ROCKLEIGH FIRE DEPARTMENT

Borough Of Rockleigh

26 Rockleigh Road

Rockleigh, New Jersey 07647

“Protecting Rockleigh Borough since 1932"

SOP 16: COMMUNICATIONS

A. INITIAL REPORTS

1. Firehouse-Manned Report. The first firefighter to arrive at the firehouse will immediately report by radio to "KBT-809 CLOSTER COMMUNICATIONS" that "Department Fifty-five Firehouse is manned" and confirm the alarm location, type of incident, and receive any size-up report from the responding police officer.

["KBT-809 THIS ROCKLEIGH DEPARTMENT Fifty-five. FIREHOUSE MANNED."]

2. In-Service Report. The first apparatus to respond will report responding status to CLOSTER COMMUNICATIONS as follows:

["KBT-809 THIS IS ROCKLEIGH ENGINE-1: RESPONDING TO... "]

3. Initial On-Scene Report. The senior officer or senior fireman to arrive at the scene shall make the Initial On-Scene Report on the Dispatch Frequency (Channel #1) for enroute apparatus and dispatch information. The Initial On-Scene Report should contain the following elements:

a. Initiate Incident Command System:

["ROCKLEIGH ENGINE-1 ON SCENE, EXPOSURE 1, AS ROCKLEIGH COMMAND"]

b. Size-up summary:

[e.g., "NOTHING SHOWING / SMOKE SHOWING / WORKING FIRE / FULLY INVOLVED / COMING DOWN / DOWN"]

c. Operation anticipated:

[e.g.," INVESTIGATION / OFFENSIVE INTERIOR OPERATION / MARGINAL OPERATION (Initial Interior) / DEFENSIVE EXTERIOR OPERATION / HAZ-MAT OPERATION"]

d. Placement orders to incoming apparatus unless they are to remain staged as per SOPs (SOP 1: Response):

[e.g., " COMMAND TO R-3: LAY 5-INCH SUPPLY TO EXPOSURE 3."]

e. Establish on-scene communications

(1) Maintain contact with CLOSTER COMMUNICATIONS on Channel #2 in the COMMAND UNIT radio.

(2) Switch to fire-ground frequency (Channel #4) on a portable radio and advise all responding units after giving their Responding-Report to switch to fire-ground frequency (Channel #4) and report on Channel #4.

4. Responding Reports.

a. In-service Reports. Each subsequent responding apparatus will report on the dispatch frequency (Channel #2) to the Incident Command Officer or to the officer on the first-due apparatus that they are responding and the manpower on board. Note: Except for the first due, In-Service reports are given to the ICO, not to County Communications.

b. Responding units shall remain on the dispatch frequency (Channel #1) while enroute unless ordered to change frequencies by the ICO.

[e.g., "ROCKLEIGH ENGINE-1 THIS IS ROCKLEIGH ENGINE -3: RESPONDING TO (give address of hydrant location). MANPOWER: 3"]

c. The ICO will acknowledge the report and may give further instructions.

5. Staging and On-Scene Reports:

a. Fire ground communications: When staged or on-scene, all mobile radios (except the command unit) and all portable radios shall operated on the fire-ground frequency (Channel #4) unless directed to remain on the dispatch frequency (Channel #1).

b. Staging report: Report staging location and restate manpower to ICO.

[e.g., "ROCKLEIGH ENGINE -3 STAGED AT HYDRANT ON EXPOSURE 2. MANPOWER 3."]

c. On-Scene report. Report arrival on scene and actions being taken.

[e.g., "ROCKLEIGH ENGINE-3 TO ROCKLEIGH COMMAND:
ROCKLEIGH ENGINE-3 ON SCENE, EXPOSURE 2.
DROPPED 5-INCH SUPPLY LINE FROM POND ROAD HYDRANT. PREPARING HOSE TEAM R2-A"].

6. Fire-ground or Incident-scene Communications:

a. The Incident Command Officer shall set up and maintain channels for radio communication as follows:

(1) Communications with CLOSTER COMMUNICATIONS and with incoming apparatus shall remain on the dispatch frequency (Channel #2).

(2) Communications to Company Officers and Search Teams always shall be on the fire-ground frequency (Channel #4).

(3) If Sector Officers are used, communications between the Incident Command Officer and the Sector Officers can be on Channel #3 (a Bergen County emergency frequency).

(4) Communications with Mutual-Aid units can be on Channel #2 or other low-band frequencies.

b. Sector Officers shall:

(1) Maintain radio contact with the ICO

(2) Maintain radio on the fire-ground frequency (Channel #4) with assigned Company Officers

c. Company Officers shall:

(1) Maintain radio contact with the ICO or assigned Sector Officer

(2) Maintain radio on the fire-ground frequency (Channel #4) or visual contact with the company Search Teams.

(3) Maintain physical contact with Hose Teams.

B. RADIO PROCEDURES

1. Standard Protocols:

a. Transmit on the proper channel.

b. Listen to ensure that the channel is clear before beginning. Note: never knock anyone off the air.

c. Keep transmissions brief and informative (Location, Condition, Actions, Assessment, Needs).

d. Repeat all orders in acknowledgment.

e. Use standard formats in plane language (Avoid 10-codes).

2. Emergency Protocols:

a. Listen for clear air.

b. Proceed emergency transmission with the words

"EMERGENCY ... EMERGENCY ... EMERGENCY"

c. No other transmissions should be made during emergency transmissions.

d. Example:

"EMERGENCY ... EMERGENCY ... EMERGENCY....
ROCKLEIGH COMMAND TO ALL UNITS AND TEAMS....
WITHDRAW FROM BUILDING NOW, NOW, NOW.... 
I SAY AGAIN, WITHDRAW FROM BUILDING NOW, NOW, NOW....
ALL UNITS REPORT"

3. Sample radio fire-ground communications:

ICO: "COMMAND TO R2"

R-2 Officer:  "R2"

ICO: "R2: TAKE AN ADDITIONAL 2-INCH LINE TO
        THE SECOND FLOOR AS BACK-UP"

R-2 Officer: "R-2 RECEIVED. TAKING A 2-INCH LINE TO THE SECOND FLOOR."

R-2 Officer: "R-2 TO COMMAND: DO YOU WANT US TO USE THE INSIDE STAIRS  OR A LADDER?"

ICO: "COMMAND TO R-2: USE THE STAIRS. BACK UP
HOSE-R-3-A. PROTECT THEIR EXIT."

R-2 Officer: "R-2 RECEIVED. TAKING 2-INCH LINE TO SECOND FLOOR BY FRONT DOOR AND STAIRS. DESIGNATE TEAM AS HOSE-R-2-A."

ICO: "EMERGENCY ... EMERGENCY ... EMERGENCY.

COMMAND TO ALL UNITS:  WITHDRAW FROM BUILDING NOW, NOW, NOW
I SAY AGAIN, WITHDRAW FROM BUILDING NOW, NOW, NOW."

ICO: ROCKLEIGH COMMAND TO ALL UNITS ...
STAND-BY TO SOUND 20 SECOND EVACUATION SIGNAL WITH AIR HORNS ...

ICO: ROCKLEIGH COMMAND TO ALL UNITS ...
SOUND ONE 20 SECOND BLAST ... NOW...NOW...NOW"

ICO: "COMMAND TO ALL UNITS: REPORT."

R-3 Officer:"HOSE-R3-A TO COMMAND: BACKING DOWN THE STAIRS."

ICO: "RECEIVED, HOSE-R3-A.

R-2 Officer "HOSE-R-2-A TO COMMAND: AT FRONT DOOR COVERING HOSE-R-3-A."

ICO: "RECEIVED, HOSE-R2-A.

ICO: COMMAND TO HOSE-R-3-A: MOVE QUICKLY."

R-2 Officer: "R-2 TO COMMAND: R2-TEAMS OUTSIDE AND CLEAR. ALL PERSONNEL ACCOUNTED FOR."

ICO: "RECEIVED R-2"

R-3 Officer: "R-2 TO COMMAND: OUTSIDE AND CLEAR. ALL PERSONNEL ACCOUNTED FOR."

ICO: "RECEIVED R-3"

ICO: "COMMAND TO ALL UNITS: SHIFT TO DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS.
PREPARE MASTER STREAMS