8007 - Radio Operations

Question 1

Who shall be responsible for maintaining this document?

Answer 1

The Deputy Chief for Emergency Operations or his/her designee

Question 2

Who shall be responsible for ensuring channels are assigned and incidents dispatched in accordance with this policy?

Answer 2

The Fire Communications Center Supervisor

Question 3

Who are responsible for assigning channels and dispatching incidents in accordance with this policy?

Answer 3

All Fire Communications Center personnel

Question 4

What is a Soft patch?

Answer 4

Temporary link of two or more channels; controlled by the dispatcher at the console.

Question 5

General Guidelines for radio operations:

Answer 5

1. All on-duty TFD uniform personnel shall carry assigned portable radios whenever s/he is out of the station.
2. A portable radio is the responsibility of the individual to whom it is assigned.
3. Company officers shall ensure that the extra portable radios assigned to his/her company are kept in a secure location.
4. All channels shall be assigned by or through the Fire Communications Center (FCC).
5. All TFD personnel shall:
   a. Use the appropriate assigned system channels whenever possible
   b. Select to and monitor channel A1 DSP unless otherwise assigned by FCC
6. FCC personnel shall:
   a. Dispatch over the 800MHz radio system using A1 DSP as the dispatch channel
   b. Assign tactical channels A2 EMS, A3 TAC, A4 TAC or A5 TAC as part of the dispatch information
   c. Continue to simulcast the 1-11 tones and initial fire dispatch information out on A1 DSP and A2 EMS
   d. Include in the event mask the channel assignment in the text of the dispatch information on the MDT/MDC
   EXAMPLE: A3 House Fire or A2 88F Fall
7. Units in quarters shall:
   a. Go enroute on the MDT/MDC
   b. Switch to the assigned tactical channel
8. Units available on radio shall:
   a. Switch to the assigned tactical channel
   b. Report they are responding and the location from which they are responding
9. Each company Captain shall place on his/her apparatus for reference a laminated radio template identifying the switch position for all the channels that can be accessed using TFD mobile and portable radios.

Question 6

TFD personnel shall initiate unit to unit, unit to base or base to unit radio communications by:

Answer 6

first stating the designator of the unit or base being called followed by the designator of the unit or base that is calling; also known as the “Hey you, it’s me” format. EXAMPLES: Radio communication originating from FCC calling Engine 2: “Engine 2, Tacoma” Radio communication originating from Ladder 3 calling FCC: “Tacoma, Ladder 3” Radio communication originating Battalion 2 calling Engine 10: “Engine 10, Battalion 2”

Question 7

1. FCC personnel shall assign this channel at the time of dispatch to an EMS incident.

Answer 7

A2 EMS Channel

Question 8

1. FCC personnel shall assign one of these channels at the time of dispatch to an incident other than EMS.

Answer 8

A3, A4 and A5 Tactical Channels

Question 9

EMER (Emergency) Channel

1.when shall TFD operations personnel use it?a.

Answer 9

Use the EMER channel for emergency radio traffic when other methods of transmitting the emergency message are either not safe or not possible due to the circumstances of the emergency (e.g., Code Blue, MAYDAY, emergency traffic requests)
b. Immediately acknowledge FCC personnel in the event of an accidental EMER activation

Question 10

EMER (Emergency) Channel

2. FCC personnel shall:

Answer 10

a. Monitor the EMER channel 24/7/365
b. In the event of an emergency, give priority to units transmitting emergency messages
c. Reset the radio(s) and system in the event of an accidental EMER activation

Question 11

Direct channels are not monitored by

Answer 11

TFD’s Fire Communications Center (FCC) and they are not recorded.

Question 12

Specialty Channels

1. _______________ shall ensure that the current radio channel assignment list and template is placed on each assigned apparatus.
2. _________________ shall:
   a. Request clearance from FCC to use additional system channels in accordance with the needs of a particular incident and/or training activity
   b. Request FCC monitoring of additional system channel usage as necessary and/or appropriate
3. ____________ shall monitor the use of requested additional system.

Answer 12

Station Captains
The Incident Commander
FCC personnel

Question 13

Mutual Aid

TFD operations personnel shall: a.

Answer 13

Use 800MHz radios for responses into areas dispatched by Lakewood FireComm as directed by FCC

 i. Channels will be assigned by Pierce County Fire Communications 
 ii. FCC personnel shall notify responding units of the channel assignment with dispatch information on the MDT/MDC b. Use VHF portable radios per existing protocols and as directed by FCC personnel until instructed to conduct mutual aid communications with other Pierce County agencies  c. Use 800MHz radios for mutual aid response into King or Snohomish Counties 
 i. Channels will be assigned by the requesting agency 
 ii. Tacoma FCC personnel shall notify responding units of the channel assignment with dispatch information on the MDT/MDC

Question 14

Emergency Alert—King County Mutual Aid

Answer 14

1. The Emergency Alert button is active on the King County system.
2. Depressing the Emergency Alert button while assigned to a King County incident will set off an alarm at the dispatch center making the resource request.
   a. That dispatch center will then try to contact the TFD unit for further information regarding the emergency alert
   b. These transmissions will be broadcast on the emergency channel and the assigned incident channels to which a unit is patched
   c. In the event of an emergency, TFD units will be given priority to transmit emergency messages
3. TFD units who accidentally activate the emergency alert button for a King County incident shall use the words “all clear” or “Code 4” as a unit response and reset the radio as directed by the communications center.
4. To reset the emergency alert, turn the radio off and back on again as directed by the communications center.

Question 15

PROCEDURE FOR MUTUAL AID RADIO COMMUNCATIONS FCC Personnel

Answer 15

1. Transmit over the radio and on the MDT/MDC the radio channel assignment of the TFD units assigned to the mutual aid request outside of the TFD response area.
2. Notify the dispatch center for the agency giving mutual aid resources of the channel assignment to be used by incoming units.
3. Soft patch the assigned channel to the tactical channel of the Tacoma incident.

Question 16

PROCEDURE FOR MUTUAL AID RADIO COMMUNCATIONS

TFD Operations Personnel

Answer 16

1. Select the assigned channel and report unit number and assignment to the requesting agency. EXAMPLE: “Fire Comm from Tacoma Engine 10, responding to your call at 123 Main Street.”
2. Upon returning to service, advise the requesting agency of available status for reassignment or release.
3. Once released by the requesting agency, switch to Tacoma A1 DSP and report availability to FCC.
4. Return to the TFD service area.