From City News: THE United Firefighters Union says ACT Fire & Rescue is without effective leadership for 48 hours, with Chief Officer Mark Brown out of Canberra today and tomorrow, and the position of Deputy Chief Officer scrapped earlier this week. “It’s the latest impact of the rolling restructures masterminded by former UK fire chief Mark Jones, ACT Fire & Rescue’s … [Read more...]
Canberrans at risk as fire truck goes offline
From the ABC: Canberrans are "being put at risk" by the ACT Government not investing in more fire trucks able to tackle blazes in high-rise apartments, the ACT firefighters union says. Canberra has just one Bronto aerial platform, which is capable of fighting fires in buildings taller then seven stories. But the truck is currently out of operation for a week, … [Read more...]
Canberra high-rise at risk of fire?
From the City News: THE United Firefighters Union says the public is being put at risk by the continued unavailability of Canberra’s only appliance that can reach fires in buildings above 7 storeys. “The Bronto aerial platform is again offline, on the same day that UK reformer Mark Jones starts work as Director Strategic Reform Agenda to look at efficiencies in ACT Fire … [Read more...]
ACT Branch voices safety concerns over offline firefighting vehicle
From the Canberra Times: The ACT's emergency services boss has hosed down concerns voiced by the firefighters union that the public has been put at "unacceptable risk" with a critical piece of firefighting equipment used to battle blazes in tall buildings out of action. United Firefighters Union ACT acting secretary Greg McConville said the ACT Emergency Services … [Read more...]
ACT ESA boss still wants firefighters removed from ACT’s 000 centre
From the Canberra Times: The ACT's emergency services boss will forge ahead with a controversial push to remove firefighters from the territory's triple-0 call centre, a plan the firefighting union has blasted as potentially dangerous. Significant changes have been proposed for the Emergency Services Agency's communications centre, or ComCen, after recommendations … [Read more...]