Sorry mate, just going by the first post it seems to me like a web blog setup for scanner jockeys to listen in on jobs, guess at what is happening then pass it on, down an unofficial means to the public.
Yes you are almost spot on but it's more than that with queries from locals looking for information or passing it on.
We have found a level of hysteria on 98% of call outs that are basic bread and butter jobs where the truck is back in the station within the hour.
An example from Woodend, Victoria
The first callout for one crew at the start of this fire season was for a basic mva, no injuries. This escalated to ABC Radio and then the press the following day just because the brigade siren went off at 7:45 and locals were scared as the fire-season had been called and it was after Black Saturday.
Showing most incidents are mundane and giving a human response may pacify some of the "ill at ease" who bring this up. This allows for more bandwidth when the CFS needs to be heard.
Surely the best way of disseminating information to the public [although in some cases it has seemed lacking] is via the appropriate agencies media releases, bushfire information and warning messages and the official web sites of the CFS/MFS?
Yes,
And the system does use some of the RSS attributes of the CFS system to show what is new and produced officially. It is another tool you may want to use.
Can you provide further information on where the site is 'coming from'? ie; government approved? agency approved and establsihed? etc... or is it a private company doing its own thing?
The system is a trial by a private company and has been involved with the Federal government EM2AU project. We are yet to discuss this project with the CFS or SA Government as it is in trial but if we believe we can offer something in 2011, we certainly will and hope to meet with some of them in April if it all goes well.
Happy to chat to you via PM if required.
Skillsy