SA Firefighter

I hear that a few brigades, lead by a couple of Region One Group Officers made a visit with appliances to the Emergency Services ministers office today.

Sounds like the meeting was a warning, with a bit of a list of things that we need i.e. better stations, more money for paid staff for training, an actual increase in brigade budgets instead of the decrease we have seen over the last few years, more tankers in the hills etc.

I believe the people involved got their point across, also pointing out that there is a major international sporting event about to be held in Adelaide and that next Sunday there could be a large rally of CFS resources at this event. There is talk about one strike team from each nearby Group.

Todays event was not designed to attract any media attention, but with sirens and lights going at a big event in the middle of the city I think there is sure to be some considerable attention given to our situation.

Well done to those involved, I think this is only the beginning of what could be a promising campaign in the lead up to a state election.

Just saw this on the paging site

RESPOND TO FIRE ALARM SPRINGBANK PLAZA, CNR WATERLOO RD & KENSINGTING WAY, BURTON *CFSRES:, FIP ALARM *WFAM*, 18/06/2007 11:23:27

Given that this alarm is located in an CFS / MFS dual response area how are MFS going to be responded ??

Looking at this page you would assume that only Salisbury CFS are going. Maybe Salisbury will get to the station and call MFS and ask for them to respond, but wouldn't it be better to do it automatically.

Maybe on the inital page a note could be added - something like 'SOCC TO RESPOND MFS' that way as soon as the SOCC (or MFS Comms soon) see the response page they can initiate a call to MFS and get the appropriate response going as well.

It is interesting to see what response some brigades have to a fixed alarm, many brigades have the WFAM response only to one brigade. Even though CFS SOP's say that two appliances must be responded, are brigades that only have one brigade on the initial page saying that they can always guarantee two trucks out the door ?? If not then we are not responding a correct response to these incidents.

Again I think we are assuming that all fixed alarms will be nothing and that there is no point bothering another brigade for false alarms. Only problem is that if the place is big enough to have a fixed alarm it is at least going to be a B Class risk, as the response to a structure fire in a B Class risk is four appliances we are immediately going to be disadvantaged should we find a going job. At least get two trucks going initially to an alarm so you have some BA backup.

Companies spend big bucks putting in fire detection and suppression systems, it's a shame some CFS brigades don't take the response to them seriously.