Strike team training session

Kangaroo Flat Fire Brigade Lieutenant Will Blair recently organised a two-hour strike team simulation training session for brigades across District 2.

Photo Credit: Will Blair

Kangaroo Flat, Maiden Gully, Eaglehawk and Lockwood brigades attended as well as CFA Operations Manager Stewart Kreltszheim.

The training consisted of a strike team fire simulation. Brigade members were told a fire was approaching the Kangaroo Flat area through bushland. More than 60 members took part.

This training also allowed new strike team leaders to be mentored in a safe environment.

“Having multiple brigades made training more effective,” Will said. “Instead of having people standing around in the background everyone was given a task to complete.

“It also allowed our brigades to mentor new strike team leaders.”

Many of the members involved in the session haven’t yet been on a strike team.

“We’ve had a lot of members wanting to get involved with strike teams, but from a brigade management team perspective we didn’t think they had had enough training. This was the perfect opportunity for them to gain experience.

“It was also a great refresher for our crew leaders.”

This training session was only part one of Will’s four-part training plan.

“This initial session was stage one of four that I have planned. There will be another additional five plus trucks in each new training session. The next training is in March and we’ll run two strike teams in that.”

Session one: 1 strike team
Session two: 2 strike teams
Session three: 3 strike teams and a pumper task force
Session four: 4 strike teams and a pumper task force in two sectors