 |
City of Charlottesville, VA Fire
Department
|
| Chapter: | IV - General Administration |
| Subject: | Radio Communications Procedures |
| Code: | 1-IV-34 |
| Revised: | 6-10-96 |
A. To provide a standardized format for the operation
of Fire Communications in the City of Charlottesville
and the County of Albemarle, Virginia.
A. All personnel shall abide by the procedure contained
herein when communicating over the departmental radio
system as permanent or relief dispatcher or in the field
in another capacity. Free lancing will not be tolerated.
A. To specifically cover the following areas:
1. General procedural guidelines.
2. Dispatch of apparatus.
3. Routine and emergency communications with mobile
radio units.
4. Command communications.
A. Licensing and Ownership
1. The City of Charlottesville is the licensee for all
radio frequencies and radio equipment operated at the
Communications Center.
2. Frequency assignments
a. Channel 1 (46.46mHz) shall normally be used as
primary dispatch frequency for all units.
b. Channel 2 (46.26mHz) shall be used as the
secondary or operating frequency. It may be
used for the controlling of a working incident,
relieving congestion on primary channel, or as
requested by field units and/or as directed by
the dispatcher.
B. Transmission Procedure
1. The communication center will be referred to as
"Fire Alarm" both by units in the field and by the
dispatcher contacting mobile units.
2. The dispatcher shall announce the identification,
station call letters and correct time every half
hour, on the half hour.
Example: "Charlottesville-Albemarle Fire Alarm
KIP 246
1030 hours."
A. Incident Dispatch
1. Taking the call
a. Take charge of the conversation. (AVOID LENGTHY
CONVERSATIONS).
b. Ask specific questions as to who, what,
and where.
c. Be courteous but firm.
d. Do not lead the caller.
2. Specific information
a. Determine location first.
b. Determine nature of call.
1) Structure fire - If there are people inside.
If so, advise the caller to get everyone out
of structure, if possible.
2) Vehicle fire - Type of vehicle,
if inside a structure, and the type of
cargo (if applicable).
3) Natural gas leak - Determine if the leak is
inside structure or outside. Advise the
caller not to hang up the phone and not to
activate any electrical switches but to have
everyone leave the building (if the leak is
inside the structure). Notify gas dept.
4) Vehicle accident - determine if the vehicle
is on fire, number of injuries, if anyone is
trapped. DO NOT refer calls to the rescue
squad, take all pertinent information and
report it yourself.
5) County call - Obtain state route number
and landmark
NOTE: "WHEN IN DOUBT, SEND THEM OUT" ALWAYS SEND
A COMPANY TO INVESTIGATE. NEVER MAKE ASSESS-
MENTS OVER THE PHONE. IF THE CALLER REPORTS
THAT THE FIRE IS OUT, LET ALL APPARATUS
CONTINUE UNTIL THE FIRST UNIT ON THE SCENE IS
ABLE TO ASSESS THE SITUATION. ADVISE THE
CALLER THAT A COMPANY WILL BE RESPONDING IN
TO MAKE A REPORT ON THE INCIDENT.
IN THE EVENT THERE IS CONFUSION ABOUT AN
ADDRESS, A TRACE SHOULD BE INITIATED. WHEN
TRACE RESULTS ARE RECEIVED, RESPOND A
COMPANY TO THE TRACED ADDRESS TO INVESTIGATE.
IF THE TRACE COMES BACK TO ANOTHER
JURISDICTION, CONTACT THAT AGENCY AND HAVE
THEM INVESTIGATE.
3. Documentation
a. Time card shall be inserted in the time clock
and punched when:
1) The call is received.
2) The call is dispatched.
3) The first unit signs on responding.
4) The first career unit arrives.
5) The first volunteer unit arrives (if
applicable).
6) Utilities notified (if applicable).
7) Utilities arrives on scene.
NOTE: AFTER CALL HAS BEEN DISPATCHED, THE
LOCATION, TYPE INCIDENT, WHO WAS IN COMMAND,
THE DISPATCHER, UNITS RESPONDING, CITY AND/OR
COUNTY INCIDENT NUMBERS, AND CITY AND/OR COUNTY
COMPANY RUN NUMBERS SHALL BE DOCUMENTED ON THE
TIME CARD.
b. Radio log shall be filled out to show apparatus
activities.
c. Appropriate entries shall be entered into the
Station Journal.
4. Determining the response
a. Locate the incident on either the overhead maps
or in the flip file to obtain verification of
the address and obtain a box number.
b. Pull the appropriate response card which shows
the response assignments. RESPONSE CARDS WILL
BE USED TO DETERMINE RUNNING ASSIGNMENTS.
c. When units are "on the air", be sure and contact
them to determine their location. They might not
be the "closest" company and another company may
be "due".
d. Response of closest fire apparatus:
1) City - the closest piece of fire apparatus
(career or volunteer) shall be dispatched to
an incident.
EXCEPTIONS:
a) If apparatus staffed with only 1 person
is dispatched, it shall be backed up
with a fully manned company.
b) If apparatus without medical equipment
is dispatched, it shall be backed up
with a "first due" company with medical
equipment.
2) County - the closest assigned career engine
and/or volunteer company shall be
dispatched.
EXCEPTION:
a) If both career county assigned first due
companies are not available for response,
and another county alarm is received,
the closest "second due" Engine may be
dispatched into the county within a
response area as designated on the
response map in the alarm office
provided that no other volunteer
companies (on the air) are closer.
NOTE: IF COMPANIES THAT ARE "ON THE AIR" ARE ACTUALLY
CLOSER TO THE CALL THAN THE COMPANY DISPATCHED, THEY WILL
NOTIFY FIRE ALARM OF THEIR LOCATION AND THEY WILL RESPOND
UNLESS OTHERWISE DIRECTED BY FIRE ALARM.
5. Dispatching the incident (Each dispatch will be
transmitted at least twice).
a. Sound 2 short alert tones.
b. Announce location of incident (to include
building name and/or cross street if applicable).
c. Announce type of incident (a house fire, vehicle
fire, vehicle accident, etc.).
d. Announce company(ies), units, due to respond
in the order they are due.
e. Activate selective tone(s) as required.
f. Announce location of incident (to include
building name and/or cross street if applicable).
g. Announce type of incident.
h. Announce company(ies), units responding.
i. Announce company(ies), units to respond.
j. If there is no response after 2 minutes, reactivate
tones again.
SEE EXAMPLES UNDER DISPATCH/RADIO TRANSMISSIONS.
NOTE: ON ANY INCIDENT THAT REQUIRES THE RESPONSE OF
A CHIEF OFFICER (CHIEF 1, CHIEF 2, BATTALION
CHIEF, OR CHIEF 3), ACTIVATE ALL CHIEF OFFICER
PAGERS REGARDLESS OF HIS/HER STATUS (ON-DUTY,
OFF-DUTY, IN QUARTERS, ETC.) IN ADDITION, ANY
INCIDENTS THAT ARE A SECOND ALARM OR GREATER,
ALL CHIEF OFFICERS' PAGERS WILL BE REACTIVATED.
ALSO, IF CHIEF OFFICERS DO NOT SIGN ON WITHIN
A REASONABLE TIME, THEY WILL BE CONTACTED BY
TELEPHONE TO INSURE THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE
INCIDENT.
k. The dispatcher will wear the headset microphone
during the dispatch of all incidents.
6. Classification of alarms
a. Box alarms
1) Any fire within a structure, including chimney
fires.
2) Any fire adjacent to or threatening
a structure.
3) Any alarm device sounding in a structure.
4) Any hazardous material incident.
5) Building collapse.
6) A gas leak (natural, butane, propane, etc).
7) Odor of smoke in a structure.
8) Anytime the OIC or Chief Officer feels
that the call needs a full response.
9) Flooded basement with fire and/or life
hazard.
10) Lockout with food on stove, fire and/or
life hazard.
b. Still alarms
1) Vehicle fires.
2) Automobile accidents.
3) Investigations
4) Emergency service calls
5) Details (wash, water, etc.)
6) Brush or grass fires.
7) Medical assists.
8) Tree fire.
9) Utility shut off.
10) Elevator emergencies. Unless fire is
involved then it will be a box alarm.
11) Lockout with children inside.
c. Special Alarm
1) Service calls (broken water pipes, flooded
basement, etc.).
2) Transfer details.
3) Lockout details.
4) Animal trapped or stuck in a tree.
7. Dispatch/Radio transmissions
a. Still alarm
Beep...Beep
Fire Alarm: "1621 Madison Avenue, (cross street),
a dumpster fire, Engine 4 respond"
RE-TRANSMIT Selective tone(s) as required
Fire Alarm: "1621 Madison Avenue, (cross street),
a dumpster fire, Engine 4 respond, 1421."
b. Box Alarm (City)
Beep...Beep
Fire Alarm: "1426 University Ave, (cross street)
a structure fire, Engines 4,5, 2,
Truck 1, Battalion Chief 1 respond."
RE-TRANSMIT Selective tone(s) as required
Fire Alarm: "1426 University Ave, (cross street),
a structure fire, Engines 4, 5, 2,
Truck 1 Battalion Chief 1 respond, 1827."
UNITS SIGNING ON THE AIR FOR RESPONSE
First Due Company Responding:
Eng 4: "Engine 4 responding 1426 University
Ave."
ALL OTHER UNITS SIGN ON IN ROLL CALL FASHION AS SHOWN:
Eng 5: "Eng 5"
Eng 2: "Eng 2"
Trk 1: "Trk 1"
ACKNOWLEDGE ALL UNITS IN ONE TRANSMISSION.
c. County alarm
Beep...Beep
Fire Alarm: "759-D Mountainwood Road, a
apartment fire, Engine 2, Station 2,
Station 3, Battalion Chief 3 respond."
RE-TRANSMIT Selective tone(s) as required
Fire Alarm: "759-D Mountainwood Road, a apartment
fire, Engine 2, Station 2, Station 3,
Battalion Chief 3 respond, 1740.
Eng 2: "Engine 2 responding 759-D Mountainwood
Road."
d. Airport alarm
Beep...Beep
Fire Alarm: "Charlottesville/Albemarle Airport on
Route 606, an Alert 2 Class B,
Engines 10, 7, Station 4, Station 6,
Battalion Chief 2 respond."
RE-TRANSMIT Selective tone(s) as required
Fire Alarm: "Charlottesville/Albemarle Airport on
Route 606, an Alert 2 Class B, Engines
10 and 7 responding, Station 4, Station
6, Battalion Chief 2 respond, 1257."
Eng 10: "Engine 10 responding Charlottesville/
Albemarle Airport."
Eng 7: "Engine 7."
e. Medical alarm
Beep...Beep
Fire Alarm: "Route 743, 1 mile north of the
reservoir, a overdose, Station 4
respond."
RE-TRANSMIT Selective tone(s) as required
Fire Alarm: "Route 743, 1 mile north of the
reservoir, a overdose, Station 4
respond, 2111."
Brush 45: "Brush 45 responding Route 743."
NOTE: ALWAYS GIVE NATURE OF CALL, NOT JUST
"MEDICAL ASSIST".
NOTE: DURING ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT CALLS,
ALL INFORMATION CONCERNING PATIENT CARE
SHOULD BE DIRECTED THROUGH MEDCOM BY
TELEPHONE AS A FIRST CHOICE. IF HOWEVER,
A TELEPHONE IS NOT AVAILABLE, THE UNIT IN
THE FIELD MAY REQUEST THAT FIRE ALARM
CONTACT MEDCOM TO COME UP ON FIRE CHANNEL
2. USE OF FIRE CHANNELS IS A LAST RESORT
FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCIES.
f. Private fire alarm
Beep...Beep
Fire Alarm: "Dillard-Gooch Dorms, Alderman Rd, a
smoke detector activation,
Engines 4,5,2, Trk 1, Battalion Chief 3
respond."
RE-TRANSMIT Selective tone(s) as required
Fire Alarm: "Dillard-Gooch Dorms, Alderman Rd, a
smoke detector activation,
Engines 4,5,2, Trk 1, Battalion Chief 3
respond, 2132."
Units Responding:
"Engine 4 responding Dillard-Gooch
Dorms."
"Engine 5."
"Engine 2."
"Truck 1."
"Battalion Chief 3."
NOTE: THE TYPE OF ALARM SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN
THE BROADCAST, SUCH AS SMOKE DETECTOR,
HEAT DETECTOR, SPRINKLER ACTIVATION, ADT
ALARM, ETC. DO NOT USE "ALARM BELLS."
IF UNSURE, USE "ALARM ACTIVATION".
g. Multiple alarms (2nd, 3rd, etc.)
Beep...Beep
Fire Alarm: "Dillard-Gooch Dorms, Alderman Rd, a
second alarm for a working dormitory
fire, Engines 10, 7, Trk 2, Chief 2
respond."
RE-TRANSMIT Selective tone(s) as required.
"Dillard-Gooch Dorms, Alderman Rd, a
second alarm for a working dormitory
fire, Engines 10,7, Trk 2, Chief 2
respond, 1523."
NOTE: ALL CHIEF OFFICERS' TONES WILL BE
ACTIVATED FOR MULTIPLE ALARMS WITHIN
THE CITY. THOSE CHIEF OFFICERS' THAT
DO NOT RESPOND WILL BE NOTIFIED BY
TELEPHONE AND ADVISED OF THE INCIDENT.
h. Special Call - when a specific unit is requested.
Beep...Beep
Fire Alarm: "2101 Arlington Blvd, for an apartment
fire, special call, Ventilation 1
respond."
RE-TRANSMIT Selective tone(s) as required.
Fire Alarm: "2101 Arlington Blvd, for an apartment
fire, special call, Ventilation 1
respond, 0130."
g. Alarms with units "on the air"
Beep...Beep
Fire Alarm: "Fire Alarm to Engine 4."
Eng 4: "Engine 4, intersection Cherry Ave
and Ridge Street."
DETERMINE IF COMPANY IS CLOSEST OR NOT. IF THEY ARE
CLOSER ADVISE THE UNIT TO STANDBY, IF NOT ADVISE THE
COMPANY TO DISREGARD AND DISPATCH APPROPRIATE
COMPANY(IES). ASK ONLY ONCE, THEN TRANSMIT TONES AND
DISPATCH CALL.
Fire Alarm: "Engine 4 STANDBY"
Beep...Beep
Fire Alarm: "Page Dorm, McCormick Rd, a
alarm activation, Engine 4, Engines 5,
2, Trk 1, Battalion Chief 1 respond."
RE-TRANSMIT Selective tone(s) as required.
"Page Dorm, McCormick Rd, an alarm
activation, Engines 4,5,2, Trk 1,
Battalion Chief 1 respond, 2111."
8. Reporting on the scene
a. The Fireground Command Procedure (SOP #31) shall
be used on all incidents.
b. An on scene report shall be given by the first
unit arriving and shall consist of:
1) Unit number and "on the scene".
2) Height of building in stories.
3) Type of building (dwelling, apartment,
commercial, hospital, etc.).
4) Conditions (nothing showing, light smoke
showing and the location of such).
5) Officer In Charge
Example:
Eng 4: "Engine 4 on the scene of a 7 story
hospital, nothing showing, Lt. Smith
in command."
Fire Alarm: "Engine 4 on the scene of a 7
story hospital, nothing
showing, Lt. Smith in Command,
0223".
NOTE: FIRE ALARM WILL REPEAT THE ON SCENE
REPORT AS STATED.
Other Units arriving will wait until after
Fire Alarm has repeated first unit's on scene
report before marking on the scene.
"Engine 5 on the scene."
"Engine 2 on the scene."
"Truck 1 on the scene."
NOTE: AFTER THE 1ST DUE ENGINE HAS ARRIVED
ON THE SCENE, ALLOW ENOUGH TIME FOR
THE REST OF THE UNITS TO ARRIVE.
THEN ACKNOWLEDGE ALL UNITS ON SCENE IN
ONE TRANSMISSION.
9. Command progression - The next higher ranking officer
may assume command upon his/her arrival and shall
announce this assumption of command.
a. Example:
Chief 2: "Chief 2 on the scene, assuming command."
NOTE: THE MESSAGE OF COMMAND ASSUMPTION SHALL BE
RETRANSMITTED BY FIRE ALARM AND SHALL BE
SIMULCASTED IF THE INCIDENT IS OPERATING ON
CHANNEL 2.
Fire Alarm: "Chief 2 on the scene . . . (location),
assuming command, 0234."
b. "Command" is the only individual who will
communicate with Fire Alarm.
c. All communications with Fire Alarm shall be
on Channel 1.
d. In the event of multiple alarms occurring
simultaneously, the officer assuming command
will identify the incident location.
Example:
Chief 2: "Chief 2 on the scene, assuming
command at Barracks Road."
e. In the event that a Battalion Chief is not
available for response to an incident (i.e.
off duty, assigned to another call, etc.)
the next available chief officer will be
dispatched in the following order of priority:
Chief 3, Chief 2, and then Chief 1.
10. Situation report - As soon as possible, the
Incident Commander shall make a report to Fire
Alarm updating the situation.
11. Simulcasting procedure - Fire Alarm should
simulcast when two (2) channel operations are in
progress. Simulcast transmissions shall include:
Command progression, situation reports, and/or
pertinent information except when simulcasting
will interfere with critical incident operations.
Examples:
a. "Chief 2 on the scene . . . (location), assuming
command, 2312."
b. "McDonald's Command reporting fire knocked down,
holding all units, 2210."
c. "Page Dorm Command reports false alarm, return
all units when ready, 1301."
12. Channel 2
a. The switch to Channel 2 operations shall be made
under the following conditions:
1) Any working incident.
2) When ordered by the Incident Commander.
3) When requested by Fire Alarm.
b. The switch to Channel 2 will be directed by Fire
Alarm after initial operations have started.
Example:
Fire Alarm: "Units operating at 1216 Agnese
Street, Channel 2 operations.
NOTE: FIRE ALARM WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE
WHEN UNITS HAVE MADE THE SWITCH.
c. Even though Fire Alarm monitors channel 2, any
unit wishing to contact Fire Alarm shall switch
channels and do so on channel 1.
d. When operating on channel 2, Chief Officers will
be advised of other alarms in their jurisdictions
and/or of any transfer details made. Any
important incident reports will be simulcasted.
e. At the termination of an incident, units shall
remain on channel 2 until returning to quarters
or they are ready on the scene.
Example: "Engine 4 returning/ready, channel 1."
13. Heavy radio/telephone traffic - When radio and/or
telephone traffic becomes heavy in the Fire Alarm
Office, the dispatcher may:
a. Announce - "All units standby." This indicates
that Fire Alarm is temporarily unable to answer;
do not transmit for a reasonable time and await
Fire Alarm to contact you.
b. Transmit a single short alert tone "beep".
This indicates that Fire Alarm is temporarily
unable to answer; do not transmit for a
reasonable time and await Fire Alarm to contact
you.
14. Urgent Message - anytime a unit is in distress and/
or needs to communicate a life threatening message
they will use the Urgent Message.
a. Urgent messages are restricted to emergencies
where life or personal injury is at stake, or
critical situations requiring immediate
assistance.
b. Urgent messages will be given priority over all
other phone or radio traffic and will be
immediately acknowledged.
Example: "Engine 82 to Fire Alarm - URGENT
repeat URGENT."
15. Use of Alert Tones
a. Alert tones are used to gain the attention
of personnel or a station. Alert tones are
only used during an incident (exception -
dispatcher may use one single short alert to
let mobile units know that Fire Alarm is busy).
b. Two short alert tones shall precede incident
dispatches.
c. Two short alert tones will be used to gain
attention of units on the air and let them
know they MAY be dispatched to an incident.
Example:
Fire Alarm: "(Beep...Beep) Fire Alarm to
Engine 10."
Engine 10 : "Eng 10 Harris Street."
Fire Alarm: "Eng 10 (STANDBY or DISREGARD)
d. Emergency message: One long "YELP" tone shall
be used to announce building collapse, fire
fighter lost, fire fighter trapped, etc. Upon
transmission of this tone ALL TRANSMISSIONS ARE
TO CEASE AND EVERYONE IS TO LISTEN TO THE
MESSAGE.
16. Calling for additional alarms - When units are
contacting Fire Alarm for additional equipment,
standby for Fire Alarm to acknowledge. Then give
the message for assistance. Make the request
specific.
Example:
Chief 2: "Chief 2 to Fire Alarm."
Fire Alarm: "Chief 2."
Chief 2: "Send me another engine company."
Fire Alarm: "OK Chief 2, another engine company
on the way, 1641."
17. Walk-ins - On occasion a station may receive a call
by either landline or walk-in. In this case, the
unit should respond to the incident and inform fire
alarm by radio.
Example:
Unit: "Brush 45 to Fire Alarm, we are responding
to Rt. 743 and Rt. 643 for a
motor vehicle accident."
Fire Alarm: "Beep...Beep"
"At Routes 743 & 643, a motor vehicle accident,
Brush 45 responding at 2136."
Fire Alarm: Selective tone(s) as required.
"At Routes 743 & 643, a motor vehicle
accident, Brush 45 responding, 2136."
18. Mutual aid calls - On any mutual aid calls to
surrounding jurisdictions, that locality's dispatcher
will be notified as to the location, nature of call,
and what units from Albemarle County are responding.
All radio dispatches will include the fact that the
call is mutual aid and out of the County of
Albemarle.
Example:
Fire Alarm: "Beep...Beep"
"Route 33 in Green County, mutual aid
for a building fire, Station 4 respond.
Fire Alarm: Selective tone(s) as required.
"Route 33 in Green County, mutual aid
for a building fire, Station 4 respond,
2133."
19. Equipment Transfers
a. City Station 1 - Anytime it is estimated that the
Engine Company from Station 1 will be out of
service or tied up on an incident for more than
15 minutes, the County Career Engine from
Headquarters will transfer to Station 1. In the
event that a Career Engine is not available,
Station 1 will remain empty.
b. City Headquarters - Anytime it appears that units
from Headquarters will be out of service or tied
up on an incident for an extended period of time,
Fire Alarm shall contact the Incident Commander to
see if he/she wishes a transfer - If so, transfers
should be conducted as listed below:
NOTE: UPON A REQUEST OF A SECOND OR GREATER ALARM
STATION TRANSFERS SHALL BE AUTOMATIC UNLESS
OTHERWISE DIRECTED BY INCIDENT COMMANDER.
1) HQ Station empty - Transfer one Station 1
Career Engine to Headquarters.
2) County Career Engine in HQ alone - Transfer
Station 1 "2nd Due" Engine to HQ.
3) Station 1 "1st Due" Engine tied up for more
than 15 minutes, transfer Career County HQ
Engine to Station 1 (unless the "2nd Due"
Engine is staffed with two personnel or more,
then a transfer will not be necessary). If a
Career Engine is not available to fill in at
Station 1, Station 1 will remain empty.
4) All Career Companies out - Transfer 2
Volunteer Companies to Headquarters and
Volunteer Company to Station 1.
c. County Stations - It shall be the responsibility
of the Officer-In-Charge of any Volunteer Company
to ask for a transfer detail.
d. Multiple Company Transfers should be done in one
simultaneous dispatch.
Example of single Engine transfer:
Fire Alarm: Selective tone(s) as required
"Transfer, Engine 2 transfer to Station 1, 2101."
Example of multiple Engine transfer:
Fire Alarm: Selective tone(s) as required
"Transfer, Stations 2 and 6 transfer
1 Engine Company to HQ, 2343."
20. Placing units in/out of service - Whenever a station
places any apparatus in/out of service, Fire Alarm is
to be notified immediately. Unit number and reason
will be posted on the Fire Alarm status board. Also
if a Volunteer Company is involved, the station
pagers will be activated and all personnel advised of
the units status.
Example:
Fire Alarm: (selective station tone - no alerts)
"Attention Station 2 personnel, Engine 22 is now out
of service, 1921."
21. Severe Weather Notification - For severe weather
notifications, all selective tones shall be activated
(except house sirens) and the pertinent information
announced.
Example:
Fire Alarm: (selective tones - no alerts)
"Attention all stations, the National
Weather Center has advised that a
tornado warning is in effect for this
area until 2300 hours tonight, 1815."
22. Paging of Personnel
a. Paging of personnel for necessary department
matters will be referred by the department's
Officer-In-Charge or designee to the Fire Alarm
Office AND WILL ONLY BE DONE WHEN TELEPHONE CONTACT
HAS BEEN TRIED.
b. The paging of individuals for personal matters
will not be done, except in cases of emergency.
c. Any problems or complaints should be referred to
the On Duty Battalion Chief.
34.06 BASIC RULES FOR VOICE OPERATION & MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS
A. Make certain the channel is clear and organize your
thoughts before transmitting.
B. Keep all transmissions brief and to the point.
C. Speak distinctly and pronounce words carefully.
D. Depress the microphone switch fully and pause a second
before starting to talk. Talk at conversational level
DO NOT SHOUT.
E. Use official titles, authorized units, and complete
designations, i.e. Captain Smith, Brush 45, Truck 1, etc.
Use of first names is not permitted.
F. The use of "10 Signals" is not permitted.
G. Remain calm during all radio and telephone conversations.
Avoid uncivil, angry, abusive, derogatory, or sarcastic
remarks.
H. The word "OK" will be used to signify acknowledgment,
i.e., that the message is understood and will be complied
to. The code signal "10-4" will not be used.
Example:
Fire Alarm: "Fire Alarm to Engine 4 hydrant location
is the 800 block Lexington Avenue, 1233."
Engine 4 : "Engine 4 OK."
I. Mobile radio units will use complete identification
designations for all transmissions made by the unit.
Example:
"Engine 5, Truck 1, Brush 45, Tanker 69, etc."
J. Hand held radio units will use designations which identify
with the apparatus to which assigned, prefixed by the
word "Walkie".
Example: "Engine 4 Walkie for Engine 4's walkie."
K. Fire Alarm shall comply with all orders issued by
commanding officers of the fire department while
operating on the fireground.
L. Fire Alarm will only accept orders from the Incident
Commander. When orders or instructions are given to
Fire Alarm by personnel other than the IC, Fire Alarm
will inform that person of the IC and direct that traffic
to the IC.
Example:
Unit: "Engine 4 Walkie to Fire Alarm return all units."
Fire Alarm: "Engine 4 Walkie, Chief 2 has assumed
command, please direct your message to him,
1806."
34.07 STANDARD AUTHORIZED WORDS/PHRASES
A. Advise - give this message to - or provide me with the
necessary information. DO NOT USE "BE ADVISED".
B. Brush unit - vehicle used for brush/woods fires.
C. Command post - the physical location (area or vehicle)
of the fireground or incident commander.
D. Cross street - the street that intersects before the
block of the incident.
E. Engine - A mobile Engine usually carrying 500 gallons or
more and less than 3 persons on apparatus.
F. En route - on the way to . . .(location).
G. Engine Company - An engine that has three or more personnel
on apparatus.
H. ETA - abbreviation for estimated time of arrival.
I. Landline - a telephone; also to be used as a request
to call by telephone.
J. Not ready - not available for response.
K. OK - message received, understood and will be complied
with.
L. On the air - way to notify Fire Alarm that a unit is
available by radio.
M. On the scene - indicates that a unit has arrived at its
destination.
N. Ready - available for response.
O. Responding - a unit is on the way to a specific
destination.
P. Response check - Fire Alarm is questioning the response
of a unit.
Q. Situation clear - signifies that the emergency no longer
exists.
R. Situation under control - signifies that the emergency
still exists but conditions are under control.
S. Test count - for test purposes, a 5 count will be made,
1 to 5, 5 to 1.
T. Transferring - moving to or filling in at another
station.
U. Verify - verify entire message and correct if necessary.
V. Walkie - radio designation for hand held radios shall
follow apparatus designation. Example -
"Engine 3 Walkie".
A. Standard testing of radios shall be conducted daily at
0700 hours.
B. No alert tones are to be used.
C. Dispatcher shall first identify the station, announce
street closings, bridges closed, apparatus out of
service, etc., for the benefit of all companies.
Example:
Fire Alarm: "Station KIP 246
Charlottesville-Albemarle Fire Alarm
Charlottesville, Virginia
Operating on the assigned frequency of
46.46 mHz conducting morning radio test
with Engine 7 out of service. Testing
Engine 1.
Engine 1: "Engine 1 testing 1-2-3-4-5."
Fire Alarm: "Engine 2."
D. If an incident is in progress at 0700, the radio test
will be suspended to the following day.
E. If a radio fails the morning test, a defective equipment
form shall be submitted and also logged in the
radio/battery log.
A. Routine announcements will be made every Tuesday at
1800 hours immediately following the weekly monitor
test (except when incidents are in progress).
Announcements may be made after incident(s) are clear
up until 2100 hours. After that time, routine
announcements will not be permitted. The announcements
will be broadcasted only once. Notification for evening
announcements must be made before 1745 hours on the day
of requested broadcast. Requests for announcements made
after 1745 will be allowed only under extenuating
circumstances.
NOTE: Routine announcements should remain as brief as
possible.
B. Emergency announcements can be made at any time. An
emergency announcement is considered to be a weather
related, emergency page of personnel, or the like.
C. Special announcements (apparatus in/out of service, time
sensitive announcements) can be made at any time.
D. Testing - A weekly test shall be conducted for all
City and County monitors on Tuesday at 1800 hours
preceding the routine announcements. If an incident
is in progress at 1800 hours the test will be
suspended to the following week. However, routine
announcements scheduled shall be transmitted up until 2100
hours. All selective tones shall be activated (except
house sirens), followed by the test announcement and then
the routine announcements.
Example:
Fire Alarm: (sound selective tones)
"Station KIP 246
Charlottesville-Albemarle Fire Alarm
conducting a weekly test of City and
County monitors, testing 1-2-3-4-5,
5-4-3-2-1 end of test."
(follow-up with routine announcements)
"Attention Station 4 personnel there
will be a work detail at your station
tonight at 1900 hours, 1802."
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