Fireground Radios- Non Essential Chatter

[hudson144 150]

the importance of communications on the fireground certainly has come a long way over the years. many departments are still behind when it comes to keeping in touch with members inside of the involved structure. alternate frequencys help keep radio traffic to a minimum on the main dispatching frequencys. in westchester a problem does exist when mutual aid is either being given or recieved from neighboring departments. The importance of a command post can be a topic here because someone needs to be involved with all communications at the fireground. Are we all working together at an incident? are orders being given to all companys involved? is vital info not being communicated to all interior crews? Is the operating channel being "OVERLOADED" by non essential chatter? is that one individual tying up the air waves? all members IMO should have a portable radio issued to them. if you don't have a radio make sure that your partner has one. this is a start of a good topic-carry on!!!

[res6cue 67]

Our dept (and almost all of Rockland) operates on one of 6 UHF frequencies for fireground operations. Completely separate from any dispatch channels. The primary operating channel for each dept is assigned in such a way that will all but eliminate us stepping on each other. All our officers have their own UHF portables, and there are at least three on each rig (some have four).

[Guest alsfirefighter]

One of the most important points:

GET ONTO A FIREGROUND CHANNEL!! Utilize the working channels for all on scene incident traffic. All incidents not just fires, that is what they are there for and they are simplex which is safer for those of you whom operate on half-duplex repeater systems.

[RWC130 594]

Simplex, Duplex, Half-Duplex, Low Band, VHF, UHF,

Trunked, The list goes on...

We need to train everyone; Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs, Captains, Lieutenants, Firefighters, Fire Police....

Yes, EVERYONE that uses a radio.

When you are at a Fire Scene ANY Fire Scene

Go to Fire Ground Channels!!!

IT JUST MAY SAVE A LIFE!

IC should control the Non Essential Chatter because I often hear a lot

of it on the County Fire Channels and Fire Ground.

Just to add....ALL the lil cutesy comments made by Firefighters, EMT's, and Paramedics to 60-Control need to END! Totally UNPROFESSIONAL!

Anyone who monitors Rockland or Orange County

will know they do not tolerate it at all.

[hudson144 150]

send a thank you note instead of thanking everyone for showing up at an incident! no need to tell 60 control- release **** fire dept with our thanks! we all know you are thankful and you will probably see them the next day to bs about the alarm anyway!