Page 1 of 2

Ex volunteer charged with arson

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 9:22 am
by Turbo

Re: Ex volunteer charged with arson

Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 5:34 pm
by phreak
this isn't the first time something like this has happened. i'm pretty sure an ex volly was done in 2006 or 2007. i'm trying to dig up the story somewhere.

out of curiosity, do FESA psych test vollies?

Re: Ex volunteer charged with arson

Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 6:43 pm
by Turbo
Why was this moved from the FESA section to OFF TOPIC?

Just curious.

Edit: I dint realise arson was considered a "joke or rant"

Re: Ex volunteer charged with arson

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:40 pm
by Turbo
Ever get the feeling you're being ignored?

Re: Ex volunteer charged with arson

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:53 pm
by robbage

Re: Ex volunteer charged with arson

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 8:12 pm
by Zebedee
Turbo wrote:Ever get the feeling you're being ignored?
Hmms. Did someone hear somebody say something in here? :lol:


I'm guessing it was moved by one of the section mods because it wasn't really related directly to the fire services. That'd be my best guess...

Re: Ex volunteer charged with arson

Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 7:02 am
by Nick
As far as I know only the SES volunteers are subjected to any form of back ground checks on sign up

Re: Ex volunteer charged with arson

Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 6:32 pm
by phreak
Nick wrote:As far as I know only the SES volunteers are subjected to any form of back ground checks on sign up
roger that. it would be a time and resource consuming effor to psych test every volunteer - esp cos their volunteers!

Re: Ex volunteer charged with arson

Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:26 am
by veteranfirie
An interesting statistic I heard in a station recently.

"Not all vollies are arsonists but 75% of convicted arsonists are or were vollies"

It doesnt reflect well on firefighters in general if this is true so maybe its about time there was psych testing for vollies.

Re: Ex volunteer charged with arson

Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 2:08 pm
by Zebedee
veteranfirie wrote:It doesnt reflect well on firefighters in general if this is true so maybe its about time there was psych testing for vollies.
Or perhaps not, I think the system's fine the way it is. Speaking purely for myself, if I were going to be subjected to "psych testing" for any volunteer position, then that'd be the end of my involvement in volunteering.

Re: Ex volunteer charged with arson

Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 2:26 pm
by Tyranus
Zebedee wrote:
veteranfirie wrote:It doesnt reflect well on firefighters in general if this is true so maybe its about time there was psych testing for vollies.
Or perhaps not, I think the system's fine the way it is. Speaking purely for myself, if I were going to be subjected to "psych testing" for any volunteer position, then that'd be the end of my involvement in volunteering.
Indeed, what person in their right mind would at 3am in the morning get out of bed throw on some clothes, drive/ride to a fire station jump in a truck and go looking for a fire which may or may not be there, then if it is there fight the fire till 8 or 9 in the morning before going home again...?

Re: Ex volunteer charged with arson

Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 2:34 pm
by Magnus
Tyranus wrote:
Zebedee wrote:
veteranfirie wrote:It doesnt reflect well on firefighters in general if this is true so maybe its about time there was psych testing for vollies.
Or perhaps not, I think the system's fine the way it is. Speaking purely for myself, if I were going to be subjected to "psych testing" for any volunteer position, then that'd be the end of my involvement in volunteering.
Indeed, what person in their right mind would at 3am in the morning get out of bed throw on some clothes, drive/ride to a fire station jump in a truck and go looking for a fire which may or may not be there, then if it is there fight the fire till 8 or 9 in the morning before going home again...?
Or going to their paid job for another 8 hours before going home :wink:

Re: Ex volunteer charged with arson

Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:41 pm
by bohong
Magnus wrote:Or going to their paid job for another 8 hours before going home :wink:
And doesn't that open another can of worms on fatigue management and duty of care???? (Dare I say it)
Something to think about with the upcoming season

Re: Ex volunteer charged with arson

Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 7:07 pm
by Turbo
veteranfirie wrote:"75% of convicted arsonists are or were vollies"
Wow...

This figure alone should clearly shows that there is a huge problem with the recruitment process - I cant believe that people think its "fine the way it is".

Just my opinion.

PS: Cigarette smoking causes 87% of lung cancer deaths

Re: Ex volunteer charged with arson

Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 7:42 pm
by Fastlane
Turbo wrote:
veteranfirie wrote:"75% of convicted arsonists are or were vollies"
Wow...

This figure alone should clearly shows that there is a huge problem with the recruitment process - I cant believe that people think its "fine the way it is".

Just my opinion.
You forget the "if its true" part of what veteranfirie said.. so... wheres the proof? And if its 75%, what percentage of total vollies are 'convicted arsonists' ?

And I have to ask.. you seem to have a bee in your bonnet about this and volunteer firefighters (more so than anyone else on here.. and suddenly too)... why? I would be interested to know where this is coming from.