El Niño Pattern Continues to Strengthen
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) have released their latest Climate Outlook for the period August to October 2015 including rainfall and temperature maps.
There is also a four minute outlook video accessible from http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/outlooks/#/overview/video.
The forecast suggests drier to average conditions across Eastern Australia and warmer days across Eastern and Southern Australia. Whilst the El Nino pattern continues to strengthen, often meaning a heightened likelihood of heatwave and bushfire conditions, this is not always the case. CFA will continue to review and adjust planning, preparedness and mitigation activities accordingly and monitor forecasts closely. The next BoM update will be on the 27 August 2015.
CFA Open Day
Registrations are open for ‘CFA Open Day’. This is the 5th year in a row that the ‘CFA Open Day’ will be run. Brigades are again to consider opening their doors to the community on a day between September and December.
‘CFA Open Day’ is an opportunity for our members to connect with their community as well as share some important fire safety messages in a relaxed environment. More information and how to register an open day is available from www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/cfa-open-day/.
2015 Australian Road Rescue Organisation Challenge
This year the Australian Road Rescue Organisation challenge, 23 – 26 July, appropriately titled the "Outback Rescue Challenge" was held for the first time in the Northern Territory.
Seventeen teams competed in six events, from as far away as Hong Kong, with New Zealand and most States and Territories across Australia represented. Representation also included the BHP industry brigade. Victoria was well represented with an SES volunteer team, comprising members from Bendigo and South Barwon and a CFA team with members from Werribee & Wyndham Vale. The CFA team placed second place in the Controlled Pit event and won the Trauma Challenge. The overall event winner was Fire and Rescue, NSW Wollongong. The challenge provides an opportunity to see what rescue techniques have been developed by the teams since they last competed, the diversity across the emergency services sector and how effectively these integrated teams functioned.
Author: Euan Ferguson