SA Firefighter

Genuine question to satisfy my curiosity.

Can SAAS crew refuse to transport a person they are requested to ? City or country ?

I know other emergency services can state 'not an emergency incident, not attending'. I am also thinking of the violent drunk or drug patient where the crew is at risk in the vehicle by the patient.

But I imagine it would extreme for them not to transport.

I have heard differing opinions over the years to the question of

"Does pumping flood water damage fire trucks ?"

Then I saw today: 09:54:58 14-12-10 TW34 IS OUT OF ACTION UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. HAVING WATER VALVES REPLACED. <name> - CFS Two Wells Info

Is this related to the recent flooding ?

I believe the sludge / flood pumps SES have are different to the fire trucks, but I have seen pumping done by fire trucks because of larger capacity.

Is it some flood water can be pumped until a certain depth, then too much chance of muck going through the system ?

From: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/emergency-services-25m-windfall/story-e6frea6u-1225939742939

SA emergency services to get $2.5m for online training

SOUTH Australian emergency services will receive $2.53 million to develop an online training package, the Government announced today.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard visited Aldgate Country Fire Service in the Adelaide Hills to make the announcement this morning.

Under the E-mergency Connect project, CFS and State Emergency Service workers will be able to access updated information, web conferencing, and online training courses remotely.

It is the first project of its kind in Australia for emergency services and is the first to receive Federal funding as part of the Government's $60 million Digital Regions Initiative.

From: http://seek.com.au/users/apply/index.ascx?Sequence=86&PageNumber=1&JobID=18097375&cid=jobmail

PRINCIPAL PROJECT MANAGER, I.T.
SAFECOM

.....The SA Country Fire Service requires a high level Project Manager to lead and manage the rollout of technology to the volunteer sites across the State.....

*** sounds like volunteer sheds will be getting some IT goodies...would be an interesting, challenging & potentially frustrating 12 month contract. But if it worked properly and the stake holders were 'on board', then it would be a satisfying contract work.

Interesting publicity release from the Minister.
I will try and look at the new CFS Promotional Trailer during one of times at the Showgrounds on SES duty.

Found on http://www.ses.sa.gov.au/site/home.jsp dated 2 September 2010

News Release

www.premier.sa.gov.au
Hon Michael Wright
Minister for Police
Minister for Emergency Services
Minister for Recreation, Sport & Racing

Thursday, 2 September 2010

STATE EMERGENCY SERVICES GEAR UP FOR THIS YEAR’S ROYAL SHOW

A new custom-built Country Fire Service (CFS) promotional trailer will be unveiled at this year’s Royal Adelaide Show at the Wayville Showgrounds.

The new trailer, branded with the nationally agreed bushfire safety slogan of - PREPARE. ACT. SURVIVE – which opens out to an 11-metre interactive stand with display panels, brochure racks and two LCD screens, will be one of the South Australian fire and emergency services sector’s main attractions at this year’s Show.

Minister for Emergency Services Michael Wright says the new trailer will play an important community education role as we head into the 2010-11 bushfire season.

“The trailer will be used widely at field days, country shows and other events and during Bushfire Action Week in October it will be positioned at a number of different shopping centres throughout the Adelaide Hills,” Minister Wright said.

Children will also be able to have their photograph taken with the Smokey the Koala, the CFS mascot, at this year’s show.

Also new for 2010 will be the State Emergency Service’s (SES) FloodSafe trailer, an interactive display with a plasma screen and a range of information for show-goers about how to better prepare for floods.

The SES will also have its rescue dogs and mascot Paddy (the Platypus) at the show. The SES will also have a significant operational role at the show by providing a rescue service, as well as providing support to SA Ambulance and SA Police.

Children, fun and education are the focus of the Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) stand in the Showground’s Goyder Pavilion with children encouraged to take a journey down ‘Livelonga Lane’.

“Children can dress up as fire fighters, sit in a child-size fire truck and practise ‘Stop, Cover, Drop and Roll’ so they know what to do if their clothes catch fire,” Minister Wright said.

“Parents are not forgotten with a range of information about home fire safety available from the experts. The key message the MFS will be pushing is that people should send their home smoke alarms into retirement once they are 10 years old.”

The CFS trailer can be found on the eastern side of the Jubilee Pavilion while the SES trailer is near ‘Sideshow Alley’ in the north western corner of the Showgrounds.

source: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/drill-to-simulate-mid-city-attack/story-e6frea83-1225909084548

Drill to simulate mid-city attack

    * From: The Advertiser
    * August 23, 2010 8:08PM

EMERGENCY services will hone their preparations for terrorism when they respond to a mock shooting involving dozens of people today.

The National counter-terrorism exercise, code named Mercury 10, is scheduled for Rymill Park from 9am.

A police spokeswoman said all emergency services would be involved.

"Mercury 10 begins with a mock terrorist attack that involves a shooting with dozens of casualties in Rymill Park," the spokeswoman said. The action moves to Mile End this afternoon and ends at the Islington rail yards this evening.

Last week SA Police letter dropped 13,000 residents who may be affected by the exercise.

Parking is restricted on Bartels Rd for the duration of the exercise for use by emergency vehicles.
----------------------------------------
Interesting pager messages on the website.

What a horrible accident & makes myself think 'maybe we are not badly off'...

website: http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/7510027/fuel-tanker-explosion-kills-over-230-in-congo/
Katrina Manson, Reuters  July 4, 2010, 4:50 am

KINSHASA (Reuters) - At least 230 people were killed when a fuel tanker overturned and exploded in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, unleashing a fire ball that tore through homes and cinemas packed with people watching World Cup soccer.

Officials said on Saturday the explosion late on Friday also injured 196 people, adding that the death toll could rise.

They described scenes of devastation in the town of Sange, where houses were burnt and bodies littered the streets. Some people died while trying to steal fuel leaking from the tanker, but most were killed at home or watching World Cup soccer in cinemas.

Many of the bodies were charred beyond recognition.

United Nations helicopters began airlifting injured people to hospital, while Congo's army, which lost a number of men in the blast, has sent soldiers in to help with the rescue.

"Our latest numbers are 230 dead and 196 injured," Madnodje Mounoubai, a spokesman for the U.N. mission, said. Congo's government also gave the same number of dead.

Marcellin Cisambo, governor of South Kivu province, where the incident took place, said the blast occurred when the fuel truck overturned, leaked fuel and then later exploded.

It was not immediately clear what caused the initial accident or later blast, but local people said the truck, which was part of a convoy, stopped when the road seemed to crumble, toppling the vehicle and spilling fuel. Fire then erupted.

"It's a terrible scene. There are lots of dead bodies on the streets. The population is in terrible shock -- no one is crying or speaking," Jean-Claude Kibala, South Kivu's vice governor, said from Sange, which is between the towns of Bukavu and Uvira.

"We are trying to see how we can coordinate with (the U.N.) to manage the situation and how to take the wounded to hospital," he added.

TANKER ACCIDENTS

Roads in the area are notoriously bad after years of war and neglect in the vast central African nation.

"Some people were killed trying to steal the fuel, but most of the deaths were of people who were indoors watching the (World Cup) match," Cisambo said.

There have been numerous similar accidents across Africa, where crowds gather around fuel tankers involved in crashes, only for the tanker to explode.

Millions of football fans across Africa were watching Ghana, the continent's last team in the World Cup, play Uruguay in the quarterfinals of the tournament on Friday evening.

For many, who have no electricity at home, makeshift cinema halls are the only option for watching the football.

"My children were watching the football match in the cinema and then they ran out to see the petrol," said Kiza Ruvinira, who lost three children and his sister-in-law in the blast.

"I went out to see what happened and I found my three children's bodies myself. I don't know how to go on."

Mubaya Mumasura also lost three family members: "I don't know what to do with myself I am so sad. I want the government to assist all the victims and help us."

Congo's weak government has difficulty providing even the most basic services, so U.N. peacekeepers began airlifting some of the wounded to nearby hospitals and aid workers were called in to help with medical treatment.

"The national Red Cross is working on collecting the bodies and taking them to the morgue, but the priority is obviously to take the wounded to the hospital," International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) coordinator Inah Kaloga told Reuters."

Kaloga said aid workers were trying to identify bodies before they were buried, but many were completely charred.

"It's a catastrophe," said Captain Olivier Hamuli," spokesman for Congo's military operation in South Kivu, adding that 13 soldiers had been injured and another 10 were missing.

The Kenyan driver of the truck is being held by the police.

Alain Ilunga, deputy CEO of Congo's storage and distribution company, which is already investigating the incident, said the truck was carrying 49,000 litres of petrol at the time.

Is anyone else entering vehicles in the NOVITA Convoy for Kids on the 23rd May ?

We are paying privately to enter the SES SOCU 41 vehicle like we did last year.

Yes, I know it is not a full size truck. But we were asked by a childs parents if we would be doing the Convoy and it can seat 3 extra NOVITA people with easy access.

It is nice to see the photographs of SES and CFS vehicles being used on http://www.novita.org.au/Content.aspx?p=538

Hopefully it will be drier than last year.

09:27:18  24-03-10  ALL MEMBERS ABLE TO ATTEND 5 DAY DEPLOYMENT TO WA CONTACT UM. MANAGERS TO ADVISE RDO BY 12:00 TODAY. PLANNED TO LEAVE TOMORROW AM. MUST HAVE STORM. DCO

Media release from www.ses.sa.gov.au

SA SES crews to assist Victorian clean up
7 March 2010

The South Australian State Emergency Service is providing urgent support to their Victorian
colleagues as they continue to clean up in the wake of the severe weather that has caused
widespread hail damage.

Thirty-four SES volunteers and two staff will head to Victoria for a three-day deployment.

Three teams specialising in working at heights and seven crews experienced in storm damage work will head across the border later today.

Deputy Chief Officer of the SES Matt Maywald says that South Australia is happy to lend a hand to their Victorian counterparts during their time of need.

“Victorian crews have been busy working throughout the night, and with further severe weather expected to continue today, providing relief for their volunteers is critical.

“Within a couple of hours of putting the call out to our South Australian personnel, we were able to pull together thirty-four volunteers and two staff members from across the State, including Port Lincoln, Millicent, Yankalilla, Victor Harbor and the Adelaide metropolitan area.

“This stands as a great testament to the willingness and selfless spirit of our SES volunteers to give up their long weekend to support our neighbours, and to the high esteem to which the skills and expertise of SA SES is held across the nation,” said Mr Maywald.

South Australian crews will be working in the Melbourne metropolitan area which was the hardest hit in yesterday’s downpour, mainly repairing hail damage sustained to roof tops.

Two staff members will take up roles in the Incident Control Centre in Mulgrave as the Interstate Liaison Officer / Task Force Leader and Resources and Logistics Officer within the Victorian Incident Management Team. Crews will start their shift early Monday morning.

Mr Maywald says the Victorian SES has already responded to more than 5,000 jobs over the past 24 hours and the workload is not expected to ease up until Tuesday at the earliest.

“We are anticipating there will be another influx of jobs as a second storm front passes through Victoria later today, and more jobs are expected to come in as people return home from their long weekend trips and find damage,” said Mr Maywald.

SES crews from South Australia have been deployed to other major incidents across Australia. Last year, the SES deployed a number of personnel to support the Victorian firefighting efforts in the wake of the Black Saturday bushfires, and in 2007 the SA SES sent 140 staff and volunteers to assist with storms that ravaged NSW.

Media Opportunity: SES crews will be departing Adelaide Airport at 7pm TONIGHT.

I was checking for current incidents today on the CFS.SA.GOV.AU webiste & I noticed they have introduced RSS Feeds.

Congrats on a great way to deliver the information....just a pity my work has that facility restricted..So I will setup on the home computers.

What Brigades \ Units participated in Australia Day 2010 parades ?

I am curious because I attended the parade in the Adelaide CBD and no CFS or MFS participants.

Given state (Mike Rann, Mal Hyde, etc) and local government (Harbison, etc) people watched the parade from the dias near Elder Park, I was surprised.

Participants in the parade from emergency organisations were:

* SES Prospect 41 and 31 vehicles (pity some of the crew were not walking with flags to show the uniforms).
* two vehicles from Women on Wheels following the Clipsal offical cars.
* Some historic fire vehicles.

I will post some pictures in the next few days.

Serious question.....should the person reporting a fire stay in the area or leave to give room for CFS/MFS to operate in ?

Last night I was driving near Noarlunga Shopping Centre when my wife observed a red glow towards the expressway bush area. We turned the car around & drove to the nearest street access to check.

From that location we could see the flames at the top of small gum trees in the distance and thought it was in the bush area on the side of the Southern Expressway. Little wind around but other people were noticing the smoke.

My wife called 112 and the subsequent page was accurate to where we were:

22:15:20 02-01-10 MFS: *CFSRES INC081 02/01/10 22:13,RESPOND GRASS FIRE,GREY BOX AV,NOARLUNGA CENTRE MAP 186 C 11 TG182,,SAIR55 MRPH00 OHH421 CFS Morphett Vale Response

Please note that a Commercial Fire and earlier Rubbish fire pages had possibly taken the Christies Beach trucks so thus the response trucks allocated.

I was unsure which side of the expressway the fire was on, but I though it was on the side we observed from.

We warned another business with cars nearby of the fire and then went to the major road intersection & waited.

This is a new building area behind Bunnings warehouse and near Noarlunga Hospital. Thus not on google maps.

So we telephoned the street name to try & give a more accurate location.

22:20:24 02-01-10 MFS: *CFSRES INC081 02/01/10 22:18,RESPOND GRASS FIRE,GREY BOX AV,NOARLUNGA CENTRE MAP 186 C 11 TG182,,SAIR55 CDN439 MFS Christie Downs 439

When the three trucks arrived (MV14, MV24?, MFS) we left the area.

By then the flames had died down (human planted bush area with bare earth in between near bike/walking track). So I suspect the fire had hit a bare earth area. But against the expressway lights, I could see the smoke column.

This morning I noticed the following page:

08:54:01 03-01-10 MFS: *CFSRES INC022 03/01/10 08:53,RESPOND GRASS FIRE,BEACH RD,NOARLUNGA CENTRE MAP 185 M 10 TG182,GRASS FIRE BEHIND BUNNINGS. CALLER WAS,ON THE BIKE OR WALKING TRACK LOOKING ACR,OSS THE EXPRESSWAY.,SAIR55 CDN431 MFS Christie Downs 431

We left the area after the fire trucks had arrived because we hate 'rubber necker observers' getting in the way of emergency operations. We also assumed that the fireys could see the smoke from the street or the business people could provide any additional information required.

We are not trained in full fire operations (completed overview courses) so this is different to other emergencies (first aid, rescue, search, etc) where we stay and assist because we are trained.

* Did we do the wrong thing by leaving when the trucks arrived ?
* Should a person observing the first fire & reported it, be available when crews arrive to provide further information if required ?
* Does the incident OIC seek out the observers for additional information ?

Serious question in case this occurs again in the future.