CFA Connect Blogosphere

"Thank You And Well Done!":
We thank and congratulate all those 400+ CFA brigades who opened their doors on CFA Sunday. Many Brigades reported very large numbers of the public streaming in to meet CFA members. We will be formally reviewing the success of the day to see how we can build on its success in the future. "Well done!" also goes to the planners, organisers and participants of "Exercise Fudo" which was held on Sunday 27th November in the Warrandyte and North Warrandyte area. This exercise which combined incident management teams, staging area managers, logistics support, airbase management, tactical exercises and fireground command involved around 1000 personnel from CFA, MFB, DSE, Parks Vic, SES, VicPol, Local Government, Salvation Army, St Johns, the State Aircraft Unit and ESTA. Strike Teams from Districts 8, 12, 13 and 14 travelled to the area to participate. In spite of the damp weather preceding the exercise, it was a resounding success. Thank you and job well done goes to the Ex Director LFF Troy Lowther and the Ex team of SSO Brian Wright (CFA); SO Stuart Morris (MFB); Snr Sgt Peter O'Connor (VicPol).

LACES:
Recently I attended an exercise where a member referred to the use of a "spotter" in a particular tactical situation. It reminded me of the content of a brochure that was mailed out to CFA members earlier this year. The brochure contained information on Hazardous Trees and on LACES. LACES is an easily remembered acronym that stands for LOOKOUTS; (SITUATIONAL) AWARENESS; COMMUNICATIONS; ESCAPE ROUTES and SAFETY ZONES. LACES is a bushfire safety aide that has been derived from the "Ten Standard Fire Orders" and the "Eighteen Situations That Shout Watch Out!". From my experience, keeping LACES at the front of your mind on the fireground can lead to a safer fireground. LACES challenges you to consider placing a lookout in a prominent position. It reinforces the need to ensure that everyone maintains an awareness of the situation around them, and to communicate any unusual or developing hazards they notice. Finally it reinforces that, at all times, we need to have an escape route (preferably two) to a safety zone in case a worst case scenario eventuates. I command the LACES thinking to you. It is easily remembered and easily understood. It might be a great topic to talk about for 10 or 15 minutes next time you start a Brigade meeting.

Today is White Ribbon Day, and I'm encouraging all the men in CFA to swear an oath to end men's violence against women.