SA Firefighter

You need to understand that there are so many factors that we aren't aware of with a deployment.....logistically, it is huge.  the best thing you can do is put your hand up if they ask for someone, be patient (if you can't be, don't go!).

Look closely at what happens when we get interstate deployments.....they are rarely put on the hot end....don't know the territory etc.

and finally, WHEN are deployments NOT going to wear their yellows on the plane...please, if after a week you haven't worn them enough and they don't stink, you haven't done any work.  It's time we had a deployment uniform, if only it's a shirt to wear.

Many of us had individual lawyers to help protect us...and they were working in partnership with the Crown...

Most of the volunteers came out of it quite well in the Coroner's report....only a couple were criticised....But that's not to say that they were pr oven to be negligent.

From my experience, what we perceive can be very different from their views.

The laws of the Civil court are very different from the coroner's....hence why there is only a MAYBE that evidence provided in the coroner's will be admissible in the Civil action.

The only winners are the lawyers who line their pockets...and a long way to the finish line

and the comment re protecting your client is true and can be at all costs of others...we tried hard to not criticise other volunteers and their efforts - someones almost at our own expense.

I had 11 lawyers lined up against me and they did all of what you have previously witnessed....even yelling, pointing, trying to put words in our mouths and scrutinising everything we did....the whole process was very destructive and NOTHING good came from it...

and they are a bunch of unscrupulous (want to use the word pigs but will use)people who treat it as a game....one minute in court they are at each other and you, then they are down the cafe having a coffee together and laughing and slapping each other on the back....they are only in it for the money and kudos...

From someone who spent 7 days in the witness box, I agree with what you are all saying....we don't wish to be dragged back again BUT we also will not agree to any settlement out of court and are willing to fight to the end....

and we expect that it will take many years to resolve...by then, most of us will only have vague memories of what happened.

I have heard from a very reliable source that NOTHING from the coroner's court is taken into consideration for the class action....be interested to know who you were talking to at the NYE party chook...

Unfortunately, we are also breaking new ground as no other fire service has been here before....even the Canberra fire class action were waiting on our findings..

You would be hard pressed to find any copies....the rerun was completely sold out prior to the printers...

If you want to PM me, I can provide you with the authors details and you can try direct.

Obviously Robert34 you have never experienced the media on the fireground...they are always the ones in the wrong place, won't do as they are told and of as much value as .....

they are an unusual breed who get enjoyment from twisting the truth and sensationalising everything...

that's why they say "don't let the truth get in the way of a good story!"

For those of us over here at the cold face....we agree that the coroner's report was quite fair and balanced....not what the media are portraying by any means....nothing new...we have learnt that the media have no morals or care for the further trauma or pain they inflict on volunteers...

I did enjoy Euan's radio interview this morning...finally we are having an opportunity to fight back and defend ourselves....it's only taken nearly 3 years

It is true at this stage...it still has to be lodged and apparently by 10th January.

There is supposed to be 30 families involved (some are CFS members) and the lawsuit is also against Mr Visic who started the fire.

They are apparently, looking for 10-20million dollars.

It will impact on some of us who have already spent time in the coronial court....

it's not over yet..

For you info....

the coroner will be in Port Lincoln on December 18th at 11am to hand down his findings....apparently it will take 30 mins.

Let's hope that what he has to say doesn't impact any further on our organisation than what the experience and process already has.

The findings will be available on the web 30 mins post his session

No offense taken BUT I suppose we are working in a world of what we were used to...and it's just going with what has been PROMISED>....and we are nowhere near that standard yet...

and I agree with pumprescue....they must be paying peanuts because we've sure heard some of the monkeys...

Firstly, I know that the operators at Adelaide Fire are doing the best they can but Minister Zollo should go and look at the mess she has created.

We HATE the new system, it has taken us back 20 years....and I am going to tell the Chief Officer today my views on it all...

We so far in the last 2 weeks have been timed out of an ALERTS call because the Adelaide Fire Operator couldn't spell any of the brigades we were trying to respond - this happens on nearly EVERY phone call....I know that this is not their fault but surely they can have some cheat sheets or something...and the time it takes to actually get a page to come through is too long...

We also had a page come through for SES the other night telling them to use our local talkgroup ....they don't have it...

can't wait for a nasty day...we have already implemented some local contingencies to keep us out of the coroner's court....

:x

If you knew how much info is behind the current dispatching system, you wouldn't want to go to a central system...

I am on the alerts system and we often have vital local knowledge that influences the responses...not something that will happen anymore...

and....most people who endured Black Tuesday are super sensitive and summer or winter call in any smoke or fire...how many false alarms are they going to be responded to unneccesarily??  volunteers time is very valuable and it will take no time at all to brown them off if they are often responding to an auto dispatch that is a non event...you will find they will wait until the second alarm...

if you are someone who lives to hear their pager go, you will love it...for those of us who have livlihoods to make, especially farming communities...couldn't be worse...

sorry but it's a huge step backwards...

I hope that who ever agreed or started this lame idea of having a central dispatching system is prepared to stand in front of the coroner and explain themselves when someone loses their lives because the wrong brigade was responded or as you have all asked...what happens in a mayday...sorry MFS have turned our radio down or are too busy to answer....

they have completely filtered this up....I can't believe that we were sucked into such a situation...

I am on the alerts system and know how much local knowledge and consultation is involved with deciding what brigades to respond...not to be anymore...

I am completely furious that the minister is that stupid and more worried about looking good and covering her b(&*#^%$^%SIDE instead of listening to what is real!

go wendy and give it to them big time...

are people aware that the MFS & CFS systems are NOT compatible as promised and as a result all of our data is not in the system...

:x :x :x

& we have 2 at Port Lincoln....I can never remember their numbers but they are only 2000ltr ones... :lol:

and they wonder why we have trouble getting them to do what we want...it surely can't be that hard to produce an A5 card back and front with what we need or even smaller that can sit in their sun visor or like??  :?

We used to have a small fire fighting unit in Region 6 but they found that the prisoners put sand or sugar in the pumps too often and the fire got away all the time...mind you, the prisoners did a huge job post Black tuesday as volunteers with putting up fences etc...

also consider the whole family in the recruiting ie not aiming to have them all as firies but maybe part being involved in base ops or family support or like...then they don't become CFS widows or whatever the men are called...

I think that you will find that staff have very strict stand down procedures...I know if they are going to a night meeting that they aren't at work until late...

that's where they should have a deputy IC bill...I've seen this happen before too....

I can see how the RO could have been making decisions regarding strike teams over the top of the IMT...it isn't a problem...except if they aren't needed and they don't tell them they are coming...I've seen some serious over reactions at times...all a spin off from Black Tuesday I believe... :roll:

I'd have to say that the NEW booklets re farm fire fighting units are a waste of money...they are similar to our SOP's and Operational guidelines booklets...not something the farmers or any of us can read and understand quickly....we gave this feedback to the CO last week...

why can't they just use the KISS principle on this issue?  :?

that's crap...there is no restriction on water if it's in the action of fire fighting....I agree with you, what a waste of resources...

as far as I'm aware, the only restrictions we have been given is in the area of cleaning appliances....certainly not in the act of extinguishment...imagine if the media got wind of that!  :?

this thread discussion is my point exactly...it's too open for interpretation and not mandatory enough for exceptions.

If you think about a deployment....most are more than 1 day, you are away from you own bed (and I personally don't sleep well on deployments) travel time, for some may be hours worth and then you may have to return to work the next day...48hrs is definitely needed to recover...

As for those who have said, they don't have to respond if they are tired...right, and if the bells go, so does your adrenalin, feel tired, nope, going....many are NOT that responsible to rest, which is why I believe it should be more black and white...

and yes, the main issue is OHS, something we base ALL of our SOP's etc around...why should this issue be excluded...

how many firies would actually stand themselves down if they started to fatigue on the fireground???   :?

I have seen some go past the point of being able to function effectively and start making stupid decisions because they are too tired...

I believe that the recommendations in relation to the 48hr exclusion from response post deployment needs to be clarified.

It might be something that is developed as a Group norm but I personally believe that if you have been away and had 2 or more shifts, stayed away from home and had a travelling component, the 48hrs should be mandatory....except in the case of an incident like black tuesday where obviously any relevant paperwork goes into the nearest shredder.

would be good if it was at the top...where it shows the number of posts etc... :?

How old is the appliance that the seat cover was on???

the seat in our crew cab is all plastic...and our appliance is 16yrs old...maybe some bright person thought about crew comfort and not safety if that has come in since... :evil: