CFA Connect Blogosphere

The Jones Inquiry Joint Implementation Action Plan, developed collaboratively between CFA and VFBV, was approved at the CFA Board Meeting on 9 October 2012. This further demonstrates the commitment between CFA and VFBV to ensure that the individual and collective needs of volunteers are addressed, and illustrates how we continue to work together to support and enable our volunteers and matters affecting them.

We're making good progress adopting themes arising from the Jones Inquiry and I'd like to update you on the work taking place.

At the Foster fire station in South Gippsland today, we launched a set of new and innovative ‘online' programs and other products that's going to make the delivery and maintenance of CFA training a lot more accessible from now on.

At the October Board meeting, the Chief Officer reported on the conditions that indicate an above-average grassfire risk this fire season. One hot, windy day in October produced almost 60 grass and scrub fires alone.

Community messaging, operational briefings and strategic planning are being influenced by this forecast. An example is the deployment of a secure medium tactical helicopter and a fixed wing aircraft to the Mallee for the first time, to help mitigate the fire risk during harvesting.

The release of the Jones Inquiry this week comes at a great time for the Operational Training and Volunteerism department which I head up.

Our 59,000 volunteers are CFA's biggest resource and I know the release today of the Honourable David Jones' Inquiry into Effect of Arrangements made by CFA on its Volunteers will be of considerable interest to many of you.