Mount Barker MFS

[Toast]

Why does call count = MFS!

The assessment should be done on the risks present in the area. If a brigade does 100 grassfires, 100 alarms, and 100 MVA's all of a minor nature, why should the MFS move in? Just because they are above a certain number?

[PF_]

Good point 24P.  As can be seen in the Busiest Brigades thread, the MFS should be looking at Dalkieth, Salisbury and Morphett Vale before Mt Barker (Although most of them dual respond with MFS anyway)

There already is MFS at Salisburty and Dalkeith is very close to ELizabeth.

[CFS_Firey]

Why does call count = MFS!

The assessment should be done on the risks present in the area. If a brigade does 100 grassfires, 100 alarms, and 100 MVA all of a minor nature, why should the MFS move in? Just because they are above some arbitrary number?

Because no matter how trivial the calls are, you can't expect volunteers to give up that much time for free. Naturally, special risks should also be taken into account, but once a brigade is getting 350-400 calls a year, you have to ask how they can be expected to keep that up without something extra... (Maybe the CFS should offer extra funding to the really busy brigades? )

[Firefrog]

CFS does fund busy brigades more highly. If a brigade is large and is happy doing 350+ a year then I say good on them. They should be allowed to continue

[strikeathird]

Why does call count = MFS!

The assesment should be done on the risks present in the area. If a bigade does 100 grassfires, 100 alarms, and 100 MVA all of a minor nature, why should the MFS move in? Just because they are above some arbitary number?

Quite simply mate, cause no one wants to be prepared to stand infront of the Coroner explaining why the truck didnt go... (Not realising we are all vollies).. and coming back with the fact that the Risks were known, they warranted Paid crews, and yet none were installed...


At the end of the day.. if the risk gets too high... The change will have to happen..

(Not saying i agree, just saying thats how I think it will go).

[rusty]

There are some Vic CFA Brigades that easily do over 600 calls a year - fully volunteer. These Brigades meet their response criteria - to reach 90% of their calls within the alloted time frame in their response area. They (like Mt Barker) are forward thinking enough to roster their crews to ensure that they maintain adequate fire coverage. But, they also have a bigger vol base to call upon, and are better funded (that's still way cheaper than paying full time crews). The CFA vols will also be the first to put their hand up and ask for paid staff assistance when required, either on a business hours basis or full-time, as public safety is number 2 (after f/f safety, of course  ).
I don't believe that call rate or risk on their own should dictate the need for full time firefighters. If a Brigade is concerned that they might be "taken over" then perhaps they need to look at whether they are providing the best fire/rescue coverage, or, instead of bleating about it, become proactive and do something about improving their service levels. Mt Barker do a Stirling job..  keep up the good work!
IMO.

[TillerMan]

yes the mt barker shift system works and it works well, it has 9 people on it to allow for 1 or 2 people that may happen to be in the loo or in the middle of "talking" to their mrs.And yes there is a button on their decoder for 'A' shift responce.

i was told that if M.F.S do move up there that the brigade would like there to be 1 full time crew and 1 or 2 retained crew so that the current C.F.S members could join that, that may be where the confusion over them wanting M.F.S to move in is coming from.

[rescue5271]

There is more to it,the MFS may have the land but the state government must first approve the change to the MFS boundary before the MFS can open a station....