Fire Management In The Netherlands

Our A/g Deputy Chief Officer Richard Woods has just returned from his teaching and sharing knowledge in Wildfire Investigation.  Please see previous blogs.

Below are some more pictures of firefighting in the Netherlands including their volunteer brigades.

The Control / Dispatch Centre in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands.  This is a joint facility where Police and Fire Services operate from.



Netherlands Fire Service (Brandweer) attached to the Harskamp Military Training range.



Cor Scheppink, Commander of the Harskamp Fire Station ‘assisting’ with the test fires for the training course.

Fie tanker assigned to the Harskamp Military Base Fire Station.



Volunteer Fire Station at Hoog Soeron... a small village surrounded by scrub and grassfire risk in the central part of the Netherlands

 

Stage 1 Of Jerrabomberra RFS Station Handover

This afternoon Boss Constructions handed over Stage 1 of the Jerrabomberra Station extensions.  Rob Gore, (President) and Chris O'Neal of Jerrabomberra Brigade plus representatives of Boss Constructions, ACT Procurement Solutions, JaCS Facilities Support and ACT RFS management were there for the hand over.

From left,  ACTRFS Deputy Chief Officer Michael Joyce, BOSS Constructions representative Alex Morgan, Ron Leslie from Procurement Solutions, Jerrabomberra President Rob Gore and Assistant Manager of JaCS Strategic Planning & Support Darren Smith, go through the paperwork

The group inspects the inside of the facility.

The main garage for the Jerra tankers and light units

The ACTRFS has accepted the handover of the shed, subject to the normal process of identifying defects. The Jerrabomberra brigade will be moving vehicles and equipment into the new facility this weekend

ACTRFS Team Joins The RSPCA Million Paws Walk

Last Sunday the RSPCA ran their major fundraiser being the Million Paws Walk.  A team of 12 members from the ACTRFS met up and participated in the walk to raise money for this cause.



The ACTRFS Team really stood out amongst the crowd wearing their uniforms and PPE.

Charlotte, Celeste and their cute pooch.



Stirling Ridge HR Burn

Sunday saw the completion of the hazard reduction burn at Stirling Ridge along with the practical assessment of our newest recruits to the ACTRFS.  From all accounts the burn was a great success as well as the basic firefighters completing and passing their assessments.

In this posting we were challenging our photographers to get more than just the usual fire & smoke shots but to capture it from different angles and viewpoints.....as well as the faces of the ACTRFS.

A keen bunch of new recruits ready for the day's activities (they weren't so happy after the rake hoe assessment!)

Gary Hooker seeing the light

One of our new recruits enjoying herself during the assessment

 

A different angle.



Amy McLenaghan learning the fine art of the use of a drip torch.

Ron Hughes & DCO Michael Joyce appear concerned about the goings on of the new recruits.



Deputy Chief Officer contemplating his next shot.



Update From Belgium!!

Below is an update from Richard Woods, Operations Manager, whilst in Belgium.

"Currently in Ypres in Belgium- on Friday 13th May.  I attended the Menin Gate Memorial Service held nightly at 800pm in rememberance of the lost soldiers of the First World War (Flanders Fields). These photos depict the Menin Gate and the members of the Ypres Volunteer Fire Brigade, who perform the Last Post at every Ceremony. At the invitation of the Last Post Association of Ypres, I took part in the Ceremony, layed a Wreath on behalf of the people of the ACT and read a short piece finalising the ceremony. After meeting the Officers of the Ypres Volunteer Fire Brigade, I presented with a patch of the ACT Rural Fire Service.

Richard with some of the Ypres Volunteer Fire Brigade

Wreath as placed  (middle row third from left with Aus Flag)- one on upper section from previous evenings' ceremony- Richard was the only Aust to be involved in this evenings proceedings

Richard with the Commander from the Fire Service gaining an oversight of the grassfire threat in the Netherlands

May Photo Caption Competition

The photo below was captured during the Stirling Ridge HR burn on Saturday 7 May. What was the DCO thinking? What were the Groupies thinking? What do you think?

Comment on the photo by suggesting a caption that you think captures the moment. Entries close 5.00pm Friday 20 May. The caption voted best by a team of experts will win a fantastic prize!

HR Burn at Stirling Ridge - 7 May 2011

This weekend's HR burn at Stirling Ridge conducted for the National Capital Authority has gone off well. Crews from Molonglo, Guises Creek, Hall, Gungahlin and Jerra worked together under the direction of Lucas Tan who did a great job controlling the burn which was quite complex because of the environmental and heritage sites in the burn area. Below are a few shots of the crews at work on the burn.

One of the photos gives you a clue to our next photo caption competition!!




Clearing around plaques marking where the Westlake settlement once stood



This is the clue!! The full photo will be posted tomorrow for the competition




Do you feel sorry for the cat that someone forgot to let out of the truck!

 

Photos courtesy of Michael Joyce & Gary Hooker

Operations Manager Richard Woods In The Netherlands!

At the invitation of the Netherlands Police Department and Fire Department, our Operations Manager Richard Woods has been conducting specialist training in wildfire investigation in the Netherlands, a first for this country.  Based at the Harkskamp Military Base in the central Netherlands over the last 10 days, he has also been inspecting areas of high fire risk and attended a number of grassfire outbreaks with Police and Fire Crews.

The attached photos show Netherlands Police and Fire Investigators in the field, being mentored to locate items in the fire's area of origin.

 After conducting a Wildfire Scene Examination Training Course in the Netherlands for 21 Police and Fire Investigators, their country is now well placed to investigate wildfires, topping up their existing skills in crime scene examination.


Operations Manager Richard Woods withe the Netherlands Crime Scene Officers reviewing the scene.





The Course also attracted significant interest from many levels of Governement including senior Military, Fire, Police and EPA Personnel. This also saw the attendance of National Media at the training event, promoting the attendance of an Australian Officer in providing these specialist skills.

  The Netherlands has significant fire threat issue relating to grass and scrub fires, along with significant urban interface challenges. They have also been subject to ongoing arson issues across their country causing major problems for fire and police officials.


Richard creating quite a stir in the Netherlands being interviewed by their television and media.





Providing a briefing to Senior Government Officials on observations made during his visit of fire risk, fire management and fire investigation issues and recomendations.



Richard presenting observation of woldfire problems to key Executive Officers from the Police, Fire and Military.