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Messages - Pipster

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1076
Incident Operations / Re: Gosselands Deployment (KI) - 131106
« on: November 15, 2006, 04:08:47 PM »
Quote from: medevac on November 15, 2006, 02:16:23 PM
12hr deployments although a lot more expensive do seem to be a more sensible idea....

i know i would never be able to attend a three or five day deployment due to the nature of my employment, but one day? sure.

Yep, there is a higher cost in flying crews over & back each day...but what is the cost of not having crews on the ground...or, perhaps worse, having the exhausted locals still on the fireground, day after day.....?

And like many people, they can take one day off work, but taking 3 or more days off, with only short notice is almost impossible!

Pip

1077
Incident Operations / Re: Gosselands Deployment (KI) - 131106
« on: November 15, 2006, 02:09:51 PM »
I was there!!   :-D

This one day deployment is looking like becoming a more regular thing for large incidents on KI.

There have been major problems in getting crews (both fire crews, and IMT's) on 3 or 5 day deployments to KI....and then issues with getting accommodation at certain times of the year (like school holidays!) etc.

This deployment came over on the first flight from Adelaide, and returned on the last one back....makes for one long day, but at least it is only one day, and not 3 or 5.

I think these short term deployments for KI are an excellent idea.

As for food - I'd have to agree with you - the Logistics people, and the catering people (for this deployment) were mostly locals, and did an excellent job on the food...

Certainly the IMT's from the mainland, and the locals have had lots of practice lately on KI, and previously, food was a problem...but everyone seems to have learnt from the previous fires, and have done a top job this time    :-D

Pip

1078
All Equipment discussion / Re: Dedicated Rescue Appliances
« on: November 15, 2006, 08:31:55 AM »
It might have been around 1991 that the Rescue Unit left, and I think might have gone to Mt Pleasant after that...

Pip

1079
SAMFS / Re: Pumper Tankers
« on: November 13, 2006, 12:59:43 PM »
Yep, they have pumps on board...generally plumbed in, some may carry a portable pump as well, although I am not sure.  A pump is not listed on the Promo website, as there is an assumption that if it carries water, it has a pump to move it!!   :-)

Some (all?) carry a portable dam as well.....

Just checked up the other details I have - the Lucindale Group tanker is 12,500 Litres (Does that make it BW125 or BW12.5? )    :wink:

Pip

1080
SAMFS / Re: Pumper Tankers
« on: November 13, 2006, 11:12:28 AM »
Kyeema BWC is similar to Jervois, and Lucindale Group Tankers - all ex milk tankers...

Jervois has the old Promotions Unit Prime Mover attached, the other tow just utilise privately owned Prime Movers in their areas.....


1081
Country Fire Service / Re: Weather Forecasts
« on: November 13, 2006, 11:03:28 AM »
At the KI fires this week, I was part of Planning (  :-o  ) and we arranged the 12 hour & 4 day forecasts.....

We would get the weather from the fireground (usually from the Div Commander) on a hand held meter, fax the details (on the right form!) to HQ, who would forward the request to BOM.

The forecast would be back to us usually within 20 minutes for it getting to the BOM....

However, a few things that are perhaps different to the Eyre Peninsula area....KI has several AWS around the area, and two PAWS units were also set up, so the BOM had something like 6 different weather stations to collect data from.....that made it quite easy to forecast (which in hindsight, was fairly accurate).

But again, there were plenty of Weather stations to get info from...

Pip

1082
Country Fire Service / Re: West Coast
« on: November 11, 2006, 06:06:18 PM »
Quote from: 5271rescue on November 11, 2006, 01:56:05 PM
Understand that the island is on fire again,so who is going to go this week???????

I am   :-)


1083
Country Fire Service / Re: Weather Forecasts
« on: November 11, 2006, 08:22:37 AM »
But only for places with an automatic weather station.

I think Captcom was talking about having difficulty in getting accurate forecasts in the local area, as the AWS are few & far between, and conditions vary greatly across the area....

Pip

1084
Country Fire Service / Re: GRN Paging Response codes
« on: November 11, 2006, 08:19:26 AM »
I don't reckon every brigade / unit actually has a number......just those who are paged by MFS......

If you run the pager software, it is easy enough to work out (eventually!) who's who    :-)

Pip

1085
SAMFS / Re: Pumper Tankers
« on: November 10, 2006, 09:29:17 PM »
But Charleston Tanker certainly sounds mean when it winds up!!!!    :-D

1086
SA Firefighter General / Re: Brigade Drivers
« on: November 10, 2006, 09:25:41 PM »
As a general rule, CFS will fund you for extra drivers, if you have less than 4 truck drivers per appliance, and from memory, that excludes Officers......

It is one of those things that often people have more than 4 drivers per appliance, but those people are often not around when you actually need them!!

I was told that if you have a case of enough drivers, but have none around, say, Mon - Fri daytime, you may be able to get some funding to train a few more......

Ask you Regional Training officer - they may be able to give you all the specifics...

Pip

1087
Hypotheticals / Re: Hypothetical Hazmat
« on: November 10, 2006, 04:01:52 PM »
First thing is that you shouldn't be smelling anything...if you are, then you are probably too close!!!!

As for your casualty, unless they are a) burnt to a crisp   b) in two pieces   c) moving due to the maggot mass, then assume they are still alive.   

They used to teach "scoop & scoot" for these type of instances.....

Get BA, go in, grab the patient, come out.....decontaminate with lots of water......  d they still teach that in Hazmat?  (Been a while since I've been allowed to do a Hazmat course!!! )   :-D

Pip

1088
Country Fire Service / Re: Weather Forecasts
« on: November 10, 2006, 03:50:46 PM »
But to have all of these weather recording stations don't help with a forecast  unless the relevant data gets to the people like those at the Met Bureau....

Although, having the PAWS (Portable Automatic weather station) setup during summer might help......at least the data goes direct to the BOM......!

Pip

1089
SA Firefighter General / Re: Brigade Drivers
« on: November 10, 2006, 03:45:48 PM »
We do OK....I think we have about 6 drivers, with a few more to be trained...if your brigade is short of driver's, there is a scheme through HQ / Region, that will pay to have people's licences upgraded to an MR (or an HR) if the brigade meets the criteria.....

Pip

1090
Country Fire Service / Re: GRN FUNCTIONS.
« on: November 09, 2006, 12:06:11 PM »
Quote from: bajdas on November 09, 2006, 11:30:25 AM
Quote from: pipster on November 05, 2006, 05:55:01 PM
There was a GRN course run, that everyone was supposed to (had to?) do before they were allowed to use the radios...

BUT, there was a new course that was coming, so many Groups stopped running the old course, as there seemed that there was no point in running an old course, when there was new course about to be launched...

perhaps it has arrived?

The old course was created by Telstra when they had the contract for running the SAGRN network. Part of the contract was that all operators had undergone the Telstra course before picking up the microphone. Like that was adhered to.....

When the original contract expired, the copyright on the training materials & what each agency could teach was removed.

So SES have revamped the course into a two day course as an interim before a new compentency based course is created. SAPOL have deemed that all agenicies teach some aspects (eg busy tones, etc) to all members.


Jeepers...a two day course     :-o      The old GRN course was only a 3 hour course !!!!

What is involved in the two days?

Pip

1091
SA Firefighter General / Re: Ammusing pager message.
« on: November 08, 2006, 08:47:57 PM »
I think Parafield is busier that Adelaide Airport - based on the number of take offs & landings.....!!

Pip

1092
All Equipment discussion / Re: Dedicated Rescue Appliances
« on: November 08, 2006, 03:14:47 PM »
But if the choice is pay for a second set of rescue gear (in some form or another) or supply an appliance to a brigade that will actually start, and get the brigade to a call...which one is CFS going to pick...?

It is unfortunate, but just like other Government Departments, we only have a certain amount of money in our budget, and have to make the best use of what we get.....

Pip

1093
Country Fire Service / Re: GRN FUNCTIONS.
« on: November 08, 2006, 03:05:54 PM »
Hence read "Clumsy to set up"

It would be much easier if a defined geographical area had a "default" multi agency talk group - one that is defined, and distributed to all relevant agencies....so if you respond with another agency to a particular area,  all services know to change to a specific talkgroup....that would certainly be a benefit.....

Pip

1094
Country Fire Service / Re: GRN FUNCTIONS.
« on: November 08, 2006, 08:44:26 AM »
Robert, it's called a multi agency talk group.......

Clumsy process of getting it set up, but once it has been set up,  all services are able to chat to each other on the same talk group.....

Pip

1095
Country Fire Service / Re: GRN Recording
« on: November 07, 2006, 09:22:55 PM »
Quote from: bajdas on November 07, 2006, 05:19:58 PM
Quote from: 5271rescue on November 04, 2006, 05:36:54 AM
So by group base recording all radio trafffice does this mean that you will no longer need a person to scribe??? if that is correct how does that information stand up in court if needed??

Scribes still needed. Six SES people were requested to CFS Region One, SES Central Region HQ to be scribes during the total fire ban last month.

Which I think is great because it will get the more experienced CFS people doing something more important than admin paperwork.

I'd have to disagree....scribing is NOT "admin paperwork".  In a big incident, a good scribe is a vital part of your Incident Management Team.   Just ask those who have had to appear in the Coroners Court and justify their actions....sometimes, the difference between looking like an idiot, and coming across as knowing your stuff...and in some cases, it came down to how well your scribe could scribe!!

In my paid (non CFS!) work, I have to prepare statements for Courts - and in some cases, for jobs I did 4 or 5 years ago, which I do not remember going to (but I must have, because I have the notes & photos to prove it..!)  The quality of the my notes, which were done at the time, is the difference between producing a very average statement, or something that the Court really likes, and appreciates - and doesn't ask me to come to court & explain it......

The CFS needs more good scribes   (and before anyone jumps up & down, I am not suggesting that SES can't / shouldn't do scribing) but don't look upon scribing as just an admin task.

In fact, I think CFS neeeds to put together a course on scribing...that might get a few more people involved - I suppose people are more willing to out their hand up for something, if they have some idea of what they actually need to do!!

Pip

1096
All Equipment discussion / Re: Dedicated Rescue Appliances
« on: November 07, 2006, 09:12:57 PM »
Quote from: CFS_Firey on November 07, 2006, 05:54:24 PM
Quote
How many dedicated resuce appliances are left?

There are 9 dedicated rescue appliances in service (according to the CFS Promo unit website):
Aldinga Beach Rescue
Blackwood Rescue
Dublin Rescue
Kadina Rescue
Lobethal Rescue
Naracoorte Rescue
Stirling Rescue
Waikerie Rescue, and
Yankalilla Rescue


Ahm...when we refer to "Rescue"  it is a callsign, not an absolute indication that is carries only rescue gear.....

Aldinga Beach, Kadina, Lobethal (actual an SES vehicle, but crewed by CFS), Stirling, Waikerie & Yank appliances, as far as I know, carry no water.  Dublin Rescue is a Toyota Landcruiser Troupie.

Blackwood's appliance has the callsign "Blackwood Rescue" but carries water.

Barker Rescue carries water, as does Naracoorte Rescue, as well as their Rescue gear.......(and both are also medium pumpers....)     Confused yet?   :-)

Pip

1097
SA Firefighter General / Re: Control Agencies
« on: November 07, 2006, 08:02:01 PM »
Quote from: oz fire on November 07, 2006, 08:35:18 AM
Quote from: pipster on November 04, 2006, 08:16:36 PM
It should be noted that the agencies listed are the combatant authority, not the ones that necessarily do all the foot work...

Pip


Combatant agency - no such thing.

The control agency - lead agency for the incident, which means they lead the incident, not tell others how to do their job (i.e. at a RCR SAPOL will control the incident, but not tell fire (CFS) rescue (SES) and medical (SAAS) how to do their roles or jobs!

then there is SAPOL as the coordinating authority - hence logistics functions etc!

Whoops...old terminology.......   :-o

Pip

1098
Incident Operations / Re: Wail sirens dogs starts dogs howling
« on: November 07, 2006, 08:06:49 AM »
Quote from: Sam on November 06, 2006, 07:56:01 PM
Is there not ruling that determines the time that you can use your siren? I thought i was ready something that said 08:00 to 20:00 or something? Our siren is on a timer which sets it to times near this.
It is controlled basically by the station controller, e.g CFSRES or URGMSG yuo can change it to suit and the same goes for door locks and so-on.


Different siren...those guidelines refer to the station siren...although its use is also governed to a certain degree on what your community wants...

Pip

1099
Country Fire Service / Re: Bushfire Alert
« on: November 05, 2006, 08:40:48 PM »
I can tell in in my area mobile phones don't work any better than UHF (which basically doesn't work in my area) - we are lucky to get one bar service in most of the area (and that includes GSM, CDMA, and a few tests with the new 3G )   :-(

I am not suggesting that bushfire alert system be used across UHF system...I think the UHF system in many area is already doing a similar thing to what is suggested with bushfire alerts - and is already well tried & tested by those who live with UHF.....

Pip

1100
Country Fire Service / Re: Bushfire Alert
« on: November 05, 2006, 06:07:39 PM »
But do you have a UHF radio?    If not, it is not something you would / should be necessarily aware of.....

Some time ago, I was doing some updates on brigade contacts, and found that the alarm number for a number of brigades was actually the Captain's home phone number.   I thought that was a bit sad, for one person to be the emergency phone contact point for the brigade, so I spoke to a Captain, and asked how it worked.

Everyone in the district (CFS members, plus everyone else!) all had UHF radios - in their tractors / farm equipment, in their private vehicles, in their houses.   If a fire started anywhere within the district, the first person who spotted a fire called it in on UHF, and the whole district knew immediately......

Obviously, this sort of system won't work everywhere, but in the more rural / primary producer area, can work quite well.....

Pip


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