226
SASES / Re: Again response protocol not followed!!!!
« on: September 04, 2010, 02:08:16 PM »SACAD....where art thou...now?
apparantly trial from october over the Summer and live May 11
Yeah, but which year??
Pip
Show Posts
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
Yeah, but which year??
Pip
227
SA Firefighter General / Re: Interesting Fire and Emergency Related Paging
« on: August 30, 2010, 06:22:23 PM »
And how many called up Adelaide fire on the radio.......!
228
Country Fire Service / Re: Injuries whilst on duty
« on: August 28, 2010, 05:36:42 PM »
CFS is an exempt employer under workcover - meaning CFS doesn't pay premiums to workcover, but must set aside money for workers comp, and adhere to some fairly strict standards, imposed by workcover.
A CFS volunteer is, for the purpose of workcover, is classed as an employee.
If a member suffers an injury in the course of their CFS duties (which includes callouts, training, PR events etc) they are covered for medical & rehab expenses, and income maintenance - just as any other employee in any other Govt Dept is.
However, I was told last week that, unlike other departments, income maintenance to CFS volunteers does not drop down over time, if the member is unable to return to work over a long period of time.
Pip
A CFS volunteer is, for the purpose of workcover, is classed as an employee.
If a member suffers an injury in the course of their CFS duties (which includes callouts, training, PR events etc) they are covered for medical & rehab expenses, and income maintenance - just as any other employee in any other Govt Dept is.
However, I was told last week that, unlike other departments, income maintenance to CFS volunteers does not drop down over time, if the member is unable to return to work over a long period of time.
Pip
229
SAAS / Re: SAAS truck
« on: August 28, 2010, 01:14:26 PM »
Whoops...that'd be the one...... that's the problem with having a young bub...sleep pattern is a little different to normal!
231
SAAS / Re: Medstar retrieval service
« on: August 25, 2010, 01:22:50 PM »
I'm glad people can make use of our photos 
Pip
Pip
232
Country Fire Service / Re: CFS COMPS.
« on: August 23, 2010, 12:18:04 AM »
I think the comps in the last few years, when they ran, cost a relatively sizable amount of money, for a small handful of brigades......and it seemed more cadet teams than anything else....!
Any money from comps would be better spent on running Regional Field Days...many more people can get involved - and no extra special training required to participate.....
Pip
Any money from comps would be better spent on running Regional Field Days...many more people can get involved - and no extra special training required to participate.....
Pip
233
Country Fire Service / Re: Hermitage 34
« on: August 17, 2010, 11:27:59 AM »I vote for the MFS approach and staying on the bitumen
Where's the fun in that?!
Pip
234
Country Fire Service / Re: Hermitage 34
« on: August 15, 2010, 03:20:53 PM »
Presumably this was from a few months ago...?
Pip
Pip
235
SA Firefighter General / Re: Interesting Fire and Emergency Related Paging
« on: August 03, 2010, 11:59:08 PM »
I suppose when it comes to merging groups, obviously a whole heap of factors need to be looked at.
Obviously, geographical proximity is one - that one is fairly obvious. There are some brigades around who are on the outer edge of a group area. The population of that township tends to associate with the adjoining group - eg the kids go to school in the adjoining group area, townsfolk do their shopping in the adjoining group area, collect their mail from a post office in the adjoining group's area - so it makes sense to add this group to the adjoining one!!
However geographical area should not be the only criteria.
We could go down the track of all groups to have roughly equal numbers of brigades in them...but, you could end up with the same sized groups, but one does mega numbers of calls per year, the adjoining group hardly any, so one group has group officer holders getting flogged with work, the adjoining ones not doing a lot!!
So, do you then look at rearranging group boundaries based on workload - so that each group ends up with about the same workload...so some groups would have a handful of brigades, others very large, but roughly the same workload...?
These suggestions make it very simplistic, and obviously, changing / rearranging groups is not that simple.....especially when tribalism & politics gets involved!!
However, I do believe it is time we seriously looked at the issue, and made some changes to groups and group boundaries.... after all, the bulk of our group boundaries are still based on which council area you were in!!
Pip
Obviously, geographical proximity is one - that one is fairly obvious. There are some brigades around who are on the outer edge of a group area. The population of that township tends to associate with the adjoining group - eg the kids go to school in the adjoining group area, townsfolk do their shopping in the adjoining group area, collect their mail from a post office in the adjoining group's area - so it makes sense to add this group to the adjoining one!!
However geographical area should not be the only criteria.
We could go down the track of all groups to have roughly equal numbers of brigades in them...but, you could end up with the same sized groups, but one does mega numbers of calls per year, the adjoining group hardly any, so one group has group officer holders getting flogged with work, the adjoining ones not doing a lot!!
So, do you then look at rearranging group boundaries based on workload - so that each group ends up with about the same workload...so some groups would have a handful of brigades, others very large, but roughly the same workload...?
These suggestions make it very simplistic, and obviously, changing / rearranging groups is not that simple.....especially when tribalism & politics gets involved!!
However, I do believe it is time we seriously looked at the issue, and made some changes to groups and group boundaries.... after all, the bulk of our group boundaries are still based on which council area you were in!!
Pip
236
SA Firefighter General / Re: Interesting Fire and Emergency Related Paging
« on: August 03, 2010, 02:36:18 PM »
A proper look at, and a rearrangement of Groups is long overdue...I know there was a recent proposal for Region 1 to reduce the number of groups, and hence the rearrangement of group boundaries..... but that seems to have gone all quiet...not sure where it is at now!
Pip
Pip
237
All Equipment discussion / Re: Government Auctions - Ex CFS Appliances
« on: July 09, 2010, 11:09:27 AM »
Correct - it was Upper Sturt 12.
The other one ex STC driver training, and prior to that, Dublin 34
The ones currently for sale at the next Govt auction are the old Mundoo Tanker, and Ngarkat 34.
Pip
The other one ex STC driver training, and prior to that, Dublin 34
The ones currently for sale at the next Govt auction are the old Mundoo Tanker, and Ngarkat 34.
Pip
238
Country Fire Service / Re: Booster Commisioning
« on: June 16, 2010, 11:22:33 AM »
It'd be sort of the second pump set...I believe the pump was replaced not that long ago.....!!! :
Pip
Pip
239
Country Fire Service / Re: Booster Commisioning
« on: June 15, 2010, 10:27:33 AM »
The Onka trailer pump is closest to a true pump trailer - the Meadows one is more of a pump, plonked on the back of a trailer - although I believe it is powered by a 1600cc VW engine, with a Magirus TS 8/8 pump.
Pip
Pip
240
Country Fire Service / Re: BA Re-Accreditation - Vale
« on: June 05, 2010, 05:57:53 PM »
If instructors aren't running around having to do reacreds, it might free them, AND the facilities at STC, up for more BA courses...?
Pip
Pip
241
Country Fire Service / Re: Booster Commisioning
« on: June 05, 2010, 05:55:51 PM »
CFS Staff from the Building fire safety unit were out with a local brigade last week testing flow rates etc on new booster set up at one of the local primary schools in the Hills.
That booster set up was one of the first completed in the hills area, under the recent building program, with many more to come over the next few months, as system are completed.
Pip
That booster set up was one of the first completed in the hills area, under the recent building program, with many more to come over the next few months, as system are completed.
Pip
242
SA Firefighter General / Re: Ammusing pager message.
« on: May 31, 2010, 09:47:57 AM »
Who stays at STC on Sunday night?
From the conversation from crews on scene, it sounded like there was no-one at STC...
Pip
From the conversation from crews on scene, it sounded like there was no-one at STC...
Pip
243
SA Firefighter General / Re: 'Firemen don't have a Chance'
« on: May 20, 2010, 10:39:55 AM »
Nah Jaff...just a different group.......
Pip
Pip
244
Country Fire Service / Re: NOT THE TRUCK - watch this space
« on: May 19, 2010, 08:48:55 PM »
The new 34 was to replace a 34 which was part of a batch with a weight distribution issues, which is then fixed, and sent to other brigades, generally outside of hilly areas
I think that the bulk of that batch (which came into service 2004 -05 ish) have now been replaced.... so don't bag the brigade too much for getting a new truck this month!
Pip
I think that the bulk of that batch (which came into service 2004 -05 ish) have now been replaced.... so don't bag the brigade too much for getting a new truck this month!
Pip
245
Country Fire Service / Re: Apollo Gold Pagers.
« on: May 13, 2010, 01:19:52 PM »
CFS has been in discussion with the manufacturer, to change some of the specs of the Apollo - no retro fitting, but new batches will hopefully be improved. They will be black, not yellow, requests to change the default alert tone to a different tone, allow more memory to store messages than currently, and I think a few more changes....
Pip
Pip
246
All Equipment discussion / Re: 34p pump sizes
« on: May 12, 2010, 05:47:59 PM »
That may well be the case in the urban fringe Bundy bear, but for many other areas of the state, a 34P is quite an adequate vehicle!
In the case of bittenyakka's response area, and the surrounding areas, there is hardly any mains water (in fact, if you go left from that station, there is one private hydrant point within about 10 km of that station...and it doesn't have great pressure.
In much of bittenyakka's Group response area there are no hydrants what so ever - so it is all very well having a great big pump...all it means is you run out of water more quickly!!! Connecting multiple lines to it is generally just an exercise in bowling out hoses!!!
The issue of whether the 34P is a suitable vehicle or not really comes down to one size doesn't fit everyone!!
As for backing up MFS - do we see metro MFS with light 4 x 4 vehicles, to assist CFS just in case CFS call on them for assistance on the urban fringe?
Are we responsible for ensuring that our equipment covers another service's area?
Since the budget that CFS gets is not a bottomless pit of money, CFS have to make do with what they get - and try their best to ensure that the whole state is covered for equipment - not just the urban fringe.
Ultimately, it comes back to governments not funding CFS appropriately - something that has been going on for some time....... discussions on this website have highlighted what we can do about that!!
As for feedback to Infrastructure & Logistics - I know of several instances where that has been done, and now IS & L are looking at the feedback that has been made, and doing something about it (eg a suggestion was made to bring back 24 sized appliances, for areas not well suited to the physical size of the 34's - something IS & L are looking into.)
When new appliances are delivered to brigades, there is a feedback sheet to go with it, and brigades are encouraged to give feedback - and some changes have been made to successive builds of 34's & 34P's (Remembering of course, that it is not a simple process to change a build part way through a run!!)
So a 34P might not suit your brigade, but for many brigades, it works well.
Are we ever going to get the "perfect" fire truck - probably not, but at least we are getting new appliances, hopefully with each new build, improvements are made, so we do end up with a good, suitable appliance.
Look at the appliances we had 25 years ago, compared to what we have now..... a vast improvement - not perfect, but an improvement!@
Pip
In the case of bittenyakka's response area, and the surrounding areas, there is hardly any mains water (in fact, if you go left from that station, there is one private hydrant point within about 10 km of that station...and it doesn't have great pressure.
In much of bittenyakka's Group response area there are no hydrants what so ever - so it is all very well having a great big pump...all it means is you run out of water more quickly!!! Connecting multiple lines to it is generally just an exercise in bowling out hoses!!!
The issue of whether the 34P is a suitable vehicle or not really comes down to one size doesn't fit everyone!!
As for backing up MFS - do we see metro MFS with light 4 x 4 vehicles, to assist CFS just in case CFS call on them for assistance on the urban fringe?
Are we responsible for ensuring that our equipment covers another service's area?
Since the budget that CFS gets is not a bottomless pit of money, CFS have to make do with what they get - and try their best to ensure that the whole state is covered for equipment - not just the urban fringe.
Ultimately, it comes back to governments not funding CFS appropriately - something that has been going on for some time....... discussions on this website have highlighted what we can do about that!!
As for feedback to Infrastructure & Logistics - I know of several instances where that has been done, and now IS & L are looking at the feedback that has been made, and doing something about it (eg a suggestion was made to bring back 24 sized appliances, for areas not well suited to the physical size of the 34's - something IS & L are looking into.)
When new appliances are delivered to brigades, there is a feedback sheet to go with it, and brigades are encouraged to give feedback - and some changes have been made to successive builds of 34's & 34P's (Remembering of course, that it is not a simple process to change a build part way through a run!!)
So a 34P might not suit your brigade, but for many brigades, it works well.
Are we ever going to get the "perfect" fire truck - probably not, but at least we are getting new appliances, hopefully with each new build, improvements are made, so we do end up with a good, suitable appliance.
Look at the appliances we had 25 years ago, compared to what we have now..... a vast improvement - not perfect, but an improvement!@
Pip
247
Country Fire Service / Re: Apollo Gold Pagers.
« on: May 06, 2010, 09:55:55 PM »From what i have heard the Apollo pagers are here to stay, the current pagers have been deemed too expensive to get repaired and parts are becoming harder to find. so unfortunately if you send a pager back to be repaired, dont be surprised if you get an Apollo pager in its place.
It isn't a matter of don't be surprised, it's pretty much a given that your old broken pager will be replaced by a shiny new Apollo!
The probelm with the current pagers is the bulk of them have come to the end of their programmed lifespan (well, past their expected life span) and the spare parts very difficult to get..... in recent times the more damaged / unrepairable ones were being cannibalised to repair those that could be repaired...
That was before the Apollo's arrived....now you just get a replacement!!!
Pip
248
Country Fire Service / Re: Apollo Gold Pagers.
« on: April 23, 2010, 09:26:15 PM »QuoteI understood these pagers to be a temporary measure, until a new batch of pagers is decided upon, and purchased ....... can any of the comms guys clarify that...?
I think these are here to stay, from what I heard these pagers were chosen because they were the most sensitive (and therefore recieved the most messages) out of all the ones tested.
Of the messages my brigade has got on these pagers - they have about the same failure rate as the old ones.......
We haven't had any members miss calls, as I think there are only one or 2 with a yellow pager, and they are trialling it alongside an existing old pager to see what difference there is.....
Pip
So do some of your members have 2 pagers that are working?? is that what you mean?
Yes.....as a trial.....we had two members leave (moved interstate) and hence had two spare pagers to use....we wanted to see the difference in the way new pagers received messages, vs the old......... particularly since the brigade response area has poor pager (and mobile phone!) coverage.
Pip
249
Country Fire Service / Re: Apollo Gold Pagers.
« on: April 23, 2010, 07:11:15 PM »QuoteI understood these pagers to be a temporary measure, until a new batch of pagers is decided upon, and purchased ....... can any of the comms guys clarify that...?
I think these are here to stay, from what I heard these pagers were chosen because they were the most sensitive (and therefore recieved the most messages) out of all the ones tested.
Of the messages my brigade has got on these pagers - they have about the same failure rate as the old ones.......
We haven't had any members miss calls, as I think there are only one or 2 with a yellow pager, and they are trialling it alongside an existing old pager to see what difference there is.....
Pip
250
Country Fire Service / Re: Apollo Gold Pagers.
« on: April 22, 2010, 07:40:00 PM »
My brigade has a few...same issue with the alert tone being rather quiet.
Also found they only hold 16 messages....for your average fire-fighter, that's probably OK, but if you have a group pager, in one busy afternoon, your pager is full, and messages could start dropping off!!!
However, I think there is some advantage to a bright yellow case....... more likely to see it, once it has been dropped (and hopefully, less likely to run over it with the lawn mower!!!)
I understood these pagers to be a temporary measure, until a new batch of pagers is decided upon, and purchased ....... can any of the comms guys clarify that...?
Pip
Also found they only hold 16 messages....for your average fire-fighter, that's probably OK, but if you have a group pager, in one busy afternoon, your pager is full, and messages could start dropping off!!!
However, I think there is some advantage to a bright yellow case....... more likely to see it, once it has been dropped (and hopefully, less likely to run over it with the lawn mower!!!)
I understood these pagers to be a temporary measure, until a new batch of pagers is decided upon, and purchased ....... can any of the comms guys clarify that...?
Pip