2020 Arizona Wildfires

[Paysonscanner]

Been hearing air tankers on ADFFM referring to Bush fire on 122.925. Just heard them refer to the 188 and Saguaro lake.

122.925 is the national interagency natural resources contact common frequency. If you are in flight and don't know what frequency aircraft are on, this is a good one to try. It's for everybody at every level for every use. You might hear a state wildlife agency counting elk and a state park agency seeing where people are in a large state park.

I have more frequencies for this fire. I will try to post soon.

I just got an email from a classmate, retired nurse who lives in Tucson. The Bighorn Fire looks like it is blowing up. I can't pick up anything on Mt. Lemmon from here like I can in parts of the valley.

 

[cellphone]

167.0625 is Air to Ground for Bush fire.

 

[milcom_chaser]

122.925 is the national interagency natural resources contact common frequency. If you are in flight and don't know what frequency aircraft are on, this is a good one to try. It's for everybody at every level for every use. You might hear a state wildlife agency counting elk and a state park agency seeing where people are in a large state park.

I have more frequencies for this fire. I will try to post soon.

I just got an email from a classmate, retired nurse who lives in Tucson. The Bighorn Fire looks like it is blowing up. I can't pick up anything on Mt. Lemmon from here like I can in parts of the valley.

Yes, it blew up!View attachment 86811
View attachment 86811

 

[scullen223]

Here are all the active freqs I am hearing- fire is now pretty much outside my windows... I won't list the names of the Tacs/Intercrews, they are all listed elsewhere.
170.975- NIFC CMD-1 primary (but is being referred to as C10 or C11, I am getting a weaker repeater on 171.0875 repeating the same traffic, have not found this freq listed anywhere).
408.400- Logistics 1
166.6125 A/G-1 171.550 A/G-2
119.675, 127.775 AA
122.925 some AA but not much
TACS- 168.050, 168.200, 168.600,163.7125, 167.1375, 168.6125, 173.625, 168.250, 166.725
Flight Following 168.650
Hope that helps y'all around Tucson If you have anything else, let me know, also if this NIFC Command repeater on 171.0875 has been used elsewhere, and what site it is at here??

 

[ecps92]

See 2020 Arizona Wildfires
my typo on Ch.11 it should have been 171.0875

Here are all the active freqs I am hearing- fire is now pretty much outside my windows... I won't list the names of the Tacs/Intercrews, they are all listed elsewhere.
170.975- NIFC CMD-1 primary (but is being referred to as C10 or C11, I am getting a weaker repeater on 171.0875 repeating the same traffic, have not found this freq listed anywhere).
408.400- Logistics 1
166.6125 A/G-1 171.550 A/G-2
119.675, 127.775 AA
122.925 some AA but not much
TACS- 168.050, 168.200, 168.600,163.7125, 167.1375, 168.6125, 173.625, 168.250, 166.725
Flight Following 168.650
Hope that helps y'all around Tucson If you have anything else, let me know, also if this NIFC Command repeater on 171.0875 has been used elsewhere, and what site it is at here??

 

[scullen223]

Forgot one freq- 163.100 is the helibase, seems this Govt. Common is pretty standard now for helibases.

 

[radioprescott]

TNF-1581: Bush 2020

Command 170.425 Rx / 168.75 Tx, tone 131.8 both ways per coms on A/G.

 

[WIS262]

Since transitioning to the Type 1 Incident Management Team, the IAP has been posted to the FTP site... but, it’s password protected.

 

[milcom_chaser]

See 2020 Arizona Wildfires
my typo on Ch.11 it should have been 171.0875

This typo correction is for the Tonto NF that you posted awhile back in this thread?

 

[milcom_chaser]

Forgot one freq- 163.100 is the helibase, seems this Govt. Common is pretty standard now for helibases.

Did you see the freq list for the buckhorn fire that was posted previously in the thread?

 

[Paysonscanner]

Here are all the active freqs I am hearing- fire is now pretty much outside my windows... I won't list the names of the Tacs/Intercrews, they are all listed elsewhere.
170.975- NIFC CMD-1 primary (but is being referred to as C10 or C11, I am getting a weaker repeater on 171.0875 repeating the same traffic, have not found this freq listed anywhere).
408.400- Logistics 1
166.6125 A/G-1 171.550 A/G-2
119.675, 127.775 AA
122.925 some AA but not much
TACS- 168.050, 168.200, 168.600,163.7125, 167.1375, 168.6125, 173.625, 168.250, 166.725
Flight Following 168.650
Hope that helps y'all around Tucson If you have anything else, let me know, also if this NIFC Command repeater on 171.0875 has been used elsewhere, and what site it is at here??

170.975 is NIFC Command 1. When the comm unit develops the incident freq plan they pull from the NIFC incident support cache first. When they put the freqs in the program that is cloned in all the handhelds on the fire they label the commands and tacs according to the channel the frequency is in. If NIFC C1 ends up in the program's Channel 10, 11, 8, 7 etc. they just call it Command 10. The people on the ground don't care what frequency is being used, they just know that Channel 10 is the command repeater for Divisions Bravo, Echo and Mike or Branch II, depending on coverage as affected by terrain. There are currently 6 NIFC command repeater pairs. Authorization for Command 7 was withdrawn in the last 10 or so years and not replaced. Back in the 1980's the USFS had 3 commands and the BLM 3 also. These were combined into the national interagency set we have now. They wanted 7 commands and tacs, so they came up with one more for each, but then the NTIA (the fed agency's FCC) withdrew them. It's real hard to come up with VHF frequencies that have nationwide or just western state wide area clearance so they haven't replaced the missing commands and tacs.

408.400 is not on the NIFC list I have, but late Hubby picked up that list back in 2008. 406.8000 is listed as "National Logistics 1."

166.6125 is 1 of 5 frequencies in the set called the "National Interagency Air Tactics Frequencies." They have a blanket authorization for everything west of 95 degrees. They can be used for air to ground or air to air tactics. Every GACC (area coordinating center) has existing initial attack AG frequencies assigned for each initial attack zone and then gets clearance from NIFC for freqs to use on extended attack use. They are also given a small set of freqs each year for extended attack that are not on any list other than in each GACC. These can change from year to year. They can also pull from all federal freqs in the area that are currently not being used by the agency it is authorized for. NIFC has to clear the use of these frequencies. You might search and find a tac freq or command repeater and hear a Border Patrol, Bureau of Reclamation or Justice Dept freq being used and it might seem weird, but it is a well ordered process.

The tactical freqs are, 168.0500 NIFC Tac 1, 168.2000 NIFC Tac 2, 168.6000 NIFC Tac 3, 163.7125 "National Intracrew 1," 167.1375 "National Intracrew 2," 168.6125 "National Intracrew 3" and 173.6250 "National Intracrew 4." National direction is to use these federal government wide commons that are to be used within (intra not "inter" which is between crews) crews for their own logistics and not for tactical uses. Each Hotshot Crew (115 nationwide) has been assigned one of these freqs and CTCSS tone for them to guard and not have to listen to other crews. 168.2500 is NIFC Tac 7 and 166.7250 is NIFC Tac 5. There is no NIFC Tac 4 currently, the former freq was withdrawn from authorization 10-20 years ago and not replaced.

 

[Paysonscanner]

Forgot one freq- 163.100 is the helibase, seems this Govt. Common is pretty standard now for helibases.

I've seen national or GACC (geographical area coordination center) direction that 163.1000 is to be used as a "deck" frequency for incident heliports or helispot air to ground use. It is used for takeoff and landing control, aircraft parking assignments and coordination for buckets-water and "sling loads" at the incidents primary helicopter landing zone, usually somewhat close to the incident command post. The smaller helispots out on the fire used whatever air to ground assigned for their area of the fire. They can also use 168.3500, but this is usually done when interference from another fire pops up on 163.1000. Many areas have specified 168.3500 for travel comms. Some friends of mine assumed that when a helo announced "on deck" it was like the baseball term where they are the next helo to takeoff. They are actually referring to the frequency, the "deck frequency."

Other freqs to consider in relation to aviation on a fire: 168.5500 Pl 123.0 "National Smokejumper Air to Ground" and 168.5500 Pl 110.9 "Heli-Rappel and RADS (Rope Assisted Deliver System - "sling loads") Air to Ground." These assignments are nationwide and exclusive to these uses. Also 168.3500 Pl 123.0 is "National Smokejumper Tactical." It is not an exclusive assignment as every federal agency can use it in simplex mode. Smokejumpers usually arrive on a fire first and may not know the local assigned tactical for initial attack. They can use this frequency all over the country until an incident is assigned a tac.

 

[scullen223]

170.975 is NIFC Command 1. When the comm unit develops the incident freq plan they pull from the NIFC incident support cache first. When they put the freqs in the program that is cloned in all the handhelds on the fire they label the commands and tacs according to the channel the frequency is in. If NIFC C1 ends up in the program's Channel 10, 11, 8, 7 etc. they just call it Command 10. The people on the ground don't care what frequency is being used, they just know that Channel 10 is the command repeater for Divisions Bravo, Echo and Mike or Branch II, depending on coverage as affected by terrain. There are currently 6 NIFC command repeater pairs. Authorization for Command 7 was withdrawn in the last 10 or so years and not replaced. Back in the 1980's the USFS had 3 commands and the BLM 3 also. These were combined into the national interagency set we have now. They wanted 7 commands and tacs, so they came up with one more for each, but then the NTIA (the fed agency's FCC) withdrew them. It's real hard to come up with VHF frequencies that have nationwide or just western state wide area clearance so they haven't replaced the missing commands and tacs.

408.400 is not on the NIFC list I have, but late Hubby picked up that list back in 2008. 406.8000 is listed as "National Logistics 1."

166.6125 is 1 of 5 frequencies in the set called the "National Interagency Air Tactics Frequencies." They have a blanket authorization for everything west of 95 degrees. They can be used for air to ground or air to air tactics. Every GACC (area coordinating center) has existing initial attack AG frequencies assigned for each initial attack zone and then gets clearance from NIFC for freqs to use on extended attack use. They are also given a small set of freqs each year for extended attack that are not on any list other than in each GACC. These can change from year to year. They can also pull from all federal freqs in the area that are currently not being used by the agency it is authorized for. NIFC has to clear the use of these frequencies. You might search and find a tac freq or command repeater and hear a Border Patrol, Bureau of Reclamation or Justice Dept freq being used and it might seem weird, but it is a well ordered process.

The tactical freqs are, 168.0500 NIFC Tac 1, 168.2000 NIFC Tac 2, 168.6000 NIFC Tac 3, 163.7125 "National Intracrew 1," 167.1375 "National Intracrew 2," 168.6125 "National Intracrew 3" and 173.6250 "National Intracrew 4." National direction is to use these federal government wide commons that are to be used within (intra not "inter" which is between crews) crews for their own logistics and not for tactical uses. Each Hotshot Crew (115 nationwide) has been assigned one of these freqs and CTCSS tone for them to guard and not have to listen to other crews. 168.2500 is NIFC Tac 7 and 166.7250 is NIFC Tac 5. There is no NIFC Tac 4 currently, the former freq was withdrawn from authorization 10-20 years ago and not replaced.

I listed the wrong freq for Logistics, it should have been 406.400, not 408. I show that listed as NIFC Logistics 1.

 

[Paysonscanner]

I listed the wrong freq for Logistics, it should have been 406.400, not 408. I show that listed as NIFC Logistics 1.

OK, I kinda assumed this would be the case.

 

[milcom_chaser]

I listed the wrong freq for Logistics, it should have been 406.400, not 408. I show that listed as NIFC Logistics 1.

The RR Database confirms this.

 

[milcom_chaser]

In the RR database, IR 1 in this list is assumed to mean 'Input Repeater'?

170.01250

RM

CSQ

NIRSC Command 9

Command 9 - IR 1

 

[KB7MIB]

In the RR database, IR 1 in this list is assumed to mean 'Input Repeater'?

170.01250

RM

CSQ

NIRSC Command 9

Command 9 - IR 1

No, it refers to VHF Federal Incident Response Interoperability 1. It signifies that Command 9 uses the IR 1 frequency pair.

National Interoperability (United States) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for National Interoperability (United States)

www.radioreference.com

John
Peoria

 

[milcom_chaser]

No, it refers to VHF Federal Incident Response Interoperability 1. It signifies that Command 9 uses the IR 1 frequency pair.

National Interoperability (United States) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for National Interoperability (United States)

www.radioreference.com

John
Peoria

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Paysonscanner]

Thanks for the clarification.

A little more clarification if it is needed. The National Interagency Fire Center needs frequencies for large incidents all over the country on a more frequent basis than any other federal entity. The National Incident Radio Support Cache (NIRSC) was first developed in the 1960's for large wildland fires and has been used for more than wildland fires. It has been used for hurricanes floods, at at least one political party convention and I think at 9-11 ground zero. This makes sense as NIFC organized national incident management teams routinely provide logistical management at large non-wildland fire disasters. Late Hubby told me they handled the logistics and planning sections for the Twin Towers incident. The NIRSC has grown far beyond the purpose the NIFC system was developed for. The NIRSC is the largest radio cache in the world.

NIFC found they needed more than 6-7 command repeater pairs and more than 6-7 tactical frequencies with nationwide authorization. So they incorporated NC-1 and IR 1-4 as Commands 8-12. Their frequency lists for the NIRSC were then labeled this way. The Department of Homeland Security administers the NIFOG. Some years back, maybe about 6-10 years ago is when the NIRSC included the NIFOG freqs, and DHS had to give them permission to do so. Looks like the new 2019 VHF frequency allocation was on the minds of the NIFOG designers at the time. Good thinking I would say!

 

[Paysonscanner]

P.S. I'm getting no scanner time for the Bush Fire. I'm in Phoenix with Daddy in the hospital. The smoke was not too bad in Payson, but we had some. On Wednesday, Daddy started with a deep dry cough. By that evening he developed a 100 degree fever. We drove to Phoenix that night going by way of Strawberry to Camp Verde. Its just a precaution given his age, so I'm guardedly optimistic. If he has Covid-19 I don't know how he got it, this retired nurse was hyper vigilant.