SA Firefighter

I know i have a slight conflict of interest, but im interested to know the anser to this 'innocent' question...

Are people as outraged by this response;

MFS: *CFSRES INC055 28/04/09 18:15,RESPOND Vehicle Accident,GREENHILL RD,URAIDLA MAP 133 N 8 TG126,50M BELOW RANGE RD,SUMM00

?

I know you admit later in this thread that this was a bad example but just to highlight how a page alone isn't proof of incompetence.

This incident was called in on radio by a CFS State Training Officer. I clearly said to him "Summertown are not a rescue brigade. Do you require a rescue brigade responded also?" The answer was negative but there was clearly a traffic hazard that required a priority 1 response and SAPOL notification.

The RCR at Nairne wasn't handled well but it was an honest mistake on a very busy day, not that I was here. Too often MFS Comms are accused of incompetence without knowing the full story.

If you want to check the facts listen to eyretel 28/04/2009 18:16:04

Beulah Park has the pager.

ERV071 is the Gallantry. Marine Officer is on 2814. 281 have another Marine Officer, a regular Station Officer and 2 Firies to crew the boat.

Not nice for the poor vollies at Littlehampton and Mt Barker...

Computers do strange things at times. We got the correct pages out as soon as we realised the error.

The reason we don't need to know when you've returned to station is it changes nothing as far as turnouts go. We'll put jobs on your pagers the same way whether your tucked up in bed or already at a job.

If you're already committed you can decide whether you can respond or need to default. Also helps if what sounds like separate incidents turn out to be the same or related.

Stating who you are and an incident number really helps. Sounds proffesional too. 

Maybe I should stop using 'we' as I'm not posting on behalf of everyone up here...

"Adelaide Fire, this is "insert brigade name" 34 responding Incident 43(number) over"

Zippy if you could train every MFS, CFS & SES member to approach the radio in this way I'll be very happy. Getting the incident number first makes a huge difference when it's busy.

after all they only do Call Reciept and Dispatch...pretty much no resource tracking at all.

Actually we do use crimson for resource tracking. Nearly every incident related appliance movement given to us is put in Crimson. We don't for SES but definitely CFS and any non MDT/MCT MFS vehicles responding, usually Commanders, FCI or Safety Officers.

We don't require arrival messages or sitreps unless a station isn't open, in which case we'll put the info in crimson. What we definitely don't want to hear is 'returned to station' and other non incident related stuff.

Fireinthehole, I understand and fully agree with your concerns but your comments are ridiculous and this thread wont help.

Pre changeover SOC had 2 operators and MFS Comms had 2 officers and 4 operators. Comms still operate with 2+4 or 2+5 on day shift in Fire Danger season yet we now have a much larger workload. Are you aware when I'm on the CFS radio desk I'm monitoring 124, 093, 209, 062, 232, 007, 111, 115, 001, 154 plus any emergency activations on another 4 channels. If the MFS radio operator needs a short break I'll also operate 150. It is simply not possible for 1 person to conduct simultaneous radio comms on multiple channels.

The nature of the job means there can be no radio transimissions on any channels for long periods. I can't sit idle on the radio desk and watch as 000 and alerts calls wait. Yesterday I answered a 000 call and missed an urgent request for additional brigades to respond to Bute. Delayed radio responses are unacceptable, but so is the public being on hold when making an emergency call.

I don't feel we are providing a safe and proffesional service but it's more to do with a lack of CFS background, lack of training and insufficient manning. We are trying and learning and over time will improve.

Our shift is without a former CFS operator while he is on leave. That's making things even harder for us until he returns...

 

My stop page for the Centrelink flooding call was a blatant attempt to get in this thread!

Not answering the radio isn't acceptable, keep notes on that.

When one person is monitoring up to 9 cfs channels it is just not possible to guarantee a response!

421 MDT MESSAGE
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RESPOND Private Alarm 04/04/07 14:38
MORPHETT VALE EAST PRIMARY SCHOOL
MONARCH ST MAP 186 N 2
MORPHETT VALE
SMK ALAM. BLDG 4 - ARTS SECTION. ENTRY RM 13
DAILY INC. NO. 34
431 439 421