SA Firefighter

PRIORITY TWO = SES responding only, lights and sirens

Hold up there big fella... why the buggery is anyone going with lights and sirens to a P2? Maybe lights, but a 10m branch does not constitute alarming the public like that. Maybe if it were on a busload of girl guides, but certainly not if it is already on the fence and in the school grounds.

I have a question. Why do SES groups always have so many vehicles and trailers? Would it be easier to get 1 or 2 hino's or isuzu's and fill them to the brim with gear rather than having 4 land rovers?

also, why don't sturt SES have a quad, mountain bike or horse team? there are quite a lot of rural areas where that stuf would be handy (belair national park, cleland, scott creek CP etc) Maybe they could give up the aireshelta!

The reason we have so many different vehicles is because we do different taskings. I mean, we aren't exactly going to turn up at a landsearch in a heavy rescue truck if all our rcr gear is on it, are we? Sensibility would suggest taking troopies and leaving the haevy equipment back at the base with a few crew. We use landcruisers etc to get the crew around when they won't all fit on the truck, and also for those who may arrive at the base just after the truck has left. We use trailers to store specific tools and equipment so we don't end up with a truck that weighs 10 ton and won't move. We also do it so that you can find things easily. There's no use carrying everything on the truck if it means having to pull everything out to get to things.

As far as units not having certain things like quad bikes, it isn't as simple as getting things based on the territory around you. Resources can be brought in if necessary. If Sturt get quad bikes because they are near national parks, why not give Yankalilla some for Deep Creek, or some of the other outlying units like Murray Bridge or Meningie or Strathalbyn who have to search along the Murray or the lakes?

As far as the horses go, they are owned by unit members in those units. The unit has a horse float to take them to taskings, and they can be deployed all over the state... just as the dog unit have caged cars and can be deployed anywhere.

The walking out uniform has changed to fawn shirt with dark blue badges, fawn trousers, dark blue jumper and dark blue jacket.

Its not "fawn"... it is called "putty". Why couldn't they just go blue pants to go with the new blue jumpers and jackets? Light trousers are a pain in the rear.

No, the second line is a totally independent system. If the main line fails, then you can stop, take a look at whats gone wrong, FIX IT, and either haul the person up, or continue to lower. Or with he single line you can plunge to the bottom of the cliff.

Attack lines? If one blows, you can turn around and walk out, same with BA. Cars? Safety measures have improved survival. The point is that if the main line fails, you're facing death or serious injury almost certainly. In the time it takes to have the mainline setup, you can have the safety up as well.

I think the point Mike is making here is that if you treat your equipment with absolute respect and follow the safety rules such as 2 person checking etc, then the equipment shouldn't fail.

So does SAR cover landsearch? If not, what exactly is it?

Landsearch can be used for crime scene searches when an object or evidence is to be found. SAR is about searching and rescuing, so there can be a difference.

Quote from: squiddy on September 28, 2006, 08:43:20 AM

... like the old salmonella bus that used to come out 

Hey be easy with the the old EMU (Emergency Meals Unit). I helped fund-raise to build that bus.

The bus was sold a few years ago now & sometimes I see it (with the emu logo) parked on Main North Rd.

Shame you didn't help fundraise to clean it 

dont talk in acronyms FIGJAM

who is PIRSA

Primary Industry Resources South Australia

As promised to our dear Mr. Toast, here is the list of SASES units and their specialisations.

Adelaide Hills - Storm, GRes, SAR, Landsearch
Andamooka - RCR, UGR, Comms, Storm
Barmera - RCR, SAR, Storm, GRes, Marine
Berri - RCR, GRes, SAR, Storm, Marine
Blanchetown - RCR, SAR, Storm, GRes
Booleroo Centre - RCR, VRes, SAR, Storm
Bordertown - RCR, SAR, Storm, GRes
Burra - RCR, SAR, GRes, Storm, Recce
Bute - RCR, GRes, SAR, Storm
Campbelltown - GRes, SAR, Storm, Landsearch
Ceduna - RCR, VMR, Welf, Comms
Clare - RCR, SAR, GRes, Storm, VRes, Welf, Comms
Cleve - RCR, GRes
Cockburn - RCR
Coober Pedy - RCR, UGR, SAR
Cummins - RCR, GRes, Storm
Dog Operations - SAR, Recce, Landsearch
Eastern Suburbs - GRes, Storm, SAR, VRes, Landsearch
Enfield - GRes, SAR, Storm, VRes, Lighting, Landsearch
Eyre HQ - Comms, EPIRB Tracking, 1st Aid, Logistics
Hallett - RCR, SAR, Comms, Storm
Hawker & Districts - RCR, SAR, Comms, Welf, Horse SAR
Kangaroo Island - RCR, Storm, VRes, SAR
Kapunda - RCR, GRes, VRes, Horse SAR
Keith - RCR, Storm, SAR, GRes
Kimba - RCR, Comms
Kingston SE - RCR, SAR, VRes, Storm
Laura - RCR, SAR, Storm, VRes
Leigh Creek - RCR, GRes
Loxton - RCR, Storm, SAR, Marine
Maitland - RCR, GRes, VRes, Storm, Comms
Marla - RCR, GRes
Meningie - RCR, Marine, GRes, Storm, SAR
Metro South - SAR, Storm, Landsearch, VRes, GRes
Mintabie - RCR, UGR, SAR
Mt Gambier & Districts - RCR, GRes, VRes, SAR
Murray Bridge - RCR, Storm, GRes, SAR, VRes, Marine
Noarlunga - GRes, Storm, SAR, VRes, Air Observer, Landsearch, Confined Space, Dropmasters, Bike SAR
Northern Districts - GRes, Storm, SAR, Landsearch
Nullarbour - RCR, GRes
Onkaparinga - RCR, GRes
Pt Augusta - RCR, SAR, Comms, VRes, Welf, GRes, Storm
Pt Broughton - RCR, GRes, SAR
Pt Lincoln - RCR, SAR, Welf, Comms, Storm, Air Observer, VRes, Marine
Pt Pirie - RCR, SAR, Storm, Marine
Prospect - GRes, Storm, Landsearch
Quorn - RCR, VRes, SAR, Comms, Storm
Renmark Paringa - RCR, GRes, VRes, SAR
Riverland HQ - Comms
Roxby Downs - RCR, Storm, SAR
Saddleworth & Districts - RCR, GRes, Storm, Flood
Snowtown - RCR, SAR, Welf, Storm
South East HQ - Comms
South Coast - RCR, GRes, SAR, VRes, Landsearch
Spalding - RCR, SAR, Welf, Storm
State HQ - Opps Support
Strathalbyn - RCR, GRes, SAR, Landsearch
Streaky Bay - RCR, GRes, Storm
Sturt - SAR, GRes, Storm, VRes, USAR
Tea Tree Gully - USAR, GRes, SAR, Storm, VRes, Landsearch
Tumby Bay - RCR, SAR, Marine, Storm, Welf, Comms, Air Observer, Recce
Warooka - RCR, SAR, VRes, Storm, GRes
Wattle Range - RCR, SAR, VRes, Storm
Western Adelaide - GRes, VRes, Storm, Landsearch, Air Observer, EWP
Whyalla - RCR, GRes, SAR, VRes, Storm, Confined Space, Comms, Welf, Recce
Wuddinna - RCR, GRes
Yankalilla - RCR, GRes, VRes, SAR, Landsearch

These were correct as at April 28, 2006. Not all aspects of each unit's capabilities have been covered, however this is a rough idea of the specialisations of each unit.

The reverse in implied

You're on then, mate  Full list of each SES unit's specialisations by the end of the week and you can give us a full list of CFS brigades specialisations.

Thanks for the thread, CFS_FIREY, I think it will be good to break down some of the barriers between agencies through education 

How much is the SASES different from the SES in the other states, and what resources do they share?

Each state governs their own SES, and roles vary from state to state. However, the roles can also vary from metro to rural areas, just as in SA. In a lot of states, SES is largely involved with flooding, storm and salvage and searches.

How big is the SASES (how many volunteers, paid staff, units, appliances etc)

According to the SES, there are 1938 volunteers. There are 36 paid staff.
OK... heirarchy as far as paid staff goes is as follws. It is a little confusing, so try to stay with me. There is the Chief Officer, and he has an executive PA and an executive project officer. The EPO has an operational admin officer and a corporate admin officer under them. Under the CO is the Deputy CO. He is responsible for each region. Each region has a Regional Commander, Senior Regional Officer, Training Officer, Business Support Officer and Admin Officer. Under the CO is also the Manager for Assets and Infrastructure, Manager for Training and Development, Business Manager, Manager of Corporate Communications and the Manager for Volunteer Marine Rescue (who is in charge of the VMR squadrons). There is also a State Planning Officer, State Training Officer and an Admin Officer.
Hope you got all that.

There are 68 SES units across SA, and I am unsure of the number of vehicles. Smaller units sometimes have less vehicles, and larger units sometimes have more. Generally everyone gets a rescue truck and at least 1 4WD.

What courses do the SES run, and offer?

First course to do is Basic Rescue. It is pretty much a prerequisite for everything else. From there, SES offers Advanced Rescue 1&2, Advanced Rescue Shoring, Air Observing, GRN & Basic Comms, Chainsaw Operations & Safety, Dropmaster, Leadership, Land Search & Rescue, Mapreading & Navigation, Recconaissance, RCR, Storm Damage Operations, Train Small Groups, USAR Category 1&2, Vertical Rescue (all levels), Workplace Assessment.

How are SES units responded to incidents (Do they ever respond in private cars?)

Some units have a Duty Officer that gets a page and then responds unit members to taskings. Other units all just respond with pagers. We arrive at the LHQ and get in vehicles. Sometimes crew will respond in private vehicles if they are nearby, but not often.

What ranks are there within Units, and how can we tell who is senior? (Different coloured helemts?)

Unit rankings are as follows:
Unit Manager
Deputy Unit Manager
Rescue Officer
Deputy Rescue Officer
Business Manager
Training Officer
Deputy Training Officer
Comms Officer
Equipment Officer
Welfare Officer
Team Leaders
Rescue Crew

Officers wear epaulettes on their shoulders. I don't have the full list of these on me atm, so I will let you know when I get it.

Do SES Units have specialisations (like the CFS has Rescue, or Hazmat) and how many of these specialised units are there? (eg, SACFS has 34 HAMZAT and 66 RCR brigades, out of 434)

Yes. There are specialised USAR, Confined Space, Vertical and RCR units. The 13 metro units do not do RCR. All 55 rural units are RCR. I know that Sturt, TTG and Mt Barker (soon apparently) are all USAR. Noarlunga does Confined Space and there are a few units who do vertical.

What is the average number of calls an SES unit gets in a year (Pip has said over 50% of CFS brigades get less than 20 calls)

While a lot of metro units do loads of storm and flood work, there are a few rural units who are lucky to make 10 calls a year. If you want exact numbers, go check out the SES annual report for last year http://www.ses.sa.gov.au/aboutses/aboutses/pdfs/ANNUAL%20REPORT%20MASTER%202004-05.pdf.

Hope that helps.

"Use the Swartz" (Spaceballs)

I see your Swartz is as big as mine...

Quote from: squiddy on September 25, 2006, 08:17:56 AM

Quote from: Toast on September 25, 2006, 01:51:16 AM

I hope you mean, lets stick to firefighting, RCR, HAZMAT, Rope rescue, Confined space, USAR, Storm Damage 

Hmmm... I do believe that the CFS only has the monopoly on firefighting and HAZMAT, Toasty...

Ah so are we talking monopoly or what we are trained to do and what equipment we carry?

Now, the only thing we dont do there is Confined Space(coming sooon) and USAR.

We carry fire extinguishers, but it doesn't make us firefighters... You're going to be confined space? Better not say it too loud, or else Noarlunga SES will chase you away 

Interesting the varying comments regards 'non called to a land search' and the comment earlier regards 'too many cooks' at a tasking. Too many people at a land search can cause more problems than resolve.

Yes, when you do the course you are taught to 'evidence / sign search' and team leaders are taught 'probability of survival search'.

Their is a lot more information regards a search than the simple pager message.

Amen to that.