SA Firefighter

1908981 08:15:50 04-05-06 FLEX-A    ALPHA  1600  FYI we default again because there was NO driver available, THANKS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT DID TURN UP !!! - SEAFORD STATION

Dont know about the rest of you but I think messages like this are a bit harsh. Obviously the brigade has issues with the number of drivers available. But you shouldnt bag the drivers you have that maybe couldnt make the call due to work/family committments etc.Too much being carried on the shoulders of the few drivers they have I think.

The pager messages you are seeing are being sent to techs or something, not to the Mt Barker pagers. ( I run my own PDW)

Road cars are not race cars and harnesses are just not practical. Tell me how you can drive a road car with a harness on and be able to look over your shoulder to check your blind spot?or drive a truck and reverse with a harness on??

Robert you will find that your current appliance is 1987 build which makes it close to the twenty year mark this year. You will see a phase out of most of the rear entry type 34 and 24`s in the next year os so as the new appliances come online and rotations occur.

Copied article from out friends at the UFU SA branch publication.-
The Union was pleased to note that following extensive lobbying from both the SAMFS and the UFU the Government recently purchased land at both Seaford and Aldinga which is earmarked as future SAMFS Fire Stations. The Union has always held the view that as all people now pay the Emergency Services Levy, they should be entitled to the provision of the best available emergency service response.

There i a crowd around called Workcare Emergency Services or something similar who drive around in cars with red/blue lights. The idea was they would attend workplaces and administer first aid and take people to hospital and so on for less $$ than SAAS. Only thing is there was an article about their director in The Advertiser the other week that he is up on about 40 charges of doing things he shouldnt have been.

Yes there are vacancies at Mt Gambier MFS for reatained  firefighters and a Radio Control room operator. Usual conditions apply ie live within 10km of the station, atten pre-selection interview and tests. As well as make a committment to attend 50% of call-outs and 80% of training nights. More details available from the station.

Clipsal 500 fire crew is voluntary. You need certain training levels from CFS or MFS to be able to do it. Others on this group will have more info.

I agree Bill, just cause some people are bored at work they shouldnt be using the GRN paging system for their fun. People can say we shouldnt be reading them , but I have heard of volunteers being told off for sending social type messages.

Some people have been sprouting on this group that a CFS person with L3 and BA is more highly trained than MFS retained firies. Well I would have agreed with you about a year ago. I have been a CFS vollie for over 15 years and have now been an MFS retained Firefighter for 3 months so have seen both sides.Well I am not going to say that mets are better but their training and their levels are definitely of a similar standard.All MFS firefighters have to do BA and a Hose/Ladder course before they can even ride the appliances. Virtually everyone does RCR, most do HAZMAT, we do First Aid every year including advanced Resus (for oxy viva). Train weekly and have to learn pumps thouroughly before being appointed as a driver.These standards apply across the state.

Isnt the color of it (fawn) its natural color?? And by keeping it that color you save $$ as you dont have to dye it.

some pics

well Bill, we (MFS) have been taught to always remove the glass from all doors but if we are having difficulty getting the seal out around the windscreen, and time is a factor then we are to cut into the windscreen with the shears if we have to take the roof off. The screen then just goes with it.

cheers ath