Communications Standard
Inter Operable Municipal Fire
Departments of Obion County
Communications Standard
WELCOME
• This is the first in a series of joint training
sessions for the municipal fire departments
operating in Obion County
Goals of the County Wide Training
1. To better understand the roles and procedures of
our neighboring departments
2. To unify all departments as much as possible
3. To be able to function as a team during Auto
Aid, Mutual Aid , mass causality and or
destruction, and natural disaster calls
4. To introduce new and/or more productive
methods of operation
5. Simple Training
Communications
• Tonight's goal
– To understand and be able to communicate with
other fire departments using the
COMMUNICATION STANDARD
ACCEPTED BY ALL FIRE DEPARTMENTS
IN OBION COUNTY
Why is INTER OPERABLE
COMMUNICATION Is Needed
 Successful fire operations require the
application of an effective overall management
system and the skills of a strong fireground
commander.
 The lack of understanding of this central
command role adversely affects more fires
than any other single management problem.
 Without strong, central command and the
ability to communicate the typical fire scene
quickly deteriorates into an unsafe, out-ofcontrol situation.
TRANSMISSION GUIDELINES
• 1. VHF or 800 MHz radios will be the
primary radio system, depending on the
Host (primary fire district) Department
2. All apparatus from all departments shall
check in with 911 on their normal frequency
for: Responding, On-Scene, Returning, and
In Quarters.
TRANSMISSION GUIDELINES
cont..
•
Once "On-Scene" Departments have two (2) options for
interoperable communications with the host department
•
A. If your department has the capability to change your radio
frequency to the Host department's fireground frequency, all radios
should now move to this frequency (this is the preferred option)
•
1. If the host department is using VHF, all on scene
firefighters should utilize the direct VHF channel (talk around)
avoiding the repeater. The I.C. should remain on the repeater channel
along with any apparatus not stationary on scene (such as tankers)
•
B. If your department does not have the ability to accomplish
option A above then the member in-charge of your departments
resources should locate the incident commander of the incident and
work beside him/her as a liaison between your department and the
Host department using your normal radio frequency or other frequency
as your department desires to communicate with your department
personnel on scene.
TRANSMISSION GUIDELINES
cont..
• Depending on the size and complexity of
the incident the IC can designate which
other channels should be used and by
whom.
TRANSMISSION GUIDELINES
cont..
• If a "May Day" is called, the I.C. or his/her designee, and
the member(s) declaring the "May Day" are the only
members that should be communicating on the fireground
radio channel. ALL others should maintain radio silence,
or switch to a secondary channel to communicate. The
secondary channel is VTNMA5 for VHF radios and
8TNMA5 for 800 radios. This channel is linked together
and everyone should be able to communicate using this
frequency. All crew leaders shall take a PAR of their crew,
and unless there are members physically missing shall
maintain radio silence. Unless specifically addressed by
Command, the Safety Officer, or there designees in rescue
efforts, SHUT UP! If you have relevant information, you
have two options:
TRANSMISSION GUIDELINES
cont..
• A. A face to face meeting with
Command/Safety
•
B. Communicate on a secondary channel
to someone who can have a face to face
with Command/Safety.
Guidelines in transmitting:
• Be short, specific, and clear.
Know what you are going to
say before you key the mike.
Choose precise, short terms,
and avoid uncommon or little
used words. Common
language and standard fire
fighting terms are best
understood. Operational
orders should be specific.
The Order Model
•
•
Avoid distracting mannerisms. Use a natural
tone; strictly avoid whispering or shouting.
Speak in a clear tone at a normal rate.
Prioritize messages. Send critical messages
first. Maintain radio discipline, avoid
informality, and do not interrupt unless you
have emergency traffic. Listen before you
transmit. If you can't help the situation,
THEN STAY OFF THE AIR!
The Order Model
•
•
•
•
Keep messages task oriented. Indicate a specific
assignment or task, which outlines what to do; not how to
do it. Those receiving the message need to know where
to go, to whom to report, what to do, and the desired
results.
Follow the order model (401.4). Be certain that the
receiver is ready to receive before transmitting the
assignment and make sure the message is acknowledged.
A brief restatement of the message is sometimes far more
effective than "copy."
Do not use proper names if possible.* Uses of individual
names are not proper as far as FCC is concerned.
*Proper names are used occasionally with dispatching.
Plain Language
• Plain language shall be used in all radio
communications.
Words and Phrases
Affirmative.
Negative.
Copy, Copies.
Unreadable
Loud and clear
Stop transmitting.
Application
Yes.
No.
Same as 10-4. Message received.
Signal received is not clear.
Self-explanatory.
Self-explanatory.
Plain Language cont…
• Respond.
(Emergency run)
• Responding.
to...(Emergency run)
• En route.
location.
• In quarters.
• Uncovered.
personnel.
• Out of service.
down.
• In service.
traffic.
• Repeat.
• Return to.
• What is your location?
Telling a unit where to go.
Central, 4151 responding
Responding to a non-emergency
Unit or personnel back in station.
Unit /station does not have
Indicates unit mechanically
Unit or personnel available for
Self-explanatory.
Tells unit or personnel to return.
Self-explanatory.
Plain Language cont…
• Recall.
Units reduce to normal speed;
return quarters.
• Call______
Self-explanatory.
• Disregard last message.
Self-explanatory.
• Stand by.
Self-explanatory.
• On scene.
Used to indicate unit or personnel
at incident.
• Can handle.
Self-explanatory.
• Report on conditions.
Self-explanatory.
• Fire under control.
Fire may not be out, but under
control.
• All clear.
Structure searched once, no
victims found.
• MVA
Motor Vehicle Accident, with or without injuries
Plain Language cont…
• SPECIAL NOTE: EMERGENCY
TRAFFIC - The term "Emergency Traffic"
will be utilized by any unit or personnel
encountering an immediately perilous situation
and will receive the highest communications
priority from Dispatch, Command and all
operating units. THE AIR ABSOLUTELY
BELONGS TO ANY UNIT GIVING THE
"EMERGENCY TRAFFIC" CALL.
Communications
• It is the responsibility
of command to initiate,
maintain and control
communications
throughout the
emergency incident
Communication Problems
• Lack of SOP’s
• Deficiencies in training
• Organization Problems
• Equipment Problems
• Communication Techniques
Maintaining
Communications
• Once the operation is set up,
Command begins to receive
feedback in the form of reports on
the progress being made and the
need for more resources or
coordination
• Command’s success is dependent
on this feedback
Sector Reports
• Elements of Sector reporting
–
–
–
–
–
Position
Progress
Needs
Completion of tasks
Readiness for reassignment
Order Model
• Radio communications shall be regulated by
the following order model guidelines.
• 1. Sender shall give the receiver unit ID
and then follow with own ID
• 2. Receiver will give your ID to indicate
they are ready to receive.
• 3. Sender will then extend message,
order, etc.
Order Model cont…
• 4. Receiver will give your ID and
acknowledge receipt of message. A brief
restatement is the best acknowledgment.
• 5. Dispatch will acknowledge all
communications directed to it by a brief
restatement of the message, with particular
attention given to repeating on the scene,
size up and progress reports etc.
Order Model Example
• EXAMPLE: (6100 contacting 911 to get
electric company.)
• 6100:
"911 , 6100."
• 911:
"6100.”
• 6100:
"911, dispatch Gibson
Electric to this location."
• 911:
"Copy 6100, dispatching Gibson
County Electric."
Unit / Personnel ID Numbers
• At the present time, the following
Municipal Fire Departments in Obion
County use this system: Hornbeak (4400)
Fire, Kenton (4300) Fire, Obion (8100)
Fire, Rives (6100) fire, Samburg (2000)
fire, South Fulton (2100) Fire, and Union
City (4100) Fire. Although Troy has taken
the four digit number 4700 they are not
utilizing this system currently.
Unit / Personnel ID Numbers cont…
• At the present time, the following other area
fire departments use this system: Fulton
(1100) Fire Department, Water Valley
(3100)Fire Department, Wingo (9100) Fire
Department, Fulton (1100) Fire Department,
Hickman (5100) Fire Department, and
Cayce ( ) Fire Department
Unit / Personnel ID Numbers cont…
• The first two digits signify the department.
Samburg (20), South Fulton F.D is (21).
Union City F.D. is (41), Kenton (43), Rives
F.D. is (61), Hornbeak (44), Obion (81),
• The third and fourth digit are used for
identification of personnel and apparatus.
Personnel are identified by numbers 01-99.
Unit / Personnel ID Numbers cont…
• Special Note: Because of the number of
personnel in the Union city Fire Department, the
numbers 4001 - 4099 are used in the system to
identify personnel.
• Apparatus are identified by the following numeric
system:
• 50 series numbers identify Engines.
• 60 series numbers identify Ladder Trucks.
• 70 series numbers identify Tankers.
• 80 series numbers identify Brush Trucks.
• 90 series numbers identify EMS/ Utility Vehicles
Unit / Personnel ID Numbers cont…
• EXAMPLES:
• "4151" - The number 1 engine from Union
City
• " 6171" - The number 1 tanker from Rives
• " 2101" - The Chief of South Fulton Fire
Department.
• “8151” - The number 1 engine from Obion
FLOOR IS OPEN FOR
DISCUSION/ QUESTIONS
• THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING