Ok, so back to the topic at hand...
CABA is a vital item of PPE for us as firefighters. If I had my way, it would be part of BFF1. Anyhow, this isn't, or ever will be the case.
Seeing as though the CFS doesn't teach anything related to strucutral firefighting very well at all (CFB is hit and miss, and CFS Tactical Ventilation makes me giggle) and they try to jam bits and pieces into the CABA course and the previous level three course, something does need to change.
What can be done? Not much sadly. With people wanting the already basic courses dumbed down, and complaining about their length, perhaps the current method of teaching is the best?
It would be great to have a CABA course, and then a week long or two weekend "Structure Fire" course, but again that will never happen.
All we can hope is that people operate within their ability on the fireground and that brigades take it upon themselves to attempt to enhance the abilities of their members.
Don't forget we are but the COUNTRY Fire Service... What do we need CABA for?
Hear Hear!
The dumbing down of courses is very much an insult to the ability, and potential the service has as a whole for urban AND rural protection.
Why would you need to differentiate? If you have an issue going anywhere near a fire, perhaps BA is not for you, not some halfarsed attempt at dividing BA. Its the same theory on wearing it, just different firefighting techniques once the PPE is in place (I say this loosely, mind.)
HAZMAT is just as bad. Having been to enough jobs with HAZMAT brigades where the operators understand VERY LITTLE of chemistry, and therefore have donned inappropriate PPE, as well as managed to misread plaques, and waste 24 hours due to not understanding that something was so dilute after a time, dumping TONNES of another substance into it was going to create more issues seems like a problem also.
How about we teach some ADEQUATE materials, and people who don't want the responsibility of acting as a BA operator in full stop putting up hands and wasting positions for those who do.
Requirements need to be seriously reviewed, BA operators should be prepared to wear if the situation requires it, more urban techniques need to be taught THOROUGHLY, as opposed to crammed into CABA and CFB courses, and the operators for HAZMAT need to have at least a basic grasp of chemistry.