Black spots concern CFS volunteers

The Gilbert group officer believes the review is simply a waste of money that ignores some of the real problems the emergency services face.

"Before they do reviews they need to fix old problems," Mr Allchurch said.

"The issue of radio coverage during fire events was a major concern. My big concern is the black spots for radios."

He says the CFS relies on the government radio network but there are huge areas that it does not cover.

He said because of work health and safety requirements, CFS volunteers have been instructed not to enter areas that have a radio blackspot.

But Mr Allchurch said this covered almost half of the Gilbert Group region, which consisted of 12 brigades, from Auburn to Robertstown to Neales Flat and Tarlee.

"There is a fair area between these towns; it's not like it's isolated," he said.

"Our region is about 80 kilometres by 40km, and on real hot, windy days, we wouldn't have (radio) coverage for half that.

"We have to protect the five, six people in the truck, but we also don't want our neighbours farms to burn.

"They're not giving us the right equipment to operate."

Mr Allchurch said that overall, the CFS was a successful unit in its present form.

"Last season, with all the fires in the state, we had no loss of life, which I think is a success," he said.

"It proves the system is not broken and we do a good job.

"There is no need for a combined emergency services.

"Why change something that isn't broken?

"I think it is another government blunder."