Monaro RFS

Here is an opportunity for us to get behind a good cause and enjoy the outdoors.

The 2012 Pirtek Fishing Challenge is open for business and this year they are aiming for 6000 competitors and $120,000 for Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

The competition will be held on Sunday, April 15 with over $130,000 in cash and prizes to give away.

Entry is $20, anglers receive a limited edition cap and brag mat and all proceeds go directly to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

Click HERE or the image above to go to the 2012 Pirtek Fishing Challenge web site.

It has been suggested that we could even keep track of our (Monaro Team RFS) entries and challenge our good friends at the Bombala, Cooma, Jindabyne, Perisher and Thredbo Fire & Rescue NSW Stations. Only one problem, there are some of our members and staff with a foot in each camp.

TransGrid is a State Owned Corporation which owns, operates and manages the NSW high voltage electricity transmission network. They have distributed the following information as a newsletter along with a poster to help promote safe firefighting and vegetation management operations near power lines.

Fire Fighting and Fuel Management Activities Near Power Lines

Controlling the spread of an existing bushfire is not the aim of TransGrid’s vegetation maintenance. However, TransGrid easements may prove useful in constructing firebreaks during a bushfire event.

• Any fire fighting or fuel reduction activities to be carried out in the vicinity of TransGrid power lines shall be in consultation with TransGrid, either through a liaison person on site or by communication facilities.
• Live overhead power lines can arc to ground without warning under conditions of intense heat, smoke, flame and water vapour caused by fire and fire fighting activities.
• Always consider the power line to be live.
• Even when the power line has been turned off, the line is still to be considered live, unless advised by TransGrid staff on site that it has been locally earthed and made safe.
• At no time shall streams of water be directed in the vicinity of live wires. Water streams shall be kept at or below horizontal in the vicinity of TransGrid power lines.
• Machinery shall be limited to 4.3m in height in the easement area.

TransGrid Approach to Bushfire Prevention

TransGrid conducts vegetation maintenance for the purpose of maintaining safe clearances between conductors and vegetation. It is essential in reducing the risk of lines causing bushfires, to ensure public safety and maintain high levels of system reliability.

In most cases the conductors are sufficiently high above the vegetation and will not be significantly affected by bushfire. However, tower bases and poles may have additional clearing for maintenance purposes in addition to reducing the risk of damage by fire.

This maintenance generally is confined within the easement area and may include the following:

• Removal of tall growing species
• Trimming of trees
• Slashing and mulching of easements
• Regrowth control using herbicides.

TransGrid is involved with proactive programmes for bush fire risk management.

TransGrid field staff are involved in Bush Fire Management Committees and provide advice in relation to transmission line assets eg in relation to proposed hazard reduction burns.

You can download this newsletter and the poster using the links below:

It is important for emergency service workers to keep themselves updated with new vehicles technologies.... why you ask?

Have a look at our article titled "New Vehicle Technologies - keep yourself updated"

Holden are set to release the Holden Volt late in 2012.

Holden is calling the Volt an Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV).

The Holden Volt is different to a hybrid or plug-in hybrid, due to the fact that the vehicle's wheels are always driven electrically by an electric drive unit. This gives the ability to drive an EREV using only electricity, depending on driving habits. On the other hand, the Holden Volt is able to extend its range via the backup petrol engine which recharges the battery.

You can learn more about the Holden Volt on the Holden web site (click HERE or the image above)

We have added the 2011 Chevrolet Volt Emergency Response Guide (ERG) to our web site for the purposes of firefighter training.

Perisher will hold its annual emergency training exercise on Wednesday 22 February 2012.

This year exercise will be a full simulated exercise requiring interaction and support from emergency services.

The Monaro Team RFS has received an invitation to attend this event and we are looking for:

• A crew or two from Wollondibby RFB
• A crew from Jindabyne RFB
• Possible attendance from Jindabyne East RFB
• Expressions of Interest for any other members (crews or individuals)

RFS Monaro Team Nominations

Please complete a Training EOI form or contact Kerrie at the Berridale Fire Control Centre on 6456 4555.

Exercise Details

Date

Wednesday 22nd February 2012

Location

Bullocks Flat Skitube Terminal, Alpine Way, Bullocks Flat NSW

View Larger Map

Program

Type of Exercise

Full role play and simulated incident.

Exercise Scenario

Infrastructure failure - the bridge crossing the Thredbo River has partially collapsed with a train disabled on the bridge, There are no fatalities but there are a number of passengers requiring evacuation , The simulated time for this incident is during normal winter operations.

The aims of the exercise are:

• To test Perisher's response plans and procedures
• To test and reinforce emergency notification and communication procedures and protocols
• To increase familiarity for emergency services to access Perisher infrastructure and to work with that infrastructure
• To provide interaction between Perisher staff and the emergency Services
• To test Perisher's ability to provide on-site facilities and assist in emergency response (incident control centre, triage, displaced persons)
• To test procedures for possible escalation to EOC operation and the resultant impact on all services
• To review the response to maintaining other resort operations
• To provide review and feedback from within Perisher and from external agencies on Skitube's Emergency Response
• To provide a means to detect any previously unidentified risks
• • Test Perisher's ability to manage the media and information dissemination