Essentials of Fire Fighting,

5th Edition

Chapter 19 — Fire Department

Communications
Firefighter II
Chapter 19 Lesson Goal

• After completing this lesson, the

student shall be able to communicate
effectively by radio and through various
reports following the policies and
procedures set forth by the authority
having jurisdiction (AHJ).

Firefighter II
19–2
Specific Objectives

1. Summarize guidelines for radio

communications
2. Describe information given in
arrival and progress reports.
3. Explain the purpose of tactical
channels.

(Continued)

Firefighter II
19–3
Specific Objectives

4. Discuss calls for additional

resources and emergency radio traffic.
5. Discuss evacuation signals and
personnel accountability reports.
6. Summarize the information in
incident reports.
7. Create an incident report. (Skill
Sheet 19-II-1)
Firefighter II
19–4
Guidelines for Radio
Communications

• Use plain English or clear text without

codes of any kind
– Clear text — Standardized set of fire-
specific words and phrases, often used in
the wildland fire community
• Use a moderate rate of speaking

(Continued)

Firefighter II
19–5
Guidelines for Radio
Communications

• Use a moderate amount of expression

in speech
• Use a vocal quality that is not too
strong or weak
• Keep things such as gum and candy
out of the mouth

(Continued)

Firefighter II
19–6
Guidelines for Radio
Communications

• Be concise and to the point

• Think about what should be said before
keying the microphone

(Continued)

Firefighter II
19–7
Guidelines for Radio
Communications

• Everyone on the fireground should

follow two basic rules
– Units must identify themselves in every
transmission
– The receiver must acknowledge every
message

(Continued)

Firefighter II
19–8
Guidelines for Radio
Communications

• Do not transmit until the frequency is

clear
• Any unit working at an emergency
scene has priority over routine
transmissions
• Do not use profane or obscene
language on the air
(Continued)

Firefighter II
19–9
Guidelines for Radio
Communications

• All radio frequencies

are monitored
• Hold the
radio/microphone 1
to 2 inches (25 mm
to 50 mm) from the
mouth
(Continued)

Firefighter II
19–10
Guidelines for Radio
Communications

• On the emergency scene

– Avoid laying the microphone on the seat
of the vehicle
– Do not touch the antenna when
transmitting

Firefighter II
19–11
Arrival Reports

• Also called a report on

conditions or situation
report
• Establish a time of arrival
and inform other
responding units of what
actions might be needed
(Continued)

Firefighter II
19–12
Arrival Reports

• Format
– Situation found
– Action(s) taken/actions to be taken
– Command status

(Continued)

Firefighter II
19–13
Arrival Reports

• Some situations require more detail

– Address, if other than the one initially
reported
– Building and occupancy description
– Nature and extent of fire or other
emergency
– Attack mode selected
(Continued)

Firefighter II
19–14
Arrival Reports

• Some situations require more detail

(cont.)
– Rescue and exposure problems
– Instructions to other responding units
– Location of Incident Command position
– Establishing Command
– Water supply situation

Firefighter II
19–15
Progress Reports

• Used to keep the communications

center continually advised

Firefighter II
19–16
Progress Report Items

• Transfer of Command
• Change in command
post location
• Progress (or lack of)
toward incident
stabilization
• Direction of fire spread
(Continued)

Firefighter II
19–17
Progress Report Items

• Exposures by direction, height,

occupancy, and distance
• Any problems or needs
• Anticipated actions

Firefighter II
19–18
Tactical Channels

• Most often used for large incidents

• Small routine incidents usually do not
require a tactical channel
• In many departments, units are
initially dispatched on the primary
dispatch channel

(Continued)

Firefighter II
19–19
Tactical Channels

• Upon arrival on the scene, units may

switch to an assigned tactical channel

Firefighter II
19–20
Tactical Channels:
Telecommunicator Roles

• Assign a tactical frequency

• Ensure additional responding units are
aware of the assigned tactical channel
• Notify other agencies and services of
the incident and the need for them to
respond
• Provide updated information

Firefighter II
19–21
Calls for Additional Resources

• Normally, only the Incident

Commander may strike multiple
alarms or order additional resources
• Know local procedure for requesting
additional resources
• Be familiar with alarm signals
(Continued)

Firefighter II
19–22
Calls for Additional Resources

• When multiple alarms are struck, a

radio-equipped mobile
communications vehicle can be used
to reduce the load on the
communications center
• Firefighters must be able to
communicate the need for team
assistance
Firefighter II
19–23
Emergency Radio Traffic

• Person transmitting the message should

make the urgency clear
• Telecommunicator should give an
attention tone, advise all other units to
stand by, and then advise the caller to
proceed

(Continued)

Firefighter II
19–24
Emergency Radio Traffic

• After the emergency communication is

complete, telecommunicator notifies all
units to resume normal or routine radio
traffic

Firefighter II
19–25
Evacuation Signals

• Used when the IC decides that all

firefighters should immediately
withdraw
• All firefighters should be familiar with
their department’s method of sounding
an evacuation signal

(Continued)

Firefighter II
19–26
Evacuation Signals

• Radio broadcast
– Similar to emergency traffic broadcast
– Message is broadcast several times

(Continued)

Firefighter II
19–27
Evacuation Signals

• Audible warning devices

– Will work outside small structures
– May not be heard by everyone
– Can be confused with those being used by
units arriving at the scene

Firefighter II
19–28
Personnel Accountability Report
(PAR)

• A systematic way of confirming the

status of any unit operating at an
incident
• When requested, every supervisor must
verify the status of those under his or
her command

(Continued)

Firefighter II
19–29
Personnel Accountability Report
(PAR)

• May have to rely on touch or hearing to

verify each member’s status
• Others in the chain of command must
rely on radio reports from their
subordinates

(Continued)

Firefighter II
19–30
Personnel Accountability Report
(PAR)

• Command can request a PAR at any

time, but one is usually requested
when:
– The incident is declared under control
– Change in strategy
– Sudden catastrophic event
– Emergency evacuation
– A firefighter missing or in distress
Firefighter II
19–31
Incident Reports

• National Fire Incident Reporting System

(NFIRS) outlines information needed
• NFIRS uses the Internet to transfer data
from each state to the federal database
• A vital part of the emergency
• Available to the public
(Continued)

Firefighter II
19–32
Incident Reports

• An incident report should include

detailed information
• Entered into databases at the state and
national level
• Information is used for a variety of
purposes

Firefighter II
19–33
Summary

• Fire department communications are a

critical factor in the successful outcome
of any incident. The better the
communications, the safer the incident.

Firefighter II
19–34
Review Questions

1. List three guidelines for

speaking over the radio.
2. What information should be
given in an arrival report?
3. Why are tactical channels used?

(Continued)

Firefighter II
19–35
Review Questions

4. When are evacuation signals

given?
5. What information should be
given in an incident report?

Firefighter II
19–36