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Messages - littlejohn

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101
SA Firefighter General / Re: Fire Fighter Availability Boards
« on: April 23, 2007, 08:55:59 PM »
Name        Dates Unavailable     Comments

Camo        1/4 - 5/4
Blue        14/4 - 16/4           Nighttime only
S. Simo
W. Waz

The system works on the assumption that people are generally available, unless specified.

102
SASES / Re: curious about level of radio traffic
« on: April 23, 2007, 01:04:46 PM »
Thanks bajdas!



103
SASES / curious about level of radio traffic
« on: April 22, 2007, 07:07:30 PM »
Is it standard for SES units travelling to an incident to give detailed progress reports?

ie, units seem to be calling base as they pass through each town on the way to and from incidents.

The base quotes the time whenever someone calls it too. Handy I spose if you don't have a clock in the vehicle, but what's the practical reason for doing so?

104
Country Fire Service / Re: State Budget cuts
« on: April 10, 2007, 09:16:12 PM »
There was talk recently that the driver training courses were going to soak up a lot of resources (read 'money').

Apparently originally unbudgeted, but I only heard that fifth hand off someone I don't know.

105
SA Firefighter General / Re: Ammusing pager message.
« on: April 09, 2007, 07:13:46 PM »
1908918 12:38:29 09-04-07 Mdws Info: We now have a Motorcharge card in each appliance, on the little keytag thingy in the ignition. And there was much rejoicing. Cheers, Broady.


I'm just dancing with excitement.

106
Country Fire Service / Brigade Meetings
« on: April 09, 2007, 01:32:48 PM »
Does your brigade actually hold them?
If so, how often? And is it a full brigade meeting, or the management group (if indeed such a thing is utilised in your brigade)?

I had a flick through the act the other day and read all these exciting (??) things about the management group etc, and having had a yarn to the odd other volly, have come to the conclusion that meeting regularity & existence of a management group is pretty directly related to the size of the brigade & the number of jobs attended (not really rocket science, I 'spose).

We run monthly brigade meetings, but only a handful of people turn up. Mind you, the meetings used to run for 3 hours! Now they're ususally ~ 40mins, and it's much easier to get through things when there aren't many people on deck!


107
Country Fire Service / Re: New Members & Training
« on: April 08, 2007, 10:21:45 AM »
I'm beginning to learn too that I nearly need to know more about SOPs/directives etc than the group officers to avoid situations like Camo's (ie DGO/GO putting their spin on a situation and having it done their way, simply because that's what they want).

New recruits get a pager after BFF1, they need their gear prior to BFF1 and we try and get them to training as soon as their police check comes back. Handing them a pager prior to BFF1 sounds like a good idea.

There is also that provision that an officer can grab any member of the public, in an emergency, and stick them on the truck. "Though it's not meant to be used that way" as a DGO likes to remind me.

Glad to hear BFF1 might be revised & shortened. It seems they do listen!!

108
SA Firefighter General / Cleanup at an MVA
« on: April 04, 2007, 11:55:30 AM »
Having just seen a post on the pager message thread, responding a brigade to clean up at an MVA (page confirmed no entrapments);

I don't recall exactly whose lap that responsibility that falls in to, but I thought it was SAPOL's job to ensure the road was passable. Or am I wrong?

This is of course hypothetical and nit picking. We tend to do most of the cleanup and I'm not about to refuse to go to a job to avoid doing so. Just curious about whether it's technically a CFS task.

109
Country Fire Service / Re: CFS Calander
« on: April 02, 2007, 06:26:33 PM »
There are times Blue, when a kodak moment pops up and not all crew are fully decked out!  Not sure about thongs though. They've always got their pants on.

Generally mopping up, filling up, or a DGO, so unlikely to make an appearance in this publication.

(Then again, I have got a pic of Millicent 34 looking like Mr Whippy suffering from a serious rupture which I'd be happy to share!)


110
Country Fire Service / Re: CFS Calander
« on: April 02, 2007, 07:25:03 AM »
Will it be a financial year calendar, or 2008? Or a different Cam-operating year?!

I assume it's not subject to CFS conditions that all people in the pics have to be decked out in full PPE?

How do I enter the draw for a colander?

111
Other Government Agencies / Re: Forestry Fire Towers
« on: April 01, 2007, 10:30:14 AM »
Ath, are you referring to SE towers, or Adelaide hills?

I agree with Blue - a lot of responses down here can be tracked through from FSA towers spotting the fire, reporting to their HQ who triangulate and then report to CFS SOC. For us it's an exception to get a telephone call first, and with only about two bumps on the landscape, the tower's accuracy is pretty good.

112
Country Fire Service / Re: Mt Bryan truck rollover
« on: April 01, 2007, 10:21:05 AM »
Quote from: Darius on April 01, 2007, 08:52:17 AM
I just think it's tragic (and an appalling indictment on the CFS senior management) that it takes something like this to happen to a CFS member before they seriously consider off-road driver training.  (The seatbelt SOP is legal filtered-covering, people actively involved in fighting a fire from the rear of an appliance will not wear a seatbelt.)

It's a hell of a catch 22 - CFS will never be able to train volunteers enough to avoid all injuries/accidents.

The drivers from our brigade did the advanced driver training course (I think that's what it's called) when our new 34 arrived. However 98% of our work is on flat country - we just don't get any ongoing exprience assessing the terrain these trucks can handle.
It concerns me every time we go to the hills (or up the bluff!).

Although the driver training is a good idea, I'd be very surprised if it made that much difference to incidents like this, for although I've no idea what lead to this truck roll over, I can imagine our brigade suffering a similar fate simply for lack of experience in hilly conditions.

113
Other Government Agencies / Re: Forestry Fire Towers
« on: March 31, 2007, 02:53:11 PM »
It's hard to know how you would be able to undertake much, if any CFS work through the fire season Robert.

My very vague understanding is that the towers are manned by contractors, who no doubt have to be up there every day over a certain fire danger level (moderate? high?), which equates to most of the fire season.

You'd have to ensure that any CFS jobs you attended wouldn't affect your ability to man the tower, and as all the good ones this year happened through the day (the ones I can remember anyway), you'd not get much hands on action.

Mind you, it's an important job and a single tower person can have a hell of a lot more influence on a fire than a single fire fighter.

114
Country Fire Service / Re: Group and Brigade Rivalries
« on: March 29, 2007, 07:24:14 PM »
Quote from: Camo on March 29, 2007, 06:25:47 PM
victoria is also alot more complex then SA.


We SA folk are a simple lot, wouldn't you say?

115
Forum Suggestions / Re: SEFF to improve SAFF
« on: March 29, 2007, 07:47:25 AM »
Bill, Blue & Camo just fluff about like a pack of pensioners to keep the entertainment ticking over until you post something worthwhile Hicks.

116
OFF Topic / Re: Whats Everyone Up To For Easter :-)
« on: March 26, 2007, 04:53:49 PM »
Quote from: Camo on March 26, 2007, 03:48:39 PM
Quote from: Robert34 on March 26, 2007, 01:35:20 PM

Its something i have wanted to do for ages Camo  :wink:

Im not too worried about who im gonna be working with cause it doesnt really matter to me at all as long as everyone follows the supervisors orders  :-) 

Yeah thats the problem....the supervisor doesnt have a clue  :-D


I'm sure there won't be any conflicts or dissent Camo.

117
Other Government Agencies / Re: Forestry Fire Towers
« on: March 16, 2007, 06:52:10 PM »
I wonder what the forestry companies incur in fire prevention costs in the south east? (Rhetorical question)

8 or 9 fire towers (guessing the number) staffed by contractors?
A spotter plain on fire ban days?
Bomber plane?

The question marks are becuase I don't know if I'm anywhere near the mark. But all these resources benefit more than just forestry land.

The towers seem pretty good at triangulating fires in the flat SE. Between them & the spotter, most fires get picked up fairly quickly.

118
Other Government Agencies / Re: Forestry Fire Towers
« on: March 15, 2007, 05:57:07 PM »
Like hell. You won't get me up one of those.

Would love to see how they work, but my arse likes to stay close to the ground.

119
Country Fire Service / Re: Burnover Training
« on: March 15, 2007, 02:08:52 PM »
Quite agree - the 30 length hose lays weren't at the bluff!

120
Other Government Agencies / Forestry Fire Towers
« on: March 15, 2007, 09:38:46 AM »
Could some knowledgable person tell me; when fire towers are quoting a smoke sighting, do they use magnetic or true bearings?

Thanks!

121
SA Firefighter General / Re: NSW residents sue
« on: March 15, 2007, 07:18:09 AM »
It makes you wonder; will people be reluctant to take on roles of responsibility in the future?

I guess once a fire gets to the Canberra or Black Tuesday scale, the management is assumed by paid staff. But that doesn't stop extremely close scrutiny of every decision.

122
SA Fire Fighter Events / Re: up coming events
« on: March 12, 2007, 10:58:29 AM »
G'day Mel,

The field days are an expo sort of thing for most things farming related.
Lots of exhibitors from service industry stuff (consultants, Govt Departments, Elders, Landmark etc), tools, equipment, tractors, vehicles & machinery.

If you want to setup a farm, you'll be able to get everything from socks to a truck, and the finance to buy the lot. You could probably get the farm too.

http://www.southeastfielddays.com.au/

A pretty successful way to get a few cheap tools, sore feet & sunburnt. Also tend to spend half the day walking into people I've not seen for a while.

123
SA Fire Fighter Events / Re: up coming events
« on: March 11, 2007, 10:28:56 AM »
Quote from: pipster on March 11, 2007, 09:17:02 AM
Quote from: littlejohn on March 10, 2007, 06:22:49 PM

I too will be at the field days on Friday. It's not a very big area.


Not a big area!!  You are kidding right......

Pip


There might have been a little irony in that comment Pip. It is only around 5ha or so though. It's just all those damn tents & people they stick on it which makes life difficult.

124
SA Fire Fighter Events / Re: up coming events
« on: March 10, 2007, 06:22:49 PM »
You're of royal blood Blue?

My my, there are many strings to your bow.

From here on 'Lady Blue'!


I too will be at the field days on Friday. It's not a very big area. Surely it can't be that hard to spot a fellow firey! What if we agreed on a secret method of recognition?

Something discrete. How 'bout walking backwards?


125
Country Fire Service / Re: Where are the foum members located?
« on: March 06, 2007, 12:39:33 PM »
Used to be awareded weekly on 5SE. 

Many, many moons ago.

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