Apathy for Volunteers

[oz fire]

From the Advertiser - Tuesday 09/10/2006

CFS volunteers are refusing to drive new trucks because of safety concerns, just one week before the start of what is expected to be one of the state's worst fire danger seasons.

At least two of the trucks have been pulled off the road, and one will undergo expensive modifications.
Volunteers claim some trucks bought about two years ago are "undrivable" when loaded with firefighting equipment.

Separate sources told The Advertiser yesterday the 11 trucks in question, costing around $300,000 each, are "overweight and unsafe" when water tanks and equipment are installed on them.

The appliances have been allocated across the state but, with a heatwave expected this week, the McLaren Flat appliance is sitting in a Murray Bridge engineering yard while the Kangarilla truck is sitting in a private shed after being slapped with an internal CFS defect notice.

Arthur Tindall, CFS manager of infrastructure and logistics, said yesterday independent reports showed nothing wrong with the vehicles. Instead, further driver training was required to get them used to handling the trucks, he said.

Despite this, Mr Tindall said the CFS was undertaking extensive modifications to at least one of the trucks to "appease the volunteers" and "overcome perceived issues".

"The volunteers will say they weren't consulted but you can't consult 15,000 people," he said.

He said further driver training would be conducted.

Sources said despite complaints and concerns by CFS volunteers, those in the city headquarters "don't give a s--t" and nothing was done until volunteers would no longer drive the trucks.

CFS members say it is placing not only homes and lives at risk, but also the volunteers. There was no planning or forethought," a source said.

"The next group of appliances (purchased about six months later) are fine - it's like they realised the mistakes and fixed it on those ones.

"But with the 11, they built them, gave them to us and said 'there you are, be happy with it'," he said.

Nothing like supporting one another and working together to find a solution. Appeasing people is one thing - insulting their intelligence and their commitment is another - how quickly people forget their origins.

[Camo]

Its a pity they had to go to the media before HQ would listen. (Thats just how it looks from the paper anyway, although its not wise to listen to the media too much when wanting facts)

How about a little cooperation here peoples!  We are on the same team!

[Timbo]

Typical of the Advertiser - always full of it, and never actually bothering to source all the facts.
One of these days we will get a real newspaper, and not the magazine we are currently stuck with.

[oz fire]

They can only print the fact given - obvious some CFS crews/people have been to the media with issues - interesting though the coments and attitude of SHQ, I doubt that they were miss prints, rather factual quotes!

[Timbo]

They can only print the fact given - .....

Not entirely true - they could do some research to justify what they are told is fact, to prove it or otherwise.

nothing like preaching the incomplete truth to the masses

[Scania_1]

If these gripes are genuine why not put names to them. I remember a small minority of brigades complaining back in 88/89 when the first of the CFA built appliances arrived. Most were happy though.

[RescueHazmat]

Going direct to the media can have consequences. Which is why I'm guessing they wanted to remain anonymous.

[Darius]

it's unfortunate but sometimes that's what has to be done, going to the media is a valid last resort option.  (eg. Gilbert group got absolutely nowhere for yonks with all their GRN problems until it appeared on the front page of the paper.)  It does seem to be an incredibly tactless comment by Arthur Tindall.

[bittenyakka]

What Is the Real information as opposed to the Advertiser and what CFS wouldlike us to think

[SA Firey]

Remember the batch of 24P's that Aust Fire built just before they went through, Salisbury had 31 defects and I know of another brigade that had similar as well on delivery of it, so why should we risk injury or worse if they are not up to standard  :evil:

[backburn]

I heard the last lot built had some problems too one brigade has had 38 minor defects fixed and still finding More.