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Read below for a summary of the report.
Incident Management Channels
Mr Kreltszheim said that a lot of work had been done to test the incident management channels of both CFA and DSE and looking for black spots.
“I’m asking captains to dust off their comms plans to ensure they know what incident management channels can be used in their patches,” he said.
Radio Replacement
Training for the new tape radios is being rolled out this month with groups.
“It’s a pretty simple process, there’s not a lot different from the old radios to the new radios - but there are some minor changes we need to get across.”
“The mobiles in tankers and the portables are being changed over in the first couple of weeks of November, and for Captains who have opted for bag radios - we will have those changed after the fire season.”
Mr Kreltszheim also said that the radio replacement would be a two-stage transfer, assuring personnel that the new tape radios and the current Motorolas are compatible.
He also called on captains and lieutenants to “make sure you spread the word to your team once you’re trained in the use of those radios yourself.”
Grassfire Risk
Mr Kreltszheim said that “this year our risk is clearly going to be in the grasslands.”
He suggested that personnel follow the Chief’s advice and get out a copy of the Grassland Tanker Tactics DVD, which the Benalla Group helped to produce.
“If you look back over the last seven or eight years we’ve had very few large grass fires in our district.”
“This year it’s really incumbent on our older heads - out captains and lieutenants - to start talking about grass and tanker tactics,” he said.
See also: Grassfire Tanker Tactics
Air Operations
Mr Kreltszheim said there will be no change in aircraft from last year, adding that the district fixed wing bombers would probably be stationed in Albury and
Conditions
Mr Kreltszheim called on all district 23 members to think about keeping out of paddocks and areas that are wet.
“The ground is still soft in some of the areas we are being called out to, even though it might look dry, We’ve had a few trucks breaking through the surface, so be careful, maybe do another assessment before entering those paddocks,” he said.
Staff
A number of staff were welcomed into the patch, or welcomed back, including:
- Elena Cheshire, who has taken over the District Support Officer’s role.
- Mark Owens who will fill in for Paul Horton who is travelling overseas
- Graeme Neil, who will be working with Wangaratta and Moyhu groups
- Ash Mills who has come back from leave, will be running the Wangaratta fire station as well as a number of district projects such as ICCs and DivComs, Air operations.
Social Media
Over last 6 months, Mt Buller has trialled a facebook page, and Moyhu Group has also started up a facebook page.
Mr Kreltszheim said that district 23 would follow suit with a “closed group for our people”.
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