"Oh the times they are a changin"

[jaff]

With the response term of "closest most appropriate" now being as good as nailed down, do our services now look at their core business and see if other services are closer and can perform the task needed with their current equipment.
Point in case - Tree down, in my part of the world SES are the combatent agency for storm damage, now the tree that needs attention may well be within 4 kilometers of 3 different CFS brigades, all equipped with chainsaws and qualified people, is it not ludicrous to respond a SES truck that comes from 20 kilometers away to do the same job?
Will the new SACAD system and its "closest most appropriate" response stipulation cut through the interservice foot stomping and posturing and give the public the service it deserves!
Please note this is not having a go at any ONE service, but simply asking the question in these times of falling volunteer numbers, can we be more efficient with the resources we already have??? 

[Zippy]

hear hear.

my brigade earlier this year was called into several response area's, we knew that the closer brigades had the adequate resources, kindly passed on the job to them.  (thats the tough part about being a CFS brigade with a SES tag along component).   Pretty much our CFS Boundary is our SES Boundary, unless we're requested to assist as a SES response.

[rescue5271]

One would hope that once its up and running that it will work well but at the moment it does not work, have lost count of how many times we have been rolling out the door to a job that is well with in another brigade area or its out the front of the brigade who's area it is in....

[bajdas]

I hope the correct data will be in the system so that the closest resource is dispatched. But I fear that politics could influence the most appropriate clause tooo much as people try to maintain their empires.

[jaff]

I hope the correct data will be in the system so that the closest resource is dispatched. But I fear that politics could influence the most appropriate clause tooo much as people try to maintain their empires.

As yet the "closest most appropriate" hasn't been accepted by the other services I understand, but how could you not accept it?

[6739264]

I hope the correct data will be in the system so that the closest resource is dispatched. But I fear that politics could influence the most appropriate clause tooo much as people try to maintain their empires.

As yet the "closest most appropriate" hasn't been accepted by the other services I understand, but how could you not accept it?

I think its most easily adopted by the service that has the widest reaching role. In terms of defending their empire, doesn't that only fall to the smaller more under threat service?

SES in the Adelaide hills from example, are pretty much obsolete unless a tree falls through the roof of their Unit HQ. With both the distribution of SES membership and the distribution of Fire Stations, it makes it very hard for SES to be the first service on scene to minor storm damage. Its not a matter service bashing, its just the way it is.

God forbid back in the day, the way it used to be, when our Brigade could get turned out a tree down in its own driveway and the SES didn't get a look in, it actually worked for the benefit of the community.

I can't wait for the CFS/MFS firefighting and CFS/MFS/SES Rescue shitfight in the country.

[Alan (Big Al)]

SES got called to a tree down once that actually blocked access to one of our station doors, and we could have had the thing cleaned up before they even went mobile.

[chook]

Hi guys - can't believe this topic is being thrashed out again, I know that you guys want to be useful to the community - but the initials of your various services state your role MFS Metro Fire Service, CFS Country Fire Service, SES State Emergency Service, If you want to the combatant agency for storm and flood form an SES unit.
And with another bad year for fires in your state - shouldn't you be focusing on that?
Finally the SES is the lead agency for storm & flood, so if those who are managing the emergency think that CFS is required I'm sure you will be utilised, in every other state the SES is storm & flood agency so why should SA be different?
filtered me things must be very quiet judging by the recent topics being discussed
Have a good one and stay safe cheers

[6739264]

...But the initials of your various services state your role MFS Metro Fire Service, CFS Country Fire Service, SES State Emergency Service...

Oh but Chooky, I don't see any rescue in State Emergency Service, but I do see one in Volunteer Rescue Association.

Things must be slow out there in Riceville, seeing as though you still get your jollies from here.

[bajdas]

I hope the correct data will be in the system so that the closest resource is dispatched. But I fear that politics could influence the most appropriate clause tooo much as people try to maintain their empires.

As yet the "closest most appropriate" hasn't been accepted by the other services I understand, but how could you not accept it?

I fully accept this & have supported it. I think it is the best option for the community, but many volunteers (& others) do not support it...If fully implemented, then some Units will loose equipment & volunteers because they will not get the funding based on taskings completed....but they should survive in some form based on the community risk profile to provide more specialised services. I understand this is the way the service is heading through the 'standards for emergency response' criteria.

If you want to cut a tree limb or do a simple tarping job, go for it. I personally am enjoying my warm bed   

I am more referring to how MFS country & CFS brigades are going to sort out the 'most appropriate' resource. Several surveys/statistics/etc have been done on the duplication, but nothing has happened. Why ??

This duplication to me is where the money is & in some cases the MFS retained have better equipment for the urban risk than CFS. Will the CFS brigade wear the downgrade in equipment ??

[bajdas]

...In terms of defending their empire, doesn't that only fall to the smaller more under threat service?....

I agree with the rest of your posting, but the bigger the organisation does not necessarily mean the better. I hope this process is taken in each area of the state, not a 'one size fits all' solution for the whole state of South Australia.

Take a look at 'ABC Learning' conglomerate that failed due to mis-management. Sometimes bigger can equal an empire.

[chook]

Yep Numbers you are correct - very quiet!
But it would not surprise me that you will see VRA disappear in the near future (they were not allowed to change their name by the way, some people from the other ESO's alerted their sponsor and like all good corporates caved under pressure).
Trouble is with the changes to funding for government ESO's next year, VRA will be left out in the cold. And one of the organisations here (wear orange & do rescue  ) is pointing out to VRA members & their communities how well you get supported if you join said organisation (even going on in Riceville!).
Now isn't this starting to sound very familiar? Sadly there is what happens at a local level, then what happens higher up the chain.
At the local level if brigade A responds to a storm job - who cares?
But then your masters start crowing to all that will listen, what a great job such & such service does, then the bean counters & pollies get hold of it. Next thing you know a one size fits all solution! Then the service who is supposed to do the work has less to do, doesn't bother training, looses members & becomes an office in the city, with no response capability.
Then the big one hits (Brisbane, Newcastle etc.), not enough crews expertise. Then what do you?
Anyway I'm it will be fine I'm sure .
cheers