SOG 5-1-36 Emergency Traffic Radio Procedures

Question 1

Purpose

Answer 1

Identify the use of the term EMERGENCY TRAFFIC

Question 2

Scope

Answer 2

All firefighters who operate at the scene of emergency incidents

Question 3

Definition of EMERGENCY TRAFFIC

Answer 3

Life threatening situation which has developed and could affect firefighter safety

Question 4

Parameters

Answer 4

Any firefighter may transmit EMERGENCY TRAFFIC message if

• Serious/deteriorating change in fire conditions
• Interior attack discontinued and exterior attack being prepared
• Discovery of structural problem indicating a potential or imminent collapse
• Fire has entered an exposure building to a degree that nay delay may considerably enlarge the fire problem
• Loss of water which would endanger members
• Excessive wind condition on the fire floor that could rapidly extend the fire, endangering members
• Downed electrical wire on fireground or fire apparatus
• Message that warrants priority because of potential injury or death
• Life-threatening situation or event that has occurred or is developing

Question 5

Radio Transmission Procedure

Answer 5

1. Goal: Shortest amount of time with as much useful information as possible

Who: Identify your radio designation
What: Give your situation
Where: Give your location

2. Firefighter transmitting EMERGENCY TRAFFIC message must pause after each complete message and repeat it until the IC acknowledges it.

Question 6

Radio Transmission Acknowledgement

Answer 6

1. All members at scene must understand that EMERGENCY TRAFFIC takes priority over all other transmissions, with exception of a MAYDAY message
2. When EMERGENCY TRAFFIC occurs, IC must clear air of all other traffic and establish contact with the firefighter transmitting the message
3. If IC does not acknowledge the transmission, reporting unit then establishes contact with Alarm Room and transmits the emergency message. Alarm Room then reinitiates the emergency traffic sequence with the IC
4. Requesting of more information will be determined by amount of information originally transmitted in EMERGENCY TRAFFIC message

Question 7

EMERGENCY TRAFFIC and Tones

Answer 7

• EMERGENCY TRAFFIC can be transmitted by anyone on the fireground to alert all personnel of a situation that is critical to firefighter life safety.
• When EMERGENCY TRAFFIC is used, it will be accompanied by emergency traffic tones, a 5-second, high/low warble transmitted by alarm room dispatcher assigned to the incident
• When announcing EMERGENCY TRAFFIC, the sender shall give the emergency traffic message and request emergency traffic tones. The dispatcher will then sound the tones. Following the tones, the sender will repeat the emergency traffic message.