FIRESCOPE FREQUENCY PAGE
SEE NOTE AT BOTTOM

MULTI-AGENCY COORDINATION SYSTEM PUBLICATION

MACS 441-1
JUNE, 1996

 
This document contains information relative to the Incident Command System (ICS) component of the National Interagency Incident Management System (NIIMS). This is the same Incident Command System developed by FIRESCOPE.

Additional information and documentation can be obtained from the following sources:

State Board of Fire Services
State Fire Marshal
Training Division, Suite 410
P.O. Box 944246
Sacranento, CA 94244-2460
916-262-1958

or

Document Control
Operations Coordination Center
P.O. Box 55157
Riverside, Ca 92517
909-782-4174

FIRESCOPE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS GUIDELINES

FIRESCOPE Radio Communications Guidelines are derived from the Cooperative Agreements for use of radiofrequencies between fire service agencies of California allowing for mutual use of radio frequencies during mutual aid efforts.

Standard radio frequency programming for large capacity multi-channel radios should conform to the Statewide Frequency Plan portion of this document. For agencies operating radios with fewer channel capability, frequencies should be selected by groups from within the plan.

Guidelines

1.      Frequency Plan Group 1 may be programmed at individual agency's discretion.

2.      There are two mutual aid contact frequencies:

A. Agencies having Frequency Plan Groups 1, 2, & 3 should use as contact frequencies:
  • 169.125 MHz (Direct)

  • Rx-169.125 MHz/Tx 168.325 MHz (Repeat)
    (California Travel Network)

Note: Mobile relay operations (repeat) require CTCSS tone capability (see last item of Frequency Plan)

B. Agencies with only Frequency Plan Group 1 should use a contact frequency:

o                                154.280 MHz (White Fire 1)

3.      Each agency requesting mutual aid will advise responding agencies of initial contact frequency for the incident.

4.      Local policy will dictate frequency assignments for an incident until an incident communications plan is established.

5.      When established on an incident, the Communications Unit Leader is responsible for managing assigned frequencies. The Communications Unit Leader will clear the use of local state and federal frequencies with the controlling agencies prior to use.

6.      Clear text (plain English) should be used for all communications. CODES SHALL NOT BE USED. Actual frequencies and channel names should be started, e.g., 154.265, White 2; or 168.200, NIFC Tac 2; not a channel number. Likewise for tone information, e.g., "use standard tone 8, 103.5"

7.      Data communications (i.e., automated or push button status keeping for "computer aided dispatch" [CAD] systems) shall not be used outside of the agency's own jurisdiction.

8.      Frequency (mobile) extenders will not be used outside of the agency's own jurisdiction.

Statewide Frequency Plan

This plan was developed to assist fire service agencies in buying and programming synthesized radios. Local needs (Group 1) are those channels normally used in initial attack situations. Thes would probably require less than 16 channels and may also include White Fire channels from Group 2. A 16 channel radio may be adequate for an engine. However, it is recommended that vehicles used by command personnel, such as strike team leaders, batallion chiefs, division chiefs, etc., should be equipped wiith at least a 32 channel radio. In synthesized radios the additional channels cost very little. Command vehicles with 32 channel radios should be programmed with Group 1,2,3.

State of California agencies (e.g., CDF and OES) and Federal agencies use twelve standard subaudible tones for repeater access. Unless a radio has selectable tones or an external tone box, it would take twelve channels to have complete repeater access on one of their channels. Likewise, if the radiodoes not have a "direct/repeat" switch, one channel is needed for each direct frequency and one for each repeat frequency pair.

While numerous frequencies can be programmed into radios, it is important to note that in order to use those frequencies your angency must be licensed for those frequencies or have a frequency use agreement or memorandum of understanding with the agency which is licensed for the frequencies. Such agreements with CDF and U.S. Forest Service are not uncommon. Such agreements still limit the use of each frequency to certain geographic areas.

This plan lists recommended groups of frequencies by priority for programming radios, i.e., Group 1 is the highest priority. In order to use any frequency you agency must be licensed for the frequency or have a frequency use agreement or memorandum of understanding with the agency which is licensed for the frequency.

 
GROUP

USE

FREQUENCY
1 LOCAL: BETWEEN ALL LOCAL FIRE AGENCIES INCLUDING CITIES, COUNTIES, CDF RANGER UNITS, USFS, BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE  
       
2 WHITE FIRE 1
WHITE FIRE 2
WHITE FIRE 3
  154.280
154.265
154.295
  *CDF 1

DIRECT & RX
TX REPEAT

151.355
159.300
  *CDF 2

DIRECT & RX
TX REPEAT

151.265
159.330
  CALCORD   156.075
       
3 *NIFC COMMAND 1

DIRECT & RX
TX REPEAT

168.700
170.975
  *NIFC COMMAND 2

DIRECT & RX
TX REPEAT

168.100
170.450
  *NIFC COMMAND 3

DIRECT & RX
TX REPEAT

168.075
170.425
  *NIFC TAC 1   168.050
  *NIFC TAC 2   168.200
  *NIFC TAC 3   168.600
  *CALIFORNIA TRAVEL NETWORK

DIRECT & RX
TX REPEAT

169.125
168.325
  * Note: NIFC Command 1,2,3 and FIFC TAC 1,2,3 are required for permission to use the California Travel Network  
       
4 Air to Ground Frequencies - these frequencies are to be used by ground units in emergencies to communicate with aircraft, e.g., when ground crews are being overrun by fire or are going to be hit by a water or retardant drop. These frequencies are also used by those responsible for coordination with aircraft.  
    USFS Air to Ground 170.000
CDF Air to Ground 151.220
BLM Air to Ground 167.950
  U.S. Forest Service Region 5 (California Tacticals)  

 

U.S.F.S. TAC 4 173.9125

 

U.S.F.S. TAC 5 173.9625

 

U.S.F.S. TAC 6 173.9875
       
5 Frequencies necessary to interface with CDF on a regional basis (coordinate with CDF Region Office).  
       
6 OES 1 (Simplex)
OES 2
  154.160
154.220
  *WHITE FIRE 3 REPEAT RX 154.295
  (FIREMARS) TX 158.830
       
7 ALL CDF FREQUENCIES
ALL OTHER LOCAL FIRE SERVICE FREQUENCIES
FREQUENCIES FOR ALL NATIONAL FORESTS IN CALIFORNIA
OTHER BLM AND NPS

*NOTE:  STATE OF CALIFORNIA AGENCIES (E.G., CDF & OES) AND FEDERAL AGENCIES USE THE FOLLOWING TWELVE STANDARD TONES FOR REPEATER ACCESS AND MUST BE INCLUDED FOR REPEATER USE. RECIEVERS MUST BE PROGRAMMED FOR CARRIER SQUELCH (NO TONES).
1. 110.9 2. 123.0 3. 131.8 4. 136.5
5. 146.2 6. 156.7 7. 167.9 8. 103.5
9. 100.0 10. 107.2 11. 114.8 12. 127.3


Statewide Frequency Plan-800mhz

The "Statewide Frequency Plan" was developed to assist fire service in buying and programming synthesized radios so as to maximize their effectiveness for Mutual Ais. It is based on "VHF High Band" because most of the fire service operates in this band. Likewise, only certain frequencies are licensed for use statewide; these are the "White Fire" Mutual Aid channels, OES channels, CDF channels, and U.S. Forest Service (BIFC) channels, all of which are "VHF High Band." It should be determined what frequencies are wanted in radios so that they may be included in the frequency attachments to the "Cooperative Radio Frequency Agreement" for given Mutual Aid Operational Area. For those areas where 800 MHz systems are in use there are Mutual Aid channels clear for use statewide. They are:

International Calling Channel (ICALL) 821/866.0125
International Tactical Channel 1 (ITAC 1) 821/866.5125
International Tactical Channel 2 (ITAC 2) 822/867.0125
International Tactical Channel 3 (ITAC 3) 822/867.5125
International Tactical Channel 4 (ITAC 4) 823/868.0125
Statewide Fire/EMS (FIREMARS) 823/868.9875
 
NOTE: This is from a page previously online at http://www.rvcfire.org/firescope/macs441-1.html which appears to no longer be on the internet. It may or may not be entirely up-to-date. Thanks to Tom Mitchell for the heads-up.

Additions, corrections or updated URLs would be appreciated

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