I need to ask, since I just don't get it. I have been listening to the grass fire that popped up in the COS area today with evacuations in many neighborhoods. Was a very dire and could have been UGLY situation.
I just don't understand for the life of me the response, radio comms, the mutual aid set up etc. It SEEMS there is so much confusion and I've heard multiple times crews calling a certain command channel 3, 4, 5 times with no response. At times crews were like "I've been trying to raise you on tac7" only to find out it was supposed to be Tac 8 or whatever. why are there multiple tac channels being used as opposed to one or maybe two mutual aid type fireground channels? There was similar questions and issues posed after the Boulder fires, I'm hearing the exact same thing today on this fire. It's no wonder why there are so many issues relating to communications and such.
Also why are they so slow to request mutual aid or get outside agencies on these fires ESPECIALLY on red flag days with 60 MPH gusts? Seems like these guys are losing the battle even before they have a chance. I'm NOT putting down any agencies or anything like that I'm genuinely curious and also concerned as it seems there is so much miscommunication and confusion. Is there no in place Mutual aid response procedures for fires in CO? You would think that given this terrain, topography, environment, climate and the like in CO these agencies would be top notch and some of the best wildland/grass fire agencies in the country. Would love any responses that can answers these as I'm not super versed in CO fire comms etc.
I just don't understand for the life of me the response, radio comms, the mutual aid set up etc. It SEEMS there is so much confusion and I've heard multiple times crews calling a certain command channel 3, 4, 5 times with no response. At times crews were like "I've been trying to raise you on tac7" only to find out it was supposed to be Tac 8 or whatever. why are there multiple tac channels being used as opposed to one or maybe two mutual aid type fireground channels? There was similar questions and issues posed after the Boulder fires, I'm hearing the exact same thing today on this fire. It's no wonder why there are so many issues relating to communications and such.
Also why are they so slow to request mutual aid or get outside agencies on these fires ESPECIALLY on red flag days with 60 MPH gusts? Seems like these guys are losing the battle even before they have a chance. I'm NOT putting down any agencies or anything like that I'm genuinely curious and also concerned as it seems there is so much miscommunication and confusion. Is there no in place Mutual aid response procedures for fires in CO? You would think that given this terrain, topography, environment, climate and the like in CO these agencies would be top notch and some of the best wildland/grass fire agencies in the country. Would love any responses that can answers these as I'm not super versed in CO fire comms etc.