SA Firefighter

Technical Discussion => Hypotheticals => Topic started by: bittenyakka on October 29, 2007, 02:32:18 PM

Title: You hear a DSU
Post by: bittenyakka on October 29, 2007, 02:32:18 PM
You are on a hose line right at the front of the fire aggressively attacking and you are successfully slowing the spread.  your BA set has 170 bar left and you hear a DSU quite loudly but you are unable to see more than about 1m if that.

the structure is a large open plan shop similar to a supermarket so the shelves act like walls to you but not the fire.

What do you do? and why?
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: 6739264 on October 29, 2007, 02:45:02 PM
Get down low, and GO GO GO!


But seriously, report the DSU to IC, confirm if they want you to search for it, allow RIT to go searching for it, while you battle the flame.
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: bittenyakka on October 31, 2007, 12:58:01 PM
well i wanted to discuss weather it is better to keep the fire at bay or go searching and hence anyone else who enters the building will have no information where the fire is.
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: 6739264 on October 31, 2007, 01:25:44 PM
Thats why you notify the IC of conditions inside and the fact you can hear a DSU activating. He then can make the decision as to weather of not you should leave fire attack and go searching or if he sends the purpose formed Rapid Intervention Team in from outside.

99% of the time I would leave it to the guys doing RIT to go in and get find the DSU as its what they are there for in the first place. They should also have the necessary tools for entry and extrication, that you may not have while conduction fire attack internally.
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: bittenyakka on October 31, 2007, 01:29:13 PM
so in CFS where it is common place that internal crews do not carry a radio you would suggest letting the exterior RIT crews do the whole thing?
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: 6739264 on October 31, 2007, 01:54:29 PM
How many VHF's does your appliance carry?

Every truck I've ever worked off has *atleast* a hoseline and the OIC as a bare minimum.

Who on earth is letting crews go internal without atleast a single VHF between a pair of operators? That is grossly incompetent.

Its always been the case when I've gotten off an appliance to have a VHF in my hand, so the BA set goes on, and the VHF gets slung on the left hand shoulder strap, with the mic optionally being slung around the neck and clipped to the mic holder below your chin on the PBI.

If everything goes pear shaped how on earth are you meant to communicate to external crews? You can't ventilate, give sitreps or do hardly anything internally without a radio.

Are you sure its commonplace in CFS or just in your brigade?
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: bittenyakka on October 31, 2007, 02:05:01 PM
In my brigade it is common for most of the crew to have VHFs but in my BFF1 and BA course they sort of implied or gave the impression that VHF and BA usually didn't go in the same sentence. Personally i believe that trucks should have enough VHF for the whole crew.

Using a radio in BA does require training but isn't that hard
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: 6739264 on October 31, 2007, 02:41:49 PM
We must have done a very different BA course then. How much training do you need to push button and talk? It does help to hold your breath whilst you speak, but its not necessary.
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: bittenyakka on October 31, 2007, 02:48:10 PM
just the whole slow down talk while exhaleing more so that the person you are trying to contact can get your message quickly and reduce radio traffic etc.
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: Darcyq on October 31, 2007, 07:26:25 PM
On my BA course the instructors went as far as to teach technique in using the hand held mic (speaking directly into it rather than across it as is the norm) whilst wearing BA.
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: JC on October 31, 2007, 09:48:54 PM
There is no way i would be going in to a structure with out comms, back to the post topic i would get onto the IC as well at least he will sum idea as to which way they started there search / attack, it could be quicker for another team to get to them.
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: mattb on November 01, 2007, 01:18:42 PM
All our appliances carry enough VHF radios for all riding positions, 6 firefighters = 6 radios.

We have mounted one in each BA locker, no BA crew goes in without a radio. The mere thought of sending BA teams in without one is dangerous and setting yourself up for failure.

If you don't have enough radios get your group to go out and purchase some more, they are one of the most important safety items you can have on the fireground.
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: bittenyakka on November 01, 2007, 02:17:50 PM
did you buy them yourselves Matt? our brigade has 4 on 24 and hence there is enough for OIC BA team and 2 more people however one was bought by the brigade as i believe stowage is only 3.
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: SA Firey on November 05, 2007, 09:54:14 PM
For info the Icom radios are $884.00 each plus the cost for a yellow pouch :wink:
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: bittenyakka on November 06, 2007, 09:00:59 AM
oh so not not cheap.
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: mack on November 14, 2007, 11:53:57 AM
so in CFS where it is common place that internal crews do not carry a radio


you have got to be joking......
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: Robert-Robert34 on November 14, 2007, 02:12:42 PM
UHF handheld Radios like Uniden and GME could also be used by BA teams and OIC as they are very lightweight and not bulky in size plus they cost anywhere between $50-$300 pending on features and optional accessories  :wink:

My brigade has 2 UH040 handhelds for use on the fire ground and training  :-)   
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: 6739264 on November 14, 2007, 02:56:42 PM
Yeah, I don't know about you but I'm happy with my Motorola XTS 3000 and MTS 2000 thanks champ. I'd rather not have to rely on a radio I bought from filtered Smiths.
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: F.B.R.T on November 14, 2007, 09:07:15 PM
What's wrong with good ol' filtered Smith stuff!
You can get lots of quality stuff from filtered Smith. :-D
Gee I love what the word filter does everytime you type in filtered Smith!! :lol:
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: 6739264 on November 14, 2007, 10:10:03 PM
Chirst this word filter is terrible.
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: RescueHazmat on November 15, 2007, 09:13:48 AM
You get them, or make sure someone else is getting them.. - Never leave a "brother" down!

-Onto the radios, like everyone else has said, I don't know who told you or where you got the info it was common practice to go internal without a radio, but thats just appalling.
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: bittenyakka on November 15, 2007, 01:41:02 PM
i shall explain my self

on my bff1 one of my instructors said to my question "do BA crews carry radios?"  that is was almost impossible to do so and them talk. now i i hae since discovered that is isn't that hard to use radios and BA and it really helps the whole fire fire fighting process. it was a wrong assumption about CFS as a generic form, which happens all to often in CFS by many people.
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: mack on November 15, 2007, 04:17:16 PM
i thought it was common practice to go and do level one or two, get the paper,and then try your hardest to forget it?
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: SA Firey on December 30, 2007, 12:51:56 PM
Interesting that when you do BA reaccreds they dont use any VHF's in the course,nor teach it.

But if I hear a DSU im dropping everything and going in with a buddy real quick, to find our fallen brothers
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: 6739264 on December 31, 2007, 06:54:14 AM
Interesting that when you do BA reaccreds they dont use any VHF's in the course,nor teach it.

But if I hear a DSU im dropping everything and going in with a buddy real quick, to find our fallen brothers

Good to hear more solitary action on the fireground! :roll:

Don't forget about you OIC and ECO who have th bigger picture :)

Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: fireblade on December 31, 2007, 07:46:59 AM
They don't need to teach you how to use VHF radio's, if you're attending a B.A. course you should already be proficient in the use of a radio. I think they don't use them so you concentrate on your other skills such as communications with your buddy, other crews and effective infomation hand over to the ECO.

As for responding to jobs down the street my brigade has 3 VHF's on every appliance. One for your OIC, one for your driver/pump operator and one for your BA crew that all you need. Otherwise you look like a bunch of CFS gong beaters all carrying radios!
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: Pipster on December 31, 2007, 09:25:13 AM
Did your brigade fund its own VHF radios?  You're lucky if you have three per appliance

Pip
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: Blue on December 31, 2007, 09:43:36 AM
And even luckier if all three actually work Pip!

As a BA instructor we teach 'communications', which in part is about how to use a radio (when you've got a set on you need to speak directly into the handpiece of the radio, rather than across it like you normally would, as the voice is projected forward from the mask) but apart from that you're right there is no radio comms per se, as someone else said at a reaccred you've been there for a while and I would hope you've done some radio stuff with your brigade by then. But then we should never assume anything should we! I'm all for training how we play and if that means crews go in with a radio where available during reaccreds then bring it on.

Its true that we're taught the first thing you do when you hear a DSU is CONTACT IOC AND NOTIFY THEM and this either means via radio or you get the hell out and let some one know, rather than attempting to cross through the building to locate the DSU. It may be that the DSU that has been activated can be safely snatched through a window, which the IOC will be able to assess, but those inside may be walking directly into trouble. Hard to say really, would need to weigh up the sitation - complexity of the building, how advanced the fire is, visibility, crew availability outside (yes, not all of us are flushed with resources, some CFS brigades not only don't have radios to go around, they don't have another back up BA crew for another ten or so minutes)...

I've heard people say that if they came across a heavy casualty that they would activate their DSU to bring in support crews... Radios are a much better option but I've rarely been in the situation where we've had enough to go around on a fire ground.



Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: fireblade on December 31, 2007, 10:00:43 AM
I could be wrong but I think our brigades in our group kicked up a storm so we could have 3 radio's per appliance Pip!
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: Pipster on December 31, 2007, 10:01:55 AM
Good luck to you if you were able to get that many!   :-D
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: Darius on December 31, 2007, 10:55:32 AM
Good luck to you if you were able to get that many!   :-D

Pip the allocation was supposed to be three per 24/34 appliance and two per 14/QAV, in our neck of the woods anyway.  My group purchased an extra one per 14 appliance to bring it up to three in each appliance in the group.
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: Pipster on December 31, 2007, 12:35:20 PM
Our Group was 2 per appliance, and one for the Captain.....

Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: 6739264 on December 31, 2007, 01:01:54 PM
One for your OIC, one for your driver/pump operator and one for your BA crew that all you need. Otherwise you look like a bunch of CFS gong beaters all carrying radios!

I'll happily look like a 'gong beater' at a structure job with one each :)
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: mattb on December 31, 2007, 01:31:58 PM
We must be big Gong Beating Nufties then, we have six per appliance.

I definitely wouldn't be sending anyone in with BA without at least one, although we try and make sure every operator has one in case something happens and they become separated.

If brigades want more then you can purchase them - just speak with your Group Comms Officer put your case forward and order them. I understand though that the Icom ones may be hard to get now so you may have to look at a different brand.
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: SA Firey on December 31, 2007, 08:07:04 PM
Interesting that when you do BA reaccreds they dont use any VHF's in the course,nor teach it.

But if I hear a DSU im dropping everything and going in with a buddy real quick, to find our fallen brothers

Good to hear more solitary action on the fireground! :roll:

Don't forget about you OIC and ECO who have th bigger picture :)



Der :roll:
Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: Darius on January 01, 2008, 06:32:39 AM
Our Group was 2 per appliance, and one for the Captain.....

your group must have decided to reallocate one of the 24/34 allocation to the captain instead then (for what purpose is another question altogether!)

and I agree with Mr Numbers and MattB, in an ideal world every FF on the appliance would have a VHF, it's not always necessary but your crew being able to communicate with each other is pretty vital.  If your brigade/group don't want to pay the $700-odd each for the Icoms, and given the current model we have is pretty much gone so you would be getting a different model anyway, then there are much cheaper options available to your group comms officer.

Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: mattb on January 01, 2008, 08:38:54 AM
Your right Darius, there are a number of brigades out there now using radios other than the standard Icom VHF portables. On K.I. I was on a Sturt Group appliance that had the usual 3 Icoms and 3 others - I think they were similar to these http://cgi.ebay.com.au/WOUXUN-KG-669-VHF136-174Mhz-w-FM-RADIO-Earpiece_W0QQitemZ190180425244QQihZ009QQcategoryZ48703QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/WOUXUN-KG-669-VHF136-174Mhz-w-FM-RADIO-Earpiece_W0QQitemZ190180425244QQihZ009QQcategoryZ48703QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem)

Given that these can be sometimes purchased for less than $100 ea they might make a reasonable alternative for brigades wanting more radios.

They might not be as sensitive as the Icoms but for the pumpy to speak to the branch man they would be fine. Only thing is I'm not sure how keen the HQ Comms people will be about brigades putting different radios on appliances, I guess it opens up more issues about training and different batteries etc, then again when have brigades stuck to the rules when it comes to 'standard stowage equipment'.


Title: Re: You hear a DSU
Post by: Robert-Robert34 on January 02, 2008, 01:05:55 PM
Your right Darius, there are a number of brigades out there now using radios other than the standard Icom VHF portables. On K.I. I was on a Sturt Group appliance that had the usual 3 Icoms and 3 others - I think they were similar to these http://cgi.ebay.com.au/WOUXUN-KG-669-VHF136-174Mhz-w-FM-RADIO-Earpiece_W0QQitemZ190180425244QQihZ009QQcategoryZ48703QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/WOUXUN-KG-669-VHF136-174Mhz-w-FM-RADIO-Earpiece_W0QQitemZ190180425244QQihZ009QQcategoryZ48703QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem)

Given that these can be sometimes purchased for less than $100 ea they might make a reasonable alternative for brigades wanting more radios.

They might not be as sensitive as the Icoms but for the pumpy to speak to the branch man they would be fine. Only thing is I'm not sure how keen the HQ Comms people will be about brigades putting different radios on appliances, I guess it opens up more issues about training and different batteries etc, then again when have brigades stuck to the rules when it comes to 'standard stowage equipment'.



I brought a OMDI Handheld off ebay a couple years ago and its really good radio cause you not only get the standard 40 UHF Channels but extra channels to use  :-)