RFS Volunteers Receive Gas Hotprops Training

ACT Rural Fire Service volunteer firefighters were put through their paces at the ESA Training Facility at Hume on Saturday 29 Sep 2012. They learned techniques on how to approach and suppress gas and fuel fires. This training was in addition to normal regular training which is undertaken all year round at each Brigade.

Brigade members are now even better prepared for the upcoming bushfire season which commences from 1 October 2012!

 

Preperation for the 2012/13 Bushfire Season

It is that time of year again when the ACTRFS Brigades start the spring cleaning, electing their Office Bearer's at their AGM's and start getting ready for the upcoming bushfire season.  The Rivers Volunteer Bushfire Brigade is no different.  A working bee was held at the Brigade station a few weeks ago to do maintenance checks on all the vehicles and clean up and the yards.

Going over the checklist to ensure RIVERS12C is equipped and ready to go.

River's newest recruits Ann & Trudi checking over the tanker and learning where things go along the way.

Cassy getting down and dirty to ensure the station is ready for the 2012/13 season.

Rohan keeping an eye on proceedings.

Mark checking that everything has been moved from the old office to the new one.

At the Rivers AGM Cassy's hard work and dedication were acknowledged with a Captain's Award.



Long standing member Tony Hill acknowledged for all the hard work he puts in with the vehicles in the Brigade as well as to the ACTRFS community as a whole with his specialist advice.





Aircraft Officer Training Course and Air Attack Supervisor Recertification event

Aerial firefighting specialists from throughout Australia are converging on Taree Airport this weekend for a major training exercise to prepare for the upcoming fire season.

NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said around 80 aerial firefighters will be travelling to Taree to hone their skills in aviation management.   “The unprecedented rain we’ve had in recent years has lead to an increase in vegetation growth, particularly grass growth. As soon as we start to get some warmer weather this grass will dry out, providing the ideal fuel for grass fires.  

"This training will ensure aerial firefighting specialists from both NSW and throughout Australia are well practised and trained in preparation for the inevitable return of fire conditions,” said Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers.  “People in communities throughout Australia will benefit from having freshly trained and prepared aerial firefighters on hand to help fight fires from the sky when required during the summer months.  Trainees will fine tune their skills in navigating to water bombing sites, calling in water bombers, dropping foam and retardant and running an airbase. They will also be taught how to co-ordinate reconnaissance, aerial ignition techniques as well as transport and airbase management services.  These roles are vitally important during fires, particularly in the work aerial specialists do to support firefighters on the ground.  This training will help us to combat fires by sharpening the skills of our aviation specialists, not just from the NSW RFS, but from a range of firefighting and land management agencies from throughout Australia,’’ said Deputy Commissioner Rogers.

NSW RFS firefighters will join with their counterparts from the ACT Rural Fire Service, South Australia Country Fire Service, Queensland Fire and Rescue and the NSW SES to hone their skills in this four day exercise.

“This large-scale, multi agency training exercise would not be able to take place without the support of the Greater Taree Council and their Airport Management, who are both very supportive of our training,” said Deputy Commissioner Rogers.

The New Hot Prop's At The Hume Training Centre

Here are some images of the new hot props that were being used at the Hume Training Centre on Tuesday night.  The ACTRFS has been training up members on the use of them and it won't be long till our volunteers can utilise these great facilities.



ACT RFS assists ACT Fire and Rescue Stage 3 Course 19 June 2012

ACT Rural Fire Service members tonight played roles as casualties at the ACT Fire and Rescue Stage 3 major rescue exercise held at Hume Training centre.  The evening started with a gas fire and car fire which were spectacular to watch as the ACT F&R members were put to through their paces dealing with multiple casualties at multiple concurrent scenarios.

 

The Most Dangerous Machine on the Planet

"It is the most dangerous machine on the planet - and you can buy it at Bunnings for $99" Wayne Lemke says.  Wayne has been imparting his immense knowledge about chainsaws operations to RFS crews in a series of chainsaw refresher courses which have held around Canberra in recent weeks. These photos were taken in the pine forest near the Air Disaster Memorial at Fairbairn, ACT at the chainsaw refresher course held on Sat 2 June 2012.

A professional Stihl chainsaw carried by most ACT RFS units.

Glenn Foley (Jerra) provides advice on how to unjam a chainsaw.

Course members consider the physics of what will happen next.

Kyle Abell from Jerra shows how it is done.