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Messages - CFS_fire32

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76
Country Fire Service / Re: Firefighter Response System
« on: December 10, 2012, 09:12:48 PM »
Bert or anyone else from Mt Barker...

Interested to hear how the FFRS is working now that it has been in use for over 12 months? I believe that Nairne and/or Littlehampton have also adopted it?

What are the actual operating costs of the system?

77
SA Firefighter General / Re: Swiftwater Rescue.
« on: August 29, 2012, 11:42:52 PM »
Quote from: Alan (Big Al) on August 20, 2012, 11:28:07 PM
Quote from: Mike on August 20, 2012, 09:47:44 PM
I believe the buttons have now been well and truly pushed and training is heading very fast in the direction of the Fleurieu SES units.

Improvisation is the mother of rescue and the guys and girls (from both services) did a fantastic job of overcoming the limitations put in place.

Big Al: Day time crew is always an issue, but Strath are not as bad off as you may think.

That is fantastic to hear Mike regarding strath crewing, good to see them heading in the right direction.


Strath SES is also being backed up very well for RCR by Strath CFS.

78
Country Fire Service / Re: Half empty courses
« on: November 28, 2009, 03:39:36 PM »
My pet subject...

CABA is one of the CFS's biggest vulnerabilities and has been for some time. I think from memeory of the 15,000 volunteers in the CFS only about 1,500 are CABA? (Correct me if I am wrong).

There are a lot of CFS's brigades out there (mine included) at their minimum SFEC, that still desperately need more operators (especially operators with daytime availability), but we can't get anyone on a course. We have the people wanting to do the course, but we have no chance what so ever of getting them on.

So what is the solution? We obviously need more courses to train more people, but the CFS are putting enough strain on the volunteer istructors as it is! Is it time we got serious and started paying instructors? Should we try holding more mid-week courses again? I know a lot of people that would rather take a couple days annual leave from work than give up a whole weekend (myself included).

We sent a member (from R1) down to Naracoorte a couple weeks ago (one of our members was going down to help as an instructor so we got offered a spot) and apparently the course was only half full! I am certain that if the course was open up to R1 or R2 that it could have been filled quite easily (and quickly).

It would be interesting to compare the number of operators that the CFS are gaining each year versus the number they are loosing due to retirement, people leaving the service, etc. I have a feeling that we are not making much forward progress as a whole.

It is something that seriously needs to be looked at by the CFS. I believe there is a review being done at the moment, but I am yet to hear anything from it. Things are only getting worse and for most brigade's it is only getting harder and harder to crew with CABA during the daytime.

79
ALL Rescue / Re: 'Heavy' Rescue
« on: February 10, 2009, 01:25:35 PM »
Quote from: 6739264 on February 09, 2009, 11:32:24 AM
Quote from: CFS_fire32 on February 08, 2009, 01:24:38 PM
Quote from: mattthefirey on February 07, 2009, 06:50:56 PM
could someone let me know if this is true but i have heard on the grapevine that strathalbyn cfs have now got a full rcr kit. could someone set me straight

Not sure where you heard that one matt? I take it that by 'full' you mean 'heavy rescue' plus the 19 designation?
Strath CFS have not been upgraded to a 'heavy rescue' brigade - at this stage anyway.
They still run a Lukas combi tool and single stage ram with full RCR stowage on their 24P and have done so for a bit over 2 years now. Before then they ran 20+ year old FAG Lukas cutters and spreaders with an incomplete RCR stowage.

Ah, I would have thought that by 'full' he meant "Rescue Stowage" as per the Green Book. Nothing about Heavy Rescue there...

Dare I ask how you can call a Combitool and a single stage ram 'full RCR Stowage'

Sorry, a misunderstanding here...
By "full RCR stowage" I meant everything as per the Green Book excluding hydraulics.
So to the orginial question, yes Strath CFS carry a full RCR kit on their 24P but in terms of hydraulic tools, they only run a combitool and single stage ram.

80
ALL Rescue / Re: 'Heavy' Rescue
« on: February 08, 2009, 01:24:38 PM »
Quote from: mattthefirey on February 07, 2009, 06:50:56 PM
could someone let me know if this is true but i have heard on the grapevine that strathalbyn cfs have now got a full rcr kit. could someone set me straight

Not sure where you heard that one matt? I take it that by 'full' you mean 'heavy rescue' plus the 19 designation?
Strath CFS have not been upgraded to a 'heavy rescue' brigade - at this stage anyway.
They still run a Lukas combi tool and single stage ram with full RCR stowage on their 24P and have done so for a bit over 2 years now. Before then they ran 20+ year old FAG Lukas cutters and spreaders with an incomplete RCR stowage.  The Combi tool was purchased by CFS (state or region) to replace their very much out-dated hydraulics, however the rest of the kit was updated via Group funding.
Strath CFS are currently responded to any MVA within their groups area (except Blackfellows Creek which is covered by Meadows CFS) to which there are reported, possible or unknown entrapments. They respond their 24P as a 'secondary rescue appliance' along with the local brigade for fire cover and Strath SES - who are the recognised primary rescue resource for the area.

81
Incidents / Re: HAZMAT Investigator College Goolwa
« on: June 07, 2007, 08:56:37 PM »
I was also suprised that Strathalbyn weren't called in to that job, since they have been the first HAZMAT response for the last 4 HAZMAT jobs at Goolwa.  And since they have the regional HAZMAT trailer with additional gear above and beyond standard stowage.

82
Country Fire Service / Re: Denis Pumper
« on: February 02, 2007, 08:03:51 PM »
Quote from: Mundcfs on February 02, 2007, 01:15:33 PM
All the 24p's have the storz inlet but the hoses for it were only put on from the Mills Tui build 24P, i asked HQ about getting the hoses for our 24P and was told they weren't put on the truck because they were too heavy and cumbersome for people to lift off. The only appliance from the 2000 build with the large hard suction i know of is Strathalbyn 24P??

Not to stray off topic too much but...

Not sure about the purchase of the 100 mm stortz hard suction, but they were mounted on Strath 24P by brigade memebers.  Now, the stortz can be used at the Clipsal factory for boosting. 3 inlets (2 x 64mm, 1 x 100mm) and 2 outlets.
Don't really see what the issue is about them being too cumbersome and heavy, its not like they are used on a weekly basis! The 2000 24P's have a nice aluminium checkerplate platform on the drivers side on which they can be easily mounted, better than having them sitting in the back corner of the station collecting dust!

83
ALL Rescue / Re: 'Heavy' Rescue
« on: November 29, 2006, 03:19:41 PM »
FYI: Strathalbyn CFS now carries a Lucas Combitool on its 24P as well as a full Rapid Intervention kit to back up Strath SES heavy rescue.
The combitool replaces their 20+ year old set of FAG Lucas rescue gear.

84
Country Fire Service / Re: Getting on the appliances
« on: June 22, 2006, 10:51:42 PM »
In our brigade, we use coloured cow tags on a keyring.
Each firefighter has one or more tags with their name and crew number depending on their qualifications:
Yellow = firefighter
Red = CABA
Green = HAZMAT
Blue = RCR.
Obviously if you're a BA operator, you only have a red tag, not a yellow and red.
But if you're BA, HAZ and RCR you have
Red + Green + Blue. But at the moment we don't have any green tags because we haven't been able to get hold of any.

At the front of each appliance we have a board with hooks on it. One labelled driver, one OIC and then how ever many seats are left over depending on the appliance.
24P = 7
34 = 6
14 = 3
Before you jump on the truck you clip your tag on the board, which makes it easy for the OIC to see how many of what trained personell they have on board.
It also lets the control room staff know who is on the repsonding appliance.

Generally, depeding on the call, trained personell have first preference.  For example if responded to a house fire, BA operators have first preference on 24P - the first responding appliance.  However, we will not hold up the truck waiting for anymore than 4 operators on the first appliance, so we fill it up with non BA.  BA operators who rock up just after will follow with the remaining crew on the second truck.
Basically, we try to get as many trained personell specific to the call on the first aplliance and what ever room is left over is filled with non-trained personell.
In doing this it also encourages people to undertake specialist training - which we all need more of - so that they get preferences on appliances.  Very rarely do we leave many people behind, we try to get everybody who rocks up out to the job and try to be fair to everyone.

We can usually have the first truck out the door in 4 - 8 minutes depending on the time of day and available crew etc.
The second appliance usually follows 1 - 2 minutes later, depending on numbers and type of call as above.

85
Country Fire Service / Re: Official Opening of Strath Base
« on: May 18, 2006, 07:11:03 PM »
Quote from: probie_boy on May 04, 2006, 12:32:40 PM
on the promotions website there are photos of their station. Its a good set up. Unfortunately due to the new shopping centre being built the old station couldn't be replaced in its old spot, pretty well smack bang in the middle of town. Now its right out the southern side of town and they're about to build a new housing estate on the northern side. I would think that some response times, especially to the northern side of town, would be longer. But its still a good station!

probie_boy, what you say is true however;
Although the most substancial development is on the northern side of Strath, there are also several developments out to the south of town currently being established.
And although it seems now that the station/group base is in a far out location with respect to the town centre and its previous location on South Terrace, one would expect that in another 5 to 10 years, the Forrest Road location will be considered as part of the central township.
The station itself is very good, just a bit smaller than the old one, but electric roller doors are the real luxury.
Apart from the main disadvantage of being next door to the dump,
1) The new station is not located in a busy part of town, unlike the old station, where it was easily seen frequently by the public.
2) Also, due to the new loaction it means that the majority of the members have a 2 km longer drive to the station (all 50 zones), which means that Strath's average response time has jumped up by about 1 minute. Meaning they now have an average between 5 - 8 minutes, as opposed to 4 - 7 minutes at the old station, simply becasuse it takes longer for people to get to the station for a call.  However, an average around this mark is still very acceptable by anyones standards.

All in all, the station itself is great and I hope that it serves its purpose well for the Strathalbyn brigade and group for a long time!

86
All Equipment discussion / Re: Helmets - structure and rural
« on: February 24, 2006, 06:50:37 PM »
Quote from: mundcfs on February 24, 2006, 03:33:16 PM
...But you get that we still use HP lines.

The sidelines on standard 24p's - such as yours - are not technically HP lines.

87
Other Government Agencies / Re: Co-location of local headquarters
« on: February 24, 2006, 06:33:31 PM »
Quote from: CFS_firey on February 23, 2006, 02:25:44 PM
And are they happy with the station? It appears to be a clone of the standard CFS 3 bay station which from what I undertsand is pretty basic...

The Strathalbyn Brigade/Group (Group base) is quite happy with the new set-up they now have.
I would imagine that due to the new position of Strath's station compared to the old one, response times for them would increase slightly, but hopefully not too much!

The new CFS stations that are currently being built are actually quite nice although for most brigades, they would probably be a step down in terms of size and space.
I believe Stirling may be inline for a new station somewhere  closer to Crafers if the sale of the land where they currently reside goes ahead.

And yes, Strathalbyn did receive a new HAZMAT trailer, which from my understanding will carry their HAZMAT equipment along with additional 'Region 1' equipment, including several gas tight suits and other non-standard gear.  I imagine some pictures will be posted when it is set up properly and operational.

88
Other Government Agencies / Re: Co-location of local headquarters
« on: February 18, 2006, 04:17:53 PM »
Quote from: Mike on December 22, 2005, 08:37:27 AM
As of Tuesday (20th) Strath SES & Strath CFS, until their new CFS station is finished.

As of next Wednesday (22nd of February) Strathalbyn will finally be opertaing out of their new station.

89
All Equipment discussion / Re: Mount Barker Pumper
« on: February 18, 2006, 04:12:37 PM »
That is a fair call by CFS if you ask me.
I think the trouble is Mount Barker have been too use to more than the adequate number of appliances to cover their needs.

For example, Naracoorte seem to manage with a very similar structure:
Urban Pumper.
Specilaist Rescue.
Rural Appliance.
...and rural back-up for them is a much, much greater distance away than it is for Mount Barker.

90
All Equipment discussion / Re: Mount Barker Pumper
« on: February 10, 2006, 01:27:46 PM »
Jason, can you please confirm or deny this...

Did Barker have the choice of either;
1. replacing Dennis with a type 2 and keeping Rescue,24P and 24; or,
2. replacing 24P and Rescue with a type 2 and keeping Dennis and 24 - as has now happened?

91
All Equipment discussion / Re: new level 3 gear (LION)
« on: January 04, 2006, 08:36:44 AM »
Quote from: mattb on January 02, 2006, 03:01:26 PM
Apparently there are 1500 BA operators without PBI and they are purchasing 1230 sets at a cost of $1.556 million.

1574 sets of new Proban Wildland PPE is also being purchased at a cost of $394,000.

Is this going to be the new standard - PBI and proban?
If so, what is happening to nomex - it is so much nicer than proban and it is much more versatile.

92
Other Government Agencies / Re: Co-location of local headquarters
« on: December 22, 2005, 08:08:53 PM »
Believe Yankalilla CFS / SES are co-located.

93
Country Fire Service / Re: What's a pumper?
« on: December 20, 2005, 05:16:31 PM »
Quote from: calspec on December 18, 2005, 09:22:26 PM
:? Let me get this right...Mt Barker have got the Dennis, and are now getting an SEM type 2 Pump/Rescue as well, at the sacrifice of their 24P going to Littlehampton? Yet a URBAN/RURAL (Yes, it should be in that order) station like Happy Valley loses their Pumper for a very rural 34, to partner their, not that suited for urban risk, 24P.  To sum up....WHAT THE?  :x

Don't forget Hahndorf will also be getting a new type two pumper. Be nice if new appliances and especially new pumpers were shared around a little more.  Been a lot of new appliances for Heysen group in the last couple of years. I also hope the that the reason for Hahndorf getting a type two isn't solely because of their station size - Hahndorf did 5 building fires last year and about 20 fixed alarms.  Hahndorf don't have any specialist roles/equipment other than CABA. You go figure!

94
Country Fire Service / Re: What's a pumper?
« on: December 18, 2005, 12:58:23 PM »
Quote from: 24P on December 17, 2005, 08:04:31 PM
Dont know if this is the right section but does anyone know when Hahndorf are taking delivery of their type 2 pumper?

Are you sure?

Nothing against Hahndorf, but wouldn't have thought that a new type 2 pumper for their brigade would have been justifiable.  Why not replace their old pumper with a 24P like every other brigade out there?

95
Country Fire Service / Re: Volunteer Mag
« on: December 05, 2005, 06:11:16 PM »
Krista, thankyou for your prompt reply.

What is the best means to get pictures and incident write-ups into you and the Volunteer editors in order to guarantee they end up in the right place?

96
All Equipment discussion / Re: NEW 34
« on: November 30, 2005, 06:24:38 PM »
Am looking forward to the arrival of our new 34 very shortly, and by all accounts it sounds like the best thing since sliced bread.  It will be nice to finally have a permenent appliance since we have had several repalcements over the last couple of years since our old 32's PTO pump called it a day. (best appliance we ever had, wish we still had it.)

Can anyone tell me if the region run a brigade familiarisation training session on the new appliance, or is it here you go, figure it out for yourself.  Not to suggest that I don't mind this approach.  Sure keeps you amused for a few hours while you attempt to work out how everything functions without breaking anything.

97
All Equipment discussion / Re: new level 3 gear (LION)
« on: November 30, 2005, 06:14:52 PM »
Quote from: David on November 16, 2005, 12:34:22 PM
This is one thing that annoys me the most about the CFS, they can't all agree and go by one rule, if you ask HQ about PBI the answer is any incident but rural, then Region 1 and the Region 1 G/O's make up there own rules, which is the most backwards thing I have ever heard, if you are going to buy the best safety equipment possible then leave it on the hook then why do we bother, and they wonder why new members get frustrated and leave, coz we are being run by a bunch of people that don't seem to have much idea and be in touch with reality, people making descisions last fought a structure fire when khaki overalls where the greatest, get with the times, its 2005 for crying out loud!!!
THE STATE RULE IS THE FINAL RULE.

Unfortunately David, you are exactly right.
My GO says PBI - structure fires only.
Yet, and I heard this directly from an adjacent group DGO, there GO says PBI - everything except rural fires.

You tell me what is going on, because it seems like where being run by a pack headless chooks who don't seem to realise how their decisions are really affecting brigades.  And as a result, many brigades are doing it tuff, because many good people have been lost - sick and tired of being jerked around time after time!  And this could be said for many, many, many, ... aspects of the CFS in general.

98
Country Fire Service / Re: Volunteer Mag
« on: November 30, 2005, 06:04:11 PM »
Re: September Voulunteer Magazine.

I must say I was a little dissapointed with a couple of sections in the latest Volunteer mag.

Firstly, the section on PBI Gold told me little that I didn't already know, but quite delicately dodged one of the BIGGEST questions on this forum and indeed one that is going around at the moment. When can and when can't we as firefighters use this PPE garment.

Secondly, I am going to go out on bit of a limb here for further criticism, but it is just me or does it seem that it is the same brigades/groups featuring highly in the regional round-up? My brigade on numerous occasions for the last 12 months we have been sending in excellent photos and incident write-ups of house-fires, MVA's etc, etc, even some very unique photos  of uncommon incidents, yet we have failed to feature once!
I am not sure what the criteria for selection is, but surely all effort could be made to share the material placed in this section between all groups and brigades from each region.
Note: I am not saying that all effort is not already placed on sharing the regional-round up section - it is just a common perception I am getting looking back over recent isssues.

99
Country Fire Service / Re: What's a pumper?
« on: November 30, 2005, 05:47:06 PM »
Quote from: jameswillcourt on November 29, 2005, 11:22:42 AM
Im a cadet at barmera station and we have recently been given a new 24p which has had a few minor problems with the pump but apart from that it looks great and runs hard

Not to stray off the topic too much but,...

Where do you stow your HAZMAT equipment, because according to the promo website you do not carry it on any of your appliances?
Do you have a HAZMAT trailer?

100
ALL Rescue / Re: Disc Cutter
« on: November 24, 2005, 12:04:30 PM »
Quote from: CyberCitizen on November 22, 2005, 09:11:26 AM
We Had One But Then Had To Remove It Until We Can Undertake A Training Course. Unless The Brigade Members Have Undertaken A Training Cource, Then We Are Not Allowed To Carry It.

Sounds like the situation with PPV fans.  Many brigades carry them on their appliance, but nobody has undertaken accrediated training in how to use a PPV fan correctly.

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