PURPOSE: This section of the Emergency Operations Guidelines is to provide guidance in Fire Department Communication Procedures.
The use of clear text style communications is strongly encouraged to facilitate a better understanding by both parties of what is being communicated. While it has been a long standing tradition to utilize a ten code system in the fire service, a code system serves little purpose except to complicate effective communications.
Recognizing that certain situations require some secrecy and the use of coded signals is helpful. The Tupelo Fire Department has established the following codes specifically for Fire Department use:
Signal 100: Firefighter Injury (minor injury)These signals should be used by the command staff to relay on scene information to other onscene units or units off the scene.Signal 101: Firefighter Death,, Major Injury, Entrapment, or Unaccounted
Should an emergency such as an injury, entrapment, lost, out of air, etc. arise concerning any member of a crew operating within the hazard area, that crew member should use the distress signal "MAY-DAY" as a signal to alert personnel on the scene to the problem. The "MAY-DAY" should be followed by the firefighter's radio designation (1A, 1B, 2A, etc.) and the nature of the distress.
Once a "MAY-DAY" is out, command should have dispatch clear all traffic with an alert tone. Command should have all other units move to another radio frequency and appoint someone else over these units in order to keep the current operations going. An attempt should now be made to identify the member more thoroughly and if possible his/her location or general location should be established. The tactical worksheet can be utilized at this time to pin point the location and assignment of the missing firefighter at the time of the last PAR. As soon as possible, the RIT team should be deployed.
Effective communications involves two parties, the sender expresses the communication in some form, and the receiver understands the communication. In order to make sure that the idea being communicated is understood, the receiver of the message should acknowledge the message and concisely repeat the meaning.
Example: (Engine 1 to Engine 2) "Engine 2 lay a supply line."(Engine 2) "Engine 2, copies laying a line."
The designation of fire apparatus of fire apparatus shall correspond with the station to which the unit is assigned and the function of the unit.
Unit Radio Designations are as follows:
The following dispatch procedures shall be utilized by the Lee County Communication Center and the Tupelo Fire Department.
Fire Service Dispatch, City of Tupelo
Dispatch by toning the appropriate fire station(s) according to the following response levels.
ONE ENGINE: Grass, Vehicles, Trash, Electrical wire down, no fire, Auto Accident with fuel leak and no fire.
ONE ENGINE AND/OR RESCUE: Rescue Calls, Emergency Medical Calls, Assist Ambulance. DO NOT DISPATCH RESCUE 1 UNLESS THE CALL RECEIVED INDICATES MORE THAN BASIC EMERGENCY FIRST AID IS REQUIRED. If someone has fallen and can not get up, send only, the first Engine. Send Rescue 1 only in District 1 except: full arrests and vehicle accidents.
TWO ENGINES: Fire Alarms ( hospital alarms-full assignment)
THREE ENGINES, RESCUE, ASSISTANT CHIEF: Dwellings.
TWO ENGINES, RESCUE, TRUCK 1, ASSISTANT CHIEF: Commercial Fires, Schools, Apartments, Hospitals, Manufacturing.
After determining the units to respond tone the stations simultaneously. When the tones have completed state on the radio the location, cross street, nature of the emergency, and the engine, truck, Assistant Chief numbers that are to respond. This is to be broadcast on the paging channel and on the Tupelo Fire channel on the 800 MHZ radio at the same time.
Example: Engine 1,2,4, and FD-2, respond to a house fire 212 N. Green St. near Jefferson St.; Engine 1,2,4 and FD-2 respond to a house fire 212 N. Green St. near Jefferson St.Acknowledgment from the units responding should be in the following manner:
Engine 1 responding to a house fire 212 N. Green St.Dispatching City equipment outside of the City:
It is the policy of the City of Tupelo Fire Department to assist in mutual aid to neighboring departments, when the City will not be adversely affected by the response. The LCC is authorized to dispatch City equipment in the following manner:
Dispatch when a Volunteer Fire Department requests for the City to assist. Dispatch the Assistant Chief with the City equipment. The Assistant Chief may change, alter, or deny the request based on what is in the best interest of the City.
Notify Tupelo Fire Chief
after dispatching the requested City equipment.
Radio Test will be performed daily at 0630.
Tone alert each station
Test every piece of equipment and portables
Do not test if fire equipment is out on a fire call.
Test when equipment is back in quarters
Notify Assistant Chief (FD-3) when test is delayed
Notify Assistant Chief (FD-3) when delayed test will be made.
LCC will be notified if a Chief officer is needed on the scene of any emergency by the Incident Commander. A current listing of Chief Officers and methods of contact will be provided by the Department to LCC.
The duties for notification of the Chief of the Department, Deputy Chief (FD-2) and the Division Chief of Training/Safety (FD-6) are jointly shared by the Incident Commander and LCC. The Chief of the Department, Deputy Chief and the Chief of Training/Safety shall be notified in the following events:
The onscene report of the first arriving company provides vital information to the additional companies which are responding, provides documentation of times and conditions found, and to generate other actions of the dispatcher.
The first arriving companies to fire calls should utilize the following onscene reporting guidelines:
WHAT DO I HAVE?
It is imperative that an incident commander be designated
Relay who is IC to all responding units
When possible, pass command when making an interior attack
Example: "Engine 1 is on the scene, we have a two story brick residence, heavy smoke and fire showing from the rear of the house. We are pulling a preconnect for interior attack. Engine 2 bring in a supply line, Rescue 1 conduct primary search. Engine 1A is making and interior attack, Engine 2A assume command on your arrival."
"Engine 2 is on the scene Engine 2A is assuming command. Supply lines established, then transmit any additional orders to incoming units."
NOTE: The first arriving company officer is the Incident Commander unless command is passed. A ranking officer may assume command when he/she arrives on the scene. When command is passed all units should be notified by radio, who is in command. If the initial company commander makes an interior attack and chooses to pass command, he/she is still responsible for all command functions until the second company commander arrives on the scene to actually assume command.
To reduce confusion when more that one incident is taking place at the same time, the command designation should include a command name. As a general rule the street name or occupancy name should be utilized. Example: Evergreen Command or Canal Street Command
Medical Emergency Onscene Report:
Example: Engine 1 in on scene, or Engine 1 is on scene we will out checking.
Engine 1 is on the scene we have a tanker involved in this accident, with no apparent leaks. It appears that we have one victim trapped and multiple victims on the roadway. We need Police and EMS. Engine 1 is command,
Rescue 1 we will need extrication.
The use of progress reporting assist in documenting the events of the fire as they take place. The purpose is to establish the time in which the three tactical priorities have been completed (Life Safety, Incident Stabilization, Property Conservation).
The Incident Commander should utilize and document through radio communications the following benchmarks of the fire:
"ALL CLEAR": indicates that a primary and/or secondary search has been completed.
"SUPPLY ESTABLISHED": indicates that a supply line has been established for the attack engine.
"FIRE UNDER CONTROL": indicates that progress of the fire has been stopped.
"FIRE OUT": indicates that the fire is a out and that salvage and overhaul has started.
During the incident, other requests or needs may arise such as the need for the utility companies, investigators, Police, EMS. other Fire Department apparatus. All requests should be directed to the Incident Commander.
At certain times during an incident the IC may choose to move some or all units to another channel to relieve radio congestion or to establish a tactical channel separate from the command channel.
Should the IC feel this necessary he should contact dispatch and request an alert tone followed by information to alert units to make the switch.
Once the switch has been made a roll call of all units now operating on the new channel should be done to ensure that all units received the message.
Only the Incident Commander shall communicate the need for additional resources with LCC.
Onscene units should communicate resource needs to the incident commander, preferably through face to face communications, however, the incident may dictate that radio communications be utilized.
Each unit shall communicate
with LCC when the unit is available for another call, even though the unit
may be in a standby mode on the scene. The release from the emergency scene
must come from the Incident Commander.
Each unit should notify LCC
in the following instances of routine business: