Author Topic: Task Force Complaints (Read 39884 times)

bajdas · « **Reply #50 on:** December 14, 2006, 01:57:22 PM »

Quote from: Smallflame on December 14, 2006, 10:24:37 AM

Quote from: CaptCom on December 14, 2006, 07:14:04 AM
It's a hard thing...I agree if you only take a handful from each group but also factor in the unavailability of others due to harvest, holidays etc...you could easily leave yourself short staffed and then when they return they are too tired to be avail for a couple of days as well...

It's been hard/easy for us in Region 6 as we are so far away...and we probably get grace for the hard time during Black tuesday...saying that though, we did send a strike team to Waikerie a couple of weeks ago..

I've personally been on strike teams but am not that keen this season...not yet anyway...

PS it's RAINING here today...yes RAINING>...can't remember the last time it RAINED!!

Rain?? What's Rain??

Raining in the Adelaide CBD for the past hour plus. Light drizzle with 0.8mm fallen since 9am

CaptCom · « **Reply #51 on:** December 15, 2006, 07:21:56 AM »

We were fortunate enough to have 14mm of rain...it was great...settled the dust, watered the plants and greatly reduced the fire threat...for a day..

5271rescue · « **Reply #52 on:** December 15, 2006, 03:16:26 PM »

had 2.5mm

Camo · « **Reply #53 on:** December 15, 2006, 04:01:48 PM »

0.4mm Rain. Must have stayed north...You guys need it more then we need it.

aust_fire1 · « **Reply #54 on:** December 16, 2006, 04:50:30 AM »

I am Curious to know if all responding appliances going on taskings are equipped with a Comfort Kit or Ration Pack. If so what sort of things does it have.

Ours has the following
Bake Beans x2, Spag x2,
Instant Soup x2, Biscuits (pack), Barley Sugar,
Musseli Bars x10, sugar, coffee, tea, milk,
Kettle, 2 burner camp stove
plus all of the extra little bits, eg cups, spoons etc.

Like to hear what you carry, if anything.
Maybe there are better options than what we take

aust_fire1 · « **Reply #55 on:** December 16, 2006, 04:52:59 AM »

Both our appliances are equipped with the above items

aust_fire1 · « **Reply #56 on:** December 16, 2006, 05:46:16 AM »

Would be interesting to know how many command vehicles or groups have a CFS regional map book for each region. Maybe at least 1 vehicle per group should have at least a regional map book for each region, seeing we go all over the state

5271rescue · « **Reply #57 on:** December 16, 2006, 09:02:11 AM »

that would be nice but I cant see CFS coming to the party on that,Once you are sent into another region and you make your way to the ICC ot stage area you should be given a local map(copy)...You should try getting a copy of the new CFA map books they cost $65:00 each and we have to pay for them unless we can work out a deal

aust_fire1 · « **Reply #58 on:** December 16, 2006, 12:22:21 PM »

There was a command vehicle at Waikerie that had a copy of each region CFS map book. Cant remember which one.. You would think that each Group could afford at least 1 set each...Oh well

backburn · « **Reply #59 on:** December 16, 2006, 12:35:29 PM »

We allways have a box of snacks on our truck even if its a quick callout. If we would like we have a snack when ever, it contains muesli bars, fruit bars, lollies, LCM bars, small pk chips, biscuits, cherry ripes,violate crumbles ect. munchies for all. Then when needed we put on the ration packs and are they full of food.

5271rescue · « **Reply #60 on:** December 16, 2006, 01:24:13 PM »

Our group went and bought the same ration packs that the CFA use and so far all our group crews have enjoyed them and we are also looking at having those pre heat food packs that where handed out in NSW sometime ago. Our 34 also has a ration box that has the same as port elliot with out the kettle.....

bittenyakka · « **Reply #61 on:** December 17, 2006, 03:17:57 PM »

We always carry some food on the truck in winter it is a smaller box than summer and often the group gives us a pack specifically for the strike team.

medevac · « **Reply #62 on:** December 17, 2006, 04:33:58 PM »

we always carry ration packs year round on both trucks.

they include some small snacks, and also a 'hot pack' in each bag... one per crew member.... we also have the fridges full of water bottles and powerade permanently on the trucks as well as cooler bags for each truck that we grab from the fridge before leaving.... ya never know when that command car full of drinks is finally gonna make its way around to ya

Ryan · « **Reply #63 on:** December 17, 2006, 07:37:08 PM »

Whats a hot pack and how does it get hot with no oven or microwave

(no put it in the fire jokes please

IM going with the hypothesis of sitting on ya donkey with no fore

)

SA Firey · « **Reply #64 on:** December 17, 2006, 09:01:21 PM »

Quote from: Ryan on December 17, 2006, 07:37:08 PM

Whats a hot pack and how does it get hot with no oven or microwave

(no put it in the fire jokes please IM going with the hypothesis of sitting on ya filtered with no fore )

A dehydrated pack which gets heated by a chemical reaction, resulting in a nice warm meal,and dont taste that bad either

Ryan · « **Reply #65 on:** December 17, 2006, 09:17:51 PM »

Sweet, whats in 'em?

SA Firey · « **Reply #66 on:** December 17, 2006, 09:41:10 PM »

Quote from: Ryan on December 17, 2006, 09:17:51 PM

Sweet, whats in 'em?

Last one I had was something like beef stroganoff or similar

aust_fire1 · « **Reply #67 on:** January 14, 2007, 07:05:43 AM »

We were fairly busy at Mt Bold with all vehicles there doing good work

Darius · « **Reply #68 on:** January 14, 2007, 09:54:43 AM »

jeeze when we end up with nothing to do, then we go and find something (there's always hotspots around somewhere or more mopping up) rather than just sit around.

maybe talk to the captain of the brigade concerned? Is it really one whole brigade that's slack, could it just be one person that keeps ending up as OIC of their truck?

aust_fire1 · « **Reply #69 on:** January 14, 2007, 05:27:51 PM »

I hear what you are saying Darius. To the 1st part of your answer thats what we do. We hardly ever stop.

SA Firey · « **Reply #70 on:** January 14, 2007, 06:43:35 PM »

Quote from: aust_fire1 on January 14, 2007, 05:27:51 PM

I hear what you are saying Darius. To the 1st part of your answer thats what we do. We hardly ever stop.
The 2nd part is the problem. The brigade Captain is OIC of the appliance each time.

Hasnt anyone told him that is what you have lieutenants for to share the work

5271rescue · « **Reply #71 on:** January 14, 2007, 08:06:32 PM »

at the mount bold fire we had to fill in 3 sets of T CARDS as they went missing at the staging area.....

Alan J · « **Reply #72 on:** January 14, 2007, 08:20:26 PM »

Quote from: aust_fire1 on January 14, 2007, 07:05:43 AM

Night Shift.
What do you do if everytime we are called out as a stike team for night shift that you end up with a brigade that does not pull their weight. The last 3 times we have been called, a particular brigade just loves to hide in the dark and do nothing.

Never had this happen. My strike team leaders have always been across what each appliance is up to & seen that all pull their weight.

Far more common is what happened at Mt.Bold Thursday night when the IMT or DivCom seemed to have no idea & no ideas. About 7 strike teams plus heaps of DEH crews, but seemed like only 2 teams plus the DEH crews were given work to do. And from the several places where we sat and listened or watched, those few people were being flogged.

Our STL kept making offers to do this, that or the other thing, but was consistently refused - not even a "we're holding you in reserve as ready-response." In a 12 hr shift we were given only 2hrs work blacking out an area that had already been made fairly safe. Other strike teams seemed to be similarly un-used.

Many in my ST are so angry at this abuse of our time that we have refused to be available for any further Mt.Bold activity. Really hard to justify non-attendance or being a zombie at work next day on the grounds of "spent all night out gazing at the stars".

Mike · « **Reply #73 on:** January 15, 2007, 06:55:34 AM »

In contrast, Friday night had not much to do, but all crews were kept busy. I feel the night went really well! These were the last strike teams into the area.

Had a thermal imager walking the edge to identify any spots of concern.

aust_fire1 · « **Reply #74 on:** January 15, 2007, 07:04:28 AM »

StopCallKing We have been lucky for night shift work. We have worked from dusk till dawn everytime we go out. It is a long night but certainly goes quick when you are busy.

5271rescue We had to task without a strike team leader. So I filled out a T-Card for our appliance to be told that the T-Card was no good. It had to be a task force T-Card. They didnt even know that the 4 appliances from our group were going to be there, and they called us. They even indicated that a command vehicle was not required. We ended up selecting a leader from the appliances, then spent another hour finding a spare command vehicle at Kangarilla.