Incident communications PN488

Question 1

Incident communications

What is channel 1 used for on fireground radios?

Answer 1

Channel 1 will be used for all initial incident command communications. It will remain the primary command channel until the infrastructure for further channels has been established and the incident commander requires the use of another radio channel for command communications.

Question 2

Incident communications

What is Channel 2 used for on fireground radios?

Answer 2

Channel 2 is used as command channel at larger incidents on the instructions of the incident commander

Question 3

Incident communications

What is Channel 3 used for on fireground radios?

Answer 3

Channel 3 is used for crew communications as directed by the IC

Question 4

Incident communications

What is Channel 5 used for on fireground radios?

Answer 4

Channel 5 is used for sub-surface and in building leaky feeder installations

Question 5

Incident communications

What is Channel 6 used for on fireground radios?

Answer 5

Channel 6 is used for BA communications other than when the leaky feeder is in use

Question 6

Incident communications

What is Channel 7 and 8 used for on fireground radios?

Answer 6

Channel 7 and 8 are legacy inter-operability channels – both channels are programmed in to radio equipment and have been retained for future use

Question 7

Incident communications

What should be turned off when inside a command unit?

Answer 7

Hand held radios and mobile phones

Question 8

Incident communications

Each and every BA crew must have at least one means of?

Answer 8

Radio communication

Question 9

Incident communications

As ECO, can you commit a BA crew that do not have working comms?

Answer 9

BA crews are not to be committed without communications equipment

Question 10

Incident communications

When is channel 4 used on hand held radios?

Answer 10

Hand-held radio channel 4 is not to be used unless directed by the duty radio officer

Question 11

Incident communications

When is channel 10 used and what for?

Answer 11

Channel 10 is available as a dedicated radio channel for the command support officers. The mapping officer will use channel 10 to communicate with the command planning system booking-in officer on the CU. The channel may also be used by command support staff to communicate between CUs or for general command support duties

Question 12

Incident communications

What premises are fitted with a base station operating on fire ground channel 5?

Answer 12

• All sub-surface (LUL) stations and running tunnels.
• Running tunnels on the East London Line.
• Crossrail stations and running tunnels.
• Channel tunnel rail link.
• All stations on the Heathrow Express, and all running tunnels.
• Sub surface DLR stations and running tunnels.

Question 13

Incident communications

What is FLON-OPS-01 used for on the brigade main scheme radio?

Answer 13

It is a spare channel that could be used at incidents where radio traffic could be heavy such as FSG calls.

This can only be used if Brigade Control have enough personnel.

Question 14

Incident communications

What is FLON-OPS-02 used for on the brigade main scheme radio?

Answer 14

FLON-OPS-02 is the channel used for any incidents south of the river (incuding incidents that occur in River Thames, on bridges or crossings over the River Thames and tunnels under the Thames)

Question 15

Incident communications

What is FLON-OPS-03 used for on the brigade main scheme radio?

Answer 15

FLON-OPS-03 is now a spare channel.

Question 16

Incident communications

What is FLON-OPS-04 used for on the brigade main scheme radio?

Answer 16

FLON-OPS-04 is the channel used for incidents north of the River Thames.

Question 17

Incident communications

When can hand-held radios be used at hospitals?

Answer 17

• Exceptional circumstances.
• Where the circumstances are unavoidable.

Note: Hand–held radios should not usually be used within a medical establishment for routine communications.

(Policy 488, 11.2)

Question 18

Incident communications

What channels should be used for ‘talk through’?

Answer 18

FLON -MTM1 and MTM02

(Policy 488, 8.5)