Kangaroo Ground ICC

Please find enclosed a flyer regarding “Facilities Manager” and “Facilities Team” for the KG ICC. It is clear from this that D14 is slowly getting organized with support people for the ICC and that this will lead to some training.

As you can see, they are currently looking for a Facilities Manager who’s role it is to know how everything runs in the ICC. This position and the Facilities Team are really the hands and feet who make the ICC tick. Without this support, the function positions cannot “function”. This is what I have been advocating all along so that everybody knows how to use the phone system, knows where the photocopier is and how it works etc.

Please let me know if anybody is interested in becoming the “Facilities Manager”. I will certainly keep all informed when there is training for a Facilities Team.

Best Regards

Urs Biedermann

Group Communications Officer

Whittlesea Diamond Valley Group

Phone 0417 533 501

Nillumbik Group Fire Ground Channel

I must draw to your attention that Nillumbik Group is with immediate effect not using the default D14 Fire Ground Channel 63 anymore. They have decided that they do not get the required coverage with Channel 63 and therefore will be using Channel 45 as their default Fire Ground Channel.

From my point of view, this is not ideal as we now have had a uniform default Fire Ground Channel across all of D14 for some years but Nillumbik Group believes that this is not workable for their area.

So, you must be aware when turning out supporting a Nillumbik Group Brigade, that their default F/G Channel is 45. Especially the bordering brigades Plenty, Diamond Creek, Yarrambat, Doreen and Arthurs Creek must be aware of this change. Please ensure that all members of these brigades are aware of this

Just for the records, the new laminated Comms Plans placed in all the appliances reflect this change on the front page but the back page wrongly shows Channels 63/64.

Best Regards

Urs Biedermann

Group Communications Officer

Whittlesea Diamond Valley Group

Phone 0417 533 501

Update on Dead and Dangerous Trees on Eagles Nest Rd

Hi All

This is an update on where we are at with getting works done on Eagles Nest Rd.

The arborist has delivered his report. The report identified trees that required removal or pruning to make safe.

Based on the assessment we have engaged a contractor to commence work on the removal/ pruning of 26 high priority and 45 moderate priority trees.

Our contractor has indicated that the works will commence in early April.

Our arborist is due to complete his report on the rest of the fire affected area. When we have this we will allocate available funding to prioritised works.

Regards

Justin

Justin Murray Executive Officer Emergency Management  |   Nillumbik Shire Council  |   PO Box 476  |  Greensborough  Vic  3088

FIRS and reviewing your turn-outs

After each incident, Pat submits a fire report into FIRS (fire incident reporting system).  Pat uses the details recorded in the station diary, so it is important that everyone, especially crew leaders, record complete details. 

Referring to the previous post, if you deploy to an incident outside of the brigade, ensure your details are provided to Pat so that FIRS can be updated.

If you are interested, you can access the brigade's and your own turn-out history via CFA Online:

1. Log into CFA Online: http://cfaonline.cfa.vic.gov.au/ (if you don't know your password or user ID, contact me and I'll reset it for you)
2. Select Brigade > FIRS & Performance Analysis
3. For your own turnouts:
1. Select My Turnouts
2. Enter the date range you are interested in
3. Press Search
4. For brigade turnouts:
1. Select Brigade Fire Reports
2. Select the type of report
3. Enter the date range you are interested in
4. Press Search

Geoff

Major Incident FIRS reporting of personnel deployment

I think there has been a problem with recording of deployment of personnel to Major Incidents such as campaigns or incidents such as Floods etc. where the brigade was not responded but just some individuals.

Please see the enclosed flyer from  FIRS outlining the procedures to rectify this. I would strongly recommend that you ensure that all deployments are recorded accordingly.

Best Regards

Urs Biedermann
Group Communications Officer
Whittlesea Diamond Valley Group

Operations Bulletin 003 / 2012

Recall on Pacific Mk 1 type Drip Torches (unmodified) and Drip Torches Leaking and Potentially Catching Alight

• Operations Bulletin 003 / 2012

Brigade clothing order

Lisal and Peter M are organising a brigade clothing order.  Review the available styles, then complete an order form and return it to Lisal by Friday 13 April 2012:

• Available styles
• Order form (.xls version)
• Order form (.pdf version)

You can download the .xls version of the order form, fill it in online and email it to Lisal.  Or download and print the .pdf version and complete it manually.

Car accident - 3 March

No idea how the car didn't roll down the embankment.

Grassland curing map - 19 March

beyondblue e-learning program

As part of beyondblue’s strategy to increase awareness and understanding of depression and anxiety disorders in the workplace they are developing free e-learning resources. The first of these resources, the Workplace Mental Health Awareness e-learning Program, is now available on the beyondblue website at http://www.beyondblue.org.au/workplace

D14 Senior Urban Championship achievements

Congratulations to all those CFA members who participated in the VFBV Senior Urban Championships at Mooroopna over the weekend.  Some key achievements for Northern and Western Metropolitan Region brigades were:

CEO's Blog: Catching up with the CEO and CO in real time online

To give us the chance to discuss key CFA issues and topics with you, from next week we will be implementing fortnightly live discussion sessions, hosted by myself and Chief Officer Euan Ferguson on an alternating basis.

Minutes - General Meeting - 6 February

Attached are the minutes from the last general meeting.

• Minutes - General Meeting - 6 February 

Thanks to Sue for preparing them.

Geoff

From the Chief Officer

The Chief Officer's latest blog entries:

• From the Chief Officer #42 posted 27 February 2012
• From the Chief Officer #43 posted 5 March 2012

Car accident - 16 Feb - Greens Rd

and Pat...

CEO's Blog: Fiskville Update #7

Following a request from Independent Fiskville Investigator Professor Rob Joy, CFA has approved a three month extension of the Independent Investigation into the use of chemicals for live fire fighting training practices at Fiskville Training College dating back as far as the 1970s.

Welfare top tips articles

There have been a series of well written welfare related articles published on CFA connect, containing some helpful info relating to welfare.

I’d encourage you to read them as you may benefit from these and distribute to your team as you see fit.

Automated FDR survey

A trial is underway for automated FDR signs whereby 14 signs have been placed in high risk locations around the state. The trial commenced in December 2011.

There are two types of signs, one is an LED format with highlighted panels and no needle, the other has a motorised needle. Both have message panels at the base and are remotely updated via sophisticated software.

Evaluation is taking place for both sign formats and a survey has been set up for valuable feedback from members. For CFA members to participate in the survey please click on the link http://www.strahan-research.com/xRybGixw and follow the prompts.

Please also feel free to pass this onto brigade members who you believe would have seen the automated signs and would like the opportunity to provide input into the future of this project.

Craig Hearson
Regional Service Delivery Manager
Bushfires Portfolio Management Office
Performance and Strategy

Good Friday Appeal - Thanks to members

Yesterday CFA brigade members from the Wyndham area participated in the launch of the 2012 Good Friday Appeal at the new Royal Children’s Hospital.

CFA was chosen to participate yesterday due to the dedication and support our members have shown the Good Friday Appeal over the past 60 years.

Grassland curing - 5 March 2012

Click for larger version

Lifting of Restrictions, CFA District 14

Following recent consultation it has been decided to request that the CFA lift fire restrictions on Monday 19th March for the municipalities of

• Wyndham City Council
• Melton Shire Council
• Hume City Council
• Whittlesea Shire Council
• Nillumbik Shire Council
• Banyule City Council

Presently I will forward the required paperwork to CFA

Thanks to all of those who contributed to the consultative process.

Kind regards

John Deering
Operations Manager
CFA District 14
Northern and Western Metropolitan Region

Transfer of Control

Please read the attached guidance note from the Fire Services Commissioner regarding transfer of control. Please feel free to contact your Operations Officer should you require any further information.

Regards,

Mick Harris
A/Regional Commander
Northern & Western Metropolitan Region

CFA Survey

In order to better understand how Members want to receive information from CFA; a short survey has been developed for all members to complete.

It would be appreciated if you could take the time to complete the survey which takes less than 5 minutes. All Members are asked to complete the survey before Friday 4th May 2012. You have the option of either:

• Completing online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/communicationCFA
• Completing a hard copy which will be included in the next edition of Brigade magazine with a reply paid envelope included.
• Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV) will also be including a hard copy with its quarterly mail out however there will be no reply paid envelope included with this. If you complete this copy, feel free to send it to me at D14 HQ – 251 High Street (PO Box 50), Melton 3337, and I will arrange to have it sent to HQ Burwood.

For Brigade members, please note by completing the survey and nominating your Brigade, members will go into a draw to receive one of five $250 vouchers to spend on equipment for their Brigade from Fire Trader. Can you please communicate this to all members of your Brigades.

Many thanks,

Liz Gleeson
Administration Support Officer

Women and Emergencies Forum : More tickets available (8 March 2012)

To celebrate International Women's Day 2012, Health & Human Services Emergency Management is partnering with the Victorian Government's Office of Women's Policy, Women's Health Goulburn North East, and Red Cross to stage a free half-day forum titled: ‘Women and Emergencies’.

For more information please visit: http://womenandemergencies.doattend.com

Prepare your home, plan

On article about our very own Matthew:

http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2012/03/02/448691_national-news.html