SA Firefighter

So, I may have this wrong but - this will effect those "volunteers" out there who receive an "honorarium"? I won't be devastated if someone being paid $2000 a year to compile and distribute 4 sets of minutes is taxed on it.

I didn't take the one with the flames - as much as I would have liked to have taken some it wasn't until well into the recovery phase that I had a chance. The driver (happy camper that he was) took that one which is a bit fuzzy. Did you check the ones on the website, Jase?

5km West Tailem Bend 07/11/08
More at http://www.users.on.net/~katrinah/incidents.html

Does anyone know where I can get any of those funny, funny Phoenix Fire Department Videos. Can't find them on youtube!

How quickly things change. Back when I started we could pack the 20 kindy kids on the back and drive them around town  :-)

I think a lot of Brigades do still allow supervised family members to go for rides on special occasions. Let's see what happens when the powers that be decide to discipline them for it!

Yep, well our girl was filthy, missing some VHFs but gained some others (bearing out the theory that this wasn't a mailicious theft).

One 25mm storz fitted lay flat missing (no use to you if you are using CFS standard wajax fittings) and very sadly our GPS unit. Which possibly eventually will be replaced but they won't even look at it for a while in case it shows up! And whether we will get something comparable to our Brigade purchased non standard unit with additional software I couldn't say.

Couldn't get rid of the dead skull wired to the front grille quick enough.

Dunno why people have to treat things so roughly - the throttle is bent, a switch is damaged, the recirc and inlet valves are bent, rear entry step is bent, some trim is missing, a basket from the fridge is trashed, coffin locker lid damaged.

Four tyres snaked (expected I guess), pump required service - air filter choked to the max (also unavoidable).

But we've only had it back since Wednesday and everytime I look at her I seem to notice something else trashed or missing.

A shame that people can't respect the equipment their lives could depend upon.

I believe the VFBA was going all out, as you would expect, to support this member who has tragically been left quadraplegic by this accident.

But why are we still responding to incidents every single day with drivers who have had no driver training beyond attaining their licence?

Any why do we get a couple of million in the state budget for training in rural bushfire suppression while this critical issue continues to be bandaided?

Posted verbatim from The Murray Valley Standard (7/3/06):

Police are seeking witnesses to the Country Fire Service truck rollover in Murray Bridge on Thursday. The truck was travelling east on Adelaide road (sic) and turned right into Swanport Road when it rolled, injuring the four occupants. The main intersection was interrupted for several hours as emergency personnel investigated and cleared the scene. The four CFS officers received non-critical injuries. Police have asked anyone who saw the incident, saw the driving manner of the truck before the incident, or have any information that may help investigations to contact Murray Bridge police on 8535 6020 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Remember no speculation!

I think wearing seatbelts is compulsory en route as per our SOP's regardless of what Road Traffic Act says? Dunno - couldn't find our SOP's on the CFS publications site as per Mengcfs post. But what a bonus to find the new Act and Regs.

Wonder when the Brigade will get a copy??

Gee some of you guys are quick to get personal!

All Probie said was that road crash can be nasty.

Which it can. And I'm qualified to say that :-) (but like most people who actually are would prefer not to go into grandstanding details)

OK, the Wirrabarra Bakery which has just moved to the next town (can't remember which) makes incredible gourmet pies in a wood oven.

I reckon the chicken one had half a chook in it!

I think if a fire appliance in NSW or Vic (or anywhere) rolled we would all be interested to see the photos and or footage. Call it professional interest? There's speccie rollover shots on the 'net that are even used on a firefighters website for inclusion in e-cards.

This is close to home (very, very for me) and naturally concern for the crew is paramount. And in due course if investigations show that there are things that could have been done better we will all benefit from hearing them.

It is just a fact of life that people will speculate. Living and working near Murray Bridge and being a member of their Group and a neighbouring Brigade I have been subjected to no end of interrogation and speculation. As fire service members this is not something we can indulge in publicly. And this forum is as public as it gets.

What we put in writing to be read by anyone who happens upon it should be carefully, carefully considered.

Yes, deviating from a serious topic momentarily - that chicken shop has kept us going at many an incident and made the participants on last weekend's BFF1 at Tailem very happy at lunch time.

PS: Our Brigade Captain owns the Tailem Bend Bakery which also rocks the planet. It's very handy to have a Captain who bakes you cream cakes.

Ah, well I understand the mistake.

I am a leuiy at Tailem.

Not quite :-)

Andamooka is 35km east of Roxby.

I have heard that it is a write off but it is early days and we will wait and see.

This was a very serious incident and your discretion and tact is appreciated. Crews are obviously very concerned and we have injured personnel still in hospital.

A rail container of ethanol had become disconnected from a train in the yards at Tailem Bend. Hazmat was responded as a matter of course. However the container was found to be secure and was reconnected to the train which went on it's way.

Yes, Adam the media can get things a bit skewed. I've been fielding calls from family and friends who heard that it was us.

Tragically a 41 year old mother of three young children died in terrible circumstances as reported on www.smg.com.au:

A volunteer firefighter has died after falling under the wheels of a fire truck while battling a blaze in Victoria's north on Friday.

It is the second firefighting fatality in as many days and the third in recent weeks.

The 41-year-old Barnawatha woman was fighting a grassfire on a private property in Barnawartha, west of Wodonga, when she was hit about 1.45pm (AEDT), police said.

The woman, who was helping with a fire hose, fell under the wheels of the truck as it slowly moved forward.

She suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene, Senior Constable Michael Henry said.

Traumatised fellow firefighters had to keep battling the blaze, which broke out about 1.30pm and took an hour to contain.

The woman's family, who are also involved in the brigade, have been notified.

Victorian Premier Steve Bracks and Country Fire Authority chief executive Neil Bibby on Friday night extended their sympathy to the woman's family, friends and colleagues.

"I am sure I speak on behalf of all Victorians when I send my sympathies to the family involved in this tragedy," Mr Bracks said.

"The loss is felt particularly hard when it is a volunteer who died selflessly serving their community.

"I am sure the thousands of members of the CFA across Victoria will rally round and support the family and local brigades in their time of need."

Country Fire Authority chief executive Neil Bibby said there were no words to adequately express his grief.

"Our deepest condolences go out to the member's family, friends and fellow brigade personnel," Mr Bibby said.

"There is nothing we can say to alleviate their pain but we will be there for them.

"As always, the CFA family will stand behind its members and anyone affected by this devastating loss can be assured of our full support."

Mr Bibby urged CFA members to talk about the tragedy with each other.

"I encourage any CFA member affected by the tragedy to speak to their fellow members and use available counselling services," he said.

The major collision investigation unit had been sent to the property on Williams Rd, as well as Worksafe officers, police said.

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

On Thursday in NSW, a waterbombing pilot Brad Pead died when his plane ploughed into a hill near Mount Ulandra, south of Cootamundra.

The 32-year-old father of two was the first fatality in the history of Australia's aerial firefighting.

Mr Pead worked for a private aviation company contracted to carry out waterbombing for the Rural Fire Service and was alone on the flight.

Police said he was from Bellangry, near Port Macquarie.

Last month in Victoria, Campbells Creek fire captain Trevor Day, 42, died while fighting a blaze near Yea when the truck he was in rolled over.

Quote from: CaptCom on February 08, 2006, 07:37:54 AM
the private units are valuable PROVIDED that they work with us, are appropriately dressed and follow instruction..we have had a lot of criticism from this group following Black Tuesday

This must be so frustrating. This sector does seem quick to knock the CFS. Then they're the ones who think we're being over the top (control freak tossers) when we request to know where they are, how we can communicate with them, offer them radios, foam, proper clothing. They often work contrary to the overall aim, and, as you say, sit and watch us in mop up phase (perhaps loudly commenting on how we stuffed it all up).

I wonder how we would go if we needed to remove them from a fireground though (particularly if it was their property). I don't know that it's logsitically posssible. I'm sure our local cops wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot barge pole!

Agree. But surely makes sense to send a chainsaw equipped CFS Brigade to a threatening "tree down" situation as a primary response when the nearest SES unit is over an hour away.

68 SES units in SA, 400+ fire stations.

Stuart Ellis (former CEO) used to say family first, job second, CFS third.

I hope you find a job, Sternzee, that suits your CFS commitments. You don't really want to be in a position of applying for jobs and being asked why you left your last three or four employers if the answer is, CFS!

Many employers are simply in a position where they cannot allow employees to attend. For example I worked in a kindy where the student/staff ratio simply didn't allow me to leave even though I was entitled to emergency services leave (it just required notice).

Small businesses can struggle here too. Even if they don't pay you for your time off, they have to pay someone else to do your job or suffer the productivity (ie money) loss.

Although I think it's good to raise the issue of CFS commitments in an interview and see where your prospective employer stands, I think it's best to go gentle to begin with. Get the job, be invaluable, and then do the CFS thing :-) Also if you show a willingness to make up time, do not go to every job going that others can handle, communicate your absences and provide written evidence of attendance from your Brigade it can help.

The EBA my workplace just negotiated has, for the first time, formalised their policy of supporting volunteer emergency service attendance by employees. They have always paid us for such time off but now it's in black and white!

Quote from: medevac on February 08, 2006, 03:17:52 PM
since tree downs are (in theory) an SES tasking then yes... definitely give it to them... in reality the only reason CFS/MFS actually attend tree down jobs is becasue occasionally they come through on a CFS or MFS line, instead of SES...

Er, challenge.

CFS has far more units covering a much greater area.

CFS attend tree down jobs in many areas because there is no SES
coverage or the nearest unit is 200kms away.

Mmm, dunno, but do know that there are many, many more total fire ban days than there are busfires that threaten schools.

Lets face it, most schools are a pretty safe place in a busfire and are often used as the evacuation point due to facilities and green expanses.

Quote from: medevac on February 08, 2006, 09:06:48 AM

Quote from: kat on January 26, 2006, 08:03:07 PM
quote: since fire never roll without rescue im not sure what your on about here kat end quote
Yeah, right  - tongue in cheek, huh?

i personally disagree with most if not all of your post... if SOCC page anyone (and im pretty sure tailem bend get paged by SOCC) to an MVA they will send a rescue truck, it is in there SOPs

Disagree away - this is just what I have experienced.

I'm sure if there's an MVA and SOC is aware of it and is doing the paging, then yes, they would send a rescue vehicle as per SOPS (Green Book, Rescue Directory.
But as it would seem most people ring the police or ambos in event of MVA there are many, many occasions when we are not called at all (as either fire or rescue) or quite some time later when it's established that we're needed for whatever reason. And you're right though, since SOC has been doing the majority of call taking and despatching without the local ALERTS line inolved, there has been a lot less fire cover despatched without rescue.

There are many reasons for this. Mostly I think the local police are good people who try not to "bother" us unless they consider it essential.

I believe that monitoring CFS radios is not the most effective way of determining actions as a member of the general public.

Listening to snippets of what individual crews think and see may not be reflective of the total picture. It requires the listner to interpret raw data and make judgements without necessarliy all the facts.

The bushfire warning system is a generic sort of a deal that won't necessarily help a school decide whether students would be safer at school or on one or any of the bus routes out.

I'm sure in this scenario, one of the CFS officers invloved in the fire could spare two minutes to explain to the school the situation.

Quote by Robert34: