SA Firefighter

that's bit harsh I think, don't forget "we" are the CFSVA. I think (my interpretation here) it just means the CFSVA will either "cost" more to run or those paid will lose benefits they have had until now.

The article describes Motorola as a sub-contractor to Telstra previously. So cut-out the middle man makes less disputes & more efficent (in theory).

For me it depends if the upgrade to Digital is included in this 3 year contract.

It makes sense to employ the delevopers of the radio system to maintain and upgrade it.

it's just maintenance and support, an upgrade to P25 is not part of this (the network already does digital just not P25 digital)

for 5 calls a year I'd be asking why you have a Brigade, station and appliance at all, let alone a second appliance

you've misread the figures he gave, he said 68 calls over last 5 years, so average of 13.6 calls/year for the brigade.

but unfortunately it does look, by the stats and by the risks, that the brigade would have a hard time justifying both a 34 and a 24.  Maybe Ranger you should argue for a QRV or a tanker to replace the 24?

yeah that's true but for CFS at least is not going to happen (and sounds like a bad idea to me anyway if some "GRN radios" were to be simplex only)

The GRN's are all being replaced, so there is probably no point in grabbing all the spares for a system that will soon be redundant!
Pip

yeah but not for anything up to 3 years in R1/R2/R5 (timing and order of regions not set yet).  And that charger I mentioned for GRN portables still works with the new XTS2500 (I've tried it).

The beacons are usually taken off I thought, and thought they removed the CFS logos and stripes (or paint over them!).  Also someone from HQ (or the brigade) should go along and swipe back that GRN charger on the front seat of the Minlaton truck.

The trend is looking "downhill"...so we have to expect this sorta stuff to happen more regularly and to more brigades.

can you explain what you mean?

(and what "sorta stuff" are you referring to?  lack of people management skills?)

I agree with stay on scene, when I've called things in (as a member of the public) I stay until the first truck arrives.  Only exception was a tree down on a roadway, myself and another passerby dragged it mostly off the road then called SES (well Adelaide Fire answered) and left.  Next day I went past and it was still there and going by the paging site the SES didn't attend or default.  Later that day it was removed by a local resident keen for firewood.

Funny the way they use the fire danger rating levels for preparedness levels too (and I like the way it can be read two ways!). 
Personally for preparedness I thought the green/amber/red was better.

yes heard it, Wendy was good and got the point across (I think) but the radio "host" was hopeless when the minister came on and just let him trot out his usual line without getting him to address the points Wendy raised.

Here's Wendy's email that has gone out widely:

From: Wendy Shirley [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, 15 December 2009 10:05 AM
Subject: Survey of MPs prior to State election


Hi Everyone

The CFSVA has prepared a survey which has been sent to all State MPs. To read the survey click on the link below

http://www.cfsva.org.au/News/tabid/71/newsid410/126/Default.aspx

The survey has been developed with the assistance of a prominent ex politician, to educate MPs on the issues facing CFS Volunteers, and to gain commitment for their support. Attached also is the letter sent to accompany the survey. The letter and survey sent to all upper house and lower house MPs. Candidates will receive the survey over the next few weeks.

The content is the result of an honest assessment of the SA Country Fire Service situation in comparison to the MFS and our like interstate counterparts. The intent is to consolidate our position as an important and integral part of the SA emergency response community by enlisting direct MP support.

The Association saw this as an opportune time given the events of this year, and the forthcoming election. It is based on the funding paper that the Association prepared earlier this year (attached)

This will be the next step of the campaign to raise awareness around the significant lack of support for CFS and CFS volunteers.To support the process, we will do a series of profiles featuring CFS volunteers who see these issues as important to brigades and CFS members, probably in early January

We also hope to send a small delegation to visit sitting MPs in marginal seats to talk face to face about these issues. (if you would like to assist in this please let me know).

This is not meant to be a political attack on the government. As we make clear, the CFS has suffered from a lack of funding from both major parties.

Nor is it meant as an attack on the MFS management, MFS firefighters or the UFU. Indeed, the MFS model represents the level of support we should be getting from the SA Government. We can no longer continue to accept the inequity in funding of the items that volunteers need to do thei job.

The survey was enthusiastically supported yesterday at COAC.

If the link does not work for you, go directly to the CFSVA website at www.cfsva.org.au and click on the headline CFSVA Questionnaire on the right hand side of the page  If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to call me on 0427 823 656

Regards
Wendy Shirley
Executive Director, CFSVA

State...Everything except Rural.
Region....Only when you will wear BA.

the uniform manual is supposed to be the definitive source. If the poster contradicts that then get your GO to raise it to the region.  (both the uniform manual and poster are issued by state, so when you say 'region' I assume you mean the memo?  the memo is just supposed to be reinforcing the state policy.)

quote from the uniform manual (under 'structural ensemble' and a picture of someone wearing PBI Gold):

APPLICATION
To be worn at all structure and other fires and / or incidents where the risk dictates the necessity for structural firefighting PPE to be worn.
The PPE is worn during structural fire fighting and while partaking in drill or training exercises.
The PPE may be worn in other situations at the discretion of the Officer-in-Charge.
It is not to be worn at rural fire incidents and it is not to be mixed with rural ensemble.

Hazmat is an example where this contradicts with SOP. To do anything in Hazmat operations, its PBI Gold or Higher, required.

No it's the 'rural ensemble' for hazmat according to the uniform manual (usually just a shorts/pants and t-shirt are worn under the splash/gas suit from what I've seen).

IF youve got PBI, wear it...its a higher level of protection, from the elements of danger we encounter..  CFS Motto: "Safety First".

where you think you should wear PBI Gold is a different matter. If you don't like the current rules, lobby to get them changed.

Now...the Storm Damage/Weather Related incidents....Poster: Yes,  Memo: No.

I would have thought storm/weather related things are what the wet weather gear is for but agreed it does say you can wear PBI Gold to those.  If you're following the poster I would think you're on safe ground.

[disclaimer: you should be asking your Captain or GO about all this stuff, not an internet forum]

So, I hear rumours of a "memo" from somewhere "up the chain" that is commanding that we only wear PBI to *Confirmed* Structure fires and nothing else?

No AFA's, no RCR's, no rural jobs...

Confirm/Deny?

not quite, but if you removed the words "confirmed" and "AFA's" from your post then it matches the memo sent to captains from the R1C (and agree to by GO's at the last R1VMC).

regarding authority and the poster/memo, the definitive answer of what you wear when and to what is found in section 5 of the CFS uniform manual.

I do have to note though that most warnings are actually 'watch and act' messages, and they haven't been putting out that many BWMs that seem inappropriate.

I was going to reply and say isn't BWM the old terminology but then I thought I'd better look up exactly what the different warning messages are.  See here:
http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/community_information/watch_act_and_emergency_warnings.jsp

It appears there are 3 basic types of messages:
1) advice
2) watch and act
3) emergency warning

So you are correct (except it's called Bushfire Emergency Warning Message, so BEWM I guess, not BWM) and this is the one that gets the SEWS audio warning signal played on the radio.

I guess that means the other 2 are 'lesser' general information type things.  I wonder though how well the general public understand the nuances and slightly different interpretation of these (I didn't).

I don't think any of that changes my comments about over-issuing or timeliness of issuing any of them though.

The next level after 'catastrophic' would be 'apocalyptic' wouldn't it?

true but that would pretty much leave the CFS/govt nowhere else to go if something even more 'apocalyptic' came along