SA Firefighter

1909230 23:38:04 17-02-06 SHQ: *CFSRES: KINGSTON RESPOND TOILET BOWEL FIRE AT APEX TOILET BLOCK, OPPOSITE SERVICE STATION, KINGSTON < 17/02/2006 23:37:51

Time to lay off those baked beans!  :-D

1908868 20:18:20 09-02-06 ATHELSTONE 34P RESPONDED RESCUE TORRENS RD ,OVINGHAM, YES OVINGHAM, IT ISNT A MISTAKE...EERO - ATHL STN 9/02/2006 20:18:06 PM

What the?...

It does happen.

During a recent electrical storm, our brigade (Mawson group) had all three appliances out to fires, small and large, with calls continuing to come in.  An appliance from Sturt group was brought in and parked on our apron for a while until things settled down. They returned to their own patch once one of our appliances was freed up and was able to respond within our area.

Quote from: canman on February 09, 2006, 08:23:57 AM

Quote from: calspec on February 08, 2006, 10:44:12 PM
In further response to P.F's comments.  My optinion only

Both MFS and CFS have a job to do, wether it be as a professional paid service or as a volunteer service.

You did mean to say : Both MFS and CFS have a job to do, wether it be as a professional paid service or as a professional volunteer service. Didn't you?? 


My use of the term "Professional" was in reference only to that the MFS get paid to carry out those tasks, as in a professional golfer gets paid to play golf.  It was not in any way referring to the nature in which the services carry out their tasks.  Substitute "career" in place on "professional" for that post. :-D

I hope that as time goes on and PF gains some extremely beneficial experience, he will understand that both services are intent on supplying the same professional quality service, with essentially the same equipment and training, and attending exactly the same jobs.  I also appreciate that full time employed members of the Mets will probably spend more time training, attend more jobs than individuals in the CFS, and as a result may be able to carry out some tasks with greater efficiency, proficiency and ease and may be affected less by adrenalin or stress than a CFS Firey - but that won't apply in all cases.

We have a career Mets firey in our CFS brigade and theere are many volunteer members of our service who are as proficient and experienced as he, and other Mets fireys.

In the meantime, PF, I suggest avoiding any reference to MFS being better than CFS in any way!  :wink:

In further response to P.F's comments.  My optinion only

Both MFS and CFS have a job to do, wether it be as a professional paid service or as a volunteer service.  Both services respond to the same nature of incidents, within limits of equipment and training capabilities.  Any one incident/call/page is and should be treated with the same urgency.  Be it a tree down in Unley, a house fire in Wudinna, or anything in between.  The nearest and most practical service should be responded.  No legitimate call to any fire service should be passed to another service on the principle of "what if something bigger comes along".  As previously mentioned, if another call does comes along that is deemed to be of greater urgency, then the current incident would be made safe and crews responded asap to the next job.  Taking into account COQ, the next job may already be adequately covered anyway.  If a tree down is considered to be hazardous, then the nearest service, or the service that can respond the quickest, should be sent.  Be it MFS, CFS or SES.  In areas that are covered by both CFS and MFS, mostly referred to as EMA areas (Enhanced Mutual Aid), both services will be responded equally to most incidents, including house fires.  My limited experience would suggest it is the task of the MFS Comcen call taker to determine wether a tree down in a
EMA area best be attended by CFS, MFS or SES.  There could be a number of different criteria taken into account to make that decision, including risk, urgency, location, availability of services etc etc

The notion that MFS are the big boys, and the CFS are the smaller brother who asks if he can play, is ignorant.  Just because CFS is volly based, doesn't mean that they should leave the urban responses to the Mets, and vica versa for the Mets with trees down etc.  They do carry chainsaws too.

I get the impression that PF feels that the term "Metropolitan" and "Country" in the titles of the services determines the type of tasking each should undertake.  I know CFS means "Country" Fire Service, but that dosn't mean that a tree down is automatically their task, and that Mets should leave it.  In a EMA area, either could respond.

that my 2 cents anyway (actually, more like 22 cents!)

I am a CFS Volly. 

Cheers   :-D

Sorry about the long winded response.

Also curious,

Doesn't look like CFS fleet.  Must be either ForestrySA or DEH (National Parks & Wildlife).  Courier or Bronco?

On the ForestrySA subject, anyone got any photos of the FireKings that Forestry used to replace their old RFW's? (Sorry for raiding your post, Medevac)

If MVL24 was responded to Willunga, it is possible that it suffered wind damage to the doors - blown shut by strong winds.  It was not the only appliance to suffer as such.  Even cab doors got blown shut.

Looks like someone from Laura may have also been monitoring the pager stream, or this forum!

That seems a more appropriate method of notifying members of security changes. :-D

We must remember that the CFS is a community based organisation.  We are all members of our local community, as are the local teenagers.  Cadets are teenagers, who become firefighters.  The last thing we need to be doing is scaring off our potential recruits with over zealous approaches to security.  If you are standby crew at a station and you notice kids hanging around, why not go and have a chat to them or, if permitted, invite them in and show them around the station (discreetly of course without getting in the way). You may even spark enough interest in them to join the cadets.  Of course, if they are up to no good, then get out the haligan or 64mm!  :evil:

First fire, as a cadet with Williamstown CFS, 23 years ago. Domestic fire in the middle of the night at our house (a seperate rumpus room, fully envolved and completely destroyed).  I was only 13, scared the funk out of me and will never ever forget it.  Same summer as Ash Wed.

Second fire, as a young FF at 16, mop up after a scrub fire near Williamstown.

20 years later, returned to CFS duties as an adult, recently completed BFF1.  First incident - a non event fixed alarm.  Still waiting for my first real job.  Getting plenty of radio room experience tho!

:? Let me get this right...Mt Barker have got the Dennis, and are now getting an SEM type 2 Pump/Rescue as well, at the sacrifice of their 24P going to Littlehampton? Yet a URBAN/RURAL (Yes, it should be in that order) station like Happy Valley loses their Pumper for a very rural 34, to partner their, not that suited for urban risk, 24P.  To sum up....WHAT THE?  :x

:-D The wonders of duct tape! :roll:

Responded to one only the other day.  Magpie stuck in tree.  First there was the speeding, then the dangerous driving, then the wear and tear to the vehicle etc - and that was just getting to the station.

In all seriousness though, the bird WAS stuck, by its legs it would seem, and in the grounds of a Primary School, so lots of distressed kids looking on.  Just to top if off, we couldn't reach the damn thing - beyond the reach of the ladder.  Even tried to conjure up a cherry picker - but no other agency seemed prepared to assist.  Eventually hooked it with a broom/ceiling hook and it escaped.  The kids were impressed, if no-one else.

Just to confirm, Yes, the crew protection training and Dead Man Zone are included in BFF1.  They are compulsary components and must be passed to get accredited.  I happened to mention this to our BTO, and even though I completed this training less than 5 months ago, it is still considered a "must do" before the fire season or "you won't be permitted to attend incidents". So it seems that brigades have been instructed to ensure that all personnel undergo this training - no buts!

I noticed some members wearing the new caps at a recent training course I attended.  They look quite professional.  Dark green, with a band of Rd/Yl check.  Also the corporate emblem on the front, I think.  More of a 'uniform' item than a stylish casual cap or anything like that.  I would put my hand up if they were being passed around by the brigade.

I agree with Kat.  Employers are obliged to provide headwear to anyone working outdoors and I think this has to apply to CFS as well.  I have seen the yellow wide brimmed hats around with the CFS Star logo on them, these hats would be very suitable.  Not the most stylish hat around but effective.  Should be part of your kit for tasks that may not require a hard hat - lolipop duty at MVA, even Pumpy/driver could use it - just sling it in your pocket if required and don the hardhat.  The caps would not provide suitable protection against the sun but could be worn on cooler days for the same tasks.

Just my 2c

I have a response from the journalist.  He does seem very defensive of his story.  As far as he is concerned he did research it, and even the likes of CFS weren't very helpful.

An extract from his reply:

I rang the CFS media person that day about what time you guys arrived
to confirm/deny the allegations neighbours made and she couldn't tell me. So
after speaking to three or four people who said it took 30 minutes, I put
that in the story. I only report what people tell me and then try to confim
it. The CFS couldn't confirm to me what time you got there. I haven't heard
anything from anyone from the CFS apart from you. Infact, I have heard from
the firefighters association and they did not deny what was written, instead
saying there is "politics" between the CFS and MFS.

---------------------------------------------------------

What can you say, Jounalists!!!

I have sent an e-mail to the journalist concerned (would you believe - a cadet journo) and informed him of the facts.  I suggested that he may like to print an apology/retraction once he has put some effort into researching the details.

I wait with baited breath for his response.  I will post it here if I get something.

Cheers,

Calspec

I also saw that article in the paper and was quite shocked by its accusations.  Although I did not attend the fireground, I did attend to one of the stations responding, and can confirm they did most certainly NOT arrive at the times suggested by the Advertiser reporter.  The sandbaggers also put paid to that with there scanner reports.

I was quite angry when I read that report for two reasons.

1. It was my first "call" that I had responded to, only just having completed level 1 and

2.  Worst yet...My Employer...The !@#$% Advertiser.  But before you barrage me with hate mail, I am not in a position to have any influence over the accuracy of the printed articles.  My involvement is with printing the damn thing, not writing it.

Since I am a newby, can anyone tell me if there is a website or on-line catalogue etc that shows products available from the "CFS Shop".  I am intereseted in things like T-Shirts, turn out gear bags etc.  Is there an acutal shop or do I need only to ask at my brigade to order gear?