SA Firefighter

Quote from: chook on February 28, 2008, 05:52:53 PM
However don't you think these competencies are better served by the SES Rescue branch of SAFECOM?

Being either orange or yellow does not matter as the person who wants help does not really care and with the number of duel purpose SES / CFS out there who cares who does the training along as someone is trained for the job they are about to do

Quote from: chook on February 28, 2008, 05:52:53 PM
really makes me wonder whether you guys are best placed to undertake high risk RESCUE activities. The Portuguese Bowline is the only suitable knot for the lowering of people - check your manuals!

No argument with that comment - If the training is not to a particular standard then we could be in a spot of trouble. Then saying that Jaff you are also right we are there to protect life property and the environment having the word fire and emergency can be a misnomer as I know of  CFS brigades that do more SES type work than CFS type of work in a stereotype work. course need to be done to a standard  and this does not necessary equate to being a public safety training unit it could be an Australian standard or other recognized standard

Maybe the question should be; should both the SES and CFS training become one rather than have a double up on every thing. The mapping course is a prime example that come to mind whee both the  SES and CFS develop a course along the same lines where as resources could of been better spent on having a single course using the same procedures between the services rather than two different sets

 I don't see a problems with the courses that they offer and those brigades that have a specialist function should be pleased with what is on offer. The problems of concern is for brigades that don't have a specialist function or those that attend a variety of incidents but need that bit extra of training to be effective. A couple of courses that may be of benefit to these brigade include

PUAFIR202A Respond to isolated/remote structure fire
PUASAR001A Participate in a rescue operation
PUAFIR309A Operate pumps
PUAFIR206A Check installed fire safety systems

I recently attended a group training meeting with fellow BTO's where the GTO provided us with information on the review. From the handout that was given it looks to be more of an icing on the cake job rather than taking a serious hard look at the package. As some parts of the package is poorly done ( I won't reiterate on the assessment where questions have that have errors) for instance ropes and improvised rescue techniques have not been done to a recognised standard which may result in issues arising in the future. I must admit on the good side of things that they are reworking the unit 7 extinguishers so that it becomes a national accredited unit. Where as unit 1 could of had a slight adjustment to make it to be a nationally accredited unit as well.

oldskool maybe the odd balls that you refer to are not that odd considering what has been through the door at Iron Knob. You shouldn't forget that saying about the kettle calling the pot black which maybe the case here. You don't need to worry about the AGM as malleefire already said that it is in the hands of region and, at this stage the no open day will occur but certainly a public meeting. Maybe it is time for some members of the Iron Knob community to take the time and reflect and get past some of the divisions that have been created. As you know some people in the community like to enforce their will on others while not allowing the baton to be past on to the next generation or discriminate against those that don't fit the mold.

If the logic is correct then the unit or brigade should be trained for the risks that it face. No matter what service it is then who so ever will need to have some form of training to be able to cope with initial part of the incident until specilist resourses and teams arrives. Maybe I am a bit nieve but time maybe a factor in some incidents and this should be taken into consideration when planning at brigade or group or regional levels. Some Brigade outside the city fringes and this is only my thoughts seem not to be spreading the workload and sharing it around. As an ealier remark was made that we shouldn't be putting all our eggs in one basket but maybe having two brigade or two units trained to respond will reduce the risk of not having enough members available for an incident.

Quote from: 6793264 on September 04, 2007, 08:35:07 AM
Its an old chestnut, but still odd, that the SES is getting trained in C/S, yet the gear you should have eg: BA sets and Gas Detectors and pretty fire service specific. 

The other aspect that has yet to be looked at is that of mining aspects do brigades that have mining in their responce area will they need some form of rope training. As 6793264 points out where does the SES and CFS role stop and start. I know this sounds like a post of cross posting that should be else where but the types of emergencies that either service is attending is changing over time.

Pip, I spoke to the captain last night who spent some time doing the fathers days thing. Both the captain and another member of the Brigade spent most of the weekend doing some door knocking for the Brigade yes some quarters of the community support the Brigade and were willing to join (police check pending)others said they loved to but the mind was willing but the body was not. Your right about the RC but if you are going to be the bearer of bad news then the approach to it needs to be right. This also includes maybe incorporating some of the tools that can be used for assisting the Brigade to develop. Considering the Admin Officer has taken the entire ordeal personally since they have but a lot of work into the Brigade and has taken this as a real slap in the face.

Ports have looked at the Whyalla aspect before but we have been told that can't be done because it is a MFS area. It is something that needs to be revisited again I also believe that all options should be looked at as no one solution fits all problems.

Quote from: malleefire on August 30, 2007, 08:08:37 PM
Was a group officer involved and if so what did he say or do or are you still waiting for his reaction.

The group officer was present and did not offer any comment on the night. I'll pass on the stuff about whyalla council to the captain to see if he is able to dig up up anything. I spoke to the admin officer last night and who said that on the weekend a door knocking campaign will done to recruit members and support for the Brigade. I think at training we will be having a bit of talk about where we will be heading and what we will be doing. Why73 your right about a responce some form of responce is better than none and in some instance our responce times have not been the best but other times we have got there before the MFS  in whyalla.

We have spent the last 18 months struggling for everything (you name it we most probably don't have it) and now I can see why they made life so difficult for us they just don't want us.

Quote from: pipster on August 30, 2007, 11:29:48 AM
short of a mining company moving in 20 km away, and setting up in the town

A gold mine is being planed for the area which is only 10 km away from the town. Onesteel is reving up its operations through all the ore trucks on the road and we sit on a main national highway. Other emergency services to us are 60 km, 85km and 75 km away. Pip we only have a 14 but it does all the thing that we need it to do. The RC wanted the captain to organise the meetings. I think the Admin Officer doing the stuff on getting some of the missing in action members off the books.

Last night at our AGM the Regional Commander turn up considering we don't get regional officers at our AGM unless invited. The captain, and the other officer from the look on their faces said concern and panic as this was an out of the blue. We did not have quorum and as a consequence we were told unofficially that we will be going down the path of having our operations suspended. His reason for taking this action was their are not enough volunteers living in the town and that our responce time were not up to scratch. What do they expect when you just cant get ppe, pagers or anything. What do they expect from small rural towns where the jobs are 60 km away yes their will be a delay if your employer will allow you to go. Where do you find volunteers when the age of the townpeople is hitting it mid 70's.

With the rant now over how well does this sit with concepts of project sherpa more importantly no advice was given in how to rectify the problem i.e. who to speak to or what tools would be available. How value do you think we now feel in the cfs as we are all keen to carry on. The captain is speaking to the members and what I feel is that their is more of resolve now to maintain brigade as we all still want to be members.