State faces severe bushfire season

Bigfella78 · Post by **Bigfella78** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 3:02 pm

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx? ... ntID=97381

So who's going to be home for christmas this year?

Post by **auntys_eyes** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 3:10 pm

Ya beat me to it Bigfella

Fastlane · Post by **Fastlane** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 3:14 pm

They say this every year

Only difference this year, is that things are burning quite well already...

Bigfella78 · Post by **Bigfella78** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:13 pm

I've only been a volley for 5 years now. But the controlled burns feel different this year. Bigger flame height and faster moving.. could just be me..

SamW · Post by **SamW** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:45 pm

hehe don't we hear this every year, "its going to be a bad one this year, not much rain this year".

Last season, the one week I go on holiday, all hell breaks loose in my area, and I miss all the action, come home to 2 weeks of mopping up.

What brigade are you in bigfella?

Helitak_670 · Post by **Helitak_670** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 6:21 pm

Now everyone predicting a BAD year, don't they say that EVERY year. So what is different from the past 10 years which has been predicted a BAD year for fires? Well yes it has rained early and then dry, but its raining now and all next week, so that will dampen things down a bit. I have noticed that some grass is curing already though. So a danger for grassy's is there.

Bigfella78 · Post by **Bigfella78** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 11:44 am

I'm in Gosnells BFB.

Last time I was up in the hills the creeks that normally run bank full this time of year are running at half and a couple were dry. Might of changed with the last bit of rain we had.

The world is heating up. Weather in Perth is different now than it was 5 to 10 years ago. We have to expect that to impact on fire behavior.

Jonesy · Post by **Jonesy** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 11:51 am

And there is a number of areas that should have went up last year that didnt, and are now going to be even bigger this year. I hope all you guys and girls out there have you gear ready.....

Firey79 · Post by **Firey79** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 11:51 am

I have been a volunteer for 10years and this seasons seems to be mostly the same. Our brigade has already started burning and a couple of them have been hot which is earlier than usual. Also we are getting little bits of rain here and there which is allowing that little bit more grow before it all drys out.

I know it has all been said before that this could be the year, which is a very good warning as we need to make sure that our training is up there with the best of them as well as our equipment.

Remember that it is not only saving lives and property, to us firey's it is about standing side by side with our fellow volleys and making sure we all go home.

Jonesy · Post by **Jonesy** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 1:49 pm

Firey79 wrote:..... as we need to make sure that our training is up there with the best of them as well as our equipment....

Spot on

observer · Post by **observer** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:12 pm

Jonesy wrote:
Firey79 wrote:..... as we need to make sure that our training is up there with the best of them as well as our equipment....
Spot on

Pity we are way off on both accounts

Jonesy · Post by **Jonesy** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:33 pm

observer wrote:
Jonesy wrote:
Firey79 wrote:..... as we need to make sure that our training is up there with the best of them as well as our equipment....
Spot on
Pity we are way off on both accounts

Its the old case of training??? What is training??

observer · Post by **observer** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:38 pm

There is nothing wrong with training, infact I agree, we should all train and train until we know our stuff inside out, and then train some more. However is the level of training that we are being provided "up there with the best of them"? Is our equipment "up there with the best of them"?

Jonesy · Post by **Jonesy** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:47 pm

I can only speak for my area so.....

Equipment, Yes. How do i know this, i pushed it pretty hard this year to get fixed. Our First responding appliances are up to scratch for sure and ready to roll.

Training, well. The training is up to standard, its just the fact that the memebrs have to attend for it to be worthwhile. How long can we rely on the same few people all the time.

FESA put out a fair spred of courses this year, plus a few locally run ones aswell. Not sure how many people got knock backs on attending courses, but i found it quite easy to get on them.

Only time will tell, but no doubt it will be the same faces from each brigade at each incident again.

observer · Post by **observer** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 3:01 pm

Obviously your definition of the "best of them" is vastly different than mine. When I say "best of them" I look at what other fire services in Australia are doing. Im lucky to have experienced how many fire services across Australia operate and can see good and bad points. WA does have some good points, but is severly lacking in alot of areas in terms of equipment and training.

For example, how much work has been done on crew protection on our appliances? Research what they are doing over east and you will realise that we are years behind. How much training do we devote to safety and survival? Very little, however if unfortunately something goes wrong (fortunately it doesn't however we can not garuntee nothing will ever happen) it them becomes the most important training we could ever need.