Chesterfield County FD TAC Channel Question

[Jimru]

Hi,
I live in Henrico County, but have friends (and I sometimes work) in Chesterfield County, so I like to listen to Chesterfield FD from time to time. Although they are on the same system, they (Henrico and Chest FD) don’t seem to utilize TAC channels the same way. In Henrico, the automated dispatch channel will announce the incident and assigned units, then it will announce which TAC channel for the units involved to use. It seems that in Chesterfield, I’m hearing the dispatch voice announce incidents and apparatus assigned, but no mention of a TAC channel. Are there any regular listeners to Chesterfield FD here that can explain the seeming disparity? Thanks!

 

[io401]

The database incorrectly labels some of the talkgroups. They changed some of the TG aliases when the new subscribers rolled out in 2018.

• 25392: Dispatch 1 - Phoenix system (computerized voice) & unit status changes
• 25408: OPS 1 - All small-scale incidents (medical, minor MVA/fire, etc. - a majority of calls for service are handled on this TG)
• 25424: TAC 3 - Significant incident 1 (structure fire, etc.)
• 25440: TAC 4 - Significant incident 2 (structure fire, etc.)
• 25456: TAC 5 - Significant incident 3 (structure fire, etc.)
• 25472: TAC 6 - Interstate assignments (any significant incident on an interstate - crash, etc.)
• 25488: Dispatch 2 - redundant dispatch channel
• 25504: OPS 2 - redundant operations channel
• 25520: TAC 9 - tactical 9
• etc.

Phoenix will announce the channel assignment for significant incidents, like structure fires, major crashes, etc. but not for routine incidents like EMS calls.

 

[BoxAlarm187]

Although the radio system is shared amongst several localities, the automated dispatch systems are paid for and programmed by each locality. Henrico, Chesterfield, and Richmond all have their automated dispatch systems programmed to meet their needs, and each one also uses their Tacs differently. The post above describes Chesterfield's Tac plan very well.

 

[trainman111]

And although not asked, I'll add this information for Henrico County in case anyone searching in the future is looking for it:

Tac 4 - Routine EMS calls

Odd Numbered Tacs - Single company fire response, expanded incident (incident within an incident communication)

Even Number Tacs - Major Incidents (structure fire, crash with entrapment, significant EMS calls such as shootings, cardiac arrests, etc), Multi-Company Responses

Note: The higher number tac channels (ie: Tac 13) may often be used for training or patching to other talkgroups for interagency operations

 

[BoxAlarm187]

And although not asked, I'll add this information for Henrico County in case anyone searching in the future is looking for it:

Tac 4 - Routine EMS calls

Odd Numbered Tacs - Single company fire response, expanded incident (incident within an incident communication)

Even Number Tacs - Major Incidents (structure fire, crash with entrapment, significant EMS calls such as shootings, cardiac arrests, etc), Multi-Company Responses

Note: The higher number tac channels (ie: Tac 13) may often be used for training or patching to other talkgroups for interagency operations

Correct, and a just to add a little more:

• Tac 4 - Routine EMS calls, routine MVAs, etc
• Tac 5 - Single-company fire calls (which means that more than one single-company fire call can be stacked here)
• Tac 6 - 1st multi-company incident
• Tac 7 - Expansion channel for Tac 6
• Tac 8 - 2nd multi-company incident
• Tac 9 - Expansion channel for Tac 8
• Tac 10 - 3rd multi-company incident
• Tac 11 - Expansion channel for Tac 10
• Tac 12 - 4th multi-company incident
• Tac 13 - Expansion channel for Tac 13; also used for training or other misc comms

 

[io401]

It’s a shame that while most agencies in the region use the MWCOG-style numbering system, they haven’t adopted a consistent talkgroup matrix like the NOVA jurisdictions. A shared lineup would make interoperability far easier, especially for Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico, and Hanover.

NOVA’s setup is straightforward and predictable (each channel is labeled with the jurisdiction’s number plus a letter. For example, Chesterfield’s Channel A is "2A DISP", Richmond's is "1A DISP", Hanover's is "4A DISP", etc.):

• A: Dispatch
• B: Response
• C: Incident 1 Command (command/officers & dispatch)
• D: Incident 1 Hot Zone
• E, F: Incident 1 Expansion
• …and so on for Incident 2, 3, etc.

This kind of structure would mean units always know what each slot is for, regardless of the jurisdiction during mutual aid.

 

[goodoleboy]

Thanks to Trainman and BoxAlarm for their posts. As a Henrico listener, I learned a lot. I always thought the assignments were arbitrary but this now makes a lot of sense.