SA: Australian first for woman firefighter

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-1999
SA: Australian first for woman firefighter

ADELAIDE, Dec 1 AAP - Dawn Hunt became a specialist firefighting instructor today and
made a piece of Australian history.

An experienced firefighter with South Australia's Country Fire Service, (CFS), Mrs
Hunt is the first woman in Australia to become a nationally accredited instructor in flashover
simulation.

Flashover is a highly dangerous situation where combustible particles in smoke catch
fire. It is a common cause of firefighter deaths in building fires.

Flashover simulation training teaches firefighters to recognise the signs of impending
flashover and to use special techniques to prevent it.

Mrs Hunt, from Murray Bridge, was among 10 SA fire service officers to attend the 70
hour training course run in the Adelaide Hills by the Greensland Fire and Rescue Authority
to become flashover simulation instructors.

"This is a real highlight for me in my CFS career," Mrs Hunt said.

"I hope this encourages more women to train as firefighters and then to go on to become
instructors in whichever specialist area that interests them."

The Greensland authority is the first service in Australia to adopt a Swedish technique
of teaching firefighters to deal with flashover.

Shan Raffel, the acting area director in charge of live fire training in Greensland,
said there were 52 nationally accredited flashover simulation instructors in his home
state, all of them men.

He said the instructors teach firefighters how to read a fire, in a bid to improve
their approach to putting it out.

"We give firefighters a sound fundamental understanding of fire dynamics and fire behaviour
in compartments," Mr Raffel said.

"What we want them to be able to do is recognise the signs and indicators the fire gives out."

AAP vm/cjh

KEYWORD: HUNT

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.