Procedure for members wishing to drive tankers

LSOG 20.3 Members wishing to obtain Medium Rigid (MR) heavy VEHICLE DRIVER’S licence

Rationale:
The RTA requires drivers of rigid vehicles with 2 axles and a GVM of more than 8 tonnes, to hold a Medium Rigid 'Class MR' licence. Many RFS appliances such as Cat 1 tankers, fall into this category.

The procedures for brigade members wishing to upgrade their licence to a class ‘MR’ are as follows:

Pass a Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) Heavy Vehicle Driving Test, or
Pass a Competency Based Assessment (CBA) with a private provider.

The Commissioner of the RFS has directed that volunteers will not have to pay for heavy vehicle licence assessments. There are however, local procedures established to ensure that the RFS only pays for the assessment where appropriate.

Procedure:
1.
RFS volunteers are exempt from paying the RTA Heavy Vehicle Theory and Practical Test Fees, provided the obtaining of the licence is for the purpose of driving fire appliances.
2.
Members wishing to obtain a Medium Rigid Drivers Licence must have their Captain in writing request a letter of introduction for the RTA. The letter from the brigade must state that the member obtaining a medium rigid licence will be of benefit to the functioning of the Brigade. He/she must have already satisfactorily completed the RTA heavy vehicle driving knowledge test and eyesight test.
3.
RFS vehicles may be used by active members to learn to drive heavy vehicles under the supervision of a suitably qualified member, provided he/she has the express permission of the Brigade Captain.
RFS vehicles may also be used for the heavy vehicle driving test.
4.
The FCO, may at his discretion and at the request of the Brigade Captain, issue a letter of introduction for a member (who must have completed their probation), wishing to obtain a Medium Rigid Drivers Licence.
This letter must be presented to the RTA when booking a Heavy Vehicle Driving Test.
NB No booking fee paid by a member will be reimbursed.
The member must present the RTA receipt for the licence upgrade to the Training Coordinator within 7 days of paying the fee.
5.
Members will need to pay the licence upgrade fee to have her/his licence upgraded.
If the member has completed Advanced Firefighter or higher, or the Brigade Captain and the FCO are of the opinion that the member attaining a heavy vehicle driver’s licence will be of benefit to the function of the Brigade, this fee will be reimbursed.
6.
RFS vehicles may be used with the permission of the Brigade Captain for members to learn to drive heavy vehicles under the supervision of a suitably qualified private provider of Heavy Vehicle CBA.
Any cost incurred through a private provider CBA must be met by the individual.

Fire Season Soon

The Third Dimension.
Guess what? We live in a three dimensional world – “Believe it or not”.
Everyone’s very familiar with width and height but often not so with depth. Take mop up or blackout for example. Many firefighters seem to forget that the tree has a backside to it that needs attention also. So to the stump or fallen tree. In fact I was taught many years ago by Brigade members that were older and wiser then I these very facts, even the often forgotten underside of smaller logs and debris. It was often the case of get down and dirty and turn that log over!
Back burning was taught to me in the same manner. Don’t look at the straight line of width but rather consider finger burns and spots, and burn around that tree or log on the edge of the track – even (perish the thought!) rake around them to prevent problems later on with mop up.
Even Sitreps can be improved by thinking 3D. Look past the two dimensions you are first presented with and delve into the third dimension. You may find your Sitreps suddenly gain some depth!