We now have a brigade website: http://arthurscreekcfa.org.au/
It is still a bit rough around the edges, but from now on all news, dates and documents will be posted to the website, and not to this blog.
This is the last post to this blog.
If you have any troubles accessing or navigating the website, please contact Geoff.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Saturday, July 28, 2012
New pagers
We are getting new pagers, in theory before the start of the fire season. This is what they look like. Yes, a bit "back to the future" - based on the old Orange pagers.
Specs of the pager: http://www.uni.com.tw/alpha_legend.html
Geoff
Geoff
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Relay For Life - CFA MWNR/District 14 Team - 2012
I am sending this email to you all as a challenge to your brigade members to enter a team in the Doreen Relay For Life event (details below).
New arterial roadworks
Bridge Inn Road, Mernda
Wednesday 25 July to Tuesday 30 October, 9.00am - 3.30pm
- Near Cravens Road
- Lanes closed in both directions as required
- Traffic will be alternated through the open lane
- Speed limit reduced to 40km/h
- Private contractor works
- Melway: 390 E9
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Media training - bookings closing this week
If anyone is still interested in media training could you please RSVP by COB this Friday, 27 July.
At this stage, the only course that will be able to go ahead (due to numbers) will be Advanced Spokesperson training on 13 August. There are still four places left in this course, which is being held for Operational staff and Managers – Regional Directors/Managers of Community Safety/Operations Officers/Operation Managers/RDOs/Incident Controllers. Etc.
At this stage, the only course that will be able to go ahead (due to numbers) will be Advanced Spokesperson training on 13 August. There are still four places left in this course, which is being held for Operational staff and Managers – Regional Directors/Managers of Community Safety/Operations Officers/Operation Managers/RDOs/Incident Controllers. Etc.
VFBV And UFU Joint Communique - Important Message to All Victorian Careers and Volunteer Firefighters
Members will be aware, last year the Australian Parliament unanimously recognised occupational cancer for firefighters by enacting presumptive legislation to protect Federal firefighters.
The presumptive legislation was the result of an Australian Senate Inquiry that accepted international and scientific evidence that firefighters have an increased risk of contracting specific cancers due to their exposure to toxins and carcinogens when undertaking firefighting operations in the course of protecting the community.
The presumptive legislation was the result of an Australian Senate Inquiry that accepted international and scientific evidence that firefighters have an increased risk of contracting specific cancers due to their exposure to toxins and carcinogens when undertaking firefighting operations in the course of protecting the community.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Concept medium tanker photos
Some photos from Mike of the new Medium Tanker that was on show at South Morang.
 |
| From the deck behind the driver looking towards the rear. Note the new style of tank. These can be fixed/replaced much more easily and quickly than the current fibreglass ones. Front tank is a fresh drinking water supply. |
Bendigo Bank Grant Presentation
A couple of photos from the Bendigo Bank Grant Presentation at Bridges.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Fire Services Commissioner Stakeholder Forums
Please refer to the attached letter about some upcoming FSC stakeholder forums about Emergency Management in the New Era.
Geoff
Geoff
VFBV Notices
VFBV has advised of forthcoming board vacancies on both the VFBV and CFA Boards. If you are interested, please refer to the attached letter for more information.
The VFBV Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Sunday 16th September at Fiskville. Refer to the attached letter for more information.
Geoff
The VFBV Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Sunday 16th September at Fiskville. Refer to the attached letter for more information.
Geoff
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
New Operations Bulletin
006/2012: Fire Station Motor Room Environment Vehicle and Equipment Checks
All Operations Bulletins are available on CFA Online:
All Operations Bulletins are available on CFA Online:
- Path: Brigades Online > Fire & Emergencies > Manuals > Operations Bulletins
- Link: http://cfaonline.cfa.vic.gov.au/mycfa/Show?pageId=operationsBulletins
National Emergency Medal
Please find attached a memo from the Chief Officer regarding an update on the National Emergency Medal (NEM).
Kind Regards.
Tanya Ryan
Acting PA to Chief Officer
Fire & Emergency Management
Kind Regards.
Tanya Ryan
Acting PA to Chief Officer
Fire & Emergency Management
From the Chief Officer
The Chief Officer's latest blog entries:
- From the Chief Officer #55 posted 6 July 2012
- From the Chief Officer #56 posted 16 July 2012
Saturday, July 14, 2012
TAIT Portables - Guidance
Through the NWM Health and Safety Committee, concerns have been raised as to the adequacy of information provided regarding the changeover to new TAIT Portable Radios. In particular, the different styles of lapel microphones, the scanning function and the identification of new vs. old style radios.
The attached documents are intended to provide some clarity on the issue and should be read in conjunction with Operations Bulletin 004/2012 – TAIT Portable Radio Usage Guidance.
We have also made arrangements with CFA Headquarters to produce a further Operations Bulletin that will provide a greater level of understanding of using the ‘scan mode’ on the new portables. This should be released in the near future.
I would ask that all members within your brigades have this information made available to them and if there any concerns or questions please let me know.
Regards
Jamie Hansen
Operations Officer
District 14
Northern & Western Metropolitan Region
The attached documents are intended to provide some clarity on the issue and should be read in conjunction with Operations Bulletin 004/2012 – TAIT Portable Radio Usage Guidance.
We have also made arrangements with CFA Headquarters to produce a further Operations Bulletin that will provide a greater level of understanding of using the ‘scan mode’ on the new portables. This should be released in the near future.
I would ask that all members within your brigades have this information made available to them and if there any concerns or questions please let me know.
Regards
Jamie Hansen
Operations Officer
District 14
Northern & Western Metropolitan Region
Water quality at Fiskville - message from the CEO
As you may be aware the Herald Sun recently reported on the quality of water being used for training purposes at Fiskville. We take very seriously the health, safety and wellbeing of our members and indeed all persons using the training facilities at Fiskville.
To provide certainty and comfort for all people doing live fire training at Fiskville, we made a decision last week to only use mains water until further notice.
To provide certainty and comfort for all people doing live fire training at Fiskville, we made a decision last week to only use mains water until further notice.
Black Saturday Review - final session
There is a final Black Saturday review sessions with Jamie Mackenzie and his team on Thursday 26 July 19:00 Arthurs Creek station.
All are welcome, particularly those that have missed out on the other sessions.
All are welcome, particularly those that have missed out on the other sessions.
Medium Tanker Road Show
D14 dates:
- South Morang - 13 July - 10:00-16:00
- Sunbury - 15 July - 10:00-13:00
- Melton - 15 July - 13:00-16:00
Whooping cough (pertussis)
Please be advised that a member of NWMR has been diagnosed with whooping cough (pertussis).
For more information about whooping cough including what it is and the associated symptoms, please read the attached fact sheet.
Although members may have been vaccinated against whooping cough in the past, and hence have a lesser chance of contracting the illness, protection is not life long.
If you experience any symptoms that you suspect could be linked to whooping cough, we strongly recommend that you see your General Practitioner as soon as practicable.
If you have any questions about this email, please do not hesitate to see or call Tina Marchington or myself.
Regards,
Sam ChhayActing Manager Human Resources
Northern & Western Metropolitan Region
For more information about whooping cough including what it is and the associated symptoms, please read the attached fact sheet.
Although members may have been vaccinated against whooping cough in the past, and hence have a lesser chance of contracting the illness, protection is not life long.
If you experience any symptoms that you suspect could be linked to whooping cough, we strongly recommend that you see your General Practitioner as soon as practicable.
If you have any questions about this email, please do not hesitate to see or call Tina Marchington or myself.
Regards,
Sam ChhayActing Manager Human Resources
Northern & Western Metropolitan Region
Friday, July 13, 2012
Please join Club Red today, to help our community...
Do you do any other fantastic services to your community???
Well, if you don’t and you like a semi challenge it might be the time to start donating blood (or registering to Club Red if you already donate, see more below).
Well, if you don’t and you like a semi challenge it might be the time to start donating blood (or registering to Club Red if you already donate, see more below).
The Professor Joy Report has now been released and is available to view
Dear CFA members
I would like to let you know the Board has now released the Professor Joy Report (into historical use of chemicals for live fire fighting training at Fiskville between 1971 and 1999) along with our detailed response.
I would like to let you know the Board has now released the Professor Joy Report (into historical use of chemicals for live fire fighting training at Fiskville between 1971 and 1999) along with our detailed response.
Notification of Fiskville report release to Members
I wish to provide some guidance on the notification of Brigades regarding the Fiskville Investigation report and CFA’s response.
I ask that you confirm with your Brigades that they are aware that the Report has been released and where additional information may be found if required (see below).
I also ask OIC’s to ensure that their staff are aware of the report and associated supporting documents.
I ask that you confirm with your Brigades that they are aware that the Report has been released and where additional information may be found if required (see below).
I also ask OIC’s to ensure that their staff are aware of the report and associated supporting documents.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Access to blog documents
The provider I was using to store the documents that were linked from the blog - MediaFire - has purged my account. This is from a combination of me travelling and not responding in time to some claims about copyright infringement they sent me (none of the claims were valid), and them being very excessive in dealing with the situation.
I need to work out how I'm going to resolve it, as reloading all the documents and relinking them will take far too much time to do.
In the meantime, if you need a specific document, please email me and I'll send it to you.
Apologies for any inconvenience.
Geoff
I need to work out how I'm going to resolve it, as reloading all the documents and relinking them will take far too much time to do.
In the meantime, if you need a specific document, please email me and I'll send it to you.
Apologies for any inconvenience.
Geoff
BLEVE
Why being close to a BLEVE is a bad thing...
BLEVE stands for either:
Geoff
- Boiling liquid Expanding vapour explosion, or
- Blast Leveling Everything Very Effectively
Geoff
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Strathewen Fire Safety Project: Fire Behaviour Presentation
The Strathewen Fire Safety Project has Nicholas Gellie, a fire ecologist, preseting a talk on fire behaviour on Black Saturday. This is on Wednesday 27 June, 19:30 - 21:30 at the Peter Avola Pavilion in Strathewen.
Friday, June 8, 2012
From the Chief Officer #53
From the Chief Officer #53
Acting Chief Officer Steve WarringtonThanks everyone for taking the time to read this update. Chief Officer Euan Ferguson is currently on some well-earned leave and will return on Monday 25 June.
St Andrews Fire Station Opening
On Sunday afternoon the new St Andrews Fire Station was official opened by Cindy McLeish MP. St Andrews Fire Brigade was intensely involved and affected in the 2009 Campaign Fires and it was privilege for me to meet with brigade members at the opening. The new Fire Station has a lot more space with modern facilities to support the brigade member’s requirements and house the brigades 3 appliances. Thank you to Captain Laurie Steel, Ex-Captain Helen Kenney & the members of the St Andrews Fire Brigade supported by OO Ian Cross & BASO Jenny Broadhurst for the hard work and time put into building and opening the new station. Well done!
Community Safety Engagement Forum
Over the last weekend, I have attended two very successful community safety engagement forums. These forums highlighted the importance of leadership in community safety across all levels of CFA. Well done to Managers of Community Safety Mark Potter & Neil Thompson & Community Education Officers Ellisa Bourne and Erin Bulmer for the initiative & good work in facilitating these forums and special thank you to Ex Chief Officer Brian Potter for his motivating presentation he shared with the forum, he hasn’t lost the touch.
Digital Media Team’s double win
CFA’s work in integrating social media into Victoria’s emergency communications was acknowledged last week when CFA won both of its finalist categories at the 2012 Australian Government Information and Communications Technology Awards. CFA was awarded the ‘Excellence in eGovernment’ award in the Government 2.0 category and CFA’s Digital Media Manager, Martin Anderson, was awarded the '2012 Government 2.0 Innovator’ award. You can view a presentation by about the integration of social media into emergency service procedures in Victoria here http://bit.ly/CFAsmem
School Visit for Erin Toomey
Last week, the Eltham Fire Brigade A Platoon consisting of SSO Joe Cardamone, LFF Robert Henderson, and QFF Andrew Reis attended Holy Trinity primary school to help in the celebrations of Erin Toomey’s final chemotherapy session. Erin is a Five year old girl in prep, who has been undergoing treatment for the past three years for cancer, which has required daily oral chemotherapy. The Eltham crew in front of Erin’s family, friends and classmates presented Erin with a trauma teddy from all fire fighters of Victoria. Thank you to the Eltham A Platoon for your very important efforts in supporting the local community. Job well done!
Farewell to Regional Director Mark Reid
Gippsland Regional Director Mark Reid has announced his retirement from CFA after 39 years. Mark joined CFA as a Junior volunteer at South Warrandyte in 1973. He commenced employment with CFA as a Recruit Firefighter in 1979 and progressed through the ranks, serving in a variety of key operational roles at Boronia, Geelong West, Dandenong, Portland, CFA Headquarters and more recently throughout the Gippsland Region. In 2007 Mark was seconded to the National Fire Authority of Fiji, where he filled the role of Chief Officer for two years. After the Black Saturday fires, Mark was seconded onto the CFA VBRC team for two years prior to being promoted to the rank of Regional Commander in Gippsland in 2010. More recently Mark was appointed to the role of Regional Director in Gippsland, a position that he still holds today. Throughout his CFA journey he has been an experienced operator, strong leader and a great story teller. A real character that will be missed when he departs CFA.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Burning oil video clip
This is a short video clip of how to handle a burning oil fire in the kitchen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)