Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Topics - chook

Pages: [1]
1
SA Firefighter General / Fire warnings
« on: November 12, 2009, 02:31:56 PM »
Hi all, thought the new system was going to give the same message for the same threat:-
NSW BOM
Severe Fire Danger [50-74] is forecast for the Lower Central West Plains,
Eastern Riverina, Northern Riverina, Southern Riverina and South Western NSW
Fire Areas.

The NSW Rural Fire Service warns that any bush fire that starts has the
potential to threaten lives and destroy homes.
SA BOM

Severe Fire Danger [50-74] is forecast for the West Coast Total Fire Ban district.

The Country Fire Service advises that fires burning under these conditions are likely to be fast moving and uncontrollable. You should action your Bushfire Survival Plan now.

Makes you wonder!
cheers


2
SASES / Prosecution
« on: June 16, 2009, 11:51:30 AM »
Victoria's State Emergency Service (SES) is being prosecuted over the death of a volunteer at Mildura, in the state's north-west, two years ago.

Ronald Hopkins, 54, was involved in a flood boat training exercise with the SES when he went missing in the Murray River near Mildura in May 2007.

His body was found 17 hours later.
SES faces prosecution over volunteer death
An inquest into Mr Hopkins' death by the New South Wales coroner was terminated earlier this year after advice criminal proceedings would be initiated in Victoria.

The Victorian WorkCover Authority is now prosecuting the SES with failing to ensure a person is not exposed to risk and failing to provide a safe working environment.

The matter will come before the Mildura Magistrates Court again next month.

Source ABC News
This is unfortunate but that is why proper training, supervision & accountability is so important! By the way the proposed National OHS laws will protect volunteer officers from prosecution - but not the service itself.
Anyway it makes you think doesn't it?
cheers

3
SA Firefighter General / Worlds worse fireman
« on: June 12, 2009, 03:53:38 PM »
Was sent this at work - thought you may be interested:
Bungling German firemen have been branded the worst in the world after their own fire station burned to the ground.
All six fire engines perished in the £3 million blaze in Syke and it took 250 firemen from nearby towns to finally bring the inferno under control.
Investigators believe the fire fighters could have triggered the blaze themselves in a training exercise accident or that faulty wiring was to blame.
The weekend blaze was the second time the brigade has lost all its engines in a fire. The station was rebuilt in 1994 after being gutted by a fire.

– Ananova
Makes you think doesn't it?
cheers

4
SASES / New? Rumour
« on: June 08, 2009, 07:37:33 PM »
While in SA on the weekend I ran into an ex relative of mine (CFS member) who told me that a person who is involved in selling stuff to fire & rescue organisations is spreading a rumour that CFS brigades will be taking over rescue from SES units - due to falling volunteer numbers!
He also said that where there isn't a CFS brigade then SAMFS will be doing the job. Now this all sounded believable until he mentioned that a SAMFS station in the Riverland will be closed & turned into a CFS brigade!
Another retained station will be expanded.
Now all of this sounds like fantasy, but after what Jaff hinted at in another thread & with the CFS carrying on about budgets in the media - what a way to deflect some attention!
Now I did explain to this person that there was no way Barmera SES members would join Barmera CFS nor did such plans work in other states (the unions gained new member though).

So SES members - get off your arses & start asking your Commanders the hard questions. And find out who this sales person is & boycott the business! you don't need them!
Or otherwise fade into the past as a casualty of the CFS government stoush!Anywaytake it easy

5
SA Firefighter General / What are the UFU up to now?
« on: February 25, 2009, 04:48:32 PM »
The fires aren't out yet and this appears:-
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/25/2501174.htm
Victoria 'too reliant' on volunteer firefighters
Having dealt with the various unions over many years I find this statment stunning coming from a union official-"The union's Greg Pargeter says the over-reliance on volunteers is a burden to business."
Unions don't give a toss about business,this is all about getting rid of unpaid volunteers(the unions hate volunteers - "they are a useless joke" senior union official at a dinner before he realised I was a volunteer!In their eyes we are Scabs) Now this guy wasn't from the UFU but a much larger more powerful union that still has some muscle!
Experience from NSW does not show a better response & they are in towns! Various towns across rural NSW are looking for retained staff, & retained are not treated any differently as far as being allowed to take time off to fight fires. Industrial Instruments don't differentiate between retained & volunteers so to say that they are more available is just crap!
If the Victorian Premier had have called a State of emergency early Sunday morning, then the protection measures provided to volunteers would be enacted & there would not have been a problem - if there was one in the first place!
He has got one thing right though - a national approach, even better take emergency management & combatant roles of the states and give it to the federalaries to look after. Do you know that it is usually volunteers who are also shop stewards & managers who get Emergency Services leave put in to EBA's?
Anyway enough of my rant, & this is not an attack on UFU members(or unionist in general - I'm a great supporter of unions when they focus on looking after their members), just on an organisation who are trying to get extra union fees!
Anyway cheers & please don't come & rock house :-D

6
SASES / Storm damage course
« on: January 04, 2009, 08:12:26 AM »
Hi guys, thought you might be interested in this.
NSW Storm Damage course (National competency), goes for two full days with a day long assessment a month later. Little bit different to SA, isn't it?
What do you think?
I remember when we were discussing the Navigation course have a seperate assessment day, most people (including me) thought that people wouldn't go for it.
Yet this course has 14 people on it, none from the local unit. So anyway as I said I thought you SES types may be interested.
cheers

7
OFF Topic / New marine rescue service in NSW
« on: November 28, 2008, 12:27:18 PM »
Thought some of you guys may be interested in this-
NSW to merge marine rescue services
Posted 38 minutes ago

The New South Wales Government is forming a new volunteer marine rescue organisation and inviting members of the three existing rescue groups to join.

A report this year found friction between the three volunteer groups had a detrimental effect on boating safety.

The Ports and Waterways Minister, Joe Tripodi, says most members are being supportive.

"There is a lot of love that has been invested by the three rescue groups in their existing organisations, but there has been a general understanding that this needs to occur," he said.

Ken McManus from the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol says there will be some sadness, but he is willing to make changes.

"As much as we don't like to, we will give up our name and troll our assets into a new organisation," he said.

The new organisation is called NSW Marine Rescue.
Source ABC News
There may be a lesson in this for other organisations who can't get along :wink:
There may be other changes to volunteer ESO's as well.
cheers


8
SASES / Things going well
« on: November 12, 2008, 04:12:00 PM »
Hi guys, things going well - officially a member of NSWSES (Probationary of course).
Officially SA qualifications not recognised not the national accred ones anyway, however not hard to get that fixed (skills recognistion thru demonstration).
As the local unit is not RCR they have arranged for me to train with the closest rcr unit- to keep skills up.
Currently doing a comms course - the radios here far better than SA. The training is relaxed but competent - you actually have fun!
And finally already been asked to train people in the General rescue package, asked if I would mind going on a VR course early next year as well.
Life couldn't be simpler :-D
cheers

9
SASES / SASES compared to NSW SES
« on: September 21, 2008, 03:10:17 PM »
Just thought you guys might be interested in the requirements in NSW.
Our internal qualifications are not recognised by NSW, interesting considering what those of us who went to Newcastle last year witnessed :-D
However the National Competency ones are with some qualification, not sure what that means - yet!
The good news is that an assessment only is the plan, no need to go on a full course.
Each division has heaps of courses planned & they are spread all over the division, not just one location!
They have a Operate a 4wd course!
Their induction takes 1 night!
Unit controllers were given $1000 each to compensate them for any personal expenses they incure, this money is seperate to any unit funding they receive & to spend on anything they see fit!
The unit has a new facility, paid for by unit fund raising, council & government grants. Previously they had no home at all (equipment was stored at the controllers place & the local VRA building.
Equipment levels are well below what I'm used to (however the unit is not a rescue unit).
Local rescue is handled by NSW Rescue Service (VRA), people can be & are members of both! The local SES was excited to get a vehicle! I kid you not - a second hand dual cab ute! Previously they used private cars & VRA appliances. They also have two flood boats (new) and a trailer for storms.
The local NSW Rescue unit has a couple of old second hand trucks, to get new ones they have to fund raise - nil government funding except grants!
Once deemed a rescue unit, that means all rescues except VR however most are both.
There are big gaps between resources - one unit covers a whole shire about the size in area eqivilant to Renmark to Moorook.
Here equipment is very limited, when I mentioned what happens in SA they were shocked.
Makes me realise how lucky I was back in SA :wink:
Anyway thought you might be interested, seeing how much we complained about the SA situation!
cheers

10
SA Firefighter General / Is it time for a re-think?
« on: July 06, 2008, 10:25:08 AM »
Recent posts have indicated that after all of this time there maybe some minor issues still occuring (he says this tongue in cheek).
Volunteer numbers are still falling across the services.
People don't want to do all of the training
Responses are either too much or too little, or just plain inappropriate.
Volunteers are expected to know & do more - both in operations & Administration
For SES people outside of Adelaide when was the last time you used your "Basic" rescue skills in anger? For SES RCR operators are not the skills learnt in "Advanced rescue module one" the same as most of the stuff you do every time you do RCR(either training of for real)?
For CFS outside of the greater metro area when was the last time you stopped a structure burning down in your town by offensive fire fighting?
In reality how many people(CFS,SES,SAMFS Retained) can you get who are fully qualified for the task in hand on the truck every time the pager drops?
 
I think these questions if answered truthfully would shock a few people, I know the answers for this area &depending on the day of the week & the time of year, No one could forfill the crewing criteria, either in raw numbers or persons qualified.
And it is obvious that the situation is getting worse not better - Station Blah Emergency Page, More Crew required, Blah defaulted.
So what is the answer?
Every state in Australia has a different way of managing the provision of emergency services - however none are even similar to us.
So I would be interested in your thoughts (& Numbers I all ready know your idea, in the states that have Fire & Rescue -its only in the major centres not the size towns I'm taking about) 
cheers

11
SA Firefighter General / CFS appliance repairs
« on: May 09, 2008, 11:15:27 PM »
Why is Monash34 out? As for the rest as I said not concerned, that area is far closer to us than Barmera. But I'm not loosing any sleep, as there isnt much that can be done about it anyway.
cheers Backburn

12
When I first joined the SES I was under the understanding that the ESO' were all part of the same umbrella group who's aim was to protect society from both Natural & Manmade threats & to reduce the impact of those threats.
However since that time I have discovered that while the vast majority of individuals within those service have the same understanding as I, there are some who for what ever reason don't think this is so.
What I'm wondering is - do I have it wrong? Why do these individuals have this view? What motivates these individuals to take the piss out of the other services?
Is it jealousy? Envy? Want to work for money?
I know we are not perfect, however our teams have proved they are equal to the other SES's around the country & compete well against the fire services doing tasks we both do. We are also working very hard to improve our service, however what is the point? Especially when the members of other services continually point the finger, make comment when not in possession of all of the facts, and generally belittle every single thing we do!
I'm really starting to wonder why bother, pressure from state/ government to "run like a business", and criticism from our comrades in the other services.
In a few months I will be leaving this state, taking with me a fair bit of practical knowledge and specialist skills (Including trainer/ assessor & Management skills).
One of the dilemmas I'm facing is do I want to really be bothered doing this any more?
So are we Brothers (&sisters) in arms or competing tribes?
cheers & have a good one :-)

13
All Equipment discussion / Paging software
« on: February 23, 2008, 05:15:18 PM »
Sorry guys, I may have said we used Netpager software, this is incorrect - sorry (& I ordered it :oops: )
It is actually NotePager software from the states. Here is the web address.
www.notepage.net/software.htm
You can read the blurb on there, we think its good stuff saves having an operator on the other end of the phone stuff up your message. And there always email paging of course. Anyway cheers

14
SASES / Whats happening?
« on: February 15, 2008, 06:36:58 PM »
Whats happen to the SMAGS?
What has happen to the training working group?
Whats happened to the Vehicle working party?
Whats going on?





Who knows? Who cares? - Looking forward to a response.
cheers

15
SA Firefighter General / New SES promo on ABC
« on: February 15, 2008, 06:32:33 PM »
Did anyone see the new promo that was just on?
Its good, our sevice could learn from it.
cheers

16
SA Firefighter General / Victorian Road Crash Arrangements
« on: February 03, 2008, 11:02:01 AM »
Here is how the Victorians do it.
http://www.justice.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/DOJ+Internet/Home/Community+Safety/Road+Safety/JUSTICE+-+Road+Rescue+Arrangements+Victoria
Takes all of the emotion out of the discussion, has protocols for when non RCR brigades/ units can perform RCR & has a dispute resolution process that is transparent.
Personally I like it! I think we could adopt it here, imagine if you will at audit time, you are a brigade/unit who doesn't meet the standard because of an equipment deficiency. You are isolated as the nearest response is a long way away & you are all the community has for rescue. The audit says in black & white you are short and its not an internal audit so the head organisation is then in a bind. Do they a) supply the equipment or b) admit defeat, not supply the equipment & not provide cover to that community. Wouldn't the pollies love that? What organisation is going to admit they can't provide the service that they are legislatively required to provide?
Now if it is a crew problem, there are several solutions again all transparent.
And if the problem is not fixed then another organisation has every right to form a rescue service. Anyway have a read, as I have said I think it is great and like all good things no doubt could do with some fine tuning.
But at the end of the day it works! So see what you think.
cheers


17
SASES / Rank in SES
« on: January 28, 2008, 07:45:05 PM »
Here they are:
for vollies:-
1 Crown - unit manager, in charge of a unit cross between a brigade captain/ Group officer.
3 Pips - Deputy unit manager 2IC of the unit.
2 Pips - Rescue officer big units have these they are normally in charge of the units rescue teams (we don't have one)
1 Pip Admin officer, training officer etc.
3 Stripes - some trainers, Team leaders in some units (again we don't have them)
2 Stripes - team leaders
1 Stripes - Deputy team leaders
Paid staff have laurel's on theirs sorry can't remember them all :oops:
In my unit as well as others up here only the Boss (unit manager) & the deputy wear rank & that really depends on the circumstance.
Hope this helps cheers

18
SASES / SAMFS & Chainsaws
« on: January 27, 2008, 02:53:07 PM »
Had a visit from some metro boys yesterday & one of the things they told me was that fire appliances were being fitted with winches.
Also they were being issued chainsaws & doing lots of training.
Any truth in the above, if so why? more duplication!
cheers

19
SA Firefighter General / Ah we all have our problems!
« on: January 18, 2008, 05:35:04 PM »
Here are some interesting messages that came out this afternoon1918534 14:13:34 18-01-08 MFS: INC # 40 - 18/01/08 14:13,RESPOND RCR,BERRI MFS,BERRI, MAP 0 0 0 ,,2 VEH ACCIDENT ON OLD STURT HWY BERRI NEAR THE BIG ORANGE FROM SAPOL,BRI029 BER609*CFSRES: MFS Berri Response
1928012 14:13:24 18-01-08 MFS: INC # 40 - 18/01/08 14:13,RESPOND RCR,BERRI MFS,BERRI, MAP 0 0 0 ,,2 VEH ACCIDENT ON OLD STURT HWY BERRI NEAR THE BIG ORANGE FROM SAPOL,BRI029 BER609*CFSRES: SES East Region
1918237 14:13:22 18-01-08 MFS: INC # 40 - 18/01/08 14:13,RESPOND RCR,BERRI MFS,BERRI, MAP 0 0 0 ,,2 VEH ACCIDENT ON OLD STURT HWY BERRI NEAR THE BIG ORANGE FROM SAPOL,BRI029 BER609*CFSRES: SES Berri
1924962 14:10:36 18-01-08 WK81 Cat2 Old Sturt Hwy, Berri C61 A9 TRAFFIC SAAS Road Crash Research
1916017 14:10:34 18-01-08 WK81 Cat2 Old Sturt Hwy, Berri C61 A9 TRAFFIC SAAS Waikerie
1916017 14:09:56 18-01-08 WK81 CALL COMMS - URGENT SAAS Waikerie
1924962 14:09:20 18-01-08 BE71 Cat2 Old Sturt Hwy, Berri C61 A9 TRAFFIC SAAS Road Crash Research
1907997 14:08:58 18-01-08 MBKR: MT BARKER CENTRAL F.I.B IN TEST AEC/CFS techs
1924962 14:08:37 18-01-08 BE71 Cat2 Old Sturt Hwy, Berri C61 A9 TRAFFIC SAAS Road Crash Research
1916008 14:08:36 18-01-08 BE71 Cat2 Old Sturt Hwy, Berri C61 A9 TRAFFIC SAAS Berri
Waikerie to a Berri job? SAMFS instead of CFS? In the end it was a cleanup only (we got there before fire too :wink:)
1918570 17:18:28 18-01-08 PRIMARY ALARM, I1: SPKL ADJMAIN ENT VIKING, LOXTON HOTEL, EAST TCE, LOXTON MFS Loxton Response
1918534 17:24:49 18-01-08 MFS: INC # 86 - 18/01/08 17:24,RESPOND Private Alarm,EAST TCE,LOXTON, MAP 0 0 0 ,,BACKING UP LOXTON TO LOXTON HOTEL ALARM,BER609*CFSRES: MFS Berri Response
1918616 17:31:38 18-01-08 PRIMARY ALARM, I1: FIP North carpark entry, RENMARK CLUB, Murray Ave Renmark MFS Renmark Response
1918534 17:32:00 18-01-08 STN 60 EMERGENCY PAGE MFS Berri Response
Alarm panels don't like stormy weather?
And after reading the above - glass houses? :roll:
Cheers :-D


20
SASES / Could CFS brigades form SES units?
« on: December 22, 2007, 05:43:21 PM »
While we were down at Pinnaroo it occurred to me that the brigades down there only needed our specialist knowledge & equipment. So over the last few days I've been thinking of an idea that would give them the skills & equipment to deal with the stuff that mother nature throws at all of us.
The idea being that members of those brigades could form an SES unit, they would then be trained and equipped with the gear. For example Lamaroo, Pinnaroo and Parilla members could form a unit, members in the brigades of the mallee another unit - they would get a proper rescue truck, roof safety kits etc. Then I remembered its already been done! Onkaparinga!!
So what do think?
Also I got shown over the 24P rescue Pinnaroo has - same spreaders & cutters, smaller pump, nice tilting tool brackets. Don't like having the tools up so high & having to connect the tools every time but. They were impressed with our gear & set up. And the other gear we have access to - recipros, nail guns etc.
Anyway what do you think? I think its the best of both worlds :-D
cheers

21
Fire Stations and SES Units / SES RHQ East, SES Berri, Chaffey Group CFS
« on: November 25, 2007, 06:49:38 PM »
Here is the home of Berri SES, look familiar it should its also the home of CFS Chaffey Group & also the new home of SES East region regional HQ north.
The Appliance bays are located behind the main building, with a shared comms room, kitchen & training/ IMT.
There are two offices for CFS, two for regional HQ and a office for Berri unit. Berri unit also has a crew room, which if required can be utilised by other services (by prior arrangement :-D).
The appliance bay (vehicle shed) has 4 drive thru bays, plus an additional 30 X 20 shed ajoining the main shed - this holds the unit store and two further bays.
One for pollution booms & trailer, the other for a 6X4 utility trailer.
Out the back are a 40 & 20 ft containers stacked and fitted with handrails. These are used for work at height and other training, there also is ample room for other training around the facility.
Recent upgrades have given us a fantastic training room which will comfortably hold 25 people. And a great open office space for our visiting staff members.
Future improvements - more shed space for CFS (currently their trailers are being stored under our carport out the back)& repairs/expansion to the toilet facilities which don't work.
Other than that its a nice facility. cheers

22
SA Firefighter General / SAAS Comms and paging delays
« on: November 22, 2007, 05:42:09 PM »
1928012 16:05:24 22-11-07 PRIORITY 1 FOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT TRAFFIC CONTROL BENOLA AND KALANGADOO RD PRIORITY 1 FROM POLICE SES East Region
1906674 16:05:22 22-11-07 PRIORITY 1 FOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT TRAFFIC CONTROL BENOLA AND KALANGADOO RD PRIORITY 1 FROM POLICE SES Wattle Range Response
1909260 15:42:11 22-11-07 MFS: INC # 39 - 22/11/07 15:41,RESPOND Vehicle Accident,BENARA RD,MT GAMBIER, MAP 0 0 0 ,,ADVISED BY SAPOL OF ACCIDENT. NO ENTRAPMENT, NO SPILLAGE. NOTIFIED ONLY AS A COURTESY. YOUR ATTENDANCE AT OWN DISCRETION,MTG029 MRAK00 CFS Gambier Group Officers Response
1909265 15:42:09 22-11-07 MFS: INC # 39 - 22/11/07 15:41,RESPOND Vehicle Accident,BENARA RD,MT GAMBIER, MAP 0 0 0 ,,ADVISED BY SAPOL OF ACCIDENT. NO ENTRAPMENT, NO SPILLAGE. NOTIFIED ONLY AS A COURTESY. YOUR ATTENDANCE AT OWN DISCRETION,MTG029 MRAK00 CFS Moorak Response
1928012 15:42:01 22-11-07 2/11/07 15:41,RESPOND Vehicle Accident,BENARA RD,MT GAMBIER, MAP 0 0 0 ,,ADVISED BY SAPOL OF ACCIDENT. NO ENTRAPMENT, NO SPILLAGE. NOTIFIED ONLY AS A COURTESY. YOUR ATTENDANCE AT OWN DISCRETION,MTG029 MRAK00 SES East Region
1906658 15:42:00 22-11-07 MFS: INC # 39 - 22/11/07 15:41,RESPOND Vehicle Accident,BENARA RD,MT GAMBIER, MAP 0 0 0 ,,ADVISED BY SAPOL OF ACCIDENT. NO ENTRAPMENT, NO SPILLAGE. NOTIFIED 
1924962 15:39:52 22-11-07 MG84 Cat2 Benara Rd, Mount Gambier C182 A5 POLICE REQUIRED SAAS Road Crash Research
1924962 15:39:28 22-11-07 MG84 Cat2 Benara Rd, Mount Gambier C182 A5 POLICE REQUIRED SAAS Road Crash Research
1908548 15:39:24 22-11-07 MG84 Cat2 Benara Rd, Mount Gambier C182 A5 POLICE REQUIRED SAAS Mt Gambier
Wonder what this is all about? :|

23
SAMFS / What is the standard equipment on a Rescue Pumper
« on: October 24, 2007, 07:24:37 PM »
Just curious on what equipment is carried on a SAMFS rescue pumper?
I know they carry Holmatro Combi tools, but what else?
cheers

24
SASES / New Radio Callsigns
« on: October 08, 2007, 08:21:05 PM »
As some of you may know there has been talk of a new call sign structure for SES.
After some discussion, its here! Thankfully its not as confusing as first proposed, in fact it makes sense to me.
But what do you think?
Vehicles:
1x (1, 2 etc) reserved for future use
2x (1, 2 etc) Light 2 Wheel Drive vehicle
3x (1, 2 etc) Primary General Rescue Vehicle (GRV)
4x (1, 2 etc) Light 4 Wheel Drive vehicle
5x (1, 2 etc) reserved for future use
6x (1, 2 etc) Logistics Vehicle
7x (1, 2 etc) Field Command / Communications vehicle
8x (1, 2 etc) Marine Vessel
9x (1, 2 etc) Primary Road Crash Rescue vehicle
So now I have a 91,31,41 & 81, RCR Vehicle, General rescue Vehicle, a 4x4 troup carrier and a boat. I think it makes sense, at least know I know that if I'm talking to Onawoopwoop 91 it's a RCR truck. Thankfully all of the confusing words after the number have gone! And if Central 1 is on the radio, its their regional commander and we all know who state one is :-D. Anyway what do you think? It starts 15 October 2007.
cheers

Pages: [1]