SA Firefighter

General Discussion => SASES => Topic started by: vr_driver on February 01, 2008, 12:53:20 PM

Title: from a victorian
Post by: vr_driver on February 01, 2008, 12:53:20 PM
Hi guys,

I'm new here on this board, and in the next little while, I may be moving to SA to the Kapunda region.

I come from a busy metro SES RAR unit in Melbourne, and I was just curious if there are any RAR units near Kapunda?

I've done over 7 years of rescue at my current unit, and was wondering if my services would be wanted/received well.

I saw there is a horsey mounted group in that area... but that's not really my thing. :)

Anyway, any thoughts or comments would be nice.

How does road rescue work in SA? Is it a combination of the SES, CFS and the metro fire service?

I've really got no idea with how your state works in regards to this.

Many thanks,
Steve.
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: mack on February 01, 2008, 01:15:33 PM
Kapunda SES are an RAR unit in that area, and cover the "Kapunda District" and surrounding areas i believe....
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: Robert-Robert34 on February 01, 2008, 01:18:55 PM
How does road rescue work in SA? Is it a combination of the SES, CFS and the metro fire service?

The CFS,SES and MFS all do Road Crash Rescue work but it comes down to the area and  which RCR resource is closest to the accident
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: vr_driver on February 01, 2008, 01:23:50 PM
Thanks for the prompt replies. We've recently started closest responder here too.

Well, that answers my questions well.
Ta.
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: chook on February 01, 2008, 01:30:28 PM
Welcome aboard Steve (familiar with you posts on another - very Victorian forum :wink:).
Yep its a bit more complicated over here, however Kapunda SES is a RCR unit.
Do you hold a National RCR certificate?
If you do RCC will apply, if not you can elect to do an assessment day (one in Barmera soon!) which if you are found competent will give you the National certifcate. Mind you we need to resit the assessment every three years to renew our "licence to operate".
Pity your not moving to East region, could introduce you to some people who could make your transfer very easy :-D.
Anyway all of the best & I guess I will see you around.
cheers
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: vr_driver on February 02, 2008, 07:27:10 AM
Hi guys,

Thanks for the welcome and the quick replies.

I know this is a website for firemen, so thanks for letting me crash here for a while! (No pun intended) ha ha

Hi Chook. A familiar name!

Yes, I've got my RAR cert and a whole bunch of others. Have had it for a few years now and it still gets used. It's been pretty slow the last several months which is good.

But if I move over there, when I get settled and things, I may join up. Be a good way to meet people and stuff.
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: sesroadcrashrescue on February 02, 2008, 11:59:22 AM
hay VR im from kapunda and we could do with the help sing out if you want anything on kapunda il do my best to get the information to you

cheers 
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: vr_driver on February 02, 2008, 12:32:28 PM

Hey mate, anything you can think of that I should/need to know. :) How many people? Rotating roster? Everyone having a pager? Friendly, or a tight bunch?  :roll: :) Rough age of everyone. How many vehicles, jobs per year, types etc... I don't know! HA HA I'm just running of junk.
Seriously, whatever. :)
I was just interested. I've applied for a job over there, and I've got an interview. So out of hours, I may be available. Who knows at this stage. We are probably talking 2 months at least.
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: sesroadcrashrescue on February 02, 2008, 12:52:10 PM
i sent you a msg but we have a small group not as busy as we could be but we do have our days when we are flat out. our day crew during the week is manly ladies who run there own business or stay at home mums we have a few retired members of the public as members i cant give you an average age as i dont know.

we have the two trucks and one 4wd both trucks are Izuzu on a 500 the other a 550 and the 4wd is a landcruiser less then two years old.

just moved into our new station we are now standalone instead of co located with CFS now we are a close bunch of people but once you get to know us and vice a versa you slid in like you have been there for years we are lucky enough to have an area that is in three regions we are at the bottom of north region and our area overlaps in to central region as well as overlapping in to east region well as i have said sing out if you want anything         
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: 24pumper on February 02, 2008, 01:48:38 PM
vr_driver,

While you are from the SES over East dont discount joining a CFS brigade if it suits you, depending on where you end up living. Are you living in Kapunda or commuting from the barossa or adelaide? As there are some busy CFS rescue stations up that way, like Nuri, Dalkieth, Virginia etc. Good luck with your move to SA.
24P
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: Crownie24 on February 02, 2008, 03:08:24 PM
If you join Nuri or Dalkeith don't expect to get anytime to yourself they'll average 1 call a day minimum.....I mean that in a good way...
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: sesroadcrashrescue on February 02, 2008, 04:28:10 PM
hay crownie24 how many days in a year mate there is more then 181 and 313 is a lot closer yes they are busy but only a small portion are real jobs for dalkeith and only a small portion are va related for nuri 
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: chook on February 02, 2008, 04:43:33 PM
Now Now play nice :-D
Don't want to scare anyone away with inter service rivalry do we :wink:
Correct me if I'm wrong Steve but Pakenham would be one of the busiest stations in Victoria(I seem to remember that argument).
Lots of high speed stuff as well, very nice part of Melbourne but.
So I'm not sure if any single unit/brigade in SA would compare. And we are not talking fender benders boys & girls.
Victoria seems to be the home of crazy drivers, so they get lots of practice!
Any way as I said I might see you around if you get over this way.
cheers
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: Crownie24 on February 02, 2008, 05:09:01 PM
hay crownie24 how many days in a year mate there is more then 181 and 313 is a lot closer yes they are busy but only a small portion are real jobs for dalkeith and only a small portion are va related for nuri 

No need to get technical. What I meant was incidents and brigade events, the sudden lack of things to do might cause some culture shock. If you join nuri or dalkeith you will have plenty to do VA related and Non-VA related....
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: chook on February 02, 2008, 05:14:39 PM
Wouldn't be the number of jobs that would worry me - it would be the clown pants & braces :-D
Jokin of course :wink:
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: Crownie24 on February 02, 2008, 05:24:01 PM
 :| Go rescue a tree.....joking
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: chook on February 02, 2008, 05:35:39 PM
We run out of trees :wink:
Really sad as its getting too quiet - had a MVA, knock over an irrigation fitting and took off!
Life is getting very boring - might have to take back all the stuff I've said about you guys and join CFS so I can put out bonfires too! :-D
Cheers Crownie
 
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: RescueHazmat on February 02, 2008, 05:39:13 PM
Do more building fires than bonfires..

;)
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: chook on February 02, 2008, 05:46:17 PM
Not up here :wink:
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: Alan (Big Al) on February 02, 2008, 08:38:49 PM
I think i read somewhere once that frankston ses gets about 300-400 va related jobs p/year would that be right??
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: chook on February 02, 2008, 08:54:36 PM
Yep I have heard that too. There is about 4 or 5 units around the the out skirts of Melbourne that do over 300 MVA's a year. Frankston is definitely one, Dandenong CFA (one of the few CFA rescue units around :wink:)is another, Pakenham is also a busy unit.
There are also some rural units along the Hume & Calder Hwy's that get busy.
Sadly Frankston is on the way to Phillip Island Hastings/ Western Port & Sale.
Which means a lot of traffic(makes our Sturt Hwy look quiet), a beautiful part of the country(ex Victorian :-D).
cheers
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: vr_driver on February 02, 2008, 09:52:09 PM
Oh boy, I didn't realise how busy this forum is!

Yeah, Paky is a busy unit. It has slowed down a little recently with the nearest responder thing coming in to play.

But, we are a busy semi-rural/metro unit.

From what I understand these are/were the top rescue units in Vic exluding metro MFB.
In no particular order: Dandenong CFA, Frankston SES, Knox SES and Pakenham SES/Nar Nar Goon CFA.
Frangers get's a lots of jobs. I don't know exact details of other units.

Now my understanding is that Dandenong CFA is the busiest. But I can't confirm this, but it'll be due to staffed turnout times.

We were getting around 100 RARs each year. with about 60-70% cut out rate. I'm one of the regular ones available to turnout too, so I've seen my fair share of nasties. Many of the crash out this way are single vehicles into trees, power poles etc...  or rollovers.  The trouble is people come out from the city, fall asleep and crash, or drink too much.


The reason I'd probably join the SES of CFS, is familiarity. You naturally go to what you know.
As far as fires? Put the wet stuff on the red stuff. :) Nah, I'm not a firey. Too many factors I can't control. I've got a lot of respect for firemen. I love a log fire, but when a fire's out of control... I won't be there! Too dangerous for me!


Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: vr_driver on February 02, 2008, 10:00:44 PM
There are also some rural units along the Hume & Calder Hwy's that get busy.
Yes, that would be Sunbury.
Quote
Sadly Frankston is on the way to Phillip Island Hastings/ Western Port & Sale.
No, that's Pakenham. Frankston is on the bay, South of Melbourne. It's about 40mins from Paky.  :-D
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: chook on February 02, 2008, 10:39:47 PM
Sorry geographically embarrassed :oops:
Knew it was down that way somewhere :-D was over that way last year & one of our plants is at Chelsea (big milk plant).
And when we came back from near Hastings we had to go through Frankston to get to the airport due to that big tunnel fire you guys had last year.
You should explain that Dandy CFA is a full time station & Narnar Goon is a combined SES/CFA team(can't remember who they were teamed with though).
Anyway I knew you guys were busy (I remember the discussion on Tech Rescue :-D)
Anyway cheers mate glad things have quieten down a bit.
cheers
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: sesroadcrashrescue on February 03, 2008, 10:26:36 AM
the most interesting thing we have had in the last few weeks was a car fire not sure why we were called but we were it was a nice layland P76 belonged to one of the MFS guys here
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: 6739264 on February 03, 2008, 12:07:18 PM
A Leyland P76 was still running? And someone still owned it BY CHOICE?

Good grief, it's like the twilight zone up there in the sticks.
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: Crownie24 on February 03, 2008, 12:18:49 PM
As far as fires? Put the wet stuff on the red stuff. :) Nah, I'm not a firey. Too many factors I can't control. I've got a lot of respect for firemen. I love a log fire, but when a fire's out of control... I won't be there! Too dangerous for me!

The people in the CFS are so good at what they do, that you will never come to harm, and the technology on the old trucks and the new ones (more so) will keep you safe from burnovers.

On KI the CFA trucks that I saw had no burnover curtains, did anyone else notice this.
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: uniden on February 03, 2008, 12:19:35 PM
the most interesting thing we have had in the last few weeks was a car fire not sure why we were called but we were it was a nice layland P76 belonged to one of the MFS guys here

About time for a pay rise for the retained firies I would reckon.
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: sesroadcrashrescue on February 03, 2008, 12:44:44 PM
more school kiddies coudnt get to school he is a bus driver not to bad as it was on the first day of school and all oh its ok he has another and is paling on getting it on the road   
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: vr_driver on February 11, 2008, 02:25:22 PM
Hi guys and girls,
Thanks for all the help recently about Kapunda. I've learnt a bit about how things work in SA. However, I've since accepted a job in Broken Hill, so will probably end up with the NSWSES up there at some stage.
Cheers,
Steve.
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: bajdas on February 11, 2008, 03:29:29 PM
Congrats on your new job. You might still do some emergency volunteer work on the SA side of the border. I believe a SASES Unit has closed & thus Broken Hill SES has expanded their area to include some of South Australia.
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: chook on February 11, 2008, 05:23:33 PM
good onya mate! Yep one of members is ex Broken Hill & Cockburn(sadly closed) and he loved it!
Anyway best of luck & cheers (you can always give us the goss from the silver city when you get there :wink:)
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: vr_driver on February 19, 2008, 10:46:12 AM
Thanks for the kind words.

I also just read in the local Barrier Miner (Broken Hill local newspaper):

SA Country Fire Server / SA State Emergency Service NOTICE OF MEETING In relation to Cockburn SES Unit and CFS Brigade Notice is given that a metting of SASES /SACFS personal Cockburn SES / CFS members, community members and other interested parties. To make the final arrangements for closure of Cockburn SES Unit and CFS Brigade.


So does this mean that that region will be without fire suppression then?
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: chook on February 19, 2008, 11:19:59 AM
no mate - you guys will provide it :wink:
Seriously there are other brigades/Units up that way - just not close. Cockburn is a very small place & have run out of people, Manna Hill & Olary are down the road a bit & of course there is Broken Hill.
Apparently there has been some sought of cross border arrangement for years.
Anyway cheers
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: Pipster on February 19, 2008, 12:11:18 PM
Sorry to burst the bubble, but neither Olary, nor Mannahill have a CFS brigade - for a while, one of the Yunta trucks was based at Mannahill - not sure if this is still the case.

One could argue that since Cockburn have an extremely low call rate (around 1 call a year) you could do without them being there.....but when something does happen in their area, it is a long way for other brigades to travel to assist.  I suppose with Broken Hill doing OK, there is some fire service / rescue coverage able to assist.

I suppose Cockburn is like many other small country towns - very few people left in the town, and even less to assist with CFS / SES...

Pip
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: chook on February 19, 2008, 12:18:38 PM
Thanks Pip wasn't sure about brigades up that way still :oops:
So the CFS isn't concerned about the closure? or its a case of there is nothing to be done.
A member of ours is ex Cockburn ahd he said it was touch and go 5 years ago (he actually thought it was closed already).
Anyway not much you can do I guess, it is a real pity though.
cheers
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: Pipster on February 19, 2008, 12:30:25 PM
You can't do much if there is simply no-one left in the town to do the job.   :-(

Unfortunately, in the next 5 years, I believe there will be more stations closed for the same reason - not because the bean counters decide it is better financially, but the community decides that it can no longer support a brigade.

Pip
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: chook on February 19, 2008, 01:41:34 PM
Yep sadly I think you are right, it will be people to man them or no one to put their hand up to be the boss.
Anyway cheers Pip
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: jaff on February 19, 2008, 02:18:51 PM
Don,t worry chook, David Place has some exciteing things he and the government are going to announce,to help ease the situation and remember he can do anything,like change the amount of years since Ash Wednesday.
Maybe they have some "magical" firefighter beans, you could just take to a town that no longer has the capacity to man an appliance, plant them and water them and hey presto, instant community member firefighters..................No sorry that will never work,what was I thinking,we dont have any water .
Seriously though for some out lying communities the situation is going to steadily become worse, perhaps retained farm firefighting appliances?.

Cheers Jaff
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: Pipster on February 19, 2008, 11:18:35 PM
Having some farm fire fighting units is a good idea...but in many areas, that is proving very difficult.

In many rural communities, each farm would have its own farm unit - so in the event of a fire, there were many useful farm units, able to assist.

However, with the drought in the last few years, many of the farms have been sold to large companies, who have the funds to buy up the farm, ride out the drought, and then make a packet with the farm producing again. 

In the mean time, instead of having one fire unit per farm, there are perhaps one or two caretakers / overseers for 10 farms....thereby reducing the number of available units.....

Pip
Title: Re: from a victorian
Post by: jaff on February 20, 2008, 06:54:05 AM
Your right Pipster,insensitive corporations are taking over massive tracts of once smallish privately owned ,community minded, community involved farms ,we need to find some water for the "magic" firefighter beans,problem solved. :-D

Cheers Jaff