276
Country Fire Service / Appliances
« on: March 06, 2005, 09:30:24 AM »
Sweet, James!
Yes, we'll order one, please.
It'll look funny white I reckon
Yes, we'll order one, please.
It'll look funny white I reckon
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277
All Equipment discussion / new level 3 gear (LION)
« on: February 24, 2005, 10:09:39 AM »
Welcome Ferretboy. Pleased to have you aboard.
I don't know anything about the Lion contract (anyone with anything in writing please post!) but would be very interested to know the details including cost.
I am aware of organisations (that use protective overalls) getting into contracts that have proved to be expensive and ineffective. They involve a weekly cost regardless of what is actually picked up and laundered (and I've heard of people still taking them home to wash them theirselves becasue of erratic service.
Any fleshed out details of how this would work? Will it be pick up from station?
I don't know anything about the Lion contract (anyone with anything in writing please post!) but would be very interested to know the details including cost.
I am aware of organisations (that use protective overalls) getting into contracts that have proved to be expensive and ineffective. They involve a weekly cost regardless of what is actually picked up and laundered (and I've heard of people still taking them home to wash them theirselves becasue of erratic service.
Any fleshed out details of how this would work? Will it be pick up from station?
278
Country Fire Service / How do you see the service in the future
« on: February 24, 2005, 09:25:54 AM »
James I am sorry that you feel that you have been "shot down" for airing your views on merging MFS/CFS/SES. I would expect these kind of issues to be hotly debated and extreme opinions expressed from all sides. Having a different take from someone is different from shooting them down, I hope. I think your views are, to a fair degree, shared by a lot of the stakeholders in this issue. It's certainly something that policy makers have been looking at for several decades. SAFECOM is definately serious about reform and before too long we should start to see some changes.
And it's proabably inevitable that some vollies will not like them.
As corocfs pointed out
And it's proabably inevitable that some vollies will not like them.
As corocfs pointed out
Quote
anyone that wishes to remain a fire fighter will have to pass medicals, physicals and aptitude tests... and i dont mean to be rude but i dont think a lot of ppl in the cfs would pass all of these with easeThis is a distinct possibility and I guess that if you had spent the last twenty years or longer devoting every spare minute to the service (sometimes to the detriment of your employment or personal relationships), going to jobs, training, fundraising, meetings, maintaining the equipment, admin etc and as discussed here maybe even had input into the design of the vehicles in your station (or built them and the station for that matter) and then one day your Brigade became under the banner of another organisation and you were all no longer required. You're replaced by people selected under the new organisations selection criteria (a few of your existing members may get in) most of who wouldn't have dreamed of setting foot in the door before an hourly rate applied. Your carefully designed and built appliances are replaced and years of local knowledge and experience of the kind that only can be gained through time is lost. Now all this may well be in the interests of public safety and providing communities with the best possible emergency service but I can't for a second believe that it would (or will) be an easy or straightforward transition.
279
SA Firefighter General / Redundant Alphas
« on: February 21, 2005, 01:58:43 AM »
Yes, Strikeathird, logically you are probably correct! It may be pointless to hang on to a redundant alpha, but surely not that confusing?
I don't think anyone assuming that we had another rural back in the station (which technically we do with the RUP) would bring the service to an operational halt. Rest assured all the people who need to know, know what is in our station. Could be construed as pointless to have to remove the A's (placed with loving care sob, sob), change all the Group, Brigade and Specific risk and response plans, automatic alarms, whiteboard magnets etc. Although we did survive the change from the 41, 42 days
Alpha doesn't necessarliy designate rural. Alpha was actually the "urban" vehicle when delivered and until 1998 carried the "urban" stowage kit and rescue gear (and was therefore lead structural/special appliance). Another Brigade in our Group has 2 x 24's and one of them has an "urban" stowage kit, the other "rural".
We do actually have two 24's. Maybe "alpha" will be replaced with another 24P and she can be ALPHA 24P LOL!!
I don't think anyone assuming that we had another rural back in the station (which technically we do with the RUP) would bring the service to an operational halt. Rest assured all the people who need to know, know what is in our station. Could be construed as pointless to have to remove the A's (placed with loving care sob, sob), change all the Group, Brigade and Specific risk and response plans, automatic alarms, whiteboard magnets etc. Although we did survive the change from the 41, 42 days
Alpha doesn't necessarliy designate rural. Alpha was actually the "urban" vehicle when delivered and until 1998 carried the "urban" stowage kit and rescue gear (and was therefore lead structural/special appliance). Another Brigade in our Group has 2 x 24's and one of them has an "urban" stowage kit, the other "rural".
We do actually have two 24's. Maybe "alpha" will be replaced with another 24P and she can be ALPHA 24P LOL!!
280
Country Fire Service / What kind of appliances do CFS really need?
« on: February 20, 2005, 05:33:33 AM »
These stats are from the promo page and reproduced from a posting by Pip on SACFS yahoogroup.
"A quick scan of the figures from 2003-04, as displayed on the Promo Unit page:
4 brigades attended between 300-400 calls
5 brigades attended between 200-300 calls
19 brigades attended between 101-200 calls
8 brigades attended between 91-100 calls
11 brigades attended between 71-90 calls
25 brigades attended between 51-70 calls
35 brigade attended between 31-50 calls
113 brigades attended between 11-30 calls
166 brigades attended between 0-10 calls"
So 0.07% of Brigades did more than 100 calls a year and 72% do 30 or less. And I suspect that a lot of the busier Brigades are in close proximity to other resources. They also tend to do a higher percentage of routine type jobs - stop calls, fixed alarms. I am well aware that risk is not necessarily equated to call history but let's get some perspective here. The vast majority of the services resposne area is probably well served by a standard 24/34 or gasp, the "second rate" "wanna be" 24P.
(tongue in cheek with apologies to our Bella Isuzu who we adore).
All our list contributers must be in the .07 percent
"A quick scan of the figures from 2003-04, as displayed on the Promo Unit page:
4 brigades attended between 300-400 calls
5 brigades attended between 200-300 calls
19 brigades attended between 101-200 calls
8 brigades attended between 91-100 calls
11 brigades attended between 71-90 calls
25 brigades attended between 51-70 calls
35 brigade attended between 31-50 calls
113 brigades attended between 11-30 calls
166 brigades attended between 0-10 calls"
So 0.07% of Brigades did more than 100 calls a year and 72% do 30 or less. And I suspect that a lot of the busier Brigades are in close proximity to other resources. They also tend to do a higher percentage of routine type jobs - stop calls, fixed alarms. I am well aware that risk is not necessarily equated to call history but let's get some perspective here. The vast majority of the services resposne area is probably well served by a standard 24/34 or gasp, the "second rate" "wanna be" 24P.
(tongue in cheek with apologies to our Bella Isuzu who we adore).
All our list contributers must be in the .07 percent
281
Country Fire Service / Colocation
« on: February 19, 2005, 05:35:36 PM »Quote from: JamesGar
Makes sense to locate us all together where convenient to aid training, responses, camaradery, asset protection and security....
Ahhh, I agree..... in a perfect world. :color:
If only it were so simple. :banghead:
282
Country Fire Service / SAAS
« on: February 19, 2005, 05:02:23 PM »
SAAS not being under the "emergency services" umbrella but aligned with the Health Department is an impediment to future colocations or integrated service delivery.
283
Country Fire Service / Rescue Appliance Without Tank and Pump
« on: February 19, 2005, 04:57:45 PM »
It would be great to have two dedicated fire appliances and a stand alone rescue but apart from that cost we'd need a new station to fit them.
Way back when (it was at the end of the eighties) our rescue gear was carried on a trailer and towed to a job by a private vehicle (saw something similar a few years into the ninties at Williamstown when staged there). We caused a local stir by our Brigade SOP that a fire appliance had to roll with the rescue trailer regardless of whether it was in our fire district or not. Reason being we simply did not want to be at an MVA without water (adequate fire cover)! And sometimes due to the rural nature of surrounding Brigades this could happen if we didn't bring our own. Our primary rescue area at the time could be over 70km away in a few directions and second rescue over 100km.
Now if we were, for example, going to a primary rescue 50km towards Lameroo with a specialist rescue vehicle there would be a real chance that we would arrive before the fire cover response. A small tank and pump sounds like a fair enough compromise. Not that we'd ever be given the choice but in my dreams
Way back when (it was at the end of the eighties) our rescue gear was carried on a trailer and towed to a job by a private vehicle (saw something similar a few years into the ninties at Williamstown when staged there). We caused a local stir by our Brigade SOP that a fire appliance had to roll with the rescue trailer regardless of whether it was in our fire district or not. Reason being we simply did not want to be at an MVA without water (adequate fire cover)! And sometimes due to the rural nature of surrounding Brigades this could happen if we didn't bring our own. Our primary rescue area at the time could be over 70km away in a few directions and second rescue over 100km.
Now if we were, for example, going to a primary rescue 50km towards Lameroo with a specialist rescue vehicle there would be a real chance that we would arrive before the fire cover response. A small tank and pump sounds like a fair enough compromise. Not that we'd ever be given the choice but in my dreams
284
Country Fire Service / 24P
« on: February 18, 2005, 02:30:55 PM »
We love our Isuzu 24P too, but we send the rural 24 out first to a rural job. 24P goes fine off road but rarely leaves our primary response area. With the rescue equipment and all our BA equipment naturally it has to stay in station when we're taking off for strike teams or rural fires outside of our primary response area. Pity - the airconditioning and CD player would be great for those long drives
285
Country Fire Service / Appliances
« on: February 18, 2005, 08:18:03 AM »
There was a massive debate on the SACFS yahoo group once about back of truck vs off truck grass/scrub firefighting!
Depends on the fire, the terrain etc etc. Most fires that can be attacked from the back of truck (ie: running grass fires in open country - the fun stuff ) need to be mopped up properly off the truck anyway. So we all should be pretty familiar with the metres of 25mm to make up
Sounds like primarily an urban or special appliance Alex. Anything it can do in a rural situation is a bonus isn't it?
Depends on the fire, the terrain etc etc. Most fires that can be attacked from the back of truck (ie: running grass fires in open country - the fun stuff
) need to be mopped up properly off the truck anyway. So we all should be pretty familiar with the metres of 25mm to make up Sounds like primarily an urban or special appliance Alex. Anything it can do in a rural situation is a bonus isn't it?
286
Resellers & Suppliers / level one (BFF1) gloves
« on: February 15, 2005, 06:16:33 PM »
"I believe a new standard rural glove has been adopted cfs wide"
That's a problem really isn't it? If things are adopted CFS wide and those of us out there actually buying the stuff don't know about it?
That's a problem really isn't it? If things are adopted CFS wide and those of us out there actually buying the stuff don't know about it?
288
SA Firefighter General / Portland
« on: February 11, 2005, 08:15:40 AM »
Welcome to the list, djwiz.
I have some photos of the Portland station in my fire station photos collection (sad but true I have a large collection) and did the nose pressed to the window thing when there last.
Looks like a great facility. Does that station have a mixture of vollies and retained firies?
I have some photos of the Portland station in my fire station photos collection (sad but true I have a large collection) and did the nose pressed to the window thing when there last.
Looks like a great facility. Does that station have a mixture of vollies and retained firies?
289
Incident Operations / Change of Quarters
« on: February 09, 2005, 10:33:19 PM »
Do the MFS specify training levels of change of quarter crew or is that left to the Brigade? And does everyone have to have BA, RCR, Hazmat (and Level Three of course) to get a guernsey?
Would love to do a shift in Wakefield Street (just once though )
Would love to do a shift in Wakefield Street (just once though
)
290
SA Firefighter General / Tailem Bend Alpha 24
« on: February 08, 2005, 09:34:47 PM »
Well call us superstitious but how can you just rename an appliance like that?
Sure, the Alpha (or Bravo if you're overendowed with the same appliance type) was designed to differentiate between two or more appliances of the same type. Tailem had two Hino 24's delivered in 1990 and we had to chase down the "A's" and spent ages putting them on "just right!"
In 1998 when the first P "pumper" (at the time I asked if it would be Tailem Bend Papa 24 but it didn't seem to catch on!!) arrived, yes, we realised Alpha didn't need to be Alpha anymore. But too late, Alpha she was and Alpha she is!!! 24 is still 24 and lives at Narrung, the new pumper is "pee" (or Bella Isuzu to it's friends) and Alpha is Alpha and that's all she wrote.
Sure, the Alpha (or Bravo if you're overendowed with the same appliance type) was designed to differentiate between two or more appliances of the same type. Tailem had two Hino 24's delivered in 1990 and we had to chase down the "A's" and spent ages putting them on "just right!"
In 1998 when the first P "pumper" (at the time I asked if it would be Tailem Bend Papa 24 but it didn't seem to catch on!!) arrived, yes, we realised Alpha didn't need to be Alpha anymore. But too late, Alpha she was and Alpha she is!!! 24 is still 24 and lives at Narrung, the new pumper is "pee" (or Bella Isuzu to it's friends) and Alpha is Alpha and that's all she wrote.
291
SA Firefighter General / BYE R/C SANDFORD
« on: February 07, 2005, 01:42:49 PM »
Both John and Brett worked in Region Three as the Training Officer and I found them both knowledgable and proficient. Good luck to them .... and you
292
SA Firefighter General / BYE R/C SANDFORD
« on: February 05, 2005, 02:46:43 PM »
So who is doing the role for you now?
293
SA Firefighter General / Day Responses and Selective Attendance
« on: February 05, 2005, 02:45:05 PM »
I knew we had plenty to say
Although I realise that the "boring" calls have potential and are a necessary part of the role of volunteer I think that it is handy to know what level of response/specialisation or even actual risk is involved before you make the decision to leave work or your child's birthday party!
In my experience alpha numerics have actually helped in this regard. Previously in a situation that it was difficult to leave (ie work) when we had tone onlys I would normally have to wait until the station was crewed to ring and find out if there were enough crew, enough specialist crew, or if it was an "all singer, all dancer" type job. And so would several other crew members. Now we can make the call immediately to leave. If it's ie: a fixed alarm we may in fact wait for the second page to say more crew or confirmed emergency. This is still quicker than before when we would have either waited for a phone call or made one. And I know that employers are much friendlier towards allowing you to attend when you really have to if you aren't ducking out constantly to things that probably could have been handled without you.
Most of our crew members work outside of town so week day responses are normally a bit slower than at other times. It is a concern that even full stations with waiting lists have the odd difficulty. A lot of us are far from full (and if we are it's probably with infrequent members that we would remove if others were available). I'm sure there are things that could be done by the organisation to assist day crew availablity. Some that spring to mind for me are: employer incentives and recognition, employer info packages - "So you have a volunteer CFS employee?" and assistance with providing and financing child care (a lot of women with children in rural areas are willing and able bar this obsatcle).
Any other ideas
Although I realise that the "boring" calls have potential and are a necessary part of the role of volunteer I think that it is handy to know what level of response/specialisation or even actual risk is involved before you make the decision to leave work or your child's birthday party!
In my experience alpha numerics have actually helped in this regard. Previously in a situation that it was difficult to leave (ie work) when we had tone onlys I would normally have to wait until the station was crewed to ring and find out if there were enough crew, enough specialist crew, or if it was an "all singer, all dancer" type job. And so would several other crew members. Now we can make the call immediately to leave. If it's ie: a fixed alarm we may in fact wait for the second page to say more crew or confirmed emergency. This is still quicker than before when we would have either waited for a phone call or made one. And I know that employers are much friendlier towards allowing you to attend when you really have to if you aren't ducking out constantly to things that probably could have been handled without you.
Most of our crew members work outside of town so week day responses are normally a bit slower than at other times. It is a concern that even full stations with waiting lists have the odd difficulty. A lot of us are far from full (and if we are it's probably with infrequent members that we would remove if others were available). I'm sure there are things that could be done by the organisation to assist day crew availablity. Some that spring to mind for me are: employer incentives and recognition, employer info packages - "So you have a volunteer CFS employee?" and assistance with providing and financing child care (a lot of women with children in rural areas are willing and able bar this obsatcle).
Any other ideas
294
ALL Rescue / joint rescue comp
« on: February 01, 2005, 07:02:49 PM »
They are great to watch!! We've only participated once; a small competition at Coonalpyn that only had Stirling, Coonalpyn, Blackwood and Tailem Bend. It's a really good training exercise but it may be a bit imitimidating for crews new to the comps process. The experienced comps crews know all things the judges are scoring on (and have competed at national level) But I'm sure you'll be provided with all the appropriate documentation. There's a bit more to it all than competent rescue evolutions I'd be really keen to do something like that on a Regional level but I guess they're pretty resource intensive. Good luck, I really hope Naracoorte get in a nomination and I am sure will get a lot out of the experience.
I'd be really keen to do something like that on a Regional level but I guess they're pretty resource intensive. Good luck, I really hope Naracoorte get in a nomination and I am sure will get a lot out of the experience.
295
Incident Operations / Mount Rescue Fire
« on: January 30, 2005, 10:49:06 PM »
It's all been a little quiet news wise on the Mount Rescue fire which I believe started Wednesday 26th and appears to have flared up and breached containment lines today (Sunday). It has certainly been using a fair degree of resources from IMT and support personnel to on ground firies.
Let's hope it's knocked on the head for good Monday.
Let's hope it's knocked on the head for good Monday.
296
Incident Operations / lightning chasing
« on: January 28, 2005, 08:21:28 PM »
How many units at Narcoorte? With three out of station do the neighbouring Brigades go on standy or do change of quarters to cover you? Or have you got enough left to cover it? You've got a specialised Rescue Vehicle and an urban pumper haven't you? I guess they have to stay in local response area? Just seems odd to take three appliances out of one station. Just curious!!
297
SAMFS / SES/CFS Roles
« on: January 28, 2005, 08:14:33 PM »
Very complex issue studied by learned scholars, committees and parliamentarians for years and years and unlikely to be solved by us on this forum.
Just a quick point on CFS/SES roles. The CFS is a MUCH larger organisation than the SES so of necessity has Brigades that already handle the kinds of responses that were referred to in one post as being things CFS crews don't want to go to. When a house needs its roof tarping in the hundreds of communities that have CFS but not SES, you guessed it, they call their CFS Brigade. And we do have Brigades trained in rope rescue (Naracoorte is one isn't it Blinky?) and certainly Road Crash Rescue is part of CFS core business. And even where there is an SES unit (Murray Bridge for example which has all three of the metioned service) their roles are backed up by CFS as in the case of the Murray Bridge flooding where CFS supplied at least a dozen appliances and crew. CFS vollies probably outnumbered SES by 10:1 that day. Don't have any boats that I'm aware of though but I'm sure Tailem Bend would be a great place to put the first one 
Just a quick point on CFS/SES roles. The CFS is a MUCH larger organisation than the SES so of necessity has Brigades that already handle the kinds of responses that were referred to in one post as being things CFS crews don't want to go to. When a house needs its roof tarping in the hundreds of communities that have CFS but not SES, you guessed it, they call their CFS Brigade. And we do have Brigades trained in rope rescue (Naracoorte is one isn't it Blinky?) and certainly Road Crash Rescue is part of CFS core business. And even where there is an SES unit (Murray Bridge for example which has all three of the metioned service) their roles are backed up by CFS as in the case of the Murray Bridge flooding where CFS supplied at least a dozen appliances and crew. CFS vollies probably outnumbered SES by 10:1 that day. Don't have any boats that I'm aware of though
but I'm sure Tailem Bend would be a great place to put the first one
298
All Equipment discussion / State Committees
« on: January 27, 2005, 06:30:53 AM »
Regional representation on State Committees usually comes from either the Regional Ops Committee (ie: all your Groupies) or your VFBA Branch (become active, make a difference, stir a bit). Alternatively through a specialised Regional Committee. For example the State Training Committee Rep is elected from Regional Training Committee members which is all your Group Training Officers. In the same way your Regional OH&S Committee could be made up of all Group OH&S Reps and State Rep elected from there (not always the way though).
In your neck of the woods I would talk to Rex Hall about state level represenation. He wrote the book on the subject (or could have).
Wouldn't be suprised if the structure or scope of these committees change bit with the new SAFECOM structure. These committees used to report to (and have representation on) the State Volunteer Management Committee which reported directly to the Board. Seeing as how the Board ceases to exist I am not sure how this is planned to work from now on??
In your neck of the woods I would talk to Rex Hall about state level represenation. He wrote the book on the subject (or could have).
Wouldn't be suprised if the structure or scope of these committees change bit with the new SAFECOM structure. These committees used to report to (and have representation on) the State Volunteer Management Committee which reported directly to the Board. Seeing as how the Board ceases to exist I am not sure how this is planned to work from now on??
299
Incident Operations / lightning chasing
« on: January 27, 2005, 06:17:31 AM »
Was quite a speccie sky show. Well we've headed toward Coonalpyn the last two nights; touching wood, not tonight please. A nice lot of rain would be good. Got an invite to Keith to paper shuffle, sadly had to decline, work and family and all that. Hope all goes well there for the crews and IMT people today. Weather does not sound all that promising.
300
Incident Operations / Media Helicopters and Multi Agency Talkgroups
« on: January 27, 2005, 06:00:07 AM »
All good points. We've never had the Group Base open for a job our neck of the woods, I guess because it's a distance away and if we needed additional resources, being on the edge of a group most of them would be from two neighbouring groups. We are a sub base and technically able to operate as a base (an urban rural rating gives us prescription for a few "extras"). Never heard the police come up on the MA TG gave up and went back to local! But SHQ didn't waste any time allocating us one and notifying all agencies so that was postive.
gave up and went back to local! But SHQ didn't waste any time allocating us one and notifying all agencies so that was postive.