Radio Communication
Problems in 2005
Related to Narrow
Banding, and Resulting
NMAC Strategy
Martin Maricle
AK-Division of Forestry
Originally presented By Dan Smith- NC
Forestry
Fire Season 2005 Narrow Band
Radio Communications Conflicts
Fire fighter safety issues
Increasing number of reports
concerning communication issues
through SAFENET and SAFECOM
prompted the National Multi-Agency
Coordinating Group (NMAC) to charter
a Fire and Aviation Safety Team (FAST)
in August, 2005
Federal Mandate to Narrowband
Restructure of Federal Radio Frequency
Spectrum required federal agencies to
transition to narrowband FM
frequencies(162.0000 to 174.0000) by
January 1, 2005.
State and local governments: 2013
NMAC Charters FAST
FAST to validate and elaborate on problems and
report
Interviewed 70 sources
Findings:
-narrowband versus wideband
conflicts
-users incorrectly using radios
-poorly maintained radios
-federal agencies isolated from
cooperators
-unreliable communication systems
requiring workarounds
Aviation Safety Technical
Assistance Team (ASTAT)
Aviation Safety Alert distribution almost
simultaneous with FAST report
Mixed narrowband and wideband frequencies
aircraft on wideband volume much louder
wideband to narrowband signal becomes
choppy (inaudible at close range)
wideband to narrowband repeater results in
lock up
NMAC Assigns Area Command Team
Area Command Team 4 (Rounsaville)
6 core team members of which 3 are state
employees
First time an Area Command Team was
mobilized for a special assignment
Delegated to produce long and short term
solutions
Area Command Radio
Communication Review Assignment
Research fact finding
Validated the problem and FAST report
Produced Firefighter Safety Advisory for
NMAC that was distributed August 24,
2005
Developed NMAC Group Strategic Plan for
Wildland Fire Radio Communications
15 Action Items
Short and long term
Strategic Plan and Action Items approved
and supported by NMAC
Reports on USFS Fire and Aviation
Management web site
Action Items
Fire Season 2005 Field Training
Interagency Communications Work
Group
Annual Electronic Equipment
Inspection and Testing Protocol
List of Narrowband compatible radios
Action Items
Radio Problem Reporting System
Annual Communications Refresher
Radio Technical Support
Distribution of Safety Alerts
Workload analysis
Action Items continued
Radio Management Hierarchy
Coordination with Fire Departments
State Forestry Survey
Fireline Communications of the Future
Standard Contract Language
Incident Radio Coverage
What’s Going on Now ?
What’s been implemented?
Fire Season 2005 field training coordinated with GACCS
More information on web sites
 http://radios.nifc.gov
 http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/
Implementation of NMAC Strategic Plan
Implementation of 15 Action Items
Radio Narrowband
Implementation Task Group
Chartered 11/17/05 by National Fire and
Aviation Executive Board and operates under
it’s authority
Implementation of short term
recommendations identified by Area Command
Team
State reps are Jim Lundsted (Missouri) and
Dave Dalrymple (Utah)
Assigned issues that must be addressed prior
to 2006 fire season
RNITG Objectives
Develop training outline to improve
community knowledge of narrowband
Develop process for dissemination of
information and feedback
Develop 2 tier training program for
communication techs and users
RNITG Objectives
Determine status of radios used in dispatch
to ensure correct configuration
Develop and distribute a convention for the
creation of frequency plans, ICS-205s, ICS220s and aviation resource orders that
designate narrowband / wideband status of
a frequency
Radio Communications Task Group
October 2005 NWCG and NMAC made
decision to charter The Radio
Communications Task Group under the
National Fire and Aviation Executive Board
Address long term wildland fire
communication issues
Improve coordination of federal, tribal, state
and local fire and aviation programs
Advisory role to NFAEB-monthly meetings
Don Artley represents NASF
USFS, BIA, BLM, Fish and Wildlife, NPS,
NIICD, National IC/AC representative
National Task Force in D.C.
National “high level “ task force being assembled in
Washington D.C. to address interoperability issues
Fire, LE, Homeland Security
Result of Office of Inspector General Review of
federal agency radio communication program,
Assistant Secretary DOI review of NMAC Wildland
Fire Communication Review
National Task Force in D.C.
Interoperability issues during 2005 hurricane
response
Efforts to implement-plug in wildland fire
communication issues
elevate to higher level
What does all this mean to state
Forestry agencies?
Lessons learned as states transition to
narrowband
Serious operational issues
Interoperability-analogue, digital, different bands,
trunking systems, etc.
National VHF Interoperability Frequencies
Mitigation options
Funding Support for
Transition to Narrowband
Availability of special federal funds not reliable
State Fire Assistance
Volunteer Fire Assistance
National Fire Plan
Homeland Security
FEMA All Risk
Radio Communication Problems in
2005 Related to Narrow Banding and
Resulting NMAC Strategy
Short term and long term issues
Progress being made
NMAC ensuring recommendations
carried out and implemented
Task Forces / Work Groups Active
Information available and under
development that will be helpful to states
Questions ????