade pages twice or the siren is set off.We have a number of members who work for the council so that helps,but we have seen of late that members are not turning up for fixed alarms and this is a real problem.I have always said that one day a fixed alarm will be a real job.

MCFSFF · « **Reply #9 on:** February 04, 2005, 08:02:12 AM »

Yeah I believe that if it goes off you attend if you can! Not dependent on the call.
But I guess I have it easy as close to station and work for myself so biggest problem is getting the dog in and locking up! Someone that has to drive to station from a distance to constantly see the truck drive off to a tree down or something and know the likely hood of a second truck rolling would be low would be a bit frustrating I guess..... so I can see why people read the page.

But as you say any job has the potential to turn bad or be bigger than you expect as you cant always rely on the information you get from the person who rang it in... etc

JamesGar · « **Reply #10 on:** February 04, 2005, 07:25:22 PM »

Here's one problem I see currently with SAGRN paging is that people can pick and choose what incidents they attend, may be a good point in some circumstances, but previously when we've just used tone pagers when the thing went beep everybody rocked up. Now people tend to avoid alarm, or some big bad jobs! What are your thoughts

MCFSFF · « **Reply #11 on:** February 05, 2005, 08:51:17 AM »

This is true but I guess you volunteer the time you have and if you cant spare the time for a strike team or a job that maybe several hours guess you should be able to choose.

I guess If you just got the tone and had to rock up there maybe times where you drop stuff your doing head to station then have to tell Cap or Lt that you cant go as you don't have 4 hrs etc... This maybe a problem in some cases say needing one to roll truck and that one wants to go as they don't have the time to give for strike team but a MVA or small fire they would have gone!!???.

I think the message is a good idea for above reasons but can be bad in the fact people choose... Guess other thing is to if you don't want or feel comfortable with MVA you have that choice too.

What might be an Idea is if you could somehow hook up a truck / trucks rolling so people can get idea if more needed or all go and you can return home type thing... I know there is manual turnout option for no crew but must be frustrating for the people I see at our station that just miss truck as we crewed or rolled after a acceptable time and they just didn't get there in time...

guess a more complex version which we may see someday is that you hit a button on pager if you are attending so the station has idea of numbers coming or personnel responding!!???
yep here (duh hear) ya $$$$$$$$$ as pages would have to talk not just listen... but maybe could be done through mobile network and sms

just some of my thoughts and ideas off top of head thinking allowed (doh aloud).. for better or worse!!

edit spelling

rescue5271 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 05, 2005, 10:10:56 AM »

I understand that the CFA are looking or may be testing a new system where members pagers go off they push a button on the pager and that sends a message to the brigade printer at the station and from this people can see who is coming to the call.

I agree with the new GRN people are picking there jobs and not showing up for the fixed alarm calls but will show up for the action type call's,I had a member say the other day that he was only here for the action not the boring call out's

not sure what the answer is but I would hope that people pick up there game as our job / role in the community is to provide a emergency service.

JamesGar · « **Reply #13 on:** February 05, 2005, 10:33:15 AM »

I been involved in systems of calling into the station, phoning an appliance or calling one via UHF CB, but see problems here, where people think that because they've made contact that they will get a bum on a seat on the appliance, and get a bit pissed that the appliance has rolled having not waited for additional crew! I've got the constant opinion that as a fire/emergency service we have a duty of care and require a prompt response in times of need, I also feel that as skilled volunteers that we do the best we can, with limited crew and sometimes not the optimum equipment! Maybe the answer to day time crewing in some areas is to increase the SFEC number of volunteer FF in a brigade. Some brigades' books are full and most (won't say every) members are active, and there's a waiting list to join. These brigades still have day time crewing issues! Don't have the answers...

kat · « **Reply #14 on:** February 05, 2005, 02:45:05 PM »

I knew we had plenty to say

Although I realise that the "boring" calls have potential and are a necessary part of the role of volunteer I think that it is handy to know what level of response/specialisation or even actual risk is involved before you make the decision to leave work or your child's birthday party!
In my experience alpha numerics have actually helped in this regard. Previously in a situation that it was difficult to leave (ie work) when we had tone onlys I would normally have to wait until the station was crewed to ring and find out if there were enough crew, enough specialist crew, or if it was an "all singer, all dancer" type job. And so would several other crew members. Now we can make the call immediately to leave. If it's ie: a fixed alarm we may in fact wait for the second page to say more crew or confirmed emergency. This is still quicker than before when we would have either waited for a phone call or made one. And I know that employers are much friendlier towards allowing you to attend when you really have to if you aren't ducking out constantly to things that probably could have been handled without you.

Most of our crew members work outside of town so week day responses are normally a bit slower than at other times. It is a concern that even full stations with waiting lists have the odd difficulty. A lot of us are far from full (and if we are it's probably with infrequent members that we would remove if others were available). I'm sure there are things that could be done by the organisation to assist day crew availablity. Some that spring to mind for me are: employer incentives and recognition, employer info packages - "So you have a volunteer CFS employee?" and assistance with providing and financing child care (a lot of women with children in rural areas are willing and able bar this obsatcle).

Any other ideas

cfs_ztu · « **Reply #15 on:** February 05, 2005, 04:16:11 PM »

Why don't you post an ad on e-groups, i say most people from there will join....!

The site look great!

rescue5271 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 05, 2005, 06:19:45 PM »

I know a number of brigades say they have waiting list's for their brigade so why not just sign them up do there BFF1 and keep them on the book's rather than loose them to another community group??? Waiting list should be removed,that way there is a good flow of people into and out of the station 24/7.

In this day and age we should be happy that people are willing to join the service,but if you keep them waiting on a list well forget it they will move on or you may find that they will join another brigade in your area.

Time to move with the time's fill the books with people who are willing,able and around to mann the appliances day and night,remove the waiting list and put people on trial.

corocfs · « **Reply #17 on:** February 06, 2005, 02:39:55 PM »

in regards to station fire fighter numbers... i think it is obvious in most stations (definitely ours) the people that are theyre for every single joib they can be... and the part-timers who only come if it sounds interesting. most stations seem to have a group of "core responders", (4 or 5 ppl who seem to make every truck) and several other varying groups with varying levels of enthusiasm. however i feel that the pagers which tell us what we are going to are definitely better than old tone pagers. (who wants to be driving to the station and get involved in the incidenbt as well because they dont know about its location...

)

also...

i understand that some SES units have systems whereby, on reciept of a call (depending on level of urgency to get to the station probably), all members who are on their way to crew appliances will send out a "brigade info page" telling everyone in the unit that they are coming. obviously this would flood the messaging service quite drastically and prolong response times, but for jobs of a low priority (storm damage, relief crews, etc...) it would most probably be a sucessful system for some CFS brigades as well.

Good times · « **Reply #18 on:** February 08, 2005, 02:20:57 PM »

I think when people say waiting list they mean that the books are FULL and they can't take on any more members. I would rather have 12 dedicated people than 30 people that are just a name on a piece of paper and thats the last you see of them. My brigade has taken a no tolerance stance, we interview potential new members and very clearly state that whilst we are a volunteer organisation we can't afford to take people on that never show up, we explain that we expect a minimum attendance or they will be asked to drop back to aux FF status. It might seem harsh but thankfully we have the luxury to be able to do so.

fire03rescue · « **Reply #19 on:** February 17, 2005, 09:21:08 AM »

Only 257 to catch the yahoo page.

Firefrog · « **Reply #20 on:** February 17, 2005, 05:06:40 PM »

I'm sure we will get there. We have some great things planned. To be announced soon.

But we aren't competing, our mission is to create a permanent home for sa fire fighters on the net. These pages have been made by SA Fire Fighters for SA Fire Fighters and we hope other sites continue to be successful.

We are very happy with the response so far, there has been next to no advertising to promote safirefighter.com and have only been online since the start of the year.

We are always happy to hear your thoughts on promoting safirefighter.com infact we will send you a really nice SA Fire Fighter cap if you come up with a really good idea. (We will decide if your idea qualifies).

We hope you all enjoy the site and most importantly find it useful for your pursuits in protecting South Australian communities.

Big changes are ahead to help secure the future of this site. We can't wait to share the exciting times ahead.

MCFSFF · « **Reply #21 on:** February 17, 2005, 05:21:27 PM »

I think I gave you an idea if i didnt then here it is..

Go to each station on training night and do a quick interview or whatever then each month feature a station... members of that station will log on to see what you wrote and some may stay!!

hey hey hey!! mmm you like???

Oh an add pic too of all us good look boys and Gals!! or maybe not dont want to scare them away in my case anyway!1

CyberCitizen · « **Reply #22 on:** April 20, 2005, 04:59:03 PM »

Quote from: rescue5271

we have seen of late that members are not turning up for fixed alarms and this is a real problem.I have always said that one day a fixed alarm will be a real job.

Yes we have that problem as well. I think we need to go back to the old style pagers (eg. we don't know what the job is until we get to the station).

Even if the pages say ### CALL OUT ### CFS Respond To Station. Then when we get to the station we can checkout the display & find out what the job is. This prevents members from choosing there jobs.

firefighter_sa · « **Reply #23 on:** April 24, 2005, 05:01:47 PM »

Crew turnouts -

I am a volunteer with a small rural brigade - I am amazed with the amount of volunteers whom turn up at the station when the siren is activated (and pagers) its not abnormal to get 10-15 people and not long after the appliances have left (24 & 14) then the private units turn up to assist.

We live in hilly country (surounded with national parks) you have to nip these small incidents in the but before they escalate. To the locals this land is there lively hood because there properties are usually ajoining these park lands.

In saying that I have been member of a brigades with simular problem people have mentioned above - the lack of members especially day crews. At the end of the day we can only do what we can do - I am passionate about the CFS but we do NOT wear our underpants on the out side of our overals-two peice uniforms

thanks for reading

Wayne

rescue5271 · « **Reply #24 on:** April 24, 2005, 09:43:30 PM »

If your group or region are having a training day this year then I would like to know so that we can take some pictures for the VFBA promo unit. Their are a number of members around who are willing to travel and meet people and find out what is going on in your area. So if you would like us to come along let us know,we have members willing and able in most regions to come along...

Author Topic: Keep the chatter up! (Read 9474 times)

rescue5271

corocfs

rescue5271

rescue5271

rescue5271

corocfs

Good times

rescue5271