People can even stuff up traffic control.....I was first on scene at a crash, which required traffic control, and needed three people, (one each end, one in the middle), due to the location.
One member of the public, (who stopped specifically to help with traffic control) another CFS member I was travelling with, and myself, had the traffic moving smoothly, and safely past the crash scene.
Local brigade arrived, and made a complete mess of the whole operation - including not wearing safety gear, parking appliances in dangerous & unsuitable locations in relation to the traffic, completely disregarded the three of us, who already had the traffic moving appropriately, and they ended up having traffic trying to travel in both directions, at the same time, on the same lane.....
So, even what we can call simple tasks can be goofed by people!
As an OIC of an appliance, I don't let a person on my appliance, unless I had some knowledge of them.....
I am happy to cross crew - and take members from my adjoining brigades - but will not take a complete stranger on my appliance. As a BFF-1 Instructor, I tend to see many of these people, so have an idea of who they are. I also get an opportunity to travel around & see other brigades at work. You soon get to know which brigades are very good on their training, and ensuring members skills are top notch, and those brigades whose members tend to have average skills...
It has been argued that a strike team is taking strangers out, but members going on major strike teams are vetted by the Captain / Group officer before being sent, and are supposed to have had some level of experience (although it showed on the recent KI deployments, that perhaps a few should have been vetted a bit more stringently!)
Within my own crews, I know their strengths & weaknesses. There is one who says they can run the pump, but when placed under pressure, they cannot. That person doesn't go on strike teams. I would hate for that person to turn up to another brigade, who don't know him, and offer to help.
Particularly on Strike Teams, I have come across many people who tell me how good they are...but don't live up to what they say....
So, if you are not in my brigade, the only way you can come out with me is if I know you, or I have been able to check with someone I know / trust, that the person is suitable, or you attend the brigade training sessions, so you can demonstrate to me that your skills are adequate.
While we are all meant to have the same basic training, with BFF-1, there appears to be quite a difference in the competency levels around the state (that is not to say particular Regions are not as good as others - it is an individual brigade thing)
Pip
