The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About204.002c - Field Units Procedures STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM 204.002c FIELD UNITS PROCEDURE EFFECTIVE: JANUARY 2012 Current Revision Date: 5/31/19 Next Revision Date: 5/31/22 Author’s Name/Rank: Robert Camp, Battalion Chief Review Level: 1 Administrative Support: Leslie Oulashian, Management Analyst II PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to provide Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department) members with general guidelines related to communications procedures by the field units. APPLICATION This policy establishes the procedure to be followed by the field units when dispatched to emergency incidents. OPERATIONAL POLICY This section intentionally left blank. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE Company officers should ensure communication equipment on respective apparatus is monitoring the appropriate channel. Company officers should ensure all members, while outside of respective fire station, monitor the Primary Dispatch channel. All Department units should keep Communications advised of their status at all times. This should be accomplished primarily by the MDT. The radio or telephone may also be used to change status. Company officers and chief officers who are available for emergency response should notify Communications at such times as they are available in a special contact status, such as on cell phone. Section 204.002c Page 1 of 4 After approval from a battalion chief, the company officers should notify Communications whenever their unit is placed in or out of service. This can be accomplished by the MDT, radio, or telephone. All routine radio transmissions should be conducted over the Primary Dispatch channel unless otherwise defined in this policy, directed by a chief officer, or the Communications Center. All members should make every attempt to limit radio transmissions to messages which are considered essential and vitally important during periods of emergency incidents and/or dispatching broadcasts. All companies should conduct status updates by the MDT, when possible, unless otherwise directed by policy. When multiple units respond to the same incident, each unit should broadcast its arrival verbally on the incident’s Operations Channel. Victims/patient names, phone numbers, and personal information should be exchanged by MDT or cell phone. Only in the case of an emergency should this information be transmitted verbally over the radio. • Gate Code and Phone Number Security: in order to maintain confidential information, these items should be requested via MDT or cell phone. Company officers should ensure fire station scanners monitor the Primary Dispatch channel, unless otherwise directed, between 0700 and 2000 hours. All Fire units and Prevention members have been issued a cell phone, which may be used for routine non-emergency Department business. Tactical channels may be used by Training, Operations, and Prevention members for the purposes of conducting drills, building inspection procedures, or other transmissions among members at a common location. Members should request the non-emergency use of a tactical channel through the Communications Center. Members should monitor the Primary Dispatch channel when utilizing a tactical channel for non-emergency purposes. Incident Response Guidelines After the initial and second broadcast is complete, the dispatcher should confirm all units are responding. If a company officer fails to use the MDT to place his/her unit en route, the dispatcher is to make contact with the unit on the appropriate response channel and confirm the unit’s response. Officers should acknowledge response on the appropriate response channel if contacted by the dispatcher via radio. Section 204.002c Page 2 of 4 Example: (Traffic on Operations Channel) Fire Dispatcher: “Engine 7, Communications, confirm en route.” Engine 7: “Communications, Engine 7 responding.” Fire Dispatcher: “Copy. All units committed.” All subsequent information conveyed by the dispatcher is to be transmitted on the assigned Operations Channel. Units should respond and remain on the Operations Channel unless directed to change channels by the Incident Commander (IC). The first arriving unit is to assume command and give an initial report of conditions from the apparatus radio when possible. All subsequent units should place themselves “arrived” on the MDT and announce arrival to the IC on the Operations Channel and await an assignment. All arriving units must verify MDT confirmation of arrival status. Example: (Traffic on Operations Channel) Engine 9: “Harvard Command, Engine 9 arrived.” Harvard Command: “Engine 9, Harvard Command, Copied arrived, you are assigned water supply.” Engine 9: “Harvard Command, Engine 9 copy, water supply.” To ensure the best possible on-scene communications, and to limit radio traffic on the operations channel, a tactical channel is to be assigned to the incident by the communications center at time of dispatch. The tactical channel may be utilized to convey operational needs in and between divisions and groups on the incident. Note: The IC may wish to monitor the tactical channel and in such case may request an individual to assist in the management of radio monitoring. Second alarm resources or greater should utilize the MDT to go en route and then monitor the appropriate Operational Channel. Units are to announce their arrival on the Operations Channel and wait for direction from the IC. Section 204.002c Page 3 of 4 Upon termination or release from an incident, units should go available on the Primary Dispatch channel. Officers should ensure the mobile radio is returned to the Primary Dispatch channel. PROCESS This section intentionally left blank. INFORMATION This section intentionally left blank. DEFINITIONS This section intentionally left blank. CROSS-REFERENCES Standard Operating Procedures Section 204.002a, Department Licensed Frequencies Section 204.002b, Radio Discipline and Terminology Section 204.002d, Communications Center Section 204.002c Page 4 of 4