Basic Radio Communications & Incident CommandMASSENA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT

COMMS & ICS

While officers and fire police account for the majority of radio traffic here there may be times when others have need to communicate via a portable or mobile radio. Calls in the middle of the night where no officer is available, senior

member is in charge. May need to grab spare portable off truck.

COMMS & ICS

Things to remember Hold mic in front of but away from your mouth

Think before you speak

Speak clearly and concisely

Use plain language. No ten codes. Not even 10-4, we are professionals at an emergency scene, not driving a big rig.

Ever listen to the PD on the radio or scanner? Do the opposite of what they do when using the radio. Police agencies often use pre-World War II phonetics and other protocols not in line with NIMS

COMMS & ICS

Things to remember (Con’t) When using the radio always say the name of the person, apparatus,

or place you are calling and THEN identify yourself.

Example: 23-1 trying to get ahold of Engine 28 would say “Engine 28, 23-1”

Example: Central Dispatch calling our station would say: “Massena Station, Central Dispatch”

COMMS & ICS

Holy Crap there are a lot of channels on this thing!!!!! Channel 1 is the county fire

Channel 2 & 3 are fireground

Channel 4 is the repeater

Other channels are self-explanatory i.e. MPD, MVEU, USCG

When responding to a call we will switch to Channel 2 and operate off there.

COMMS & ICS

I am the first officer on scene, what now? Establish command

Give initial scene size-up

I am the senior man on scene and there are no officers. What now? See above! Same rules apply.

COMMS & ICS

Establishing Command Never establish command en-route. If you can’t see the scene how

can you be expected to make decisions and relay information about what is needed or happening?

First officer on scene establishes command! Let dispatch know who is in charge and where you are. IC needs to be in one spot coordinating. You can either go inside at a fire or you can be the IC, you can’t do both.

“Central Dispatch, 23-6 on scene establishing command at Engine 28”

We should establish command at all calls! IC being in one spot not as essential at run of the mill calls like box alarms, etc.

COMMS & ICS

Establishing Command (Con’t) Once command is established, you cease to be 23-1 or 23-5 or 23-

Whatever. You are now “Massena I.C.” as far as dispatch is concerned.

If a higher ranking officer arrives they may “assume” command but they DO NOT have to. Your IC can be anyone as long as they have decent management skills and a command of both radio communications and Incident Command.

COMMS & ICS

Okay, I have command. Now what? Give responding manpower and apparatus a head’s up with an initial

scene size up.

This can include anything from the type of structure, if there are flames or smoke showing, any immediately observable hazards, or any additional information incoming men and units might find useful.

One of the benefits of us going immediately to Channel 2 is that it gets us off the main channel so we do not have to worry about excessive radio traffic as much.

COMMS & ICS

Initial Arrival and Communications Video