Interesting Fire and Emergency Related Paging

[Alan (Big Al)]

what does 'WFAM' stand for on the alarm messages?
And how do the alarms work?
As soon as it goes off does it go to the pager? Or is a dispatch notified which then in turn notifies brigades?

It stands for (i think) wireless fixed automated modem??

I believe when the alarm goes of it goes up to town and the computer registers the alarm and automatically sends out the preset response, whether it be a WFAM alarm or sprinkler alarm. I think it takes about 45 seconds after the alarm goes off to the pagers dropping.
I could be completely wrong on this though.

[Mike]

Close....

Wireless Fixed Alarm Monitoring

Some more info can be found here

[Alan J]

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

[Zippy]

lol  :wink:

[Cameron Yelland]

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

make fore some interesting photos.  I reckon a bomber would look good with the SANTOS (Think the name has changed but buggered if i can keep up) building in the background.

[Zippy]

Westpac House ;)  Santo's name was very attached to it...its like saying the MFS Headquarters is Bank SA  :evil:

[Crownie24]

MFS: *CFSRES INC071 18/02/08 17:34,RESPOND Smoke in Area,DONOVANS CFS,DONOVANS MAP 0 0 0 TG228,HONEYSUCKLE RD,PENAMBOL CONSERVATION PARK,SAIR55 DONV00 CFS State Air Desk

Did Smoke in Area replace smoke sighting or is there a different one for say a plume of smoke? Because when I read smoke in area I think its just a haze....?

[Zippy]

yeh i have to agree with you...they are too generic.

How about   SMOKE SIGHTING (visible smoke) / UNKNOWN FIRE (unknown cause) / G&S FIRE (visible fire)

(G&S=Grass/Scrub obviously :P)

[Crownie24]

Yeah exactly!

[6739264]

Ah... hasn't it always been Smoke In area for either people seeing a little bit of smoke, or smelling something burning?

I've always been turned out to "Smoke in Area".

And Zippy, doesn't "Smoke sighting" and "Smoke (visible) in area" essentially mean the same thing?

[Crownie24]

It hasn't always been that...smoke sighting was the old one i.e BOMS it was more specific....thats my opinion....my interpretation of smoke in area would be like an area is dutched out where as a smoke sighting is a visible plume.

[6739264]

Hmmm, perhaps they are two separate issues. Since the introduction of the Alphanumeric pagers, I've always received "Smoke in area" from SAMFS. Can't ever remember getting smoke sightings, maybe SOCC did.

[Footy]

hmmm, dunno whether we need to lob the poor comms ppl with more nitty gritty things to worry about...

the impersonality of the messages sorta leads to people assuming things anyway, its like when you get a text from someone and it actually means something totally different to what they wanted it to, but its just how you understood it

[6739264]

So what would you sugget?

"MFS: Footy, please can you head to the station as there may be a fire in a vehicle at [location]"

:D

[Footy]

hehe, a phone call maybe??
haha, how funny would that be, can just imagine a comms going
oh, um hi numbers, yeah look, we've got a car vs tree, any chance you would be able to respond, i mean if your not too busy, is that ok?

[Crownie24]

So what would you sugget?

"MFS: Footy, please can you head to the station as there may be a fire in a vehicle at [location]"

:D

Well just picture it this way Smoke in area no visible origin then smoke sighting and a visible origin. You know what I mean as though smoke in area would mean you driving around trying to find a source where as smoke sighting could be more specific......

[Footy]

PRIMARY ALARM, I1: FIP SW CNR ADMIN BLOCK FFE, GLOBAL SOLUTIONS LIMITED (GSL), BENARA RD, BENARA CFSRES:, ALARM 70/033 CFS Moorak Response

If the Jail and Bunnings keep going off Gambier group could be in line for funding for about another 30 trucks this next year!!!

hahaha

[Cameron Yelland]

Ok Footy....Time to put the juice box back the fridge!  :-D

[SA Firey]

PRIMARY ALARM, I1: FIP SW CNR ADMIN BLOCK FFE, GLOBAL SOLUTIONS LIMITED (GSL), BENARA RD, BENARA CFSRES:, ALARM 70/033 CFS Moorak Response

If the Jail and Bunnings keep going off Gambier group could be in line for funding for about another 30 trucks this next year!!!

hahaha

Yeah as well as Stirling North and Murray Bridge :-P

[Robert-Robert34]

1908852 22:01:05 18-02-08 MFS: BE ADVISED, TELSTRA IS EXPERIENCING WIDESPREAD MOBILE NETWORK INTERUPTIONS FOR UNKNOWN DURATION 18/02/2008 10:00:54 PM CFS HQ Info

Yet again another flaw in the telstra Next G mobile network  :roll:

[Zippy]

And Zippy, doesn't "Smoke sighting" and "Smoke (visible) in area" essentially mean the same thing?

I would think Smoke sighting means its seen visible from a location into the distance...while Smoke in Area would actually be in the very near vacinity of the caller.

SOCC could write what ever incident type they wanted...there were no presets..There was even "Tractor Rollover"...in MFS terms thats a MVA...typically MVA's are found on the road, but this rollover occured on a farm...so it could be a "Rescue General"  ;)

[6739264]

My god, when will people learn to stop interrogating their pagers? It says there is an incident of X type (RESCUE, STRUCTURE FIRE, RURAL FIRE, HAZMAT, GENERAL ASSISTANCE) at a LOCATION.

How is that not enough information? You have a general idea of the incident, it allows you to select which truck you take, then you drive to the LOCATION see what the incident ACTUALLY is then deal with it. SIMPLE.

Smoke in area/smoke sighting at given location, still means that you drive to an area and look for the smoke, then extinguish the cause...

[Katrina]

I'm with you - I would only have the problem with it just sending you to an area without telling you what it is you need to be looking for or doing. Smoke in area ?? Gee, lets take a fire truck and see if we can find any fire that is generating that smoke, I'm guessing it means someone is smelling smoke or seeing a haze of smoke in the area without actually seeing flames or the source of it. Then again maybe you could issue a press release asking people to not ring up unless they actually see smoke, would that be better :? :evil:

[mack]

Did Smoke in Area replace smoke sighting or is there a different one for say a plume of smoke? Because when I read smoke in area I think its just a haze....?

im almost 100% sure it has always been "smoke in area" in BOMS...

[mack]

Close....

Wireless Fixed Alarm Monitoring

Some more info can be found here

actually;

Wireless Fire Alarm Monitor[ing]