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Messages - Alan J

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376
SA Firefighter General / Re: Future Technology in the Fire Service
« on: March 09, 2008, 04:08:18 AM »
Quote from: COMP00 on March 06, 2008, 06:42:39 PM
Gday,

What technology would you like to see introduced into the service in the future?  Whether or not it exists doesnt matter - be inventful.  Just give a good reason as why this would be a benefit to the service and justifiable to spend money on.


Something like the In-Vehicle Information System (IVIS) that various militaries have. It's an interactive mapping system. Each vehicle has GPS & data uplink & down-links. Info is displayed in map form on a colour LCD screen with various data layers able to be turned on/off.  Each vehicle commander can input data such as where the fire edge is & its status, plus their ID & position. Probably a stylus & touch-screen would be the way to go.  This info is processed & re-broadcast to all vehicles as well as to IC/IMT, Region &/ SHQ.
Field logistical requests such as tank refills, fuel, chainsaw specialists, etc can be made as data transactions - reduces radio voice traffic & reduces chances of things being forgotten. eg 6 appliances call for more water from the tanker in the space of 10 minutes. Tanker OIC can see where each requester is, can plan their order of refilling according to location & urgency, & notify requester of ETA. Appliance commander can see where tanker is & ETA, & not clutter radio with repeated "where are you & how long will it be?"

Benefits:
Reduced voice comms network load & relaying delays.
Better logging of what, where & when.
Each level of command can see their little part in the big picture & act accordingly.

Each appliance OIC can warn & be warned of hazards to crews & public before impact.
Each appliance commander can share their on-the-spot knowledge instantly with all levels of the command structure.

The IC/IMT has a live map of where the fire is & what it is doing, AND knows exactly where all vehicles are & what they are doing. 
IC/IMT can direct units to where they are needed & warn them of developing hazards. 
IC/IMT can get a handle on a fire & make realistic decisions on resources & etc far earlier in a fire than at present.

Region & State DO's can know in near real time what is happening instead of wasting everybody's time with pesky telephone calls.
SHQ/Region can make better decisions on notifications & involvement in near real-time, rather than the built-in delays of cascaded info passing.

cheers
AJ

377
SA Firefighter General / Re: Project FUSE
« on: March 04, 2008, 10:27:29 PM »
Quote from: Footy on March 02, 2008, 04:09:39 PM
I was watching a show on foxtel a few weeks ago, and discovery channel had something on fire fighting. This guy sprayed a window with this gel stuff and had his hand on the back of a pane of steel or something while the guy was putting blow torch on it, and cos it had the gel it was cool to touch (sort of how the story went) but the gist was it could be used to coat houses in the event of bush fire

is this the same stuff as they are trialling??

that was probably "Barricade" - a polymer water suspender - 'bubbles' of water instead of air.


378
The Humour Zone / Re: cat found
« on: February 29, 2008, 11:30:09 AM »
Quote from: CFS_Firey on February 28, 2008, 02:19:20 PM
That number on the bottom is the Telstra talking clock... That's well amusing though...

I wondered if someone would ring it to see what sort of "premium service" it was...
Now I know.    :wink:


379
The Humour Zone / cat found
« on: February 28, 2008, 11:49:36 AM »

Seen in a shop window in Brunswick/Croydon area, Melbourne.
Near the universities... photo age not known.


380
Country Fire Service / Re: new 34p
« on: February 27, 2008, 11:13:16 PM »
Quote from: COMP00 on February 21, 2008, 03:35:52 AM
As everything in the CFS it probaly went to the cheapest bidder.  And it shows!

went to the lowest bidder who was probably then beaten with a stick to force price down further, which eliminated 'fat' for QC and pre-delivery fixing.  It's a wonder that any reputable manaufacturers still deal with HM SA Govt..


381
Country Fire Service / Re: Burnside Pumper
« on: February 20, 2008, 06:45:56 PM »
Quote from: chook on February 20, 2008, 04:21:08 PM
wonder if they will put a rescue pod on one. Should do speed humps alright Jaff.
cheers

<shrug> there'd probably be something suitable available ex-Czech Republic. Possibly even second-hand from Mother Russia. Maybe even get several per truck including troopie, field ambulance, mobile work-shop, command post & rocket launcher (to assist CFSVA/SESVA negotiating position...) 


382
Country Fire Service / Re: Burnside Pumper
« on: February 20, 2008, 12:31:26 PM »
Here's some footage of stuff they didn't teach us at Brukunga off-road course:
http://www.offroadtrucks.com.au/tatrainaction.php

enjoy!
or cringe...

383
Country Fire Service / Re: [AdelaideNow/Advertiser] Country volunteers shortage
« on: February 19, 2008, 10:10:00 PM »
Quote from: chook on February 19, 2008, 08:20:13 PM
However its something - at least they are trying something different.
I agree its not much & the detail hasn't quite been soughted out.
How it is my understanding is there is more on the way.
I guess watch this place sorry space!
cheers

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.  I think the various govts took a conscious decision to promote something that looks & sounds good to average mug punter in the street but which doesn't actually cost any money.

I'll take notice when they start doing stuff like waiving active volunteers' ESL (still a really cheap option at around $1M including admin costs).  Or rewarding employers who release their people to attend emergencies (at maybe $5 tax free per hour spent away from the work-place). No matter what is come up with, there will be some who miss out (home & business renters for example), but the numbers have to be big enough to mean something.  Until then there's a big red flashing sign that reads "DANGER - SPIN CYCLE IN PROGRESS"


384
Country Fire Service / Re: Burnside Pumper
« on: February 19, 2008, 12:01:12 PM »
Quote from: chook on February 18, 2008, 05:33:02 PM
Thanks Numbers, hadn't heard the name before. Wonder why they even bother trialling it.
cheers

I get the impression Tatra actually do quite a good truck. Never mistake Czechs or Slovaks for Russian or even Russian quality of manufacture.  Their country was an unwilling member of the old Soviet Union. Their manufacturing & industrial tradition is more like Germany. (Haven't heard anyone slinging off at Mercs lately) Since the Iron Curtain came down, Tatra has been selling quite well against Scania, Merc, Iveco, Fiat & etc. in Western Europe. 

The vehicle was in SA briefly a year or so ago - was spotted onto the Ozfire group.

The chassis is well worth looking at if only for interest' sake, and the extra water might make it an even better option than 34 or 34P's for many brigades.



385
Country Fire Service / Re: [AdelaideNow/Advertiser] Country volunteers shortage
« on: February 19, 2008, 11:46:28 AM »
Quote from: ZIPPY28 on February 18, 2008, 11:42:47 AM
Seems brigades out in the far reachs where farmers used run the land are struggling for members  :-(

Interesting about the Payroll Tax change!

As someone on SACFS list pointed out, payroll tax isn't payable until the wages bill exceeds $500,000 or so. The rebate isn't payable unless the employer pays the volunteer for the time they are absent.  So...

If payable at 10% of a person's $20/hr wage & that person is away for 8 hrs, that's a grand total of $16 refundable to that employer, for which they had to outlay $160 for nothing, AND work around that employee's absence. Plus it would likely cost about $30 or $40 in labour to go through the process of claiming it by the time the forms are completed & lodged, proof of absence, proof of ES/FS activity & proof of wages mainenance have been obtained & provided. (Bit of a disincentive to claim anything, yes?)  Small businesses & self-employed (as usual) get nothing. 

It's the gift you tell people you are giving when you don't really intend to give anything at all.


386
SA Firefighter General / Re: Interesting Fire and Emergency Related Paging
« on: February 18, 2008, 12:40:09 PM »
This would have been an interesting one for us city workers if bombers did actually respond to these:

14:03:59 18-02-08 MFS: *CFSRES INC048 18/02/08 14:03,RESPOND RUBBISH FIRE,VICTORIA SQ,ADELAIDE MAP B B 15 TG182,,SAIR55 ADL201 CFS State Air Desk


387
SA Firefighter General / Re: Interesting Fire and Emergency Related Paging
« on: February 16, 2008, 11:23:48 PM »
Quote from: SA Firey on February 16, 2008, 11:22:37 AM
11:56:46 16-02-08 BURNSIDE 24 DIFF HAS BEEN REPAIRED -UNFORTUNATELY GEARBOX IS TO BE OVERHAULED WHICH WILL BE STARTED NEXT WEEK -CRAIG CFS Burnside Info

Still reckon they should have given them a new one...oh well the ex Sellicks 34 will have to do for now :-)

Does that mean that Blackwood no longer have Sellicks 34 at their station ?


388
SA Firefighter General / Re: elected officers maximum terms
« on: February 12, 2008, 08:19:52 PM »
Was it in the Volunteer a few years ago that someone wrote about a Canadian fire department doing something different with good results.  Hazy about details now, but it went something like this:
The Department Chief (responsibilities falling somewhere between a Groupie & a Captain) is allowed to hold that position for a maximum of 2 or 3 years. Then they aren't allowed to be re-elected for twice that time. They probably can hold some other officer role during this time.

That department had something like 5 experienced chiefs on the active list, two of whom held no rank at all at that time.  No burn-out, no "owning" the position, and plenty of leadership depth & support to the current chief.  And little social 'status' attached to the role to make a person want to hang onto the role after their use-by date.

I could see such a system working well in my brigade. Would probably work at group level too, but that takes a bit more imagination to picture happening...

Could you see such a system working in your brigade or group ?
Why, or why not ?


389
Country Fire Service / Re: Introduction of aerial appliances to the CFS
« on: February 04, 2008, 11:55:36 PM »
Quote from: 6739264 on February 04, 2008, 10:39:11 AM
No sorry, you can't expect the government to understand what the CFS does when the CFS doesn't even know what it does. According to the powers that be, we still only do Rural jobs. Go figure.


What's this "we" business ? 
The Fairy Godmother muttered something about doing Farawayland and King Iemma the Not-Terribly-Well-Organised.  I think.  Maybe I wasn't paying attention (common accusation - totally without... sorry what was that?)

Anyway...

I have definitely seen the word "Urban" in a CFS context - possibly an SOP detailing a selection of alternative tunes to the standard siren wail. 

Or it might have been an SFEC.

But probably the siren thingy. 
Now, where did I put my banjo...


390
Country Fire Service / Re: Introduction of aerial appliances to the CFS
« on: February 04, 2008, 11:42:15 PM »
Quote from: Faux Pas on February 04, 2008, 08:03:37 AM
Yeah good idea lets use an aircraft that cost in excess of $2000 just to get off the ground to start fighting structure fires!! Please tell me you are not being serious!!!

The government providing appliances like this, good luck! The government have a hard enough time trying to understand what exactly it is that the CFS do, let alone being able to provide enough funding for what is actually required by the service in regards to replacement appliances, training, equipment and not to mention employing enough staff to actually provide volunteers with sufficient support during fires or the day to day running of the service.

To again quote Saint Phil Cheney regarding guvvermints & bushfires: ...high profile "... big fires, heroes, helicopters..." (rather than lots of low profile but urban-greenie-voter-upsetting fuel management activity - pulverators, cool burns, etc)  That's where the votes are, so that's where the dollars will flow.

Perhaps this is part of the reason why isn't enough money left in kitty to pay for the stuff we vollies really need. ie. all the stuff you list in your second para.

Faux Pas, for someone who, in postings in other topics sounds like a ministerial plant, in this one, you sound like someone who actually "gets it" !! What gives?

By the way, the Aircrane thing is a joke - just pulling inmate# 6739264's chain.
Thought I'd clarify that since I was the sarcastic illegitimatus that started it.
cheers
AJ


391
SA Firefighter General / Re: Reminder: CDMA closure scheduled for 28 Jan 08
« on: January 24, 2008, 06:38:15 PM »
Quote from: Darius on January 24, 2008, 08:15:30 AM
I have put in about half a dozen blackspot reports (for nextg), each one telstra replied basically saying tough, the areas in question just have poor coverage and they have no plans to fix them.  (I'm talking about places 10-15km from the CBD not out in the middle of nowhere either)

Go for quantity. If those spots are in suburbia, make 'em think there's a whole bunch of people just dying to use mobile data rather than their ADSL.  It's business - money talks, & precious little else.

cheers

 

392
SAMFS / Re: SAMFS News
« on: January 23, 2008, 11:29:36 PM »
Quote
The UFU believes the future for the South Australian Fire and Emergency sector is the
consolidation of Emergency Sector Organisations. In doing so the UFU believes the South Australian Community will be best served by one single service; Fire, Emergency and Rescue Services operating through one operational entity.

yet futher down we see this:

T.O.R. 6 – Individual Agencies as separate Legal Entities
The UFU supports the current legislative framework recognizing the three Emergency
Service Organisations as separate legal entities. The UFU also submit no changes to the autonomy of the organisations should be entertained.

I'm a bit confused.  Any of you UFU peoples care to clarify ?
cheers

393
SA Firefighter General / Re: Inspirational Adverts-Why Not Us??
« on: January 23, 2008, 11:01:58 PM »
Quote from: jaff on January 23, 2008, 09:52:55 PM
<snippo> ....and reinvigorate the older members, ....<more snippo> .

When PPE can be made to look like the cozzies on the models in the advert, we older members shall indeed be reinvigorated !!!  :-D

In the meantime, how about we settle for generational change.  :wink:

Other than that, what Pip said. We get the sort of publicity we need (albeit with flaws) from news footage.  For free.  What gets most members in the door is personal invitations from acquaintances, friends & family.  Probably followed, for a bunch of sickos like me, by the opportunity to live the dream of being a fire-fighter.

cheers
AJ


394
SA Firefighter General / Re: SAAS Responding Other Services..
« on: January 23, 2008, 10:51:11 PM »
Quote from: jaff on January 23, 2008, 08:43:36 PM

Please note this is not a witch hunt, its a quick documented way of addressing what has been talked about for years.

Cheers Jaff

Where & how do we submit items for the issues registers ?

cheers
AJ


395
SA Firefighter General / Re: Reminder: CDMA closure scheduled for 28 Jan 08
« on: January 23, 2008, 05:32:22 AM »
Quote from: Smallflame on January 22, 2008, 06:25:52 AM
Actually, this is more correct than one might think. THe minister for Broadband and TElecommunications has already recognised that the footprint for Next G spans the same area, and the people who complain about reception are generally those who have 20 dollar phone plans with crappy hardware. You really do get what you pay for...

Also, there are still holes in the network coverage. It is important to notify Telstra of these when you find them. Enough people complain & they will do something about it. Mobiles are a profit-driven part of the business, unlike home phones.   
Report black-spots here:  http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/networks/feedback.cfm

I complained about signal at our airstrip CDMA & other carriers ok, Next G no good - techs adjusted an antenna, & later installed a bigger one.  Is now very good.  Just have to work on Blackwood CFS now - can't use a mobile inside the station. Very weak outside, and that's in the middle of suburbia.



396
SA Firefighter General / Re: Reminder: CDMA closure scheduled for 28 Jan 08
« on: January 23, 2008, 05:14:07 AM »
Quote from: rescue5271 on January 22, 2008, 04:58:14 AM
Funny is it not the goverment that owns telstra???

Nope.  Not any more. And sell-down of remaining shares is steadily reducing the small percentage still in government hands.


397
Country Fire Service / Re: Quick response
« on: January 20, 2008, 11:56:08 PM »
Quote from: pete on January 20, 2008, 05:16:04 PM
I believe if the Government was willing to fund high risk urban fire danger areas with a couple of paid day time drivers/officers,then the impact of the situation may be greatly reduced.Its time the CFS and SAFECOM had a chat.What do you think?

Biggest structural issue of putting on full-timers is whether one of them becomes the permanent career station officer - abolish elected captains (legislation change required) - or at other extreme, treat them as ordinary members who are there 40hrs/week & do the admin & organising & local running around. Perhaps the second biggest issue is that these paid f/fs would be UFU members, requiring substantial upgrades to station amenities to make them suitable.

A possible step prior to employing full-timers:
Warringah/Pittwater NSWRFS district have their "Warringah Flyer". All brigades in the district are expected to contribute members to a daily in-station standby for one immediate-response appliance. It goes to all calls in the district in addition to the local brigade.  I believe a lot of volunteer departments in the Americas & Europe do a similar thing. Could work well for Groups like maybe Sturt or Heysen, maybe not at all for some others. Members might be expected to contribute 1 day per x months as a condition of membership.  I recall reading that at least one metro Melbourne CFA all-volunteer brigade with >700 response calls per year was doing much the same.

Some CFA stations actually have two brigades in them, eg. Swan Hill. A Paid/retained brigade with a career or "career retained" structure, station officer and f/fs.  Plus an administratively separate volunteer brigade with similar structure to a CFS brigade. To some extent they share vehicles, although each has its "own".



398
Fire Fighter Training / Re: CABA soccer
« on: January 20, 2008, 10:52:28 AM »
Quote from: Firey9119 on January 03, 2008, 03:28:58 PM
If people are so against the idea of CABA soccer/sports

does anyone have any other ideas of FUN things that can be done while wearing ba for training??

Whatever you would normally do, but do it in BA.
Monthly meeting is much more fun done in BA.
Any of those team-building activities in the cadets manual.
Fireman's Football.   Oh, sorry, that's now called Fire-fighter's Football.
Rattling donations tins around the local pubs.
In December, wander around the neighbourhood singing christmas carols.

Well, you did ask...   :wink:

399
Incident Operations / Re: 4th Alarm Grass - Belair (Urban rural interface)
« on: January 20, 2008, 10:34:46 AM »
Actually Blue, I was being serious.  About not being sarcastic anyway.

The hazards are obvious to me because as a fire-fighter, they are clearly relevant to me.  But it's easy to think of the property owner who allows that hazard to exist as being stupid, lazy, etc.  Whereas fire is not relevant in their lives so they simply can't imagine that loverly green shrubbery that makes their living environment so nice, is actually "fuel".

Only half-serious about needing more fires.  However, if anyone can think of a more effective way to make bush-fire impact relevant to Joe Average & his Significant Other in the Hills UI....  we're all ears.   :-)



400
Country Fire Service / Re: Paid CFS staff as Officers in Brigades
« on: January 20, 2008, 09:48:18 AM »
Quote from: fireblade on January 20, 2008, 06:28:56 AM

The positives are most of them use to be a volunteer and still are, the operational experience and knowledge plus the management skills they have gained from being paid staff.

What’s everybody else’s thoughts?


One of the things that made SOCC great was that many were/are Brigade Lieutenants, and from a variety of different types of brigade. They really understood the pressures, issues & requirements of the troops on the ground.

Down-side is that in any conflict of demand as to CFS staff member's paid role vs their volunteer role, their employment takes precedence.  The brigade will be short of an officer.  I guess that's a bigger issue for some brigades than it is for others.

I think it is good for CFS, or more particularly, SAFECom staff to be active brigade/unit volunteers, if only to be reminded that SAFECom exists to support fire/emergency volunteers, rather than volunteers existing to justify a government department.


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