SA Firefighter

Used to be - being the correct statement!

SES is now a recognised Emergency Service in it's own right!

They are as stand alone as CFS or MFS - but all report to Big Brother - SAFECOM ....... who's CEO is current also the SES CEO 

As for rope rescue - let those with the training do it - be it SES (for the majority of the state), SAPol under extreme or close to Adelaide circumstances or MFS (Small part) or CFS (small part).

One day we will be be 'competent' - yes competent, not just "know about it" and "attended training on it once" but competent in our own roles, then we may look at acquiring other skills 
I know thats a bit radical - but it aint rocket science

GREAT post and question Kat???

We don't need to be defensive, rather we need to support ourselves and each other!

There are many times when CFS comes under verbal and written attack - maybe if we took a leaf from the other service we would not attract this or be seen as an 'easy target'!

Maybe something (yea just another item for a small workforce, who is already over worked and under payed) that HQ could look into - being on the front foot, fighting fire with fire (no excuse for pun) and being prepared to do the extra time to support us, as a service!

Kat - I hope someone got some photos of the BFF1 at Salt Creek - it would be worth the promotions unit running some photos of that.

Salt Creek would be worth promoting as they are a very unique brigade in this state - as the first brigade to be 'first responders' in South Aust - something most people away from the Coorong Group probally don't know 

Thank fire truck someone cleared that up

There are two standards that relate to fire fighting apparel - however I can't access the specifics from standards australia to see the difference, if any, between structural and wildfire hoods. However here is the NSWRFS Policy:
   
Flash Hoods
Flash hoods are designed to be worn during offensive structural firefighting and to be donned when bush firefighting if in danger of fire overrun.
Flash hoods are manufactured to meet ISO 11613. Contract Name & Number

Protective Clothing for the NSW Rural Fire Service. Contract No(s): 981/1247

Offensive Firefighting:

· The flash hood is to be donned according to the Breathing Apparatus manual.
· The flash hood should be donned and pulled down around the neck.
· Ensure the flash hood is tucked under the collar of the offensive firefighting jacket.
· After the BA face mask is put on, the flash hood is pulled up and around the BA mask, face and head covering all exposed skin/hair and does not impede the vision of the wearer.
 The structural helmet is donned after the flash hood is pulled up.
· Finally, turn up the protective collar of the offensive firefighting jacket and lock neck protector into place.
· The use of flash hoods for offensive firefighting is stipulated in Service Standard 5.1.5 and Fireground SOP 41.

Bush Firefighting:
· The flash hood is to be carried in the pocket.
· If in danger of being overrun or trapped in a fire, remove flash hood from pocket and remove bushfire helmet. Turn up the protective collar of the bushfire jacket or overalls.
· The flash hood is to be donned over the bushfire goggle, smoke respirator, head, face and collar.
· The user must ensure the flash hood is closed around the bushfire goggle, but does not impede the vision of the wearer.
· Once the flash hood is fitted correctly the bushfire helmet must be put on.
· The use of flash hood for bush firefighting and defensive firefighting is stipulated in Service Standard 5.1.5 and Fireground SOP 41.

I have searched the DuPont Nomex site and they do not put a life span on the material - rather they state it's properties and alike, however I believe the manufacture of the Nomex PPE would be able to act as a guide - depends how often it is worn and for what.

Our ex Captains gear was 5 years old when he replaced it - not due to excessive operational use (i.e. at the sharp or pointy end), fading, tears, cuts or alike, but because it had been washed so many times that it started to fray!

Maybe try FARA - they import it and make PPE from it - they should have an answer  -but then how long is a piece of string?

I think we are getting a little personal now. There is always a perception that mates vote for mates -  in my brigade that's the perception on how half the brigade got positions. As for identifying staff in a brigade as culprits thats a little low.

I think it would be great to have staff in a brigade - they do this stuff every day, they have the latest knowledge and they should also have the latest training! Coupled to this, why would they not vote for the suitable candidate - they have nothing to loose or gain from an appointment.
I know of several brigades close to Adelaide who have staff in them, and they usually have the latest info and don't speculate, excellent training standards as they have internal motivators and high competency levels as the staff don't want to see their brigade falling away.

This seams to be the same with brigades who have MFS firies in them! Maybe having a staff member or MFS firie brings out the competitive streak in the membership as they don't want to be outdone by someone who does this for a job???

Maybe the brigade could embrace the staff members and reap the rewards!!!! It seams to work in Adelaide!

From what I've heard - and this could well have changed or be out dated or incorrect, but it was:
Full dress for CEO, CO and RC level only - this included Tunic and hat (expensive for 1 or 2 wears)
Formal uniform - same as what staff wear - khaki pants and shirt with broad brimmed hat
Field Uniform - NOT PPE, but hard wearing uniform for use in training where PPE isn't needed, for staging area people and in areas where PPE isn't required, undertaking pre-planning, risk assessments and field inspections - again driven by staff as the khaki isn't appropriate
PPE - Operational (full suite from L1 to L3 garments and associated items)
Casual - 'Approved" CFS casual wear - i.e. approved has logo (star), non approved taxi sign

VFBA may have more info as they had several people on the uniform review committee!

Either way - good to see Eden maintaining rescue equipment!

It wasn't that many years ago (well maybe 10+) that Belair also carried Rescue equipment, which was sent to KI - no replacement offered. Interesting now though, although very unfortunately, that the majority of serious accidents in the Sturt Group area have occurred in the Belair response area!

The positive side - rescue, heavy surrounds Belair and the Sturt Group - Blackwood, Stirling, St Marys, Burnside, Adelaide and down south Meadows.

Its reassuring to know that if you are fortunate enough to live in the Adelaide Hills that we are surrounded by Rescue Equipment and competent trained operators!!!!  If only this was the case across the state.

Great feedback Mike 

Maybe (I know this may be logical .... sorry) CFS or 'someone' could create an area (webpage) where brigades could visit to look at PPE and Equipment reviews - this would allow people to make comments and also look at the research undertaken and prevent hours of unsolicited, uneducated and BS comments on PPE and Equipment.

Would also be handy for all to know the standards and see what prospective equipment is being trailed, evaluated or looked at.

The debate for flash hoods, both urban and rural (and there is a marked difference) is not only being had in CFS, but several career services and other volunteer services as well.

Most career services now issue them for urban incidents and a number or rural/land management agencies are issuing them for rural incidents - NSW NPWS has them as standard issue for all their staff and seasonal crews following findings from a number of burns and deaths during rural fire fighting - although this just clouds further the debate about if CFS should adopt them - interesting though that CAMS (motor sport governing body) stipulates them for all of the motor sport fire fighters, whose general standard of PPE is well below that of ours!!!

The premise in all areas is a lack of knowledge of the environment - risk management would therefore suggest that we know the risk, identify how to address it - easy - teach people how to detect the early signs (as firefiog mentioned).

As for wearing them in CFS - at Brukunga they are used in all live fire training situations - LPG, sim running fuel, multi story and also CFBT.

The Blackwood CAFS vehicle was a "proto type" build in partnership between Blackwood Brigade, CFS HQ Technical Service branch, Sturt CFS Group and the od supplier/promoter (FARA).

So in short - yes it's a one off!!!

The use of CAFS is still hottly debated - in the rural environment it is great and has HUGE advantages - less water, cooling, lasts (does not evaporate) the list goes on - in an urban/structural environment there are two very distinct camps and allot still to be done - it abviuosly has the cooling featureswhen on surfaces, but not when applied to the gas layer, to be effecting needs to be applied through a straight bore branch (not multi function). There are also issues with fire cause investigation and evidence distruction recent SA case is a house fire in Belair where the use of CAFS may have been an issue.

When you look across the web, alot of US services have it and use it, but some are removing it others restricyting it's use and others doing the same stuff everyday, whilst inEurope they are strict abouts it's use and it's not as heavily promoted.

Long and short, it is great is used in the right environment (as a number of CFS 14's can attest too)