CFA Connect Blogosphere

Recently the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) met with state and territory and Bureau of Meteorology officers to evaluate the up coming fire risk. The fire season prognosis is found on the web at: www.bushfirecrc.com/firenotes

Having endured over 10 years of drought, the outlook for 2011-12 is quite different. We have seen a return to normalised rainfall across much of Victoria. In fact, many locations have seen above average or very much above average rain over the last 12 months.

Important Bushfire Safety And Fitness Information From Bushfire CRC: David McLoughlin, of the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre advises of two important Fire Notes that were published last week. He tells us that Dr Brad Aisbett's team at Deakin University continues doing ground breaking work on the health and safety of bushfire firefighters. In the first, Firefighter Health and Safety, Dr Aisbett presents an overview of the Bushfire CRC work to date. In the second, Hydration of Australian Bushfire Fighters, principal author PhD candidate Jenni Raines, looks specifically at how much fluid bushfire fighters need to stay hydrated on the fire ground. Essential reading for all firefighters. These fire notes and all previous issues can be found on the Bushfire CRC website at: http://www.bushfirecrc.com/firenotes

This week is National Volunteer Week. It is time to recognise the strength and benefit that we, as a society, receive from volunteering.  Volunteers come in many forms.  In our schools, hospitals, aged and special care facilities; in sports, working with the disadvantaged and those with special needs; and working to provide hope and a lifeline for those who are down on luck and circumstance.  Emergency service volunteers in Australia hold a special place in our culture.  The volunteering ethos is strong not only in CFA, but in our communities and our governments.  Put simply, we could not enjoy the same standard of health, happiness and safety as we do if it were not for the efforts of our volunteers.  Globally, the strong culture of fire and emergency service volunteering in Australia is regarded with respect and some jealously by governments and emergency managers in other countries.  Our volunteering ethos is extremely valuable.  It is something to be grown, developed and encouraged in future generations.  On behalf of CFA, to all our front line people, we say: “Thank you! You do essential work. You create value by protecting lives and property. Your efforts are very much appreciated. Be proud of what you do. Keep up the great work!”

Women Leaders in CFA: My previous article on women in CFA sparked a lot of reaction.  Amongst other comments, many wrote to correct my comments about women in leadership positions in CFA.  SO Jessica Walsh from Sunbury observes that of the 15 female career firefighters in CFA, there are four leading fire-fighters, one station officer, and two senior station officers (one with operations officer qualifications).  Thus, nearly half are in operational leadership roles.  SSO Michelle Snow has acted as an Operations Officer.  We have Josephine Sensi an SSO, SO Jessica Walsh and four Leading Fire Fighters in Reenie Cook, Kelli Russell, Natalie Brindle and Paula Treacy.  A number of female firefighters are currently working towards their Leading Fire Fighter assessments.