SA Firefighter

Looks like we might be getting another funding cut http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-07/mp-says-sa-emergency-agencies-struggling-to-cope/4673714

No wonder we can't keep any good staff.

Anyone looking for a job in SES, this is your chance.

DEPUTY CHIEF OFFICER, SA STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE
(CONTRACT APPOINTMENT) (Advt)  EXA
Vacancy No. C5739/2012     
  Duties: As an executive member of the State Emergency Service, the position is responsible for leading, managing and developing career and volunteer staff and providing strategic leadership to the emergency management sector as well as providing leadership in the development and implementation of emergency management arrangements at both state and national levels. The position is accountable to the Chief Officer for the operational preparedness and response capabilities of the service and for the development and maintenance of risk specific contingency plans, and ensures the provision of effective support and recovery services for the well being and future readiness of it's members. The position contributes to the development, implementation and maintenance of strategies, policies and plans necessary to ensure effective holistic service delivery by SES, as well as provides leadership to the SES business excellence framework. 
Special Conditions: Please refer to the attached Position Description. 
Location: Adelaide CBD (Adelaide) 
Award: SA Govt Wages Parity (Sal) Enterprise Agree 2010 
Eligibility: Non-Public Sector Employees May Apply 
Department: State Emergency Service (Executive Services) 
Further Information: www.ses.sa.gov.au 
Enquiries to: Mr C Beattie, Chief Officer, SES, SES, telephone 8463 4174, email beattie.chris@ses.sa.gov.au 
Applications to: SAFECOM Vacancies, SAFECOM, GPO Box 2706, Adelaide, 5001, telephone 8463 4081 , email vacancies@safecom.sa.gov.au 
Note: Appointment to this position will be on a contract basis of up to 5 years. Applications must address the Essential and Desirable Criteria as listed in the Position Description and contain a CV listing 3 current referees. Position Descriptions are available from SAFECOM Human Resource ph. 8463 4081 or via e-mail. 
Closing Date: 31 Aug 2012 

Fraser Engineering is starting work on a new multimillion-dollar fire-truck contract for South Australia, the day after completing another major deal with the state's rural service.

The Lower Hutt firm won a contract last year to supply 23 fire engines to the South Australian Country Fire Service, each of which cost about $400,000, with the last truck handed over yesterday.

Now staff are about to start on the next 20 trucks, with the chassis that will form the base of the next contract arriving in Wellington this week.

The South Australian service infrastructure manager, Arthur Tindall, said the organisation, staffed by volunteer firefighters in mainly rural areas, ran a fleet of about 600 fire trucks, replacing more than 20 a year through a tendering process with qualifying manufacturers.

Despite transport and costs related to travel, "Frasers came out on top value-for-money-wise, and still provided us with savings", Tindall said. "The quality of the product is exceptional, some of the best I have seen."

Though the organisation had come under fire for choosing a New Zealand firm over one near Adelaide, Fraser won another contract the following year, which would be completed in coming months.

Fraser's managing director, Martin Stewart, said the company had about 115 fire engines on order, about three years' work, with about 40 per cent of the demand coming from across the Tasman.

As well as the rural trucks for Australia, the firm made trucks for urban settings, as well as for airports to respond to possible plane crashes.

The company says its point of difference is that it engineers nearly all components in-house, whereas rivals buy parts to order.

This allows the company to win business supplying parts for other manufacturers across the Tasman and around the world.

"You may not be able to export finished trucks around the world, but you can certainly export finished parts around the world," Fraser said.

"We would love to send finished trucks all around the world for sure, but the Australian market is a good one for us to work in because they're so close."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/indu...ussie-contract

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/cfs-volunteers-fall-by-thousands/story-fn6bqvxz-1226397195871

THE state's army of Country Fire Service volunteers is at its lowest level in at least a decade, amid warnings of a hotter, drier summer.

CFS numbers have fallen from 16,419 in 2002 to 13,682. That is a drop of almost 17 per cent as of Tuesday.

In the past year alone, the service has lost 861 volunteers - the biggest annual drop in the past 10 years, according to figures obtained by The Advertiser.

As a result, the CFS is struggling to find adequate crews for day shifts within 100km of Adelaide. The demands of employers, the struggling economy and an ageing population are being blamed for the sharp drop.

Experts have called for financial incentives to entice more people to the service as the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts a return to an El Nino weather pattern over spring and summer.

CFS Volunteers Association president Roger Flavell told The Advertiser  that falling volunteer numbers had been a concern for years - but little had been done by the State Government to address the worsening problem.

"We've been concerned for the past few years about the falling numbers and the significant ageing demographic of CFS volunteers," he said.

"If the State Government had to replace CFS volunteers with paid services the cost would be astronomical, yet they are very reluctant to give us a whole lot more support."

When The Advertiser requested an interview with CFS chief officer Greg Nettleton about the issue, it was directed to Emergency Services Minister Jennifer Rankine.

She said the fall in volunteer numbers had not had a noticeable effect on response capability, saying programs were in place to attract and retain volunteers.

"The state's Fire and Emergency Service Volunteer Support Branch has two recruitment and development officers who work with individual brigades to retain volunteers, while assisting with recruitment," she said.

"In the recent State Budget, the Government announced funding of $2.6 million over four years for nationally endorsed training for CFS and SES volunteers."

Mr Flavell said the falling numbers had not placed the CFS at crisis point but said rostering issues for day shifts within 100km of Adelaide were apparent.

"It's definitely a concern (and) because of those falling resources, it seems to be getting harder to get people to travel to other areas on strike teams."

La Trobe University School of Psychological Science Adjunct Professor Jim McLennan, who has studied volunteer retention and attraction in all country fire services in Australia, said it was a difficult issue to address.

"Nobody quite knows what to do, simply because there is not one obvious golden bullet answer," he said.

Prof McLennan said if the trend continued, financial incentives might be needed to attract volunteers.

"There has never been any political will anywhere to do something," he said.

Mr Flavell said there were many issues contributing to falling numbers of volunteers and he couldn't single out one reason why numbers were increasingly falling. "One of the things is the ageing population," he said.

Hahndorf CFS captain Terry Hall, who has volunteered with the service for 26 years, urged people to get involved.

"It's open to all ages providing you are capable of doing the job," he said.

"You can be part of a group of people looking to help others and dedicated to the same outcome of protecting the community."

Mr Flavell said the CFS "desperately needs younger people to be involved".

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/cfs-uniforms-worth-700-each-tossed-in-bin-over-missing-stripe/story-e6frea6u-1226337460922

THOUSANDS of dollars of Country Fire Service uniforms are being discarded, Opposition emergency services spokesman Duncan McFetridge says.

And the reason they are being put in the bin is because they are missing one reflective stripe.

Dr McFetridge said he was outraged by the wastage as new uniforms cost about $700 each.

"The CFS have been collecting uniforms with two stripes, including some brand new uniforms still in their plastic wrap, which they understand are being thrown out," Dr McFetridge said.

"I have been told by CFS volunteers that the new Australian standards require three reflective stripes on the jackets and pants of CFS volunteer uniforms."

Emergency Services Minister Jennifer Rankine said the CFS was progressively replacing uniforms for its volunteers as older garments experienced general wear and tear.

Region 1 has lost another two staff, the money at Adelaide Fire must be real good to jump ship :wink:

Two Jewish men walk into the Collingwood membership office and ask to buy season tickets.

The lady behind the counter asks, "Are you circumcised?"

The Jews reply "Yes, of course!"
The lady then says,

"I'm sorry gentlemen, but you have to be a complete filtered to be a Collingwood member.

Interesting read
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/ego-fuelled-poor-fire-culture-fire-boss-20110930-1l0ud.html

STRIKE TEAM REQUIRED FOR 5-7 DAY DEPLOYMENT TO ALICE SPRINGS. LEAVING TOMORROW MORNING, WEDNESDAY 28TH OF SEPTEMBER. REPLY TO THE GROUP OFFICER ON 04XXXXXX. - CFS Melrose Group Info

First all expenses paid trip and Fire Season hasn't started yet.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/fire-service-cuts-put-lives-in-danger/story-e6frea6u-1226097183452


STAFF and fund cuts for emergency services will risk lives and properties in the bushfire season, it has been claimed.

An unexpected $2 million slashed in the State Budget from SAFECOM - the government body supporting the Metropolitan Fire Service, State Emergency Service and Country Fire Service - by Emergency Services Minister Kevin Foley has angered and frustrated volunteers.

Just 58 SAFECOM staff, down from 110 last year, are left to support 14,500 CFS volunteers and the state's 1700 SES volunteers. That will fall to 47 next financial year through attrition and redundancies.

CFS Volunteers Association executive director Wendy Shirley and SES executive officer Susan Caracoussis said the changes would hit volunteer support and training, where help was needed most.

"The cuts are too savage and the decision was not based on an audit or evidence, it's just an arbitrary decision by the minister," Ms Shirley said. "We (CFS) are already way under-staffed, but now the jobs SAFECOM can no longer do, will fall to our volunteers."

The agencies' volunteers share some training and services and Mrs Caracoussis said some "frustrated" SES volunteers had quit recently.

Six country CFS recruitment and support staff were replaced by Adelaide-based officers, who also handle recruiting and training in rural communities on a "fly-in, fly-out basis".

"We need more volunteers, but the capacity to recruit them has been cut," Ms Shirley said.

Asked by Liberal MP Daniel van Holst Pellekaan if cuts were based on "best operation" practices, Mr Foley told a parliamentary committee earlier this month: "I just thought it was a reasonable number" based on his state treasurer experience.

Quizzed if he provided "leadership" by deciding where cuts should occur,

Mr Foley said: "That's government, mate; it's hard decisions."

Mr Foley said staff reductions meant more could be put to "frontline" services and an extra $2.1 million over four years would go to additional resources and accreditation courses for volunteers from both agencies.

He added the State Budget had also allocated $2.5 million over the next four years for improvements at the State Emergency Information Call Centre.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/fire-money-in-the-millions/story-e6frea6u-1226069201213

THURSDAY's State budget will include $23.1 million in additional funding over the next four years to help protect the state against the on-going risk of bushfire.
The money will allow the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to employ an extra 56 people - 13 on-going and 43 seasonal firefighters - as well as on-going funding of more than $1 million per year to buy firefighting equipment including appliances and bulk water carriers.

Treasurer Jack Snelling today said the devastating bushfires that swept though Victoria in 2009 and the Ash Wednesday bushfires in 1983 are reminders that living in Australia means we are at the mercy of the elements, and it is essential to have the ability to prepare and respond to them.

"This funding demonstrated the State Government's continued commitment to fuel management on public lands to reduce the risk and impact of bushfires," he said.

"By 2014-15, the State Government will be providing an additional $7.3 million per year, indexed, for the important long-term program of prescribed burning."

Environment and Conservation Minister Paul Caica said the State Government was committed to increasing prescribed burns on public land following a key recommendation arising from the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission.

"The program will focus on high risk areas including the Mount Lofty Ranges, the Lower Eyre Peninsula, Southern Flinders Ranges, the South East and Kangaroo Island," Mr Caica said.

"The State Government is committed to reducing fuel loads through prescribed burning because it is critical to South Australia's bushfire preparedness measures ahead of our typically hot and dry summers."



The Government will provide an extra $2.1 million over the next four years for additional resources and accreditation courses to Country Fire Service and State Emergency Services volunteers, and $2.5 million for additional support and capability of the State Emergency Information Call Centre.

The new IVECO heavy pumper in New Zealand, coming to a brigade near you.....fact or fiction :-D

Anyone looking for a job with CFS

REGIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
TEMPORARY UP TO 6 MONTHS) (Advt-Recirc)  ($43394.00/46969.00)
Vacancy No. T1399/2011     
Duties: The Regional Administrative Officer provides a comprehensive administrative, secretarial and clerical service to personnel located within the regional office and processes WorkCover claims for the region. This position also provides a high quality information and reception service to volunteers, members of the public and other agencies on a broad range of activities associated with the CFS. 
Special Conditions: A current driver's licence is essential. Must be prepared to multi-skill in a small administrative section. In emergency situation, may be required to perform operational support duties appropriate to his/her level of competency. May be required to work flexible hours to support the operational requirements of the Region. 
Location: Naracoorte 
Award: SA Govt Wages Parity (Sal) Enterprise Agree 2009 
Eligibility: Non-Public Sector Employees May Apply 
Department: Country Fire Service 
Enquiries to: Brett Merritt , Commander, Region 5, SA Country Fire Service, telephone 08 8762 2311, email merritt.brett@cfs.sa.gov.au 
Applications to: Human Resources, SAFECOM, GPO Box 2706, Adelaide, 5001, telephone 08 8463 4081 , email vacancies@safecom.sa.gov.au 
Note: You must address the essential and desirable criteria in your application. Applications via email are preferred or post one (1) original and three (3) copies to the address provided. 
************************************************************************************
CFS Level 3  REGIONAL OPERATIONS PLANNING OFFICER
Advt)  ($60953.00/66105.00)
Vacancy No. 1765/2011     
Duties: The Regional Operations Support Officer will: Lead the development and maintenance of operational plans within the Region including pre-incident planning, operational preparedness, incident command and control: Assist in the efficient management of the human and physical resources within the Region; Supports the Regional efforts in coordinating/supporting operational incident management and training: Assists with the management, leadership and support of volunteer members: Monitor and evaluate operational performance and review service delivery practices and procedures including identify opportunities for improvement. 
Essential Minimum Qualifications: A relevant tertiary qualification at diploma (AQF-5) level of above. 
Special Conditions: Frequent out of hours work will be required. Some intra and some interstate travel necessitating overnight stays may be required. A current drivers licence and willingness to drive is essential. 
Location: South East (Naracoorte) 
Award: SA Govt Wages Parity (Sal) Enterprise Agree 2009 
Eligibility: Non-Public Sector Employees May Apply 
Department: Country Fire Service (Region 5 - Naracoorte) 
Enquiries to: Mr Brett Merritt, Regional Commander, R5, SACFS, telephone 8762 2311, email merritt.brett@cfs.sa.gov.au 
Applications to: Human Resources, SAFECOM, GPO Box 2706, Adelaide, 5001, telephone 8463 4081 , email vacancies@safecom.sa.gov.au 
Note: Applicants must address the Essential and Desirable Attributes as listed in the Position Description. Position Descriptions are available from SAFECOM Human Resources ph 8463 4081 or e-mail vacancies@safecom.sa.gov.au 
Closing Date: 08 Apr 2011 

A Blonde was sent on her way to Heaven. Upon arrival, a concerned St Peter met her at the Pearly Gates. 'I'm sorry, 'St Peter said; 'But Heaven is suffering from an overload of godly souls and we have been forced to put up an Entrance Exam for new arrivals to ease the burden of Heavenly Arrivals.'

'That's cool' said the Blonde, 'What does the Entrance Exam consist of?'
'Just three questions' said St Peter.

'Which are?' asked the Blonde.

'The first,' said St Peter, 'is, which two days of the week start with the letter 'T'? The second is 'How many seconds are there in a year'?
The third is 'What was the name of the swagman in Waltzing Matilda?'
'Now,' said St Peter, 'Go away and think about those questions and when I call upon you, I shall expect you to have those answers for me.'
So the Blonde went away and gave those three questions some considerable thought (I expect you to do the same).

The following morning, St Peter called upon the Blonde and asked if she had considered the questions, to which she replied, 'I have.'
'Well then,' said St Peter, 'Which two days of the week start with the letter T?'
The Blonde said, 'Today and Tomorrow.'
St Peter pondered this answer for some time, and decided that indeed the answer can be applied to the question.
'Well then, could I have your answer to the second of the three questions' St Peter went on, 'how many seconds in a year?'
The Blonde replied, 'Twelve!'
'Only twelve' exclaimed St Peter, 'How did you arrive at that figure?'
'Easy,' said the Blonde, 'there's the second of January, the second of February, right through to the second of December, giving a total of twelve seconds.'
St Peter looked at the Blonde and said, 'I need some time to consider your answer before I can give you a decision.' And he walked away shaking his head.

A short time later, St Peter returned to the Blonde. 'I'll allow the answer to stand, but you need to get the third and final question absolutely correct to be allowed into Heaven. Now, can you tell me the answer to the name of the swagman in Waltzing Matilda?'
The blonde replied: 'Of the three questions, I found this the easiest to answer.'
'Really!' exclaimed St Peter, 'And what is the answer?'
'It's Andy.'
'Andy??'
'Yes, Andy,' said the Blonde.
This totally floored St Peter, and he paced this way and that, deliberating the answer. Finally, he could not stand the suspense any longer, and turning to the blonde, asked 'How in God's name did you arrive at THAT answer?'
'Easy' said the Blonde, 'Andy sat, Andy watched, Andy waited till his billy boiled.'

And the Blonde entered Heaven...!

... you're singing it now, aren't you...?? :-D

It is with sadness I advise the death of a friend, and fellow firefighter Jamie Ronald Larcombe.

Jamie was a CFS member from Parndana brigade and is survived by his parents, sisters and girlfriend.

It was not the news we wanted to be told at 5:30 in the morning, and our thoughts are with his family.

Jamie was killed in the line of duty serving the Australian Army in Afghanistan.

RIP mate :(

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/soldie...-1226008902313

For those that have not seen it before the episode of "Inside The Firestorm" will be showing on ABC2 at 21:30 hrs tonight.

SACFS crews responded to a reported B Double down an embankment at Eyre Highway, 45kms west of Penong early this morning.

The B-Double semi trailer has been identified as carrying dangerous goods and has been upgraded to a Major Hazmat Incident.

Hazmat crews are being requested for a 2-3 day deployment from all over the state yet to be confirmed when attending.

Currently Ceduna and Penong and multiple groups on scene.

State Hazmat Pod left this morning.

The First Christmas Joke - and it's Scottish..........

A man in Scotland calls his son in London the day before Christmas Eve and says,
"I hate to ruin your day but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough".

"Dad, what are you talking about?'" the son screams.

"We can't stand the sight of each other any longer", the father says.   "We're sick of each other and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Leeds and tell her".

Frantically, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone, "Like hell they're getting divorced", she shouts, "I'll take care of this".   

She calls Scotland immediately and screams at her father, "You are NOT getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing,  DO YOU HEAR ME?"and hangs up.

The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife.
"Done! They're coming for Christmas - and they're paying their own way."

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/dispute-leaves-communities-without-fire-stations/story-e6frea83-1225961133374

THREE South Australian communities will be at higher risk of bushfire danger because a dispute between the Government and a contractor has stalled the building of new fire stations.
State Country Fire Service stations in Wilmington, Balaklava and Hamley Bridge were all demolished earlier this year on the promise they would be rebuilt before this year's fire season.

But a dispute between the South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission and contractor Unique Building has stopped work on the stations for the past six weeks.

Wilmington is near Mt Remarkable, which is a high-risk fire area, and Balaklava and Hamley Bridge are both in the Mid North.

Wilmington CFS captain Geoff Hitch said the dispute meant the high-risk fire area would be without a fire station for what was expected to be the worst fire season in 20 years. The brigade had been forced to store trucks and equipment in private residences of members.

"I don't care what the fight is about, I just want them to finish the station - they can't just leave it half finished," he said.

"It is definitely going to slow our response time down because we have got gear all over the place."

Mr Hitch said he was concerned that a serious fire in the high-risk area could have fatal consequences if there was no centralised station.

"If our response is slow it gives a fire more chance to get ahead of us, so who knows what that could do," he said.

Opposition finance spokesman Rob Lucas said the dispute could place country communities at risk if there was a major summer fire.

He said correspondence between SAFECOM and the builder showed the dispute was regarding non-performance under the terms of the contract. The organisation was seeking repayment of $740,000 of a $1.5 million payment made in June.

"The letter claims that Unique has failed to comply with the above contract requirement to date and immediate action is required by Unique for more than 50 separate items," Mr Lucas said. "The minister and SAFECOM must now take urgent action to ensure the CFS stations are built as soon as possible."

Emergency Services Minister Michael Wright said the Government would direct SAFECOM to seek an alternative builder.

"The conduct of this company has been completely unacceptable," he said.

"A number of meetings have been held with the company concerned, and we'll be requesting an explanation as to why their contract should not be cancelled."

The Harley-Davidson Facts

The inventor of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle, Arthur Davidson , died and went to heaven.

At the gates, St. Peter told Arthur. 'Since you've been such a good man and your motorcycles have changed the world, your reward is, you can hang out with anyone you want to in heaven.'

Arthur thought about it for a minute and then said, ' I want to hang out with God.'

St. Peter took Arthur to the Throne Room, and introduced him to God.

God recognized Arthur and commented, 'Okay, so you were the one who invented the Harley-Davidson motorcycle? '
Arthur said, 'Yeah, that's me...'

God commented: 'Well, what's the big deal in inventing something that's pretty unstable, makes noise and pollution and can't run without a road?'

Arthur was a bit embarrassed, but finally spoke, 'Excuse me, but aren't you the inventor of woman?'

God said, 'Ah, yes .'

'Well,' said Arthur, 'professional to professional, you have some major design flaws in your invention !

1.There's too much inconsistency in the front-end suspension
 
2.It chatters constantly at high speeds

3. Most rear ends are too soft and wobble about too much

4. The intake is placed way too close to the exhaust
5. The maintenance costs are outrageous!!!!

'Hmmmmm, you may have some good points there,' replied God, 'hold on.'

God went to his Celestial supercomputer, typed in a few words and waited for the results.

The computer printed out a slip of paper and God read it.

'Well, it may be true that my invention is flawed,' God said to Arthur, 'but according to these numbers, more men are riding my invention than yours'.


:-D :-D