SA Firefighter

Does any base record GRN traffic on their local talkgroup.

Im looking at a few options of recording our GRN from mobile unit to computer.  Has any one else successfully done this yet? Both sides of the conversation not just input.

Couple of things i would like to see improved on the GRN in the next generation.

That there are more GRN's ordered per brigade.  One portable per truck is not sufficient.

When you change talk group it tells you what talk group you are on.
When there is a busy tone it say's "Network Busy" instead of beeps
When there the battery is going flat it tells you "Battery flat"

These whole tone things are crap for the every day farmer... for people like me i live for tones and flashing lights to tell me errors but not every one has letter after your name like me, to understand them

SAPOL have some pretty kewl functions.

im sure other people have got some suggestions we could use... as i see mr bau is registered maybe he could take these ideas on board!

Dear Users.

As some of you might be aware of the bushfire alert system that Skunkworks Australia has brought out.

I'll explain a little.

About Bushfire Alert

Bushfire alert enables communities to send and receive early warning alerts when a bushfire occurs in their area.  Voice alert messages are sent to your work, home, and mobile phones, and text alert messages are sent to your email and sms, making you aware of the bushfire regardless of where you are at the time so you can make an immediate decision on what action to take.  it can take up to an hour calling all your neighbors about a fire, valuable time that could be spent evacuating or fire-fighting, and potentially dangerous for the last people receiving a call.  Bushfire alert calls your entire community for you quickly and easily at the early stage of the fire, giving you a better chance of protecting your property and helping your family to survive.

Who makes the phone call to report the bushfire?
If you see a fire in your that has not yet been reported, then you make the phone call to your community bushfire alert number.

Will the local fire authority initiate the alerts?
No. Bushfire alerts are activated by you and your community.

What number do i call to report a bushfire?
In all cases you much call your emergency services first, typically 000.  Then call your dedicated community bushfire alert number that we provide to you when your service has been activated.

What happens when i report a bushfire?
The system will as you to leave a message about the fire such as where it is heading and what action you are going to take and what fire authority has been notified.  The system confirms to you that your message will be sent.

What does it cost.
$25 per year for each property including GST.  Each property can register multiple delivery methods such as the home, work and mobile phones to receive voice alerts, and email and SMS to receive text alerts.

How do i form a new community.
Gather a list of interested properties in your area and send them to us and we will activate your community immediately; or register your property individually with us and we will contact you when there is a sufficient number of properties in your area to activate that community.


For more information please visit

www.bushfirealert.com.au

What do people think about this checklist???






Am I fit to attend this incident?

The I'M SAFE
CHECKLIST


I – Illness/Injury – Am I Sufficiently Recovered?

M – Medication – Am I under the effect of any medication?

S – Stress – Am I under severe stress from work or personal worries?

A – Alcohol/Drugs – Am I under the influence or badly hung over?

F - Fatigue – Am I tired and not adequately rested?

E – Expertise – Am I currently competent?


If you're NOT fit to go,
It's OK to say "NO"!

Over the past few years I have come up with some pretty good ideas, but only to have them shot down either further up the ladder or right then and there.

I would like the CFS to set up an innovations Team

This team ideally would consist of 2 paid staff and 4 volunteers.  The role of this team would be to research the idea/s, costing, feasibility, and report directly to the CEO.

How I envisage the program to be set up is, that a standard form is brought out asking information about the idea etc... this form goes directly to the committee to discuss and research the idea further.  If the idea isn't feasible or doesn't meet a certain criteria then a letter is sent back to the individual.

The whole process would have a time frame to adhere to.

This would allow all people who have an idea a way of having them fairly heard.  Therefore giving the people a voice that perhaps otherwise would be ignored.

As you are aware MFS handle all MFS Dispatch and now all SES dispatch and already some CFS.  Soon all of CFS will be handed over to MFS dispatch.

Do you think MFS should be running the show or neutral party

MFS: RESPOND Assist Resident 22/10/06 15:13,54 CROUCH ST/S,MT GAMBIER, MAP 0 0 0 ,,POSSIBLE FLAT BATTERY IN DETECTOR CODE GREEN,701*CFSRES:
MFS - Mt. Gambier


This is a joke right?... These types of calls should be ignored by SAMFS and the person should be advised that emergency services are not used for this type of activity and they need to pay some one to come in and fix the issue.

I  understand we are here to help.  However I feel that people do abuse these services.  People don't want to pay to get a tow out of a bog CFS and SES are not supposed to do tow jobs.  Fair enough if they are truly out in the middle of nowhere...or the weather is an issue, or a level of danger, not because they just don't want to pay for someone to come get them out.

We got a job the other day in SES being a dual member the person wanted us to literally pick up her antenna and stand it back up for her just so she could watch dancing with the stars.  This is not our job, the house was not in danger, the antenna wasn't going to fall threw the earth.  After 10 min of telling her that we had done all that we could she deemed our efforts not good enough. 

Im going to be pissed once SACAD is introduced to R6 and SAMFS start taking our calls.  I can't wait until they move SACAD to some where they actually know what they are doing and start responding the right services to the right jobs.

I have nothing against our local MFS they are a great bunch of guys and they know what they are doing, plus most of them are ex CFS members.  I'm more than happy to work along side of them on a job......

Just the filtered higher up the ranks that know SFA... another classic example... lets pull in a IMT team from Adelaide on the Boston fires just recently..  what a heap of political crap that was... when Lincoln CFS already had this in place and were working with all services. All that I saw was required was for MFS to arrange another crew or two to man there trucks on crew change over...  why pull an IMT that has SFA idea on how country fires work and grrrrrrr I'm not even going to go there... WHAT a WASTE of MONEY!!

Once again another classic example was a tree fire 30km on Lincoln Hwy and Port Lincoln Fire was responded.. WHAT A JOKE... I can name 3 CFS brigades that are closer and that and will do it for free... By the way MFS didn't respond it was reported to Tumby Bay CFS.

Hey guys,

For all that have CDMA in trucks and command cars.

Now available state wide as of today.

Telstra's Next G Network helps you stay connected to your music whenever you
need to. It's geographically the biggest 3G network in Australia, and faster
than any of our existing mobile networks. Next G allows you to stay in touch
with your friends and family in places where no other 3G service can keep
you connected. It also gives you fast access to FoxtelT by Mobile, ministry
of sound, heaps of games and downloads and CitysearchR Mobile, keeping you
up to date with the latest films, bars and restaurants, all at the touch of
a button.


Well mine is ordered im looking forward to it.

I'm hoping that we can use this sections to inform others of grants that are floating around that others can apply for.

Two grants that i know that run quite Frequently are.

Small Equipment Grant. up to $3K Last round closed a couple of mths ago.
Volunteer SA Grant up to $3K last round closes 3rd Oct 2006