MONTGOMERY COUNTY 800 MHZ RADIO SYSTEM

MONTGOMERY
O
COUNTY
800
0
M
O
N
MHZ
RADIO
SYSTEM
Why Use The
800 Radio System
• Interoperability
– All Fire, EMS, Police, and Public Safety
can communicate on the same system
– No More High or Low Band Systems
– Units assigned to a call can switch to and use
the same TALK groups
Comparison of Old System to
New System
OLD
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Total Radio Freq 8 not counting
Disp Freq
Fire Disp Low 33.70
Fire Disp High 154.130
Norristown Disp 154.370
Lower Merion Disp 33.84
Cheltenham Disp 154.445
Pottstown Disp 33.44
Fire Ch 2 Low 33.66
Fire Ch 2 High 154.280
Tac Ch High 1
Tac Ch Low 1 to 4
Fire Police 1
NEW
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Total Talkgroups 31 Not
Counting Disp Talk Group
Fire Disp
Fire Region East 1 to 3
Fire Region West 4 to 6
Fire Ground East 1 to 6
Fire Ground West 1 to 6
Event Chan
1 to 10
Fire Police East
Fire Police West
Fire Police Local
RR
R
OLD SYSTEM
Green low, Orange High Band, Red Self Dispatch
How does the 800 Mhz Radio
System Work
• There are currently 18 frequencies that can
be used in our system
• All frequencies are shared by all users
• Users are divided into TAKLGROUPS
– FIRE, EMS, POLICE, PUBLIC SAFETY
Others
How does the 800 Mhz Radio
System Work
• All users are given priorities as to how they
are recognized on the system
• All Emergency Services have the same
priority
• The EMERGENCY BUTTON
(orange button)
has the highest priority
800 Mhz Radio System
• The County has been divided into two
sections EAST and WEST
– This division was done to utilize the 800 system
to it’s fullest potential
– And ad hock Fire Chiefs Committee divided
each section into Regions solely based on call
volume
WEST
EAST
White Stars 7 Original 800 Towers Black Star was removed
Green Stars 13 New 800 Towers Total 800 Towers 20
800 Mhz Digital Radio Template
• All Fire & EMS Radios will be set up with the same
Talkgroups in 3 Banks A B C
• A Bank
• Fire & EMS Disp,
– Fire Regions 1 to 6
– EMS Hail
– Ops
– ER 1 & 2
– Public Safety Coordination (Pscord)
– Emergency
– Fire Police East & West
– Total of 16 Talkgroups
800 Mhz Digital Radio Template
• All Fire & EMS Radios will be set up with the same
Talk Groups in 3 Banks A B C
• B Bank
• Event TalkGroups 1 to 10
• 11 to 16 blank
– Feature Talk Groups
Total 16 TalkGroups
800 Mhz Digital Radio Template
• All Fire & EMS Radios will be set up with the same
Talkgroups in 3 Banks A B C
• C Bank
– Fire Ground 1 to 6
– Fire Police Local
– National Hail
– National Talk Groups 1 to 4
– Dynamic (Control Group)
– Tactical repeater (TACRPT)
– Public safety Cord 1 & 2 (PSCL)
Total 16 TalkGroups
800 Mhz Digital Radio Template
A Bank
B Bank
C Bank
1 Fire Reg 1
1 Event 1
1 FireGrnd 1
2 Fire Reg 2
2 Event 2
2 FireGrnd 2
3 Fire Reg 3
3 Event 3
3 FireGrnd 3
4 Fire Reg 4
4 Event 4
4 FireGrnd 4
5 Fire Reg 5
5 Event 5
5 FireGrnd 5
6 Fire Reg 6
6 Event 6
6 FireGrnd 6
7 Fire Pol. W
7 Event 7
7 Fire Pol
8 Fire Pol. E
8 Event 8
8 NTHAIL
9 Pscord
9 Event 9
9 NPSP 1
10 *Fire Disp
10 Event 10
10 NPSP 2
11 Emerg
11
11 NPSP 3
12 Er2
12
12 NPSP 4
13 Er1
13
13 Dynmac
14 EMS Ops
14
14 TACRPT
15 *Emerg Disp
15
15 PSCL 2
16 EMS Hail
16
16 PSCL 1
Recorded
Recorded
Not Recorded
WEST
Reg 1
EAST
Reg 5
Reg 3
Reg 6
Reg 2
WEST
Reg 4
EAST
800 Mhz Digital Radio Dispatch
• Dispatches will be done on their respective
(TalkGroups) Fire Disp or EMS Disp
– Fire Companies will then move to their respective Fire
Region
• Fire Units can then move to an assigned Fire Ground
(talkgroup)
– EMS Units will then move to EMS Operations
• EMS Units will be able to use PSCL 1 or 2 (talkgroup)
– Event talkgroups (large events) will be assigned upon
request or by the dispatcher
800 Mhz Digital Radio
East & West
• Fire and Emergency dispatches will be
simultaneously transmitted to both East &
West Talk Sections
West Section
East Section
made up of
made up of
Region 1, 2, 3
Regions 4, 5, 6
800 Mhz Digital Radio
• Your 800 Mhz radio is capable of scanning 10 Talkgroups
• You can only scan talkgroups in 1 Section at a time
EAST or WEST
– But you can set your radio to either section at any time and still
here a Dispatch in your home section and Region
– Units responding from one region or section to another need only
to switch their radio to the region where the emergency exists
– Responding units will then be in direct communications with the
Incident Commander or Officer in Charge
800 Mhz Digital Radio
• Each 800 MHZ radio has 2 preset scanned
Talkgroups (Dispatch and Emergency)
– If your radio is set on Region 3 and scanning
any message over region 3 will over ride the
scanned Talkgroups
800 Mhz Digital Radio
• Remember this is a REPATER type system
– If you talk before you here the beep some of what you
said will be lost
– If you here a bonk tone one of several things may be
happening
– No signal
– All channels are busy
– Your radio has been damaged
Montgomery County
Emergency Dispatch
Procedures
Introduction
Purpose & Scope
The purpose of this document is to provide a
STANDARD policy and procedure manual so
resources can be deployed in a timely and
predictable manor.
Standardized procedures will reduce the time it
takes to process and dispatch calls and reduce
errors.
Communications with the
Dispatch Center
Under normal conditions it is not necessary for a unit to call and
wait for acknowledgement before transmitting a short message.
County Engine 27-1 Responding
For lengthy or important messages you should make a
primary call and wait for acknowledgement
When calling the dispatch center the message should start
with COUNTY followed by your unit number
COUNTY from CHIEF 27
Communications with the
Dispatch Center continued
• In the event that a major element in the dispatch
center is in failure or in danger of failing or a
critical security event (internal or external) to the
EOC all units will be advised of a
• A SYSTEM ALERT IS IN EFFECT
• DO NOT CALL the EDS for details
– Stations should be staffed and units deployed using
back-up procedures as necessary
Incident Evacuation Plan
• The IC activates the plain by broadcasting that
all personnel to Evacuate Immediately
– Example command
• 27 Command to County and all units operating at the
XYZ Street fire
Evacuate Immediately
• EDS will simultaneously rebroadcast this command
on all frequencies used at the scene of the incident
this will be repeated in 2 minuets
Incident Evacuation Plan
continued
• All vehicle operators at the scene should
sound their air horns simultaneously and
continuously for 15 seconds.
• Upon the command Evacuate Immediately
all personnel should leave the affected area
Incident Evacuation Plan
continued
• Officers
– Immediately perform PAR (personnel
accountable report) and report to the IC
• PAR
– Indicates that all personnel are accounted for
– if personnel are missing report same to the IC
how many and where they are trapped if known
Incident Evacuation Plan
continued
• The Evacuation plan
– should only be used for Emergency's not for
changes in strategy
– Upon the IC decision to resume operations , it
will be announced via radio and to EDS
Types of Alarms
• BOX ALARMS
• BUILDING FIRES
• INDUSTRIAL
• INSTITUTIONAL
• COMMERCIAL TYPE BUILDING
• APARTMENT BUILDINGS
• MEDIUM OR HIGH HAZARD OCCUPANCIES
Types of Alarms
continued
•TACTICAL ALARMS
• Dwellings (non commercial buildings)
•Residents
• Garages
• Sheds and Out Buildings
•Appliances
• Televisions Toasters (ect)
• Small equipment that can be carried
out of the structure
Types of Alarms
continued
• Local Alarms
•Fire alarms (automatic, water flow ,manual)
•CO alarms carbon monoxide
•Vehicle fires (type of vehicle)
•Trash outside (rubbish)
•Electrical outside (wires, pole, transformer)
•Electrical inside (wires , odor of electrical)
•Accident with injuries
Types of Alarms
continued
•Local Alarms continued
•Odor of gas outside (any type of gas including propane)
•Odor of gas inside ( any type of gas odor)
•Stand-by
•Accident (called by police hazard control)
•Fires (at your station or move to another station)
•Helicopter (when on is placed on stand-by)
Types of Alarms
continued
•Local Alarms continued
•Debris (Fluid on roadway)
•HazMat (spill or release of a hazardous material other
than small fuel leak)
•Investigation (any type of hazardous condition)
•Brush (grass, woods, fields, mulch, trees)
•Special Service ( assist police , EMS, other agency)
•Rescue (any type)
•Helicopter Landing (direct fly)
•System Failure (critical event or shut down of system)
Types of Alarms
continued
•Extra Alarms
• Request for assistance by the IC
• Special calls of equipment
• Additional alarms (transmit a 2nd alarm)
BOX ALARM SYSTEM
• Boxes: designates areas or zones in each
departments jurisdiction which allows for the
easy identification of the geographic location
of the incident.
– Identifies map area locations
– Deployment of the nearest appropriate recourses
• Fire - EMS - Police - Public Works - Others
Box Alarm System
continued
• TYPES OF Boxes
Box (full box)
Tactical Box
Local Box
Rural Tactical Box
Rescue Box
Hazmat Box
Special Calls
Box Alarm System
continued
• Fire Companies or the
Municipality will determine the
appropriate responses in their
jurisdiction
Box Alarm System
continued
•Fire Companies or the Municipality will determine
the appropriate responses in their jurisdiction
Guide lines based on the NFPA Fire Protection Handbook
High Hazard
Occupancies
Medium Hazard
Occupancies
Rural Occupancies
Box
Tactical Box
Tactical Box
2 Chiefs
1 Chiefs
1 Chiefs
4 Engines
3 Engines
1 Engines 500 gal min.
2 Ladders
1 Ladders
1 Tanker 1000 gal min.
Specialized units
Specialized units
Specialized units
Box Alarm System
continued
• The Department of Emergency Dispatch
Services a Division of Montgomery County
Public Safety will assist any Fire/EMS
organization in making changes to their
BOX system.
– Contact the Assistant Director for Information
& Data at 610-631-6545 for assistance.
Radio Communications and
Reports
• The adopted ICS system will be the
standard operating procedure for
Montgomery County
– First arriving unit should advise their arrival
and provide a brief description of conditions
Radio Communications and
Reports continued
– Engine 21 on location (describe structure and
conditions observed): Heavy smoke showing,
second floor
– Standard terminology includes
• nothing showing, light smoke showing, heavy
smoke showings, fire showing, fully involved
– Non structural nature and conditions can simply
confirm the dispatch conditions
• Eng 53 on location we have a small brush fire we
can handle alone
Radio Communications and
Reports continued
• On all Working building fires, rescues,
hazardous materials, and closures of limited
access highways the IC will be given a
Twenty (20) minute marks by EDS.
– IC will update the EDS with information about
the call
• EDS will continue the 20 minuet marks until
– the incident is placed under control
– advised by the IC to discontinue the checks
Radio Communications and
Reports continued
• Benchmarks
– When the IC makes an important announcement
such as
• Fire: is under control, HazMat: incident is under control,
Extraction: Rescue is complete, Evacuate: Building or
Area, All Clear
• EDS will retransmit the information with
– Box # or Tactical Box # or HazMat Box # or Rescue Box #
along with the Time
Communications Support
Equipment
• Field Com. 1 is available to all Public Safety
Agencies in Montgomery County upon request
• Types of incidents
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
extra alarm fires
major transportation accidents
HazMat
mass evacuations,
natural disasters
multi agency responses
anywhere the IC needs communication coordination
Communications Support
Equipment continued
– The IC
• will be identified as 27 Command or Any Town Command
– Field Com 1
• will be identified as Field Com. 1 unless the IC is
commanding the incident from inside Field Com. 1
– Tech Support 1
• This vehicle has extra radios a mobile repeater and ACU
1000 (interoperability equipment) along with the on call
radio technician
Montgomery County Incident
Command
• Command Designations
– Once a Command Post (CP) has been established
• IC of the lead agency shall name the incident
– 27 Command
– Any town Command
– Acme Command
– County will recognize only ONE command per
incident
Montgomery County Incident
Command continued
Sample ICS Flow Chart
IC
27 Chief
Safiety Officer
Safety - 27
Supression
Eng 27
Eng -27-1
Lad 27
EMS
308 -1
308 - F
HazMat
919
911
Fast Team
(RIT)
Res 53
Rescue
Res - 27
Police
301
307
Montgomery County Incident
Command continued
• Additional Recourses
– COMMAND
• shall make request for additional recourses
• all other requests will have to be cleared through
COMMAND
• only exception will be assist companies requesting a
stand-by company
Mayday Procedures
Mayday
A nationally accepted term used when Emergency
service personnel are in immediate danger.
Mayday should be used when Fire personnel find
themselves in any of the following situations.
Low on air
Lost in the Building
Trapped
Overtaken by fire conditions
Mayday Procedures
continued
MAYDAY
This term is used to gain
immediate priority on the fire
ground
Mayday Dispatch Procedures
continued
• The following procedures will be followed
when ever a MAYDAY is received from
the fire ground.
• A MAYDAY call can come from the IC or
any unit operating on the fire ground.
Mayday Dispatch Procedures
continued
• Once a MAYDAY is received by EDS
– EDS will assign another frequency for all
non-MAYDAY traffic
– Only MAYDAY related radio transmission will
be allowed to remain on the original frequency
– EDS will assign a second dispatcher to the call
with one dispatcher assigned to the MAYDAY
Mayday Dispatch Procedures
continued
• EDS will make sure two (2) fast teams are
assigned to the call
• Two (2) additional ALS ambulances will be
assigned too the call
• After EDS has dispatch the
MAYDAY FAST TRACK ASSIGNMENT
EDS will inform the IC
– The IC may increase, reduce or recall the
TASK FORCE at his discretion
Mayday Dispatch Procedures
continued
• If the dispatcher is unable to raise a command
officer (i.e. may be incapacitated an explosion ect)
• The dispatcher with the approval of the shift
supervisor will strike out an additional alarm
Fire Ground Mayday Procedures
• MAYDAY
– Any emergency personnel that fells Trapped,
Injured, or Lost shall signal a MAYDAY
– The emergency personnel signaling a
MAYDAY should activate their
PASS ALARM
Fire Ground Mayday Procedures
continued
• Emergency personnel instituting a MAYDAY
should announce
• MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY
– Identify themselves
– Give a location
– Brief description of problem if possible
• ENG 27 portable to command we are trapped inside the
basement, stairway collapsed
– Message should be repeated until acknowledged by
the IC or EDS
Fire Ground Mayday Procedures
continued
• If the IC does not acknowledge the
MAYDAY alert EDS will relay the
information to the IC
• IC shall deploy the necessary resources
needed to assist with the Rescue
Fire Ground Mayday Procedures
continued
• Upon the MAYDAY call a Personal
Accountability Report (PAR) shall be
initiated for all other crews
• Fast Team shall notify the IC when the
person(s) has been located
– What actions are being taken to remove them
– If additional assistance is needed
– What additional equipment may be needed
Fire Ground Mayday Procedures
continued
A MAYDAY report from any
unit on the fire ground will
cause this plan to be
activated