Fire Radio Chatter

[yorkphotog]

All of the fire departments that I have programmed into my scanner use a couple of terms that I'm not familiar with.

When responding to a call, the firefighter will radio to dispatch: "10-4, responding par 4 (or 3, 2, etc)." What does "par" mean?

Also, sometimes they'll say something like, "10-4, RT 90", or some other number. What does this symbolize?

 

[tonsoffun]

All of the fire departments that I have programmed into my scanner use a couple of terms that I'm not familiar with.

When responding to a call, the firefighter will radio to dispatch: "10-4, responding par 4 (or 3, 2, etc)." What does "par" mean?

Also, sometimes they'll say something like, "10-4, RT 90", or some other number. What does this symbolize?

Par 4 or 3 is the number of firefighters that are responding in that truck. I am not sure what the other is.
Take care

 

[yorkphotog]

Yeah, that's actually what I thought! I just wasn't sure, and it was bothering me.

Perhaps RT stands for response time?

 

[MetalCarnage]

Yeah, that's actually what I thought! I just wasn't sure, and it was bothering me.

Perhaps RT stands for response time?

RT 90 = Rescue Truck 90?

That would make most logical sense to me

 

[yorkphotog]

I don't *think* so, because when they put out a call they'll announce the units responding first: "Attention 916, 714, 716, respond for a...". It seems that they start with the whole RT business after the call (just before they clear the scene).

 

[KevMuskoka]

Hi YorkPhotoG,

The RT is the Response Type as per the OFM. It gets entered for every call by the dispatcher and instead of using the phone like in the old days, Vaughan went to a system where it was announced over the radio. This way, the report would be ready for the Captain by the time he got to his computer in the hall.

Under the new reporting system, it's not really required - but old habits don't die.

Kevin P
(Vaughan FF)

 

[plaws]

Boston (Mass) FD has a similar list of codes, i.e. a 710 is a false alarm. See http://www.angelfire.com/ma4/emba/incident.html

 

[yorkphotog]

Thanks for the replies... that answered a lot of questions!

Kevin, that's a pretty long daily commute from Bracebridge to Vaughan!

 

[KevMuskoka]

Only on the first day of my shift I stay in Newmarket while I'm working (did the long drive on Monday, but I'm in Newmarket when I'm off until Friday night).

 

[exkalibur]

A co-worker of mine (well, where I used to work) did the commute from Caledon to London every day. No thanks!

 

[SCPD]

Par 4 or 3 is the number of firefighters that are responding in that truck. I am not sure what the other is.
Take care

Actually "power" not par as in manpower.

 

[KevMuskoka]

Actually "power" not par as in manpower.

Actually, when referring to what is being said on the York system, it is "Par 4". Unless I'm missing what you're meaning.

 

[mikewazowski]

PAR = Personnel Accountability Report = Number of guys on truck or team.

 

[yorkphotog]

Ah, good info!

 

[hoser147]

Par is the number of persons responding on the apparatus for accountability and often each person has a tag on thier turnouts so as to know who is in a structure at a scene. RT is Response type and RNT Run Number and Times........Hoser

 

[nec208]

The RT is the Response Type as per the OFM. It gets entered for every call by the dispatcher and instead of using the phone like in the old days, Vaughan went to a system where it was announced over the radio. This way, the report would be ready for the Captain by the time he got to his computer in the hall.

I know most do report times the time dispatch,on the way and on the seen so a report may be like this.

-Dispatch time 1 minute
-Driving time 4 minutes
-On seen time 12 minutes

So I guess the RT is the call elapsed time the time the dispatch tone in the hall to they leave the seen.

 

[KevMuskoka]

As was already mentioned, RT is not the "Response Time". It is, in face, the Response TYPE.

For example, a "Fire" is a RT 01, or a CO Call is "52".

This is an Ontario Fire Marshall code that all fire departments in Ontario utilize, however to my knowledge, Vaughan is the only one that does it over the air.

Kevin P

 

[yorkphotog]

Yep, I can definitely say that the only FD in York that uses RT's over the air is Vaughan.