SA Firefighter

On OziExplorer , you can project a waypointwhich will put a marker at the co-ordinates you have entered.

UTM is the easiest format to use, the Emergency Service Map Books are in UTM.
the UTM co-ordinates are also where your 6 digit rapid numbers come from (which I find heaps more useful than the new rural addressing system)

also, give Androzic a shot on android, I find it better than oziexplorer android, and its free..

What maps are you using?

I like Dark Blue.. heaps easier to keep "clean"

and to those that say MFS have blue - they have a rather dark blue, much darker than the unofficial blue that most CFS members seem to have adopted

From what I understand, the Legislative Responsibility for Zone 83 & BOMS database all changes over to SAMFS on 1/2/2010... up until then I am pretty sure Seaford469 will be responding in place of CDN431/439 to all of out calls...

Station looks good though, and from the sounds of it, looks like we have some great crews from SAMFS that have been stationed there, which should make the transition nice and easy.

As far as appliances go, Seaford will remain as is for the time being.

Can't wait to finally turn out to a job with them.

Quote from: Edster on September 26, 2009, 09:55:28 PM
I have also noticed **Not bagging briagdes with RIV** that they dont actually do that many rescues either (some do some dont). What risks do you determine to get it on...Bridgewater has the Freeway, Seaford with...? etc

Quote from: mattb on September 22, 2009, 07:41:19 PM
Seaford received their gear because of the Southern Expressway, the final stage is in CFS area and the response plan is that MFS go to the Beach road exit and CFS go to Old Noarlunga exit. That way whichever direction the traffic is travelling you will still get an appliance to the job. With the Seaford MFS appliance going to be a Rescue vehicle this will negate the need for Seaford to carry the R.I.V gear anymore.

Edster, if you dont want to get shot down, PLEASE READ BEFORE you POST

To add my point of view to this debate,
I love the concept of RIV. As previously said by FireFrog "A combi tool with a telescopic ram and there's not too much you can't do." and I think he is 100% correct there. There are only a few situations I can imagine our Holmatro Combi-tool & Ram to be inappropriate, eg. Third door conversion, Floor Pan Flap, Cross Ramming, COMPLEX Dash Lifts and Rollovers and Heavy vehicles/vehicles with roll cages (due to cutting limitations). But for most RCR jobs where the overall outcome is either a roof flapped (or off) or a door popped, or a full side out,   
I think it is more than capable.

Another benefit of RIV gear is that it is physically smaller and lighter. Meaning it can be used in situations where it is not possible to get an appliance close by. It also can make the equipment much more user friendly if working at heights (ie. door removal with vehicle on its side)

I wont go into my views on the training side of it, as I would be here typing all day.

With the above in mind, often acting as an officer at MVA's, I WOULD NEVER PICK RIV AND CREW OVER FULLY EQUIPPED RCR AND CREW IF GIVEN THE OPTION, Most of the incidents I attend, MFS are the Rescue Brigade and (no offence to anyone in CFS) but I regard their skills, TRAINING and experience much higher than ours when it comes to RCR.

The tipans come in two styles... Low cut = Rural, High Cut = Structural...
I am pretty sure the Structural meet a different (higher) ??Australian?? standard...

Quote from: firestorm on March 11, 2009, 11:50:10 PM
so the old seaford dennis pumper
and the new burnside pumper
in a pump-off who would win?

I think Darren would be correct...

Quote from: joff on March 11, 2009, 10:14:23 AM
Also having operated Dennis a few time with 2 supply lines and multiple lines out it did become a pain having to step over and lean over all the hoses to do stuff, so clearing the way for the pump operator is the way to go.

Yes, can agree that the inlet/outlet set-up on the Dennis is not ideal...

Sorry, on reflection I was actually mistaken... there was 1 portable radio on a truck from SA0601 (possibly Timboon?), I believe the OIC found it in one of the overhead compartments in the cab.

wajax on 38's and a combination of a London Round'ish (didnt have anything to compare it to, but looked rather close) looking threaded coupling (for pressurised supply) and storz for suction.

although the DSE quick fill pumps have a different threaded coupling, which you are able to sort of cross thread into the London Round'ish one.

Just back in from Vic this arvo...

I loved working with the 38mm canvas lay flats... similar amount of effort as a 25mm to drag around, and I really love having wajax couplings on 38's, makes them much much better...

1 thing  Imust pick on is the fact that there were no tft/protek/akron type branches on the truck we got... argh.

and comms...what comms?, or should I say the communications were rather fluid, or some may prefer floppy.
would have been "nice" to have a trunked radio channel to use, and to have a portable or 20 for the strike teams, as it made things quite difficult when working away from the truck.

Quote from: Hazmat206 on February 21, 2009, 10:25:51 AM
Christies downs i believe is one of the busiest stations...

Only coz they get turned out to all our jobs... :evil:  :roll:

and we all know that once it is up an running, seaford is by far going to be the busiest station...even busier than 20... :evil:

A fire??

R1 ops brigade activated....

Mawson group has sent a cascading strike team, with COQ - MV24 to Kangy station

Now listed as contained on cfs.sa.gov.au

Quote from: Alan J on February 18, 2009, 05:12:59 PM
To me it seems the principal lesson of Vic '09 is that there are
more lives to be saved by education & property preparation than with trucks &
T-cards.

2nd best quote on SAFF!!

I really do think you may be onto something there...

Quote from: jaff on February 18, 2009, 03:51:31 PM
HHHUMM Pixie,............. sometimes thinkin aint such a good idea! :roll:

Perhaps you are right... what is it they say, it is better to stay quite and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt...

Quote from: Pipster on February 17, 2009, 10:36:01 PM

Quote from: Pixie on February 17, 2009, 05:21:13 PM

Perhaps the CFS and/or Neighbourhood watch should be running programs to teach home owners how to deal with bushfires...

Isn't that what the Community Fire Safe program aims to do ?

Pip

Community Fire Safety program?? what is that... in the last 5 years I have been involved in the CFS, This week is the first time I have ever heard of it! and if these Victorian fires had not have occurred, I still wouldn't know the program even existed.

Further to my above post, I have been thinking, stuff it, why doesn't the State Government gazette areas as "Bushfire Prone Areas", and charge much higher rates for the Emergency Services Levy in those areas. and use this money to set up rebates for purchase of approved home fire suppression systems, and the installation of LARGE water storage, the clearing of "dangerous vegetation" and running the community fire safety type programs. (with the provision to lessen the levy if a home owner can show that their property IS sufficiently bushfire ready, thus we would need strict guidelines and people trained to asses this.)

That way people might think, 'hang on, I am getting slugged a thousand dollar each year just because I live in a bushfire prone area, maybe I will clean up and try to get a rebate, and try to have it lessened next year.' from my experience, MONEY SPEAKS!!! and the user pays mentality is one of the quickest ways to get the publics attention.

Perhaps even the idea of charging for attendance at rural fires started on ill prepared properties (with funds going to crew's).

our Pumpers name is around that size,but I don't think that is they type of appliance you are speaking of... but I must otherwise agree, for a rural appliance, that name is really small.

I would say that is pretty much perfect information for you to be giving your "kids"

Quote from: 6739264 on February 17, 2009, 12:25:36 PM
We all know that a large number of the public are 110% retarded. Possibly, clinically brain dead.

BEST QUOTE EVER!!!

I have enough trouble trying to get my own family to understand the concept...

Perhaps the CFS and/or Neighbourhood watch should be running programs to teach home owners how to deal with bushfires... perhaps, imagine this for a full day program (ie. 1 resident per household, 120 households per day)with say a $50 attendance fee, donated to local CFS brigade:

• 45min video/lecture on what to expect from a bushfire, what residents may experience what hazards they may encounter. and what the two CFS approved strategies involve. (with questions)- presented by local CFS+Neighbourhood watch
• 15 minute intermission with attendees asked to decide which option they would like to take.

Group splits into two... those staying and defending & those planning on leaving.

For those staying

• 45 minute session further detailing what may be encountered when dealing with a bushfire/how to identify the need to activate bushfire action plan/where to find information etc. - Neighbourhood Watch
• 45 minute session explaining what is required to adequately prepare a residence to cope with a bushfire - CFS/Council
• 30 minute lunch break (encouraged to approach if having difficulty filling out bushfire action plan)
• 45 minute session explaining what equipment is required to defend  home from bushfire - CFS and Local Fire Protection Equipment Supplier
• 45 minute session (Semi Practical)on techniques to maximise effectiveness when using a home fire suppression system ie. basic techniques for hose work, use of knapsacks, common ignition points in houses etc. basics regarding the set up and usage of common home fire pumps - CFS
• 15 min afternoon tea break,(encouraged to approach if having difficulty filling out bushfire action plan)
• 30min-90min Q&A session with all agency's involved on the day. With separate area for residents requiring further assistance with bushfire action plan
  

For Those Leaving Early

• 45 minute session explaining what is required to prepare a residence to best survive a bushfire when the residents have opted to leave early (with questions) - CFS/Council
• 45 minute session further detailing what exactly the Leave early strategy is, and when a resident should decide to leave (with questions) - Neighbourhood Watch
• 30 minute lunch break (encouraged to approach if having difficulty filling out bushfire action plan)
• 45 minute session explaining how to best prepare for the leave early strategy - Neighbourhood Watch
• 45 minute looking into what actions to take if you get caught out and it is too late to leave - Neighbourhood Watch & CFS
  
• 15 min afternoon tea break,(encouraged to approach if having difficulty filling out bushfire action plan)
• 30min-90min Q&A session with all agency's involved on the day. With separate area for residents requiring further assistance with bushfire action plan
  

by all means, feel free to criticise this idea, but keep in mind it is something which has been thought up over the course of around half an hour, by a normal (well i try to be) CFS vol. firey... imagine what a properly trained CFS HQ person could do if they spent a week or two working on organising a project like this

Pixie

I work for Woolworths, and they have "State Emergency Services Leave" Built into the EBA. although it is always referred to as SES Leave, they have internal polices regarding this, and it also covers the other volunteer emerg. services (I.e. Sea Rescue/ Coast Guard Emergency Call Outs, CFS and vol.SAAS.).
This leave is on full pay, and covers incidents both in our area and interstate.

So for me it is simply a case of ringing work and telling them where I am going, what I am doing, and when I expect to be back.

On all occasions that I have had to use this leave my workplace has been really really good, and after big jobs have usually given me an extra day off to relax.

Quote from: Hazmat206 on February 13, 2009, 10:09:14 PM
But then again, it makes sense to do that so i guess that's why they did what they did! :-P

You might want to tiptoe a bit more gently HAZMAT 206... remember bosses have eyes everywhere, by all means criticise the decision, and offer a "preferable" idea... but never criticise the decision makers maybe they are just wasting time so they can put the new truck in the Seaford station when it is finally built and it wont be too thrashed...

I will start, please try to follow this kind of format.

Idea: All off road fire appliances not directly supported by a tanker or larger appliance be fitted with a floating axillary pump. (I.e. 24&34 appliances and up)

Reasons:

• With the current drought, us firefighters are finding it much harder to find decent water sources to draught from.
• Floating pumps can be much simpler to set up and use as a water source and from what i have seen are much more reliable than trying to maintain suction on a 20+ year appliance.
• It would be much easier for irregular members to remember how to use a stand alone floating pump that to deal with some of the potential woes of draughting.
• if a truck is ever trapped with no support in an area with a suitable water supply, and the main pump fails, they will at least have some water to protect them selves with.

Approx Cost: Around $1000-3000 per appliance. Depending on quality.

Possible negative effects:

• Loss of storage space.
• The requirement for more training of members

Just though I would start a thread for people to post any ideas the have that may be useful in the SACFS, without any argument or discussion. no matter how abstract they are, covering all areas of firefighting, from admin to equipment to training.

REMEMBER NO ARGUMENTS OR CRITICISM IN THIS THREAD. If you feel the need to, start a new one.

Just some rules.
1. Only one idea per post.
2. You MUST explain exactly what would be involved in carrying out your idea, or close to. (you cant just put up an abstract concept without having research or experiences to back it up.
3. You cant post directly under your own post.
4. If you really like an idea, start a new post about it.
5. If you really dislike an idea, start a new post about it.

Black Dog - now i can see where your point of view is coming from, i can slightly agree with you that yes, operational equipment IS much more important than a fancy dress contest... but i think you are yet to fully understand my point of view.

I am not sure what type of brigade you are from, thus am unsure as to your experiences... but i personally like to be able to turn up at an incident and get to work immediately, not have to explain to residents that WE ARE THE REAL FIRE SERVICE, and that we are actually capable of doing our job. I have had multiple occasions where people have genuinely asked where the "Real" firefighters (MFS) were... and this does not just extend to the public!

I know the CFS has a very limited budget, but i would still quit like to see more PR push that the CFS ARE A REAL FIRE SERVICE... and i think a good start to this is having a common uniform, both operational and dress... even if that is just a work shirt screen printed with cfs logo/star( :evil:) and Fire & Rescue on the back.

Quote from: Alan J on February 15, 2009, 12:52:47 AM
As a proudly well-trained fire-fighter, I guess you weren't one of the crews "mopping
up" from the rear deck the other day then. Or blacking out under a burning tree sans
helmet....

....The other thing on which I must take issue with you is the colour.  While blue is
definitely my colour, the pre-occupation with dark shades in our climate leaves me
baffled. They absorb much too much heat from the sun & air.  I strongly commend a sky-
blue shirt (at darkest), or even a light khaki. King Gee do a very cool & comfortable
work shirt that is even presentable at the office.

I try not too... although :'( sometime I just feel the need to belong... :evil:

The king gee shirts (the ventilated ones) you speak of are AWESOME, our brigade has done a run of member purchased ones and they are great. even in the dark blue, they are cool enough to wear on a stinking hot day.

enough off topic banter for me.

Quote from: BlackDog on February 14, 2009, 09:22:05 AM
People who worry about looking professional..... ain't.

sorry, but i quite disagree with your statement on numerous levels!

what is the problem with trying to look professional when you are part of a service which is quite often portrayed as "just volunteers", where quite often members show up at incidents in private vehicles wearing a mishmash of blue, bottle green, yellow, faded/dirty yellows, and PBI gold.and i am not even going to mention the various logo's! And to attempt to portray an image that in the SACFS we ARE volunteers PROFESSIONALLY protecting the community.

I take pride in the training i have done and in the fact that i am an active firefighter within the SACFS and am quite proud to wear their logo/star when i am representing them. and think it is a wonderful idea for members to be able to appear much more unified and professional. (and look like "real" firefighters in the public eye)

With views like yours, it is quite easy to see why we have brigades responding with 20yr old appliances, and inadequate equipment.

Bring on a common uniform for SACFS firefighters i say! Although make it navy blue, leave the bottle green for the paid staff...

coming along quite well, slowly, but from the looks of it it is going to be a pretty nice station!

pretty much all that has been done is the earthworks, and a rather large retaining wall...(the cost of that wall alone would have probably built someone a new truck, or a brand new CFS station)

Quote from: Bill Corcoran on January 30, 2009, 05:19:35 PM
Pump well non PTO would be good just in case the appliance motor fails ....

Sorry Bill, but if my appliance motor fails on the fire ground, i think i will be radioing the I.C. and telling them to get me and my crew the filtered out of there!

There is always the option of hard suction and draughting out of the tanker.

I have seen a lot more pump engines blow than i have appliance engines/PTO's