Official climate science, which is funded and directed entirely by government, promotes a theory that is based on a guess about moist air that is now a known falsehood. Governments gleefully accept their advice, because the only way to curb emissions are to impose taxes and extend government control over all energy use.
Karuah Rural Fire Service battles own crumbling shed
BEYOND frustrated with sub-standard conditions Karuah Rural Fire Service has broken ranks in its fight for a new shed.
The acting captain Ken Smee has revealed a long list of problems from structural cracking to flooding and improper facilities for men and women working in close quarters.
“We’ve done everything by the book until now and it’s got us nowhere,” he said.
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it
How quickly do we forget the past? We have failed to learn from Australia’s traditional land managers and we have not learned from our early explorers. We spend huge amounts of money being reactive instead of being proactive. Our post incident inquires make recommendations but we continue to ignore common sense and reasoning.
Roger Underwood shares the following historic accounts:
Endeavour journal, 19 July 1770
Joseph Banks was with Captain Cook in 1770, camped at what is now Cooktown while The Endeavour was being repaired after hitting a coral reef. The sailors had angered the local Aborigines by taking turtles (without permission and without offering to share) and revenge took place by the Aborigines setting fire to the grass around the camp. Banks recalled in his journal:
I had little idea of the fury with which grass burnt in this hot climate, nor of the difficulty of extinguishing it when once lighted: this accident will however be a sufficient warning for us, if ever we should again pitch tents in such a climate, to burn every thing around us before we begin.
National CAVFA Survey (closed)
Volunteers and auxiliary firefighters with all major fire services across Australia were invited by the Council of Australian Volunteer Fire Associations (CAVFA) to participate in a nationwide survey that takes volunteer opinions and advice direct to Government and Emergency Management sector decision makers.
Rural Firefighters across Australia experiencing similar issues
On the 24 Jun 2016, ABC Rural published an article titled “WA volunteer bush firefighters will only support rural fire service independent of Department of Fire and Emergency Services”.
The article by Belinda Varischetti and Joanna Pendergast included two recorded interviews that are well worth a listen.
VFFA AGM and Ordinary Meeting – Sat 6th August 2016
A VFFA Annual General Meeting is being held at the Parkes Services Club on Saturday August 6th, 2016 from 10.00am to 11:00am.
It will be followed by an ordinary meeting from 11.30am to 5.00pm at the same venue with a lunch break in the Services Club Bistro from 12.30pm to 1.30pm.
What are the implications of setting up an independent fire service?
There has been some discussion (even in NSW) about the implications of setting up an independent fire service.
When you look back in time, at the way that the NSW RFS began, it seems to have gone full circle:
1. Neighbours pooling resources and working together to protect themselves and each other from the threat of fire.
2. A larger group of people working together as above but forming a brigade that is supported by local government.
3. A state based organisation working with local governments to support local brigades.
4. The state based organisation builds an empire that looses focus upon the reason they are their in the first place.
5. The state based organisation grows bigger with bureaucracy and over complication clouding their ability to properly serve those local brigades.
6. Local brigades get frustrated.
7. Experienced people often leave.
8. Neighbours consider pooling resources and working together to protect themselves and each other from the threat of fire.
The VFFA supports CFA Volunteers
The VFFA is deeply concerned at the current turmoil facing Volunteer fire fighters in the Victorian Country Fire Authority (CFA). Their 60,000 Volunteers are the backbone of the CFA, they contribute an enormous amount.
The National Bushfire Disgrace
Never before in Australian history has bushfire fuel management fallen to such a low level that the majority of the countryside is classified as having “dangerous” fuel levels.
Never have our bushfire authorities placed such heavy reliance on firefighting as the answer to the bushfire threat, eschewing the “preventative medicine” approach of fuel management that was successful in the past. They ignore the fact that the suppression approach almost always fails when most needed.
NSW Council Mergers
How will these mergers impact upon the Rural Fire Service?
The NSW RFS eBulletin (May 2016 Issue 43) stated:
1. The NSW Rural Fire Service has an existing partnership with local government, and our Districts are based on local government boundaries, the changes will lead to some changes in our Service longer term.
2. There is no immediate change to NSW RFS arrangements or operations.
3. The NSW RFS continues to operate as normal and these changes do not affect day to day responses to emergencies or services to the community.
4. The NSW RFS will be further considering the council changes, as well as the proposed changes, and be communicating with members.
5. There is likely to be administrative changes but this would not affect capacity to deliver front line services.