Farmers start your Fire Engines

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By Dwain Duxson

Farmers start your Fire Engines - Gee, I don't think I have had as many replies on a story as this one. Farmers leaving Fire Brigades. There are a lot of disgruntled volunteer Fire Fighters out there. And from every state, although some reports that came in said that SA isn't a basket case like other states.

There is conflict between the employed (paid) people representing Rural Fire Brigades and the volunteers. Many are Farmers who know how to handle Fire by burning paddocks for Crop production and fighting Fires over a number of years. Many of the people telling them what to do, haven't fought a fire in their life. 

One trend that has emerged is Farmers are taking the matter into their own hands by setting up their own private units. Although this is not new, it's however increasing in popularity. These units are always first to a paddock Fire and, in many cases, have got the Fire out before the Fire Brigade arrives. The private units usually sit in the paddock during Harvest and can respond quickly if a fire is nearby.

So, disgruntled former volunteers who are leaving the Brigade have made a plea for Farmers to keep upgrading their Fire fighting systems, and through sheer weight of numbers will be the catalyst for putting fires out in the future. One person said that the time when a Fire has just started is the most crucial period and is the easiest point in time to extinguish a fire. Private units are, without fail, the first to arrive, and without them, many of these Fires would have got away. How long do you reckon it will be before they ban the private units? Reply to dwaind@farmtender.com.au.

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