SA Firefighter

Blame - ahhh the great word of todays society - it's always someone else's fault.

NOW:

Was it solely the car driver and his vehicle?

Was it the mechanic who had not picked up a fault?

Was it a new car and therefore the manufacturers fault?

Was it the adjoining land owner who had not maintained the required breaks around their property?

Was it the local council - who had not educated the community?

Was it the Fire Prevention Officer (council) who had not done their inspections?

Was it the local Brigade and Group, who had not engaged the community in proactive fire prevention and survival advise?

Was it poor management by the IMT - were they in control of the fire?

Was there even an operating IMT at the time of the escape?

Was it poor fire prevention advice and information by CFS, the fire prevention team (there are allot of staff in that team), SAFECOM Risk Management (another big team), CFS Media (a small team with a huge voice)

Was it poor funding by government - who under resourced the area with fire appliances, aircraft, machinery, rural fire experts, land managers and alike?

Or was it a combination of all or some of the above, which combined with time, complacency, resources (public and private) and the EXTREME fire weather created a disaster, an eye opener and a reminder to all Australians, all communities and all fire fighters that we don't control fire, we attempt and often manage it but occasional it is outside of any parameters and that is what we warn people about - it is wild, it moves, it lives, it consumes and occasionally (as the record books indicate) there is little anyone and any amount of resources can do.

BLAME is not an option here - UNDERSTANDING is!

Even in the Sturt Group delivery of water for a monitor is an issue - the times they have been used in anger for extended periods(Blackwood Cold Stores, Blackwood Primary School, Caddies tavern, Johnsones Fabrics - the major uses in last 15 years) the majority of pumps have been used in initial attack. Although having the Belair Tanker now eases this as does it's instant supply of 10,000.

Quick solution to no monitor, is to follow the rest of CFS and re-introduce the training and use of hose created ground monitors - otherwise for those close to Adelaide theres always the option of an aerial 

SAPol issue photo id's to compliment their wallets/badges to overcome the problem of souvenir badges. Maybe CFS could adopt this approach and have one compliment the other and also prevent that rogue element.

One the other hand, there is already a badge produced, for the akubra style hats, it's only 50mm, not the normal 70mm of other badges, but it could be introduced instead of the other services badges to create an SA option??

Ultimately it's just another form of CFS association - as with shirts, name badges, car stickers and alike - most places these days won't accept any ID (badge or no badge) without a formal photograph.

CFS has an obligation to notify NPWS of any fire in or adjoining their parks, including the dispatch of NPWS crews.

They are a great resource, although not always there for the initial attack, as they are paid they are there to do the mop up and patrolling to let us get home, back to work or to get a life.

Great cooperation is probaly because many of them are already CFS members. Further as registered CFS brigades the NPWSA crews will fit into any operations.

Hopefully you have read the first post to this topic and understand why that is there. 

Now why do I ask - well there are lots of differnet standards (and it's not just the hills fringe brigades who get items issued)

I have heard of brigades who issue - standard PPE (Jacket & pants/overalls, boots, gloves, helmet) and then also issue Jumpers, T-shirts, hats (bucket and peak cap) sunnies/protective eye wear, drink bottles, personal first aid kits, kit bags and alike.

So what do you get, should there be a standard and when we risk our lives for our communities, should we be provided with a "complete" kit, not just the basics

Maybe this could start a "pro-active" review on what a volunteer fire fighter needs to undertake the varied roles that are asked of us - not a bureaucratic one by some one i the castle who once was a CFS volunteer and knows just what we need???

Fashion statement - hang on a minute - we are dressed in all yellow, how much more of a fashion statement do you want - would you in your normal day to day life walk down the street dressed all in yellow???

The hats make a great statement and at last present an image (almost looking professional - except for the 27 different styles of uniform)

Regarding Broad Brimmed hats - interesting on the tours I did to both NSW and Victoria there were bucket hats - blue initially then, green with the logo on - from memory (this was a year or five ago) we were briefed they were to provide us with suitable sun protection, when we didn't have helmets on!!!!

Sound reasoning - so I guess the boffin who decided the baseball hat over the bucket hat now needs to decide which provides better sun protection (maybe they are a basball fan or player).

Mmmmm I'm guessing that it wouldn't take a rocket scientist to work this out either!

There is a distinct difference - CAFS will cool the surface that it touches and adheres to and then smother - it won't however cool the 'area' (compartment, room etc) that it is applied to.

CFB techniques thought do - with the water expansion rate of 1:1600 this assists in raising the neutral plane, condensing the smoke gasses and hence drawing the heat up - the fine particles of water, delivered when CFB techniques are applied properly also have a quenching effect on both the heat and fire, further reducing the push of the fire.

One major concern (at least for me) if using solely CAFS in aggressive, offensive fire fighting, should a fire crew  be caught in a flash over, CAFS would be of little use, as there is no way to apply a fog pattern to allow for immediate fire fighter refuge and retreat behind the fog curtain.

As for fire cause - the issue with CAFS is the lingering foam, it makes it difficult to clear a fire scene and to examine the seat of the fire the foam needs to break down or be removed. CFB certainly does make fire scene investigation easier - less damage by water, less disruption by water and the seat/area is usually intact - due to penciling and painting as opposed to drenching.

The US is looking at a number of structural techniques/tactics - some areas over there are removing CAFS due to perceived problems/OH&S, others won't use CFB due to OH&S concerns - but remember they also vent through the roof, love "battling the beast" head on and do have more firies die on the job than any other continent. There are many web sites with pros and cons for both - although I did read somewhere the UK Home Office were continuing their studies into both!

Adam,
Last I heard it was still being reviewed and rewriten - there are old copies avaliable in the Regions and I think Bob coordinated the current rewrite - maybe try the Region?

Age is only ONE factor. Maturity is another and then there's personal coping mechanisms/circumstances. They all vary and therefore it is ultimately the officers call - thats why they are the officer - they need to take the responsability for their decisions.

I know many long serving fire fighters who won't work in the hot zone at an MVA, the officers respect this and task them appropriately - there is a role for everyone, and until we are all flushed with members we need to accept that and work accordingly.

There is a duty of care for everyone, regardless of age, race, sex or alike, hence we need to be mindful of each individual and take them on their merit

Glad to hear that you were able to use the CFB training - it is an incredible feeling to be able to enter an involved structure and use it once you have the training and then being able to later reflect on the difference it made compared with the tactics we once used.

Wasn't after too many details, just thought it a good opportunity for you to share the practical application of what you have Lent with those who haven't undertaken the training - we need to reinforce to people how important this training is for every BA operator

PS - Fire Cause have their findings and are writing their report

Reporter sensationalism - you've got to love it!

I'm sure our Operations Centre could provide the exact times for the media team, however whether the media accepts this and prints a correction is another subject all together - and I doubt they would - the media making and error...... never

Maybe they should have asked the occupant - extract from the CFS media release About 25 firefighters from the SA Country Fire Service and the Metropolitan Fire Service arrived at the house off Mildara Close around 4pm to find the structure well involved in flames. It took fire crews nearly half an hour to contain the blaze while at the same time protecting neighbouring properties from heat damage. An occupant of the house escaped but was treated at the scene by paramedics for shock and smoke inhalation.[/color]

As is government practice the jobs will be advertised - so you will see how well they get paid and what they are expected to do! Expectations will far outweigh pay!

However suspect is will be more of the same - over worked, long hours and trying their best to assist brigades and groups to get on with the job - rather a thankless task when they work office hours, then come to meetings with us a night (and they have many brigades and groups to associate with) then they provide on-call 24/7 and respond to emergencies, phone calls from the public, from brigades and groups and from other services after hours!

As stated - the wage component is a Small portion of the monies - it's all the associated costs that add up - cars alone are in excess of 10k per year, training several $1000 per course, uniform (PPE & day wear) over $1k, office expenses, equipment, admin support, accommodation for travel, expenses for meetings (catering for us) the list goes on!

And then, look across the border and see that our staff aren't very well paid but do a GREAT job for so few with such a large and diverse state!