Discontent in our fire fighting ranks

• 'Territorial' fire crews hamper bushfire effort - ABC News
  

  

Members of both the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and the Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board (MFB) have complained after being told their services were not wanted during the height of the fires.

The United Firefighters Union says it has documented the numerous complaints it has received from frustrated firefighters.

In the 2006-7 fires around Whitfield and Mansfield, during the mopping up phase, DSE firefighters - who were paid employees - were stood down and the exhausted CFA Volunteers were left to clean up - and received not a cent for it. So, I am not surprised to hear of this territorial dispute with the latest fires.

The Victorian Government has to comes to terms with this paid and unpaid fire services. CFA Volunteer firefighters should be paid for their time on the fire ground in accordance with the DSE payment rates - including overtime rates. If this does not happen, you can expect the CFA Volunteers to start refusing to go outside their own brigade areas during future fires. - posted by Greg Naylor