Firefighters

[Wongo]

If you are one or you know someone who is one, please thank them for me. They are the real heroes in the community and who knows I might need them one day.

:)

[DavidG]

Simple. Donate to your local brigade.
If you live in a city, adopt a rural brigade and donate to them.

It cost these guys & gals a lot in time and money.
At least help them to have good equipment.

ps My adopted brigade is Shannons Flat.

[silentC]

I've been tossing up on whether to join the RFS or the SES later this year when the house is finished. I want to join one of them. A mate is a coordinator for the SES and he wants me to join them. Not sure I want to pull dead people out of cars though. Plus if I was at the scene of an accident like the one I was at in Canberra the other day, I'd be tempted to leave him in the car and set fire to it. They do search and rescue as well, which is more up my alley.

I reckon the best way to show gratitude is to sign up and do your bit if you're able.

[Iain]

I did three years with CF&L, went to numerous fires from about two square feet to several km fronts.
Not pleasant and I've had enough, leave it to someone else now.
I found CF&L to be the most incompetent firefighting outfit that God ever put breath into, they created more fires than they put out, the last example was Wilsons Prom...................albeit about 30 name changes later.

[Andy Mac]

I'm with the Cabarlah RFB, and luckily its been quiet lately. A couple of years ago we were in a big one down the range at Murphy's Creek, hot and scary, but satisfying too.
I don't know about other states, but the training here seems more focused towards admin, organization structure and legalities, rather than hands-on firefighting:confused: .
One good thing about cruising around on firetrucks with the older blokes is getting to know the country, bush tracks etc, and where certain vegetation is (did I say timber??!:p ).

Cheers,

[silentC]

where certain vegetation is
Yes, I often come across certain vegetation when bushwalking. ;)

I would not have liked to have been in the RFS on Sunday. There was a fire in the scrub around one of the Merimbula caravan parks early afternoon and it threatened a few houses. Started just as that hot North Westerly came through. Stinking hot day and hung over - not a great day to be fighting a fire. We could see the flames from the other side of the bay - about 7km away - so it would have been a hot one.

[RufflyRustic]

....snip...
One good thing about cruising around on firetrucks with the older blokes is getting to know the country, bush tracks etc, and where certain vegetation is (did I say timber??!:p ).

Cheers,

HAHAHA glad I'm not the only one Andy :D

On a more serious note, I'm thinking of volunteering as a support person, one of the many, quiet behind-the-scenes people who helps those who have been evacuated - hold their hand, arm round shoulder, shoulder to cry on, endless supply of tissues, a friendly smile, some bad humour... sandwiches, drinks, etc etc. I can't physically fight a fire, but the rest of the above I can do. [sorry, have to qualify this - if Toowoomba and area gets hit by bushfires again]

cheers
Wendy

[Ivan in Oz]

On Ya Wendy,

It's the Support people who do a lot of work, also;
and get near NO acknowledgment.

One thing which rubs me the wrong way
[I know what I mean, you think what you like you lot :p ]
is the Companies which will not allow their People to go do their FireFighting duties,
for threat of loosing their Employment.

[Iain]

Forgive the pun Wendy, but you still burn out after a while and your attitude becomes 'stuff it, someone elses turn'.
Ingested far too much smoke and dodged too many widow makers at night, 3 years was long enough for this little black duck.

[Auld Bassoon]

If you are one or you know someone who is one, please thank them for me. They are the real heroes in the community and who knows I might need them one day.

:)

Absolutely Scott!

I recall when I first arrived in Australia in mid November '93, and seeing the smoke from the bushfires around Sydney (I had a rented penthouse apartment at the top end of Goulbern St, so could see right around)

The parade held in honour of the "fireies" through George St was quite amazing.

These boys 'n gals deserve all the help and support that they (generally do) get. As to the mongrels that deliberately light fires, well...

Cheers!

[JDarvall]

I'm in my local RFS. Haven't been as active as I like to be lately, despite the heat wave.

I find it hard myself comprehending the vast amount of time my mates put into it. Training, preparation etc. Cause, the great majority of us arn't paid.

I joined partly because a mate of mine was in,,,,he was very persistant, and I did like the idea of helping out in one of the few ways I new I could.
Now, I'm kind of regreting it, cause, I'm finding it hard to find the time necessary to keep myself in tune with the job. uno,,,,I don't want to go out to a fire and be a burden, just because I don't train enough..... but at the same time, I'm no quiter.

....eg. " Jake !...get the Suction hose for the cat 7, quick ".... only to find myself looking like a complete wally cause I can't remember where that is...

Thats the biggest problem with volinteer work. And one of the most frustrating things for the more dedicated firefighters as well,,,who often are ex-military..:rolleyes: :eek: Well, its true. At least around here.

But, there is no-body else to do the job. No pay, means a lot of volenteers, but few who actually turn up to fires. Usually only a handful of blokes actually do most of the work, I've noticed. A lot of people talk like their going to join, but really don't end up even trying once they realise whats involved.

Bit sad. But an unfortunete reality. I have to find time for paid work first, then my family, then maybe for firefighting. Be a different story if I got some pay for it. Just a little something be nice.

Also, something to remember, a lot of these guys don't do it JUST for uno,,,, " Like to help out the community "..... they do it cause they like the adrenilin rush.....flying off in a rush to a danger spot. Not knowing what to expect, all dressed in emergency clothes. It can be a thrill. I'm a bit over it personally. Especially when I'm in the passenger seat, next to one like this, whose driving like a complete maniac to get to a fire..... Ex-sargent. I've got better places to be. Won't ever forget that night.

Then, there's also the dangers of course. Firefighters are injured or killed much less than one might think. But still...... Only recently I was backburning with my unit in some scrub and a tree suddenly fell. Luckly I saw it out of the corner of my eye and sidestepped it at the last second, else it would have messed me up badly. Spooked me a bit, cause no other trees falling anywhere...and with little warning. Sort of like it wanted to get me :( :D

Something to remember though, to those who are thinking of joining. There are only so many hours in the day. To do it properly you really gota put a lot of time behind it. Despite the adrenilin rushes, a lot of the time you arn't doing anything special as well. Blacking out,,,,digging back. Sitting around doing nothing, waiting for instructions. Hot, dry, sweaty, tiring. .......But, hosing down the Captains always fun....and he loves it so much........' Jake, hit that stump (blast it with the hose).....JAKE !!! ...HIT THAT STUMP !!!!.....WHAT ! (as I turn my whole body around facing him, in doing so hosing him down) ...oh, oh Sorry !! :D (lots of fun :o )

[ryanarcher]

Scott,
thanks Brother. :) and thanks also to the cops. they have a thankless job, and yet continue to do great work. thanks DanP!

[Iain]

Only recently I was backburning with my unit in some scrub and a tree suddenly fell. Luckly I saw it out of the corner of my eye and sidestepped it at the last second, else it would have messed me up badly. Spooked me a bit, cause no other trees falling anywhere...and with little warning. Sort of like it wanted to get me
Thats the classic widow maker, no warning, more fun at night as you just hear the crack, run like hell and hope it is in the general direction of away

[RufflyRustic]

Iain - very good point and the pun, I think, was perfect. I know , well I think I know what I can do and give and if I can, I'd like to. Have to put a time limit on it though so I don't burn out and also have a good girlfriend network ready for debriefing and relaxing afterwards.

Well said ApricotTripper!

cheers
RR

[Iain]

I spent 3 years with the department trainer training and trauma debriefing but as an active employee (with the Government, oxymoron, active employee) I was required to be a 'prescribed firefighter'.
Sod all training and just sent to the front with little back up and a rake hoe.
There were quite a few injuries and they could never quite work out why.
CFA used to give us strange looks and until more recently I never knew why.

[Andraax]

SES for about 8 years - though the government give them sum money it is only about 3-4% of there operating costs.

One thing though is you don't do something you are not comfortable with - being near bodies a problem for you? Then you don't do those jobs.

Even is you only want to provide welfare (food) for teams in the field it is greatly appretiated - and I will take my hat of to McDonalds in the Frankston area (all of them) who regularly provided us with lots of food free of charge. Believe me having been in wet overalls and climbing roofs for 8 hours a cold cheese burger and luke warm coffee deliverd to you in the field is heaven on earth!

[DanP]

As one of the services who uses and abuses the CFA's, SES's, Ambo's etc on a regular basis, I would like to say thanks. Rarely do we get the chance to say it at a job.

On the donation theme, a lot of areas now have IGA supermarkets with a community benefits scheme. Put your local CFA, SES etc as the beneficiary and shop there. Have all your mates do the same. Our CFA had a couple of thou raised for them last year in a community of about 5000. Imagine what you could do in a place like Frankston or Dandenong.

Get on board you lot. Remember, these guys don't only save your house, they cut your loved ones out of cars at accidents, get your cat out of the tree, get pushed from pillar to post by the coppers and they do it all for FREE.

I had to pity the local boys on NYE and NYD, it was a TFB day and about twenty odd call outs right through the night.

Dan

[journeyman Mick]

Wongo
Thanks:D , I'll take that as a thank you for my efforts;) . Been to about 20 fires this last season:( , but it's started raining, not a proper "WET" yet, but enough in our area that fire isn't a real worry any more:) . I'm the only officer and one of the few members that works in our area, most people work down the hill in Cairns at least 40 minutes drive away. I also live and work within a few hundred metres of our shed, consequently I go to most of the fires.

Jake,
good on you and hang in there, but believe me, you don't want to be paid. I've lost a lot of time and money this season responding to fires (and a few false alarms) but if they were to pay us I wouldn't be in it at all. Why?
1) The pay wouldn't be enough, it certainly wouldn't come close to what I charge for my time.
2)As a volunteer if I don't want to go/decide I've had enough/decide that the person in charge is a wally/believe that any orders place myself or my crew in danger I go home and there's nothing anybody can do about it.

As a paid employee of an emergency service there would be major repercussions if I withdrew my services (ie strike or walk out). I've been to a few incidents/heard incidents on the radio/read transcripts of logs/been to debriefs which lead me to conclude that where bushfires are under the control of urban brigades (because they're in an urban levy area) that decisions are made that are not the best in the circumstances. The reasons are varied: training/habits/culture (paid "proffesional" vs unpaid "amateur")/mindset/egos. A few incidents got me so riled up that I rang the assistant commisioner for urban brigades for this region to demand some answers:mad: . Of course I couldn't get through :rolleyes: so I wrote him a letter with 108 questions in it and c.c'd it to a whole heap of politicians ;). Resulted in him getting it all investigated quite seriously. Still waiting on the final outcomes but have seen some improvements already. Now imagine if I was a paid employee, even if only part-time. I doubt it would have gone as far as it has.

BTW, don't know how it works elsewhere but in QLD we elect our officers. So unless you have a whole brigade of idiots then someone like the mad driver you mention certainly wouldn't get re-elected:p

Dan,
no-one pushes this little black duck around from pillar to post!:p

Mick the militant volunteer fire-ee