The Volunteer Fire Fighters Association (VFFA) congratulates the NSW State Government on the news that an Emergency Services Property Levy will replace the current insurance based model.
This is a much fairer system of collecting funds for firefighting and state emergency services in NSW, it will spread the financial burden of the emergency services levy, and means that the majority of property owners will pay less.
VFFA 2015 Vol 7 No 2 (Summer)
The Summer 2015 edition of the VFFA Magazine is now available for viewing and download.
Your rights under lights and siren – By Michael Eburn
Michael Eburn says that he is asked this question by a NSW volunteer and jumps to a quick conclusion – lights and sirens don’t give you any rights.
The question was: I was told other vehicles must give way to emergency vehicles when under lights and sirens but I’ve also been told that if you’re under lights and sirens it does not give you the right-of-way. Of course you have to take care at all times but I’m interested in know what rights does the driver of an emergency services vehicles under lights and sirens have.
Radio 2WEB gives our shiny new magazine rave reviews
Our Media Officer, Jon Russell spends some time “On Air” with Mel Millgate from Radio 2WEB – www.outbackradio.com.au
Mel asked Jon about the beginnings of the Volunteer Fire Fighters Association. They discussed the selection of magazine content, requests from VFFA members and the fact that many of our readers prefer a printed hard copy magazine.
Bushfire greenhouse gas emissions – from mild to wild
Researchers have conducted the first-ever experiments to prove that fuel reduction burning prior to wildfire decreases both the intensity of wildfire and reduces the amount of carbon and greenhouse gas emitted to the atmosphere. Nerissa Hannink reports.
Wow – Christmas Already
It’s that wonderful time of the year where we generally catch up with family and friends.
It has been a big year for the VFFA with many great projects, campaigns and opportunities for our ever growing membership base.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish all RFS Volunteers (not just VFFA members) a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
The NSW Rural Fire Service could not exists without it’s volunteer workforce and I’m sure that I can speak for the majority of NSW residents when I say thank you to all fire fighters (volunteers, part time and full time) for their efforts throughout 2015.
Bushfires and Global Warming
A cheap system of bushfire management that worked has been replaced by an obscenely expensive one which doesn’t. Premiers, ministers, shire councils and bureaucrats are in thrall to environmental activists who have never fought a bushfire and are running a political, not a social agenda.
Fire Lookout Trees – Early Detection from the Early 1900s
We should be proud of our Aussie bush heritage and as a firefighter, I’m impressed at the way we have dealt with bush fires in the past.
The questions that I pose now are:
1. Are we getting it right in todays modern world?
2. With all of the technology that we now have, why can’t we locate fires and hit them hard before they take hold?
It is a “no brainer” that a fire is best dealt with if we catch it in its early stages. The idea of early detection and early suppression has vastly reduced the frequency and severity of structural fires in Australia but can this principle be applied to the bush?
The idea of using fire towers to provide early detection and to help locate fires in Australia dates back to the early 1900s.
Bureaucratic nonsense – Local farmer
Cootamundra pilot Scott Adams, of Adams Aerial Services, was furious when he was called out of the airspace above the fire at Stockinbingal by the Rural Fire Service (RFS), who say he was never requested to attend the fire which broke out on Yeo Yeo Hampstead Road.
He had the fire as good as out before anyone got to it and he called for a commonsense approach from the RFS when it comes to available resources, calling the move to stop Mr Adams waterbombing “bureaucratic nonsense”.
In Memory of Deputy Captain Paul Sanderson
The entire service is saddened by the news that Deputy Captain Paul Sanderson has passed away.
Paul was battling a blaze when he suffered what was believed to be a heart attack.
Our thoughts are with family and friends.