The introduction of inexperienced, untrained personnel into any emergency situation is a recipe for disaster. Not to mention the massive increase in management and logistic support necessitated by their very presence.
It is grossly unfair and unsafe to expect trained fire personnel to “keep an eye” on untrained individuals in even the most basic of real-time emergency tasks.
This is not the place for on-the-job training, or well-meaning amateurs.
The presence of such individuals creates more problems than it solves.
I wonder how the ADF personnel would feel about having untrained individuals inserted into their platoons in a battle situation.
The ADF is providing what the fire-fighters need most….advanced ground, aerial, and maritime support, and competent, experienced disaster management, logistics, personnel and systems.
Any perceived shortcomings in fire-fighting manpower, be it front-line operators or behind-the-lines cleanup crews, needs to be addressed in the context of a professional, properly resourced and trained fire-fighting capability, without the need to resort to band-aid solutions.
Bookmarks