Field Communications (2020)

Question 1

What type of radio system do all NOVA Fire and Rescue Departments use?

Answer 1

700/800 MHz trucking radio system

Question 2

Who approved the radio frequencies determined for the NOVA region?

Answer 2

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) through the local Region 20 committee

Question 3

What are the radio zones assigned to the NOVA region based in the COG?

Answer 3

0 – Washington, DC
1 – Arlington County, VA (including Fort Myer)
2 – City of Alexandria, VA
3 – Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority
4 – Fairfax County, VA (including City of Fairfax and Fort Belvoir)
5 – Prince William County (including City of Manassas and City of Manassas Park)
6 – Loudoun County, VA
7 – Montgomery County, MD
8 – Prince George’s County, MD
10 – Charles County, MD
11 – Fauquier County, VA
12 – Culpeper County, VA
14 – Rappahannock County, VA
15 – Stafford County, VA

Question 4

How many primary talkgroups do NOVA radios have?

Answer 4

16 primary talkgroups

Question 5

What two channels shall be used as the dispatch channel?

Answer 5

Alpha and Papa

Question 6

What is the primary small-scale incident response channel in each radio zone?

Answer 6

Bravo

Question 7

In each radio zone, what channels may be used for any incident requiring its own incident channel?

Answer 7

Charlie through Mike

Question 8

What is the universal safety channel in all primary radio zones?

Answer 8

Oscar

Question 9

What channel is used when transmitting routine talk-around traffic, or can be used as a secondary safety channel?

Answer 9

November

Question 10

When filled, what position becomes the coordination point of all radio channel assignments for an incident?

Answer 10

Communications Unit Leader (COML)

Question 11

What is a Major Incident Communications Plan (MICP)?

Answer 11

A plan that distributes radio channels to the various sections, branches, divisions and groups of the ICS.

Question 12

What are the local resources available?

Answer 12

Radio Cache, Communication Support Units, Mobile Command Posts, Incident Commanders Radio Interface (ICRI)

Question 13

What are things to consider prior to making a radio transmission?

Answer 13

Prior to making a radio transmission:
What message do you want to convey?
Is the message necessary?
Keep it brief.
When you key the mic, be prepared to speak.

Question 14

When making radio transmission, what are the things you are not allowed to do?

Answer 14

When making a radio transmission DO NOT:
Transmit personal or non-business messages
Transmit while standing too close to another radio
Use profanity, exchange pleasantries, or offer personal greetings.
Use names on the radio (except in a MAYDAY situation or if missing a member during a PAR check)
Use inappropriate numbering for unit (E10). Rather use COG jurisdiction unit number (E410)

Question 15

What are the four categories of noise that interfere with clear and effective communication?

Answer 15

Physical or external, Semantic, Psychological and Physiological

Question 16

What is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Phonetic Alphabet?

Answer 16

Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu

Question 17

What is a Signal 1?

Answer 17

Signal declared when a responder believes that physical threats could cause the injury or death

Question 18

What are the minimum FD resources dispatched when a signal 1 is declared or suspected

Answer 18

Closest suppression piece, EMS transport unit, Battalion Chief, Safety Officer

Question 19

What is emergency traffic?

Answer 19

When a unit officer needs to relay critical event related information, or when a unit is in trouble (and does not meet a signal 1 or mayday requirement)
Unit requires immediate assistance
A change from interior to exterior attack strategy
Fire is spreading to an exposure or may rapidly extend int the near future
There is a loss of water supply or pump pressure
A civilian is located requiring assistance
Requesting or announcing an emergency evacuation of personnel

Question 20

When should a mayday be declared?

Answer 20

A mayday is declared when a firefighter is at risk or exposure to a potential imminent life threat in an IDLH atmosphere.

Question 21

What is the EA button?

Answer 21

Typically, a red or orange button located on the radio or RSM. The basic use of this button is to alert the dispatcher to a situation in which operational/field personnel feel that they are in a life-threatening situation.

Question 22

What are the 4 C’s of Communication?

Answer 22

The 4 C’s of Communication are Connect, Convey, Clarify and Confirm.

Question 23

Who does the water supply report go to?

Answer 23

Direct from attack Engine to Supply Engine

Question 24

Who does the on-scene report go to and what must it contain?

Answer 24

Goes direct to the first-due Command Level Officer
Unit identification and side of structure apparatus is positioned.
Building heigh (Number of stories above ground)
Occupancy type
Detailed report of conditions evident (to include side of the structure conditions are evident, quadrant located and description of conditions.)

Question 25

Who does the situation report and command statement after completing a lap go to and what must it contain?

Answer 25

Goes direct to first-due Command Officer: Number of floors above grade in front. Number of floors above grade in rear. Specific location of fire, if visible. Presence of basement, conditions present (if any), and location of access to the basement. Label the floors. Any hazards observed. Presence of exposures, if any. Occupant status, if able to obtain. Request additional resources, as needed. Communicate your tactical plan and location of entry. Provide tasks to other on scene units or task you need completed by the next arriving units. Provide a clear and concise Command Statement based upon your decided tactical actions.

Question 26

What is a C.A.N. report and what is its purpose?

Answer 26

To assist command with gathering information for the incident. C – Conditions, A – Actions, N – Needs.

Question 27

When should an initial progress report be given and what should it contain?

Answer 27

The initial progress report should be given at approximately 10 minutes: Confirm the address or location of the incident Define commitment of resources Define the hazard Define the building or involved area Define strategic mode Status of search Define extend of involved or hazard Describe the level of containment of the fire or hazard Describe the fireground layout or operational area Estimate time prediction for holding units All progress reports will be given on the command channel once the channel has been established

Question 28

What should be included in a safety message?

Answer 28

The safety message should include: Type of safety issues. Location of a safety issue. Request tones to be sounded.

Question 29

What is the term used to denote a unit dispatched to an event?

Answer 29

Dispatched

Question 30

What is the term used to denote that a unit acknowledges dispatch and is in enroute to event?

Answer 30

Enroute/Responding

Question 31

What is the term used to denote a unit that is at the scene?

Answer 31

On-scene

Question 32

What is the term used to denote a unit that is available to respond to events?

Answer 32

Ready

Question 33

What is the term used to denote a unit that is available in quarts?

Answer 33

In quarters

Question 34

What is the term used to denote a unit that is out-of-service?

Answer 34

Out-of-service

Question 35

What is the term used to denote a unit that is transporting a patient to a hospital or support unit enroute to hospital to collect personnel?

Answer 35

Enroute to Hospital

Question 36

What is the term used to denote a unit that has arrived at their destination hospital?

Answer 36

At Hospital

Question 37

What is the term used to denote that a primary or secondary search is completed with no victims found?

Answer 37

Search is negative

Question 38

What is the term used to denote visible fire upon arrival?

Answer 38

Fire showing

Question 39

What is the term used to denote 100 percent fire involvement indicating defensive attack/no entry to IDLH?

Answer 39

Fully involved

Question 40

What is the term used to denote fie spreading to another occupancy, floor, portion of the building, etc.?

Answer 40

Extending

Question 41

What is the term used to denote no interior and exterior fire transmission to another area or object?

Answer 41

No extension

Question 42

What is the term used to denote that majority of fire conditions have been extinguished and fire is contained?

Answer 42

Fire is knocked down (Knock on the fire)

Question 43

What is the term used to denote smoke visible upon arrival?

Answer 43

Smoke showing

Question 44

What is the term used to denote a light volume of smoke visible in the structure?

Answer 44

Haze in the building

Question 45

What is the term used to denote interior conditions indicating smoke to the floor

Answer 45

Zero visibility

Question 46

What is the term used to denote a process where initial units are determining the scope of the incident and what tactical actions will need to occur?

Answer 46

Investigative mode

Question 47

What is the term used to denote a direct attack on fire, whether starting from the interior or exterior?

Answer 47

Offensive mode

Question 48

What is the term used to denote exterior attack – exposure protection with no interior attack?

Answer 48

Defensive mode

Question 49

What is the term used to denote a status of the event where the fire may not be out completely?

Answer 49

Under control

Question 50

What is the term used to denote a coordinated relocation of units and their equipment, operating from an area deemed untenable, to a specific area deemed safe to continue operations?

Answer 50

Withdrawal

Question 51

What is the term used to denote a coordinated relocation of units and their equipment, operating from an area deemed untenable, to a specific area deemed safe to continue operations?

Answer 51

Evacuate

Question 52

What is the term used to denote that a unit heard and understood traffic that was not directed at them?

Answer 52

Direct

Question 53

What is the term used to denote that a unit heard and understood traffic directed at them?

Answer 53

Ok, copy, acknowledge

Question 54

What is the term used to denote a “never mind” message?

Answer 54

Disregard

Question 55

What is the term used to denote yes?

Answer 55

Affirmative

Question 56

What is the term used to denote no?

Answer 56

Negative

Question 57

What is the term used to request a repeat of traffic?

Answer 57

Repeat

Question 58

What is the term used to denote that a unit needs time to formulate a response to a question or is currently involved in a task?

Answer 58

Stand-by

Question 59

What is the term used to denote that all personnel are accounted for properly?

Answer 59

P.A.R

Question 60

What is the term used to denote a firefighter lost, trapped or missing?

Answer 60

Mayday

Question 61

What is the term used to denote a request for clear airtime to transmit an emergency condition?

Answer 61

Emergency traffic

Question 62

What is the term used to denote a situation of immediate danger due to a life-threatening situation other than a mayday?

Answer 62

Signal-1

Question 63

When adding to a multi-unit response with a chief officer, what is the process for adding to a call?

Answer 63

The OIC of the adding unit will contact the dispatched Command officer via the assigned response channel and announce their intent to respond, current location, and expected arrival order.

Question 64

What is the mobile radio alias?

Answer 64

Same as the unit’s or person’s CAD designation.

Question 65

What is the portable radio alias?

Answer 65

Unit or person’s CAD designation followed by an indication of the portable riding position.

Question 66

During voice communications, how must radios be identified?

Answer 66

Riding position will be spoken.

Question 67

In cases where the riding position is not pertinent, what shall the radio aliases contain to indicate a portable radio?

Answer 67

Suffix P to indicate portable

Question 68

What is condition 1?

Answer 68

Normal operations. Mutual and automatic aid is honored, calls are processed as normal, and responses and not adjusted or reduced

Question 69

What is condition 2?

Answer 69

Used during periods of extended high incident activity or when one or more major events are taking place. (heavy thunderstorms, one or more multiple alarm fires, or any activity causes a depletion of resources)

Question 70

What is condition 3?

Answer 70

Used when greater than 50% of department units are either committed to incidents or out of service. Typically, condition 3 is associated with multiple working incident or a major weather event. While in Condition 3, responses will be reduced dramatically to conserve resources.

Question 71

What is failsoft?