Thread: Bush Fire Brigade

Was a member of the NSW Bushfire Brigade from 1977 to 1992, then moved to Qld and (sorry to all those Nth of the border) at that time Qld was so far behind, I didn't wish to belong.

Have been a career (?) Aviation Firfighter since 1987 and will be moving again shortly and intend taking up with the Rural Fire Service once again.

And I'm older than the HH's.

Originally Posted by JohnF

So travel to the outer suburbs of Sydney and find a brigade that is. RFS headquarters are over near the race course towards Parramatta I think [forgot the name of that Suburb. Lived at Auburn years ago when I was young, then later at Yagoona]. Rockdale may have a SES.

RFS Headquarters are now in the Sydney Olympic Park Precinct.

If I went anywhere I'd probably join one of the Sutherland Shire brigades or Shoalhaven near the folks farm.

What you didn't mention is that if you are a NSW State Government employee (or health service) you get special leave that doesn't come off your holidays or sick leave entitlements.

Originally Posted by JohnF

I mentioned this above, because at the last Northern Rivers Support Brigade AGM, a week ago, it was mentioned that most Support Brigade members were taken from other brigades, where as enthusiastic new Non brigade Members would be useful. See most of us N R Support Brigade Members still are involved with other brigades in some way, many being active Fire Fighters, so we have weakened our other brigades by joining the NR Support Brigade. Hence this lead to this thread.

But we have areas of interest. For example I am interested in doing Air Base & field Communications--At fireground assisting Group officer on Radio or in Field on the Radio Trailer.

Apparently our Radio Trailer is one of only three Radio Trailers in the State.

Before the recent Radio upgrades, our Group Vehicles could be on five different Radios all at once, as well as be mapping fire with GPS & Laptop, etc. So can be very busy, too much for just the Group Captain.

The Five Radios could have been.
1. Updating Headquarters Dispatch [e.g. send us more Fire trucks/Crews sent as fire is getting too big for existing Crews too handle].
2. Communications with Fire-front Crews [e.g. I need you to leave current duties to travel 2 km north to put out that spot fire, before it threatens property. Or updates on what events are happening, e.g. Group Captain informing crews that a Weather front with strong winds is coming, and they must urgently leave the area in ten minutes].
3. Radio to talk Town Brigades, ambulance, etc, that could also attend our fire [they used different Channels to RFS].
4. Radio to Quensland brigades [We are very Near Queensland border and they used different radio Channels to us. 3 foot six inches gauge compared to 4 foot 8 inches for all you train buffs].
5. Communication to Helicopter, etc. [Want that water dropped on that house to the north that is about to be impacted by the Fire front, etc.]

And on a busy Fire-ground all these radio calls could go off at once, while Laptop GPS and compass bearings are being taken [Group vehicle could say "Want to report smoke of a new Spot fire on top of the ridge about 3 KM from our GPS location on a bearing of 230 degrees. Need you to dispatch Crews there now to contain it before it gets too large.].

So the Group Captains like a companion in the command car, to help with Radio calls, GPS/Laptop mapping of fire extent, etc.

I have a regular scribe now as the workload for one Group Officer is too much. When I was the DivCom at the Brooms Head Fire last year I had a driver and a scribe.

Trying to control strategies and movements of 25 tankers + having 7-8 aircraft available means a high workload. I had 2 Sector commanders; however one was somewhat lacking in experience, which hindered me.

It's good that some people who would not generally be front-line firefighters are getting in and helping in these support roles

You have one of our ex-vols up there as your CSO









Oh, and it's been the Rural Fire Service since 1997, not the Bush Fire Brigades

actually I did the RFS induction the other day which gives us the card and the ability if safe enough to enter a fire ground..

for us its about going in to move/ rescue animals stock that kind of thing.

It was a really good course well worth it and I learnt so much that can just help me if we were to be subject to a bush fire at our house

Have been an active RFS member since I was 14. Then the Blue Mountains Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade it was about helping each other and a community pulling together for the common good..

..now it seems to be more about fostering a sad little bureaucracy But, if you can get past that, its a very worth while thing to do.

Don't get me wrong - I'm still an active happy supporting member. I'm just really sad that in the past 10 years all the people who really knew the bush have left.

I hear ya mate this is the spirit that built this country, the willingness to help a mate in times of need. I've been a volunteer in emergency services SES and Rural Fires for over 15 years and also have an interest in training search and rescue dogs.

Well having being in a brigade, most of the recruits I've seen are dumb-as and have no leadership or initiative to speak of...not meaning to sound harsh, but that's reality and it scares me. Good on them for taking the initiative to contribute and all, but that's the limit of my respect for them...the training regimen is laughable, as are the testing procedures. The people who I went through training with ages ago were dubious, and yet they still came through because of shortages...please explain?!

John - Agree with all you say and good on you (not like the umpires of the Dockers game tonight). My brigade, Kalamunda BFS, has 80 or so active members ranging from cadets to 80 plus year old retirees. The brigade has a real community spirit about it and is well supported by the community by donations.
One advantage of being part of it is being able to play in our last remaining Defender light tanker in areas of National parks where no one else is allowed entry
All the best and take care
Graz

Originally Posted by JohnF

Got to get off this forum and study for an Air Base Knowledge exam on Sunday at Yorklea Fire Control center. This exam is for the Bush Fire Brigade, of which I am a member.

It is worth every one joining their local Bushfire brigades--Our local Hanging Rock Brigade, at Wadeville, plus The Northern Rivers Support Brigade, plus the whole Northern Rivers Area needs more Members, and I expect other areas need members as well.

Airbase knowledge, which I am doing, is the first step to allow you to work around Aircraft--supply them to water bomb Bushfires, etc. We have a portable dam for Water, etc.

Our Northern Rivers Support Brigade has several Non Fire functions:--

1. Catering for those Fighting Fires, and for training days. We have two Catering trailers.
2. Communications, both in headquarters talking to brigades fighting fires, and in field--we have a communications trailer, we can set up where reception is poor.
3. Logistics--moving personnel and/or equipment to where needed. For Example, take a busload to the airport to fly to relieve crews at interstate fires--we are getting a new bus.
4. Airbase see above.
5. RAF [Remote Area Fire Team] have to be fit for that--Jump out of helicopters in font of fire to put in fire breaks, etc.

RAF team will probably see fires, but other areas of the Support Brigade may not even see a fire, but are still essential.

So forum members, there is always something to do, even without getting onto a hose in front of a big fire.

I have a crook Knee/foot, so thought I could not join the brigade, as they could not use me. Then one day I got I lift with a girl who had been sent by my Brigade down to Sydney to do an Aircraft Traffic Controller's course. to direct Water bombers at Bushfires, etc. So realizing their were other jobs than on a hose, I joined.

You too could do something in your area, even if it is only Catering, etc.