SA Firefighter

Many countries don't have volunteer fire fighters.

We take the CFS model for granted! In Qld, NT and populated parts of WA it's retained (therefore paid) fire fighters who look after the towns and population - the volunteers only do bushfires (this was the model also in NSW until a push from the RFS there that was supported after the 94 fires) So volunteer fire fighters who provide a complete fire and rescue package as career fire fighters do is not common place world or Australia wide.

This is a great reason to be proud of your service - it is a complete service and we offer the community many, many benefits and services - we are becoming a one stop shop - and more over We are GOOD at it! 

Thanks all for your comments - hopefully many more comment and read the posts and share the belief of a united service.

Could not agree more - we serve our communities, together. The graphic is excellent - this I have saved and will use. As for under represented groups in CFS there are MANY and MANY are not represented.

My belief, as with James and cyber citizen's posts - we stand together to protect our community - lets therefore stand united and recognise EVERYONE as a whole and not build silos - as silos often fill and then things (in this case people) are left out 

Take off your CFS/Fire Service hat (ok Helmet) for a moment!

Now stand back as Joe Public at the scene of a fire and watch the fire fighters.........

what grabs your attention ...........

The way they do their job
What they do
What they do to help others and
How well they do it!!!!!!!

Not - what sex they are, what colour they are, how old they are, what physical attributes they have!

Unfortunately some CFS members (as with many other services) bundle people into minorities - to stereotype them and make themselves feel comfortable.

The challenge to YOU is to break the mold - when we put on the uniform we are fire fighters and we all have areas of expertise and challenge.

The issue of male or female, black or white only becomes an issue if you let it.

So set the example and promote fire fighters - not stereotypes of fire fighters! 

A topical Question. At a forum recently I heard a senior CFS member state: As a volunteer you have two choices, you volunteer to join and you volunteer to leave. When you volunteered to join you volunteered to abide by and foillow the SOP's, SAP's and values of the CFS!
What do you think - if this was followed may solve many many problems and would address those who "don't like it" and have to "we will do it our way". 
So when is a volunteer a volunteer and when should they become part of the greater CFS and help to constructively build CFS and follow the CFS processes??

This issue seams to go on and on and on!

Some brigades have taken it upon themselves to put them around their area (ie in an Urban area Happy Valley), whilst others have arranged for SAWater to use their areas as test cases (ie just out of Port Pirie on Hwy 1)

CFS/MFS and SAWater seam to have this ongoing problem about who's responsible for their instillation and maintenance - the CFAct 1989 states
"Interference with fire plugs etc
60. A person must not—
(a)cover up or conceal a fire plug or hydrant; or
(b)remove or obliterate any mark, sign or letter used to indicate the position of a fire plug or hydrant.
Penalty:Division 7 fine."

Only problem - it fails to say who should put them in!

When you travel interstate you see a number of combinations, blue markers, blue markers with yellow arrows and alike - but the common thread is blue markers.

Unfortunately maybe this is yet another political issue that will take a death or similar to resolve.

Small problem to resolve, however it continues to be a great and grave problem.

Ditto - great job!!!!

I am guessing that Hazmat operators are like many other 'specialist operators' becoming harder to find. Kat states her neighbouring groups have problems finding operators, I suspect she is not alone as its something that isn't often used.

This is a problem when it comes to training too! If you don't use the skill and don't train in it very often, how do you keep your competencies.

Hazmat adds an extra layer or three of complexity onto BA and fire fighting - namely you need to be competent in those two skills first then in Hazmat. Now the practical normalisation (clean up) at a hazmat is not rocket science, however the knowledge of how too, what to use, what reacts with what, what neutralises what and how to apply, remove or contain is a little more complex. Then there is the issue of dressing and undressing of operators. Unfortunately this is usually the problem area - it's a step by step process - but often in hast short cuts are taken - another training issue.

Im guessing the long and short of it is training, on-going training and maintaining competence.

Then theres the little issue of costs for a basic hazmat kit!

For those who have the time and are keen then the effort is great, however with so many things being put on people with specialist skills - these areas are suffering and people aren't reaccrediting or undertaking the initial training like they once did!

Several brigades have undertaken extensive training in Chemical, Biological and Radiological threat and terrorism, including the fire service roles and how they can assist the lead agaency (SAPol) I'm sure the crews from these brigades are confident that they can pass on their knowledge if and when the time comes.

Ultimately though as Jamie has said the powers to be believe they have things in hand, and having exercised it several times in Adelaide and across SA I would like to think they have.

Fortunatley we (as a state) have also received extensive equipment and resources from the federal governemtn that will aid in testing these areas and ensure that we who aren't trained in Hazmat aren't exposed 'after' the event!

Having people trained in O2 is not a huge issue! If you carry the equipment, then CFS has a duty of care to provide the training - and they will. If your getting no joy through your Group Training officer, try the Region, failingl that try the State Training Centre - they will negotiate with the Region.

Funny thought though - R1 brigades have it all - I'm aware of PPV fans, atmospheric monitoring equipment, vertical rescue equipment, converted milk tankers, salvage pumps, floating pumps, portable light towers....... the list goes on and on that are in brigades outisde R1 - and how did they get these "EXTRA' pieces of equipment - they were resourceful - identified the need, organised a method of getting the funds and then purchased the equipment - very clever really and no different than a group in R1 who carry O2 equipment on 1 appliance in each station.

If you look at the stats- with the diverse number of jobs that we are all attending these days - couldn't we all do with O2 equipment, if for nothing more than to help our fellow fire fighters - NOW there is something to groan about!!!

It's a pity the VFBA didn't take the mag back.

The current style (if it can be called that) is shocking. The designer is obviously colour blind and has way to much money.

When the VFBA produced/co-produced the magazine it was informative, useful and a good recourse - now it looks like a barrow for a design company and individual to try their own flair/style - not a very good attempt either.

On information flow, the VFBA is there for all of us, the issue though seams to be getting the information out to all. Maybe Ken Schultz and Wayne Thorley could use forums like these to keep as many as possible/interested informed of VFBA activities, achievements and alike.

Hopefully they will also look at the mag and its audiance and suggest a clearer format!

Just my thoughts