SA Firefighter

Some central units are also set up for direct paging to everyone. Eastern and Campbelltown at least.

As training coordinator for my unit hopefully I can shed some more light on the situation. I've never heard of an upper limit on unit numbers of any particular skill. At the same time though, when a course is oversubscribed I think unit existing capability is taken into consideration.

There are some conditions to some roles that mean that not all units can nominate thier members for them, RCR is limited to units with RCR responsibilities (although I have heard some non-RCR units have been able to get members on courses with low numbers though this is meant to be stopped at region level), air observers need to be within 30 minutes of Mt Gambier, Port Lincoln or Adelaide airports. Air observer courses are reserved for members with a proven commitment to SES at my unit, partly due to the costs placed on the unit for the medical clearance etc. My training budget is blown each year with just First Aid courses let alone any other expenses.

At the same time state funding for courses is based on the percieved need for training in these areas. If a region is low on vertical access (for example) personel they are more likely to get a State funded Vertical Access course in thier region. So if it is percieved that there are enough trained people in an area there will not be state funding for that course, thereby effectivly capping the numbers.

With regards to the KI RCR,

SES have a dedicated vehicle and crew on the island based at Pandana Basecamp for the duration of the fires so they can relieve local crews. They will not be responded by pager, instead directly by phone or radio (or even tapping them on the shoulder) by SES Command. Although Kingscote SES is still active and Penneshaw would be their area normally (??) I'm sure the SES rescue truck also went.

Well they're giving us plenty of notice if the October 15 date is accurate!

Does anyone know what the rational behind this move is? Seeing as all resource tracking is done at a unit level... and the the stockage of the same category of vehicles differs both within and between units what is the benefit of a standardised call sign for a vehicle?

How about the nearest & most appropriate resource being sent..?

It seem ridiculous for an SES unit to be sent, when a CFS brigade, with the same gear is only  a few hundred metres away...and there are other services waiting for whoever to arrive...why should they waste their time waiting for a resource to come from further away, when there is one only a few minutes away?

Pip

CFS brigade with the same gear?

From my experience both Burnside Pumper and Glen Osmond carry a single "036"  (medium) sized chainsaw and possibly a bow saw.

Eastern Suburbs 172 (primary truck) carries a 036 but also a 009 (small) and 076 (large) saw as well as a pole saw.

Even if 172 was otherwise occupied (which it wasn't)... 173 carries a 009 036 and pole saw when responding to tree jobs.

Sure send a fire truck if necessary... but why not send just one fire truck for fire protection (although ETSA are on site so power is likely to be isolated) and the most appropriate resource (SES) for the tree. Eastern have done many many tree on powerline taskings without fire support and do know how to deal with live wires.

The closest resource was defiantly Burnside CFS... the closest appropriate resource is Eastern Suburbs SES.


SES get called to "tree down" as they are the control agency for Storm... and tree down is considered a storm event. Under the MFS/SES Memorandum of understanding fire should only dispatch a MFS appliance for a tree event if it is considered P1(immediate life threat) which is defined as a few criteria (Major road, secondary road completely blocked, person trapped and a few others(I can get this if anyone is dying to know)). This certainly isn't followed.

Some brigades have no issue with SES responding to tree jobs. One even ensures that SES are called even if they weren't on the primary page. Other brigades think they can do it all can call in SES once the job gets too tough for them. (In the same way some SES units think they can do it all and never ask for help)

And as for SES not having anything to offer... why are we called by CFS/MFS to assist them at jobs <eg yesterday afternoon's house fire>? I thought they could do it all?

MFS: DAILY INC. NO. 64 - 17/07/07 17:49,RESPOND To,1 MILBANCA RD,HOUGHTON, MAP 86 B 11 ,,ASSIST CFS WITH TARPING HOUSE AFTER HOUSE FIRE. CFS INCIDENT CONTROLLER. P3,73520*CFSRES:

Even if MFS were trained up to do everything we do... the same argument that keeps CFS in business keeps SES running... the MFS could do all the tasks that CFS does... just not with their current budget. In the event of a major disaster there needs to be surge capacity in any system... something that cannot be afforded with the MFS system. See the Sydney/Newcastle storms just gone... SES, MFB, RFS, Police rescue, Ambulance Rescue, etc etc were all used... but additional resources were still needed from interstate.

/ end rant

James

Initial SA request was 60 persons: Chainsaw and storm damage crews. Leaving Monday PM and returning Thursday PM. I've also heard rumours (from the paging site so not very reliable) that there may be a second deployment later in the week.

Requests seem to have gone out accross the state (Loxton, South Coast etc) Got to balance having crews here to respond.

ABC news also said QLD were sending SES crews.

1909193 19:46:42 25-05-07 Good evening members, please be advise that their are a number of members away this weekend, so please if your around make yourself available for incidents and help the team out. Many Thanks - Captain CFS Dalkeith Info

1909188 19:46:57 25-05-07 MFS: RESPOND RCR 25/05/07 19:46,BLACK TOP RD,GOULD CREEK, MAP 62 H 9 ,,4-5 KM WEST OF ONE TREE HILL,DAILY INC. NO. 67,9219 9734*CFSRES: CFS Dalkeith Response

Just 15 seconds later.

It can be found at http://www.gamewinners.com/trainer.php?file=firede3-uc.zip
I was going to attatch the file but it is not an "approved" file type.


I needed it to get past the Eurotunnel level which wouldn't even load.

Has anyone been able to find the Helecopter or "water tower" vehicles advertised on the back of the box??? I've completed every level except the aforementioned Eurotunnel level and have yet to find them.

James

22:53:51 21-09-06 SHQ: PLEASE RING EAUN REGARDING FORCED CLOSURE OF SAFIREFIGHTER.COM FORUMS. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THE DEADLINE BE MOVED TO NEXT WEEK. THANKS < 21/9/2006 22:51

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