SA Firefighter

Media reports are that the Port Lincoln SES Headquarters was burnt out at the Port Lincoln fires yesterday.

But I thought they were in the new complex with MFS and CFS on the same area. If so, how did the fire affect one services without affecting the others ?

Also, did the Unit loose the boat & vehicles or just the shed and equipment they could not move quickly ?

Any local information would be appreciated.

From: http://www.ses.sa.gov.au/site/home.jsp

Media Release
State Emergency Service
For media enquiries telephone the SES Media Line on (08) 8211 6176
For SES response in storms or floods telephone 132 500. If the matter is life threatening telephone 000
For further information on the services provided by the SES go to www.ses.sa.gov.au

Tea Tree Gully Unit does South Australia proud
Thursday, 24 September 2009

Last weekend the Tea Tree Gully State Emergency Service (SES) Unit was the runner up in the two-day biennial National Disaster Rescue Competition, which was held in Brisbane.

The competition saw teams of volunteers from every state and territory compete against each other in a series of events that demonstrated their skill, knowledge and ability to work in a team environment in the most trying of conditions.

Participants were put through their paces in a series of staged events including a hydraulic exercise, heavy lifting exercise, a series of search and rescue operations from heights, an explosion site exercise, a blacked out building and a large bus crash.

SES Acting Chief Officer Matt Maywald praised the Tea Tree Gully Unit for their hard work and passion for volunteering, with the majority of the team having competed at a national level before.

“The Tea Tree Gully Unit is made up of highly dedicated people, committed to continuous improvement and achievement. The team that competed in Brisbane consisted of six volunteers who have been part of the SES for more than ten years,” said Mr Maywald.

“It is a fantastic achievement that the Tea Tree Gully Unit has finished in the top two places for the last two competitions

“Judging criteria included casualty management, leadership skills, rescue techniques, safety and the completion of each task. The fact that a South Australian team was judged to be one of the best in the country is something we are extremely proud of.”

South Australia will host the next National Disaster Rescue Competition in 2011.

Multiple volunteers paged this morning for a 12 hour shift in a land search at Paney Station. I think this is in the Gawler Ranges area.

Pt Lincoln SES
Whyalla SES
Pt Augusta SES
CFS Yalanda James
CFS Warramboo
CFS Wudinna
CFS Waddikee
CFS Warramboo
CFS Mount Damper
CFS Kimba
CFS Minnipa
CFS Cootra

I noticed that some people have commented recently that trailers should not be used in modern day emergency service response.

Over the years I have worked from a variety of trailers from open tandem to specialised covered trailers.

Some were dangerous (old civil defence covered trailer) due to being too heavy and no suspension. But modern trailers have gas struts, independent lighting, swivel towing attachments, etc.

I agree that they should not be in 'lights & sirens' response. But for extended incidents you do not need that kind of response by every vehicle.

The ability to leave equipment (pump, sand, plastic, tables, whiteboards, etc) at a location while the vehicle goes somewhere else is invaluable.

The only alternative I can think of is more pods for the hook trucks.

What do you believe are good & bad regards trailer use ? If bad, do you have an alternative ?

Interesting impact at my workplace today. No emergency services requested during this incident.

The 8th floor of a city building was affected by flooding from a split water pipe in one of the kitchens during the weekend.

50% of level 8 floor was affected including a computer room. Pictures I have seen (I am on afternoon shift this week in a different building)indicate that a continuous of sheet of water can be seen on top of the office carpet.

Staff started work in the west side of level 8 at 7:00am on early shift. They did not notice the east side flooding until another person commented at 8:00am.

Due to staff changes during the last few months, level 8 east is mainly empty of staff.

By 10am the situation was being assessed by electricans and cleaning contractors. Most computer room equipment is held in metal racks. I do not know for sure if the power and data cables are above the racks at ceiling level or via a false elevated floor. I suspect via a false floor.

Between 8am and 10am I believe (from photos) multiple staff were alking through the water, not aware of the electrical risk.

Staff began to evacuate the floors and contingency planning was enacted so that clients would still be supported. Some staff went to a different company building, located in a Adelaide suburb. The rest worked from home via internet connections. Instant messaging, emails and databases were used to enable the teams to still communicate & work from different locations.

Because the computer room on level 8 contained major data communications equipment for the company, I was surprised that floors 9 and 10 staff were NOT affected.

By 1500, the floors had been made safe and staff will be back tomorrow. Fans and de-humidifiers will be in operation overnight and beyond.

So I would estimate at least 100 plus employees affected today.

With the fire fighting gun, is the advantage a saving in water & being able to more direct the cooling to specific areas rather than drown ?

Question from a non-firefighter trying to understand why it was invented.

From: http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25385931-2682,00.html

SA watches trial of giant waterbomber

A GIANT 747 air tanker that carries eight times as much water as other firefighting aircraft and moves twice as fast is bound for Australia.

The "Supertanker" will undergo its first fire season test in the US this year and authorities from SA, Victoria and NSW will be watching.

US officials have discussed the aircraft with Australian agencies, including Victoria's Country Fire Authority. Manufacturer Evergreen Aviation plans to stage a demonstration in Australia.

The plane is a Boeing 747 modified to carry 75,868 litres of water - more than eight times the usual payload for waterbombers.

It can reach speeds of 965km/h, twice as fast as typical firefighting aircraft, and disperses water with the same pressure as driving rain, the manufacturer claims. It takes about 30 minutes to refuel and refill using high-speed pumps.

The most effective airborne firefighting weapon used in Australia is the Erickson Air-Crane Helitanker, such as the one nicknamed Elvis, which is brought from the US each fire season.

The chopper carries 9000 litres of water, but it takes just 40 seconds to refill by lowering its bucket into a local water source

Source: http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25338980-2682,00.html

Girl, 11, rescued after 30m fall at Wilpena Pound

EMERGENCY workers in the far north have rescued an 11-year-old girl who fell about 30m at Wilpena Pound today.

The girl, who was with her father, fell into a rocky creek bed near the isolated Brachina Gorge lookout just before 5.30pm. Her father is a medical doctor.
SES crews rescued the girl by about 6.50pm and she was stabilised by a medical retrieval team at the scene before being taken to Hawker Hospital.

Her injuries are unknown at this stage.

It is expected the girl will eventually be flown to a hospital in Adelaide.
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 17:30:01 15-04-09 MFS: *CFSRES INC075 15/04/09 17:29,RESPOND RESCUE GENERAL,BRACHINA ,BRACHINA MAP 0 0 0 TG068,MEET CALLERS AT BRACHINA GORGE LOOKOUT O,N THE GEOLOGICAL TRAIL,ASSIST SAAS WITH PATIENT EXTRICATION,HAW029 HWKR00 WILP00 SES Hawker

17:33:52 15-04-09 MFS: ASSIST WITH EXTRICATION OF YOUNG PATIENT, AFTER 20-30M FALL, GROUP WILL MEET YOU AT LOOK-OUT AND DIRECT TO CASUALTY - SAAS MOBILE SES Hawker

18:06:11 15-04-09 MFS: *CFSRES INC075 15/04/09 18:05,RESPOND LIGHTING,HAWKER AIRSTRIP WILPENA RD,HAWKER MAP 0 0 0,TURN ON LIGHTS FOR RFDS,RETRIEVAL TEAM EN ROUTE,UNSURE ETA THIS STAGE,HAW029 SES Hawker

18:10:03 15-04-09 MFS: RFDS ETA - 1900HRS SES Hawker
--------------------------------------------

Congrats to the combined crew to get the girl out & looks like it was a long time period before she was flown out. At least her father being a medical doctor could have assisted.

04:04:15 01-04-09 MFS: *CFSRES INC004 01/04/09 04:01,RESPOND CONFINED SPACE,KING ST,PORT LINCOLN MAP 0 0 0 TG192,PERSON FALLEN 2-3 M KING ST WHARF BERTH,6 1ST LARGE VESSELL ON L/H/S/CARGO VESSE,LL FROM SAAS TOCAN ARROW P1,PLI549 PTL029 SES Pt Lincoln

04:27:56 01-04-09 MORE CREW REQUIRED URGENTLY SES Pt Lincoln

04:39:02 01-04-09 MFS: REQUIRE STOKES LITTER ENTER VIA NORTHERN GATE SES Pt Lincoln

Does anyone have more information ? Any media reports ?

09:52:48 28-03-09 MFS: *CFSRES INC029 28/03/09 09:52,RESPOND Vehicle Accident,MAIN SOUTH RD,YANKALILLA MAP 0 O 0 TG144,SINGLE VEHICLE BLOCKING ROAD,YANK19 MYPN00 CFS/SES Yankalilla Response

09:56:43 28-03-09 Y81 Cat2 Main South Rd, Myponga

On Saturday morning I was travelling back to Adelaide from Yankalilla after dropping my wife & boy at a Scout/Girl Guide camp.

At 7.5 kms (measured on OziExplorer maps after I got home) from Yankalilla towards Myponga, I came across a small car verses guard rail accident.

The young lady driver in the accident, who was a P plates, was traveling towards the same camp. Unsure what happened, because I was second on the scene. The first on scene was another person heading towards the camp.

No injuries, but driver was in mild shock. So I suspected maybe soft tissue when shock wore off. I was unable to complete a casualty check because she refused. Passenger seemed fine. SO I did not use my first aid kit which is in our car.

I have a fold up reflector triangle sign in my car, so I set that up. I also switched on high beam & hazard lights. But I drive a dark blue Commodore wagon, so did not place in fend off position. The other two cars were on side of road, off main roadway. They had hazard lights on.

Interesting that all others on the scene were wanting to leave the damaged car on the roadside & transport the people / gear to the camp. The parents could deal with the damaged car later.

It was pointed out this was a dangerous corner. A quick car check showed damaged radiator, reservoir bottles, plastic front bumper bar completely removed & on other side of road. This was small bubble Toyota, so suspected front wheel drive damage.

000 was called to notify SAPOL so a tow truck could be arranged. RAA Towing was suggested by others, but it was pointed out that RAA is a breakdown service, not car accident.

During the telephone call to the SAPOL operator, the location was described as Yankalilla to Myponga Road, 3 to 5 kilometers from Yankalilla towards Myponga. My distance guess was out.

The request was for a SAPOL patrol to coordinate tow truck because car was in a dangerous location.

The pager messages are above.
 
I then positioned myself on a corner at the other side of the accident location (from the reflector triangle sign) to slow/flag traffic down. Luckily I was wearing a white T-shirt so this gave me visibility on a dry / sunny day.

In very prompt time,
* a farm utility passed with flashing lights from the Yankalilla direction. They positioned themselves on the other side of the accident location from me, to slow traffic. They had a dazzle jacket with them. I suspect they were CFS volunteers heading to collect the Myponga 34. But they stayed to help protect the accident scene.
* a crash / car repairs utility with yellow rotators on roof from the Yankalilla direction. I suspect that the driver inspected the car with SAPOL then left to get the tow truck.
* SAPOL patrol from Myponga direction.
* Myponga 34.
* Yankalilla Rescue with CFS striping & uniforms.
* SAAS from Yankalilla direction.

It was interesting that all emergency vehicles arrived with all lights running, but no sirens. This helped maintain a calm professional attitude at the scene.

At this time, I left the accident scene because it was very crowded with vehicles. Myponga CFS had a slow/stop sign person deployed and rescue were setting up the same.

After I had left the scene, I passed a two truck on its way from Myponga direction. I would guess it would be 10 minutes before it was at the accident scene.

Information later from my wife at the camp is that the driver was taken to hospital for a complete check & the passenger was delivered with the gear to the camp.

Thank you to everyone who responded, it helped me to know that professional assistance was quickly available.

Now to go & buy a few more replacement fold-up safety triangle signs. Someone ran over the one I had.   

Found an interesting press release that the local Emergency Planning groups are being re-formed. The first one is the "Barossa Zone Emergency Management Committee".

http://www.ses.sa.gov.au/public/download.jsp?id=3857

Bob and Alan have been facilitating emergency management within SA for many years.

It will be interesting to see minutes & outcomes from the local planning process.

I noticed this GRN page today,
1909141   16:28:03 25-01-09 CUDLEE CREEK 24 PROVIDING FIRE COVER DURING FALLEN TREE REMOVAL AT LOT 1 PRERY RD CFS Cudlee Creek Info.

My first reaction was 'what the...firecover for a tree down ??'.

Then I wondered what is the risk of starting a grass fire from a hot chainsaw motor if the tree is in long grass ? Same with the refueling process. I was previously concerned with fire risk of the chainsaw & operator, not the grass & surrounding area.

Not a high risk when compared to angle grinder, but SES always have a fire extinguisher handy.

Is this an enhanced fire risk job during summer ??