Communications

Question 0

EMERGENCY ROLL CALL

Answer 0

• Do not transmit during an ERC unless:
  - You have a mayday/urgent
  - You have a CRITICAL info regarding mayday/urgent
  - You have a CRITICAL message affecting the operation
  - You are called by the RCO
• How to answer when called by RCO
  - Engines answer according to Engine positions
  - Squads answer according to Engine positions
  - HazMat Tech answer according to Engine positions
  - Ladders answer according to Ladder positions
  - Rescue according to Ladder positions (Rescue Hook is OV)
  - HazMat 1 answers according to their HazMat positions

Question 1

BATTALION RECORDER SYSTEM

Answer 1

• Records all HT channels except 9 zone A
• Does not record transmissions to and from borough dispatcher
• Battalion vehicle must remain ON with MOTOR RUNNING at the
  scene of a fire or emergency operation
• Operational test: performed at START of EACH TOUR and when
  apparatus has been placed back in service after repair or PMP
• Functional test: when battalion vehicle is returned to service,
  notify Starfire to register the MDT terminal and anytime the
  batteries fail

Question 2

10-35 UNWARRANTED OR

UNNECESSARY ALARM SYSTEM ACTIVATION

Answer 2

10-35 No Code = Unwarranted
(defective, low battery, activations without a known cause, no conditions found warranting emergency response)

10-35 Codes 1-4 = Unnecessary Alarm “S-C-Oh-Ok”
(Operating properly but unnecessarily activated) (DO NOT use this code when there is a fire or condition warranting an emergency response)

Code 1 - alarm system testing or service

Code 2 - construction activities

Code 3 - ordinary household activities (toast, shower steam, aerosol)

Code 4 - other known cause (cigarette smoke) (Code 4 = NYFIRS)

*Malicious transmission of a false alarm by activation of a manual fire alarm box shall not be construed as an unnecessary alarm. (10-92)

Question 3

EXPOSURE ID SECTORING

Answer 3

• Numbers indicate direction (1 = front / 2 = left / 3 = rear / 4 = right)
• Letters indicate distance from the main fire building or fire.
• “0” when used as the 1st digit, indicated the FIRE BLDG / AREA.
• “0” when used in any position other than 1st digit, refers to a
  subdivision of the building which is an ID by the number following the
  “0” or the letters following “0”
• Buildings separated by MORE THAN 30’ should not be ID’d as
  exposures UNLESS the volume of fire or complexity of incident
  causes an exposure problem.
• To eliminate confusion in identifying rear exposures, ALL buildings in
  the rear shall be referred to as Exposure 3. If operations on Exposure
  3 become too complex, the IC shall create a sector/branch and assign
  a Sector Supervisor / Branch Director.
• Large buildings can be subdivided to gain better control of
  operational or problem areas. Subdivide into Front and Rear, or Front,
  Center, and Rear. Starting from Left, designate Sectors; Sector A,
  Sector B, etc.

Question 4

USE OF PLAIN SPEAK FOR FIRE GROUND COMMUNICATIONS

Answer 4

• ID buildings and/or occupancies by name, occupancy type, address
  or other distinctive characteristic.
• Used on the fireground in situations when it would benefit fire
  operations.
• Can be used in combination with standard alpha numeric exposure ID
  system. (Particularly effective for Taxpayer fires)
• May not be effective when used alone (without alpha numeric ID)
• Shall be used ONLY FOR FIRE FROUND COMMUNICATIONS.
• SHALL NOT be used in preliminary reports to DISPATCH.

Question 5

MODEL I HANDIE TALKIE

Answer 5

Channel 1 = Primary Tactical (2 Watts)

Channel 2 = Primary Command

Channel 3 = Secondary Tactical (2 Watts)

Channel 10 = EMS

Channel 13 = TAC “U”

Channel 14 = Subway 1

Channel 15 = Subway 2

Channel 16 = Emergency

• ALL HT CHANNELS ARE 5 WATTS EXCEPT CHANNELS 1 & 3

Question 6

INTERNAL RADIO CODES FOR HANDIE TALKIES

Answer 6

First Digit Designation = Type of Unit
5 = Engine
7 = Ladder

Second, Third, Fourth Digit Designation = Unit ID
i.e. 001, 075, 134, 253, 331

Fifth, Sixth, Seventh Digit Designation = Radio # and Riding Position

4 FF Engine 5 FF Engine Ladder Company

01 Officer 01 Officer 01 Officer
02 ECC 02 ECC 02 ECC
03 Nozzle 03 Nozzle 03 Roof
04 Backup 04 Backup 04 OV
05 Control 05 Control 05 Irons
06 * Spare * 06 Door 06 Can

Question 7

COMMUNICATIONS MANUAL (TIMES AND DISTANCES)

Answer 7

20 seconds = Acknowledge the run at housewatch

30 seconds = “time out timer” on HT

                    Call to dispatcher is not answered via dept radio, then 
                    repeat the call.

60 seconds = Audible signal on apparatus radio cuts off transmission

75 seconds = Alarms given twice over dept. radio after initial alarm

150 feet = No mobile or HT transmissions near explosives

300 feet = Marine transmissions (fire boat 300’ away)

Question 8

ARCS (Auxiliary Radio Communications Systems)

Answer 8

• In order to enhance FDNY communications in some facilities ARCS is
  being installed. ARCS consists of a transmitter, receiver, antennae,
  and cabling.
• ARCS can be programmed to our HT frequencies or have their own
  proprietary frequencies requires in house radios to be provided for our
  members.
• When transmissions are hindered by building/infrastructure elements
  such as steel, concrete, and great distances ARCS will provide an
  additional communications link (and quite possibly the only
  communications link initially) between members operating at the
  scene and the ICP.
• (Buildings) 1st to arrive ladder company Officer will:
  1) activate ARCS (1620 key or On/Off switch at fire command station)
  2) instruct the member designated to staff the ICP to monitor the
  tactical and/or repeater channel/relay messages.
  3) remain on channel 1 or switch HT to the building duplex UHF radio
  repeater channel (Ch 11/12), or acquire an in house radio for the
  investigation team, as appropriate.
  4) ensure a functional test is performed prior to leaving the lobby.
  5) notify dispatcher for re-transmittal to all incoming units if the
  building duplex UHF Radio repeater system and Ch 11 or 12 have
  been activated or in house radios are being used.
  6) report with members to location of incident.

Question 9

10-60 MAJOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Answer 9

• 3 possible transmissions

1) 10-60 No Code
A. Collapse of a private dwelling
B. Derailment of subway car

5-4-3-2-1 Response:
5 Engines / 4 BCs / 3 Ladders / 2 extra BCs (RUL and Safety Officer)
1 FAST unit

One Rescue Task Force:
1 Rescue Company                           1 SOC Support Ladder
1 Collapse Rescue                             1 Rescue Paramedic Unit
1 Squad with 2nd piece

NO STAGING AREA for 10-60

If any resources requested above the 10-60 then a staging area will 
be established and a BC as the Staging Area Manager special called.

2) 10-60 Code 1
A. When ENHANCED TECHNICAL RESOURCES are required
B. Enhanced technical resources perform tunneling, trenching,
shoring, cutting of load bearing structural members, complicated
disentanglement, extrication.
C. Provides a 5th BC as Staging Area Manager
D. 2nd additional Rescue Task Force
E. HazMat Battalion, HM1, HMTU

3) 10-60 Code 3:
A. A larger scale incident
B. ENHANCED TECHNICAL RESOURCES are required.
C. Provides an enhanced 2nd alarm (5 more Engines, 3 more
Ladders, 1 more BC)
D. Examples when to give 10-60 code 2:
6 Story MD collapse
Explosion with severe collateral structural damage
Airplane crash (NOT LGA OR JFK)

    The IC can always request additional resources separately:
    A. Individual resources (Engines, Ladders...)
    B. Victim Removal Group (3 Engines, 2 Ladders and a BC whose 
         primary duty is removal of victims via stokes, skeds) 
    C. Rescue Task Forces
    D. Additional alarms

Question 10

RESPONSE POLICY

Answer 10

• LADDER COMPANIES WITH 4 FIREFIGHTER STAFFING
  1. An additional ladder company (above the FAST truck) shall be
     assigned to a 10-75 when BOTH of the two initially assigned ladder
     companies report responding with 4 firefighters.
  2. Trucks with 4 firefighters = “we’re responding with 4 FFs”
     Trucks with less than 4 firefighters = “we are understaffed”
  3. The additional ladder company shall be the 3RD LADDER
     COMPANY ( for fire duty), and the 4th ladder company shall be
     designated as the FAST Truck.
• UNDERSTAFFED UNITS
  1. When notified that a company is responding understaffed (less than
     4 FFs), the dispatcher shall special call another unit (Engine for
     Engine, Ladder for Ladder, etc.) to respond in addition to the
     understaffed unit.
  2. Under this response policy, the total first alarm response shall not
     exceed a total response of: 4 Engines and 4 Ladders.

Question 11

DUPLEX CHANNELS ON THE HANDIE TALKIE

Answer 11

Channel 11 - Building Repeater

Channel 12 - Building Repeater

Channel 14 - NYC Transit Subway 1

Channel 15 - NYC Transit Subway 2

1. With any ARCS system in a building or railroad (except NYC transit)

A) Activate the building ARCS using a 1620 key or ON/OFF switch

B) Have member designated to staff the ICP monitor/relay messages

C) Officer switches his HT to Repeater Ch or gets In House radios

D) Ensure functional test performed BEFORE leaving lobby.

E) Notify dispatch to inform incoming units if Repeater Channel in use

2. All Rail Systems (subways, Penn, Grand Central)

A) ALWAYS set up the HT (CORE-100) relay as backup

3. AUC 207 ADD 16 NYC Transit Subway Repeater System

A) There are 2 subway Repeater channels (both 5 watts)
     Channel 14 (Subway 1 on the POST radio)
     Channel 15 (Subway 2 on the POST radio)

B) Subway Repeater will carry HT internal ID #s and support the
emergency alert function.

C) It is on 24/7 and does not require a request for activation.

D) The HT relay must still be established when the Subway Repeater
will be used.

E) Once operations are underway and conditions dictate - the IC can
have the repeater tested to see if it’s functioning.

F) The IC may direct appropriate officers to switch to channel 14.

G) Subway repeaters cannot support multiple messages at the same
time.

H) Wait for quiet air before transmitting

I) ANY member operating on the Subway Repeater Channel - MUST be
teamed with a HT equipped member operating on channel 1.

4. At minor operations (rubbish on platform, CFR-D response…)

A) The company officer shall determine who will switch to the repeater
channel.

5. Possible dead spots

A) Return to a safe location where previous communications worked.

B) If communications are now successful, report dead spot to IC.

C) If unsuccessful, use HT relay on Ch 1 to report repeater failure.

6. If FDNY unit experiences a problem with NYC Repeater they should:

A) NOTIFY borough communications office via Department radio.

Question 12

TIME OUT TIMER

Answer 12

1. 30 Second Time Out Timer

A) Cuts off transmission after 30 sec of continuous transmission

B) Especially useful to correct “stuck button” problem

C) Short audible warning time at approx. 26 seconds

D) Continuous tone at approx. 30 seconds

E) Indicates that the transmitter has been shut off

F) Re-key resets the time out timer

2. Apparatus Radio

A) Apparatus radios are protected from occurrence of “stuck button”

B) If depressed for longer than one minute

- There will be an audible signal that will alert the user that the 
   transmission has been automatically interrupted.

- It is necessary to release and depress the transmitting button at 
  intervals of one minute or less.

Question 13

LETTER SUFFIX DESINGATIONS

Answer 13

ENGINE LADDER

D Tech Decon Task Force Engine D Tech Decon Task Force Ladder

F FAST Unit F FAST Unit

W Water - Ice Rescue Unit W Water - Ice Rescue Unit

T Transport Backup Unit T Transport Backup Unit

       ENGINE                                                      LADDER

C CFR-D Engine C CPC Unit

H Haz Mat Tech Unit H Hi-Rise Roof Team

I Fire/Ice Unit R Rescue Collapse Transport

L Lobby Control Unit S SOC Support Truck

P High Pressure Engine V Ventilation Support Unit

S Communications Unit

Y Systems Control Unit

N High Rise Nozzle

RESCUE COMPANIES SQUAD COMPANIES

H Haz Mat Tech Unit H Haz Mat Tech Unit

C CPC Unit

Question 14

10-37 MEDICAL ASSIGNMENT NOT ASSOCIATED WITH FIRE OPS

Answer 14

Code 1 = Victim deceased

Code 2 = Victim/Patient is NOT BREATHING and requires resuscitation
OR MAY BE SUFFERING FROM A SERIOUS, APPARENTLY
LIFE THREATENING INJURY OR ILLNESS.

Code 3 = Victim/Patients is BREATHING AND SUFFERING FROM A
NON SERIOUS, APPARENTLY NOT LIFE THREATENING
INJURY OR ILLNESS.

Code 4 = Medical assignment where unit is 10-84, has no patient contact and EMS is on scene

• Note: A patient may be breathing but suffering from a life threatening
  injury or illness. In this case you would give a 10-37 code 2 even
  though the patient is breathing.
• Note: Signal 10-45 with appropriate sub code shall be transmitted in
  lieu of a signal 10-37 for thermal burn injuries which occur AS A
  DIRECT RESULT OF HEAT FROM A FLAME.
• The officer transmitting the signal 10-45 for this type of burn shall
  request the response of a BC to the scene.
• Where doubt exists as to which signal to transmit, a BC shall be
  requested to respond at the scene.

Question 15

WHO TO CALL FOR WHAT

Answer 15

1) 10-11 No message received = Starfire
2) Red border stays on steady on the PC ATS screen = Starfire
3) No voice alarm test received in quarters = Supervising Dispatcher
4) To get ink or paper for PC ATS = Starfire
5) If the IPS alarm goes off in quarters = Supervising Dispatcher
6) Computer Equipment problems = Starfire

Question 16

RELOCATORS

Answer 16

1) Only 1st unit in quarters can use the ACT’G button.

2) Second relocator must acknowledge, and give status reports via
voice alarm, radio, or telephone.

3) All relocated units must acknowledge independently
of the regularly assigned units.

4) On the PC ATS administrative messages appear in small
print and do not require an acknowledgement. Emergency
messages are in Expanded Print and require an
acknowledgement.

Question 17

SPECIAL CALL / ALARMS

Answer 17

1) Extra Engine & Extra Ladder

 A) OLT fire on 2 floors

 B) NLT fire on 2 floors

 C) H-type fire where it is anticipated that 2 lines are REQUIRED 
     extra Engine and Truck should be special called.

 D) H-type medium fire

 E) Brownstone 2 floors of fire

 F) Rowframe, using all hands and fire is not under control, it may be 
     necessary to special call an extra Engine and Truck.

 G) Rowframe 1 floor fully involved, ADVISABLE to call an extra 
      Engine and Ladder.

 H) Taxpayer fire where 2 lines are OPERATING on an ADVANCED 
      fire in a store.

 I) Window bars (Truck to be a TL if not already assigned)

 J) Cell site involved in fire

2) Extra Engine Only

 A) Lightweight structural PD fire

3) Extra Ladder Only

      A) PD Queen Anne Fire, it is good practice to special call an 
          additional Ladder (IC decides based on conditions)

4) 2nd Alarm

 A) OLT no progress on 1 floor in a short amount of time

 B) OLT fire in shaft extending to exposure

 C) NLT no progress on 1 floor in a short amount of time

 D) NLT fire in shaft extending to exposure

 E) H-type extensive cockloft fire, generally necessary to transmit a 
     2nd alarm.

 F) H-type 2 floors involved, generally necessary to transmit a 2nd.

 G) Brownstone heavy fire in cellar and basement

 H) Rowframe 2 floors fully involved, CONSIDER 2nd alarm

 I) Rowframe fire in 2 buildings 

 J) Rowframe top floor fire in cockloft, CONSIDER 2nd alarm

 K) Taxpayer advanced fire in cellar

 L) Taxpayer fire with extension to adjoining occupancy.

5) 3rd Alarm

 A) OLT fire extending into 2 exposures

 B) NLT fire extending into 2 exposures

 C) Rowframe fire extends beyond 2 buildings PROMPTLY 
     CONSIDER a 3rd alarm.

6) Consider an Outside Operation

 A) Lightweight PD fire of such magnitude that it cannot be quickly 
     knocked down with 2 hoselines.