never let the fire service do tree surgery

[BCF]

Totally agree. Yep, they made a bit of a pigs ear of it, wrong tools and techniques etc, but come on, these guys put their lives on the line everyday of the week.

 

Not sure they do these days Luke, health & safety regs within the emergency services doesn't like them taking risks, especially with their own lives.

[Luke Quenby]

True enough BCF, I can only imagine how frustrating it can be for people in the emergency services, especially those who have served for a long time, not being able to do the job as they see fit.

 

Unfortunate product of the times I'm afraid, but having said that and from my own personal point of view, the advances that have been made in agriculture and forestry over the last 20 years (particularly the former) are a welcome change in the majority.

 

My father in law is watch commander at Liverpool airport, so I know all about the hoops they have jump through on a daily basis just to do their jobs.

 

But the point I was making, or trying to, which I think quite a few on here have echoed is that we don't know the circumstances behind the situation. They were doing what they could with what few / incorrect resources they had avaialable, rightly or wrongly.

 

We also work or are involved in an increadibly dangerous industry, and have all got our share of horror stories / near misses and opinions of others efforts and work practices to share out.

 

Is all I'm saying and agreeing with is maybe it's very easy to sit here and watch a video (that hopefully wasn't shot by an arborist) of one of our emergency services attempting to do something that many of us with the correct tools and training do easily everyday in our working lives.

 

I wouldn't like to think that the fire brigade would be knocking holes in my efforts to put out a house fire after someone had videod it and posted it on you tube. Regardless of health and saftey regs, and how much we agree with how far they have gone in helping or hindering efficiant and quick working practice, these guys are up there with the bravest.

 

Just my opinion, but I to can't understand why they were doing it, when as others have said, most LA's have an emergency crew floating about in the area who could have dealt with the situation much easier, as from the video there was no apparant immediate danger to anyone or anything.

[adam4838]

Hi Guys,

 

I am an on call (retained) Crew Manager (Leading Fire Fighter) and a tree surgeon. Watching that vid having knowledge of tree work as well as fire service practices and incident command, I would agree that it is a poor effort at felling a tree.

 

However, the Fire & Rescue Service is called out to by far the widest and most varied types of incidents of any of the emergency services. Sometimes we are called out to incidents which we are not specifically trained to deal with, but we are trained and developed in our roles to improvise and overcome challenges. In my professional opinion as a Crew Manager, with no immediate life risk I would have requested the attendance of the nearest LA tree surgeon. Every incident is different though, and the team in the video obviously saw it as right to try and deal with it.

 

I am typing this with a balanced view as I undertake both jobs to a high standard. I am sure nobody on here means to offend or slag off the emergency services, but I would encourage people to think a bit before jumping in and having a dig at them.

 

I love both my jobs, and strangely enough both jobs have their similarities. Eg, problem solving, working in dangerous situations, use of machinery etc.

 

Anyone ever tried performing CPR on someone by the side of the road at 3am in the rain after cutting them out of a car? Or getting hotter than a sausage in a pan searching a smoke filled house for some kids?

 

Like I said, I am sure nobody meant to offend.

 

Adam

[robbo 110]

a very well written post adam, one of the best ive read for a long time!!

 

cheers

[skyhuck]

everything in context, people save lives - that tree was not a danger just hung up.

 

i have saved many lives, and put mine on the line everyday, i would expect criticism if i did a something that brought shame on me and my family.

 

.

 

:confused1:How and why???????????

[geoff]

I wondered that too Huck...

[Daniël Bos]

:confused1:How and why???????????

 

I bet you do too, considering:"Trees, the most deadly vegetation on the planet!"