Radio CommunicationsRadio Communications

Jackson County Fire Dist #4Jackson County Fire Dist #4

ObjectivesObjectives

To use and understand the terms To use and understand the terms and etiquette in “clear text”and etiquette in “clear text”

Identify the different radios used Identify the different radios used

within the deptwithin the dept

To learn and use basic features of To learn and use basic features of dept radios.dept radios.

Commonly used radio Commonly used radio talktalk

““Responding”Responding”

““On Scene” On Scene”

““Can Handle”Can Handle”

““Returning”Returning”

““In Quarters”In Quarters”

““In/Out of Service”In/Out of Service”

““Terminate times”Terminate times”

““Available on scene”Available on scene”

Radio etiquetteRadio etiquette Use “Clear Text” only, no 10/12 codes. Clear text is simply Use “Clear Text” only, no 10/12 codes. Clear text is simply

plain English.plain English.

Keep transmissions short and concise (to the point). Keep transmissions short and concise (to the point).

No cussing/swearing etc. No cussing/swearing etc.

Maintain a professional attitude while talking on radio.Maintain a professional attitude while talking on radio.

Think before you speak (ums, dead air is annoying and Think before you speak (ums, dead air is annoying and frequencies are getting busy).frequencies are getting busy).

Keep radio off your face when you speak, your message will Keep radio off your face when you speak, your message will be unreadable. Have radio a few inches away from your face be unreadable. Have radio a few inches away from your face when you speak. when you speak.

Speak clearlySpeak clearly

Fire Ground Commo.Fire Ground Commo.

A formal scene size-up/report on A formal scene size-up/report on conditions from 1conditions from 1stst in apparatus in apparatus

Establishing of commandEstablishing of command

Use of tacital frequncies if needed Use of tacital frequncies if needed (enocouraged)(enocouraged)

Requesting additional resourcesRequesting additional resources

Emergency Radio SignalsEmergency Radio Signals These could save your life, or These could save your life, or

someone else’s someday!someone else’s someday!

““Emergency Traffic” is used to report an emergency (on or Emergency Traffic” is used to report an emergency (on or off the fire ground, in or out of district). off the fire ground, in or out of district).

““Abandon” when ordered to “Abandon”. Withdrawn Abandon” when ordered to “Abandon”. Withdrawn IMEDIATELY to a safe area. Drop all tools, hose, etc. Roll IMEDIATELY to a safe area. Drop all tools, hose, etc. Roll call with be conducted to ensure all personnel are call with be conducted to ensure all personnel are accounted for, Followed by 3 horn blasts and the accounted for, Followed by 3 horn blasts and the Abandonment tones from SORC.Abandonment tones from SORC.

““Mayday” is used by trapped or missing firefighters. Don’t Mayday” is used by trapped or missing firefighters. Don’t feel disgraced and shy to call a mayday. We don’t want to feel disgraced and shy to call a mayday. We don’t want to be at your funeral cause you didn’t.be at your funeral cause you didn’t.

““Withdraw” is the calm and orderly withdrawal of Withdraw” is the calm and orderly withdrawal of personnel. Personnel will collect tools, hose, and personnel. Personnel will collect tools, hose, and equipment, then leave the fire area.equipment, then leave the fire area.

““Evacuate” is NOT to be confused with “Abandon,” Evacuate” is NOT to be confused with “Abandon,” “Evacuate is the removing of civilians from the area.“Evacuate is the removing of civilians from the area.

Scene Size-up/ Report on Scene Size-up/ Report on conditionsconditions

What do they want to hear?What do they want to hear?

Correct location if differs from the initially reported Correct location if differs from the initially reported locationlocation

Building and occupancy typeBuilding and occupancy type

Fire Activity/BehaviorFire Activity/Behavior

ExposuresExposures

Use of and what tactical frequencyUse of and what tactical frequency

Instructions for incoming unitsInstructions for incoming units

Additional Resources if needed or canceling of excess Additional Resources if needed or canceling of excess resourcesresources

Common Fire Ground Common Fire Ground IdentifiersIdentifiers

CommandCommand OperationsOperations Safety (could be an interior Safety (could be an interior

and exterior safety on scene)and exterior safety on scene) AccountabilityAccountability Exterior (operations)Exterior (operations) Interior (operations)Interior (operations) VentilationVentilation Water SupplyWater Supply ExposureExposure MedicalMedical RehabRehab StagingStaging

Need help?Need help?

First, know what you need:First, know what you need:

SORC has “Alarms” programmed for any incident type. SORC has “Alarms” programmed for any incident type. This is an easy way to get more help. Example, “Central, This is an easy way to get more help. Example, “Central, Rogue Elk command requesting 2Rogue Elk command requesting 2ndnd alarm.” Simple ey? alarm.” Simple ey?

Also can request specific resources if needed such as a Also can request specific resources if needed such as a single water tender, personnel in a staff vehicle, chief single water tender, personnel in a staff vehicle, chief officer, etc. Example, “Central, Rogue Elk command officer, etc. Example, “Central, Rogue Elk command request water tender respond to the scene.” You may need request water tender respond to the scene.” You may need to know where to get the water tender (what fire dept, to know where to get the water tender (what fire dept, what substation of that fire dept).what substation of that fire dept).

Why do they have that Why do they have that number?number?

RVFCA has a pre-set number RVFCA has a pre-set number designation for all apparatus, designation for all apparatus, personnel, etc. This slide is for personnel, etc. This slide is for persons who have their own number. persons who have their own number. Departments distribute numbers as Departments distribute numbers as desired.desired.

Common numbers you might call and Common numbers you might call and who they are:who they are:

6451 Chief, Bob Miller6451 Chief, Bob Miller 6455 Captain, John Burns6455 Captain, John Burns 6456 Captain, Erin Elder6456 Captain, Erin Elder 6457 Captain, Rick Lowe6457 Captain, Rick Lowe 6470: Vol, Stu Fraiser6470: Vol, Stu Fraiser Others you might talk to:Others you might talk to: 7753: Battalion Chief (different folks)7753: Battalion Chief (different folks) 7792: Chief Mechanic, Jim Tuttle7792: Chief Mechanic, Jim Tuttle 6251: Fire Chief, Bob Batte 6251: Fire Chief, Bob Batte

(Prospect)(Prospect) 6551: Fire Chief, Jeff Gorman (Butte 6551: Fire Chief, Jeff Gorman (Butte

Falls)Falls)

What do we have?What do we have?

3 basic radio types3 basic radio types

Base (station)Base (station)

Mobile (vehicle)Mobile (vehicle)

Potable (handheld)Potable (handheld)

What do we have? cont.What do we have? cont.

Do to changes in time and cost, we also Do to changes in time and cost, we also make different makes of radios which make different makes of radios which though have all the basic functions, have though have all the basic functions, have their own features and locations of their own features and locations of features. features.

BasesBases

1 Base Radio1 Base Radio Motorola madeMotorola made

Features:Features: Remote mic and Remote mic and

PTTPTT VolumeVolume On/Off swtichOn/Off swtich Stores 4 frequenciesStores 4 frequencies

1: JCFD 4 Tac1: JCFD 4 Tac 2: State Fire2: State Fire 3: North County3: North County 4: Blank4: Blank

MobilesMobiles

We have a few different radio makes in We have a few different radio makes in the dept, each of course having it’s own the dept, each of course having it’s own features, newer radios have more features, newer radios have more channels and the frequency names, vs the channels and the frequency names, vs the older radios with less channels and are older radios with less channels and are ID’ed by channel number.ID’ed by channel number.

On ALL mobile radios, North County is On ALL mobile radios, North County is ALWAYS group/bank/zone 1, channel 1ALWAYS group/bank/zone 1, channel 1

Midland MobilesMidland Mobiles 22 channels/frequencies22 channels/frequencies

Volume knob which is Volume knob which is also the on/off swtichalso the on/off swtich

Squelch knobSquelch knob Channel select knobChannel select knob Mon.Mon. P Scan/ N ScanP Scan/ N Scan A/D SelA/D Sel

Kenwood MobilesKenwood Mobiles Multi group, 210 channel Multi group, 210 channel

radioradio

Independent on/off buttonIndependent on/off button

Volume knobVolume knob Channel select knobChannel select knob

SCN: scan buttonSCN: scan button D/A: Delete/Add channels to D/A: Delete/Add channels to

scan list.scan list. HC: Home/Priority ChannelHC: Home/Priority Channel DIM: Adjust backlighting of DIM: Adjust backlighting of

radioradio SQ: SquelchSQ: Squelch

Portable RadiosPortable Radios

Again with grants and other money Again with grants and other money we have different make radios, we have different make radios, therefore again having different therefore again having different features, etc. features, etc.

On ALL portable radios, North On ALL portable radios, North County is ALWAYS Group 1, channel County is ALWAYS Group 1, channel 1 1

Bendix KingBendix King

Even within the same Even within the same make comes make comes different models. different models. They can be They can be denoted by colordenoted by color

Grey: Old onesGrey: Old ones

Black: New OnesBlack: New Ones

(Best Put)(Best Put)

Bendix Kings contBendix Kings contControls of the “BK”Controls of the “BK”

radios:radios: Vol, on/off knobVol, on/off knob Squelch knobSquelch knob Channel select knobChannel select knob Transmit power switchTransmit power switch Scan on/off switch Scan on/off switch

(neutral scan)(neutral scan) Priority scan on/off Priority scan on/off

swtichswtich Acc Plug (above PTT Acc Plug (above PTT

button)button) Keypad- next slideKeypad- next slide

Bendix King KeypadBendix King Keypad Set Priority channelSet Priority channel

Select channels to scanSelect channels to scan

Change groupsChange groups

Motorola PortablesMotorola Portables Controls of the Controls of the

Motorola Portables:Motorola Portables:

Vol, On/Off knobVol, On/Off knob Channel select knobChannel select knob ABC Switch- Keypad ABC Switch- Keypad

locklock Orange button: Orange button:

inactiveinactive

Motorola Portables contMotorola Portables cont Purple Button: “Talk Purple Button: “Talk

Around”Around” Upper black button: Upper black button:

backlightbacklight Lower black light: Lower black light:

inactiveinactive Big black button: PTTBig black button: PTT

Motorola Portables contMotorola Portables cont ““House” button: main House” button: main

menumenu Computer button: for Computer button: for

programmingprogramming Center arrows: cursorCenter arrows: cursor Button 1,2,3 (number Button 1,2,3 (number

of dots): selecting of of dots): selecting of screen options above screen options above button button

THE ENDTHE END