All 2019/20 bushfire comments here.

Some mates overseas wanted to help and asked me for suggestions. I thought some of the forum might be interested.


Blaze aid
a volunteer-based organisation that works with families and individuals in rural Australia after natural disasters such as fires and floods. Working alongside the rural families, our volunteers help to rebuild fences and other structures that have been damaged or destroyed. Equally important, volunteers also help to lift the spirits of people who are often facing their second or third flood event after years of drought, or devastating losses through bushfires. BlazeAid volunteers work in a disaster-affected area for many months, not only helping individuals and families, but also helping rebuild the local communities.


How to Donate | BlazeAid volunteers rebuild fences after fires, floods, drought and cyclones.

Hay Runners
Burrumbuttock Hay Runners is a group founded by Brendan ‘Bumpa’ Farrell who take donated hay to fire/drought affected farmers in Australia.
BURRUMBUTTOCK HAY RUNNERS – Keeping the Dream Alive

Hi all

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RANDLOVER

The precedent has been set in a Qld court where a church was found guilty in the death of a volunteer tree lopper. Queensland family of teenager killed while tree lopping at church event furious over sentence - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

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Yes I read that and about time.

However there is a world of difference in the training provided to leaders and participants of events organised by church groups and accredited rescue groups such as SES, VRA, Rural Fire, etc. The later have written training policies and manuals, it's maintained, it can be audited, and kept up-to-date. Most of our time is spent in training!

Churches do not have this requirement so are most likely to engage in activities beyond their expertise. From my experience Scouts and Girl Guides have more training and competency than church groups.

Mike

I wonder if a better way would be instead of compensation payments there could be some sort of tax benefit given to volunteers who put in a minimum of hours. It would probably end up a nightmare to keep track of and prove what you've done, but it could have the benefit of giving an incentive for people to help out in their communities

It may sound simple, but I can see all sorts of complexities.

Where does the compensation stop?

If the volunteer at the front is compensated, who will compensate her employer who has been deprived of the output of her labour? Who will compensate the business that has had to reduce production because the supply of parts from the supplier has dried up because of the absence of the original volunteer? Who will compensate the owner operator truck driver who has no parts deliveries to make?

Where do you draw the line?

Like any form of assistance, there will be some who deserve help who will miss out and some who will rort the system.

I am not opposed to the principle but like so many things a lot of people believe there is a simple answer to a complex problem.

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Originally Posted by speleomike

Hi all



Yes I read that and about time.

However there is a world of difference in the training provided to leaders and participants of events organised by church groups and accredited rescue groups such as SES, VRA, Rural Fire, etc. The later have written training policies and manuals, it's maintained, it can be audited, and kept up-to-date. Most of our time is spent in training!

Churches do not have this requirement so are most likely to engage in activities beyond their expertise. From my experience Scouts and Girl Guides have more training and competency than church groups.

Mike

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Especially when it came to Proficiency Badges like Firefighter & Firemans Badges.

Trained by the local Structure Pros SAFB, at Thebarton Station & familiarised with their equipment & various Extinguishers & a heap of other stuff the book called for. Plus, was jolly good fun & met some great blokes, one being an ex- RAN WW2 Submariner, Colin, another, a Pro Wrestler (Doug) (built like a brick ****house),the Station Officer Tom, was a Sheaf Tosser who came from a long line of family tossers.:rolleyes: Just can't recall what the 3rd Shift Fireman Jack did. Something to do with welding & boiler making I think. Who said Jack ****? I heard that.[biggrin]


Ah, the good olde days.....

Crazy video.
It’s madness out there

Just watching the TV and they have said that 2 people have died on Kangaroo Island from this fire. They where in a car and got over run by the fire. Please everyone stays safe if you are in any of these affected areas where all these fire are

Hi

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Roverlord off road spares

Just watching the TV and they have said that 2 people have died on Kangaroo Island from this fire. They where in a car and got over run by the fire. ...

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My wife and are going back and forwards to from Sydney and our farm regularly. We have a emergency survival kit in the car as per this:
Travelling in a bush fire area - NSW Rural Fire Service
We actually don't go until we check if the route in and out is OK via online maps.

However I saw the pics of the two burnt out fire trucks where the fire fighters just escaped from, see here:
Firefighters survive after being trapped in burning fire truck during ember attack - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
They were "trapped inside their burning trucks", "Everything was alight, both sides of the truck, the top — everything" and then says "Mr Croft was among 16 firefighters who managed to escape their burning trucks and retreat to safety." and "... they were able to get out unharmed but their truck was destroyed."

This just leaves me confused. At what point did they exit the truck? Certainly not while it was surrounded by fire. Did they exit the truck after fire had gone but when its wheels on fire? Did the truck become gutted by fire after they left it?

It would have been more useful for my education if the ABC article had covered this in a bit more detail.
Is "staying in your car" with that survival kit the same as "duck and cover" in the 1960's ?
Maybe it's that your dead if you don't shelter in your car but you will have another 5 minutes of life if you stay in your car?
Or it it that the advice to stay in your car is for a small fire - nothing like though what's been happening?
Or maybe it's the difference between having vinyl versus real leather seats? :-)

Mike







Mike

Quote:

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Originally Posted by speleomike

Hi



My wife and are going back and forwards to from Sydney and our farm regularly. We have a emergency survival kit in the car as per this:
Travelling in a bush fire area - NSW Rural Fire Service
We actually don't go until we check if the route in and out is OK via online maps.

However I saw the pics of the two burnt out fire trucks where the fire fighters just escaped from, see here:
Firefighters survive after being trapped in burning fire truck during ember attack - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
They were "trapped inside their burning trucks", "Everything was alight, both sides of the truck, the top — everything" and then says "Mr Croft was among 16 firefighters who managed to escape their burning trucks and retreat to safety." and "... they were able to get out unharmed but their truck was destroyed."

This just leaves me confused. At what point did they exit the truck? Certainly not while it was surrounded by fire. Did they exit the truck after fire had gone but when its wheels on fire? Did the truck become gutted by fire after they left it?

It would have been more useful for my education if the ABC article had covered this in a bit more detail.
Is "staying in your car" with that survival kit the same as "duck and cover" in the 1960's ?
Maybe it's that your dead if you don't shelter in your car but you will have another 5 minutes of life if you stay in your car?
Or it it that the advice to stay in your car is for a small fire - nothing like though what's been happening?
Or maybe it's the difference between having vinyl versus real leather seats? :-)

Mike







Mike

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Hi Mike.
It is the radiant heat through the windows that gets you in a car. The firies in the truck put up screens to shield from this heat. They can let the fire pass then exit when able. In a car you can use a blanket to shield from radiant heat through the windows the same way.
Chris.

The temperature at Penrith was reported as 48.5 degrees, with suggestions it topped 49 degrees today. It has been reported these fires could continue for at least 7 weeks.

Fire crews brace as bushfire emergency continues across Vic, NSW and SA | The New Daily