LA County Fire question

[E5911]

With all the new frequencies in place, is the CAD assigning the commands and tacs in order of incident, meaning command 20 before 21 or is it more random or geographical? I assume command 10, 20, 30, and 40 are the busiest day to day
Also is there a preferred dispatch and command for brush fires ?
One more thing, one command per incident or is LA running multiple incidents on a command?

 

[f40ph]

I've noticed they're assigning UHF commands in order 30, 31, 32 etc.
Exception: CMD 13 seems to be first up rather than CMD 10 in the Antelope Valley. Seems to be CMD 13, 10, 11, 12.

 

[wb6sub]

commands are as follows
Battalion 6,11,17,22 are command 10-13 (Antelope Valley and Santa Clarita Area Dispatched on Dispatch 1
Battalion 7,8,9,14,18, 21 command 20-24 (south LA area) on Dispatch 2
Battalion 2,4,10, 12, 15, 19 command 30-37 (San Gabriel Valley and Foothills) on Dispatch 3
Battalion 1,3,5,13, and 20 command 40-46 (central LA area, East LA) Dispatch 4
Catalina & Marine C50-52 Dispatch 5
U60-69D are countywide assigned as needed
all paged out on U1 or called countywide dispatch
U2 is just countywide like the old blue 4

any questions i am glad to answer any

 

[f40ph]

His question was about the ORDER they're assigned and confirming what they do with wildland fires on VHF.

 

[XTSJunior]

With all the new frequencies in place, is the CAD assigning the commands and tacs in order of incident, meaning command 20 before 21 or is it more random or geographical? I assume command 10, 20, 30, and 40 are the busiest day to day
Also is there a preferred dispatch and command for brush fires ?
One more thing, one command per incident or is LA running multiple incidents on a command?

1. Yes, CAD assigns them in order at time of dispatch. You'll see them on Pulsepoint as a phantom unit. ie: "COMMAND40"
2. Ground tacticals are pre-assigned geographically, deconflicting against other Battalions and licensing.
3. There is no preferred Command for brush. Depends where it is.
4. Yes, the Dispatcher at LACC can be monitoring/running 3-4 incidents at a time all on different Commands.

 

[PacScan]

If anyone over at LACoFD would mind throwing the V channels into the CAD just like it is done with commands, that would be amazing
The amount of time I am not listening to dispatch and trying to find the brush channel they are using is crazy.

 

[prcguy]

LACoFD has soooo many channels to keep track of the Capt here has to carry two APX8000s to do his job.

 

[f40ph]

The above picture should only be for Division/Group supervisors and above on an incident. (those who need to be on command and tac simultaneously). If EVERY Captain has to do that, you need a better comm plan or ICS org. <my opinion of course>

 

[gabrielm]

Most of the OP’s questions have been answered. I would just add a few things: There is only one incident per command channel. For example, if there’s a commercial bldg fire on command 21, no other incidents will be assigned to C21 until the incident is over and the IC “returns the comm plan.” It is true that an individual dispatcher might be monitoring several different command channels and working different incidents. But only one active incident per channel.

Also: It does seem that certain “zero” command channels are NOT first up. eg, a structure fire in division 4 will usually be assigned to C21 first. Then C22, etc. They seem not to be using C20 for some reason. In division 8, they do start with C30 and go up from there. Command 40 also seems less used - most incidents start with C41 and go up.

Regarding figuring out which VHF frequency to monitor a brush fire on: Usually, LA will announce the comm plan or at least the command channel when they dispatch it. Of course, that would mean you would have to hear the initial dispatch. But they’re not assigned randomly. Each battalion has an assigned VHF command frequency. I’m attaching an example of the pre-planned brush fire command channel for battalion 23 (Malibu). As you can see in the photo, their brush responses would go on V-1, unless that’s already taken. Every battalion has one of these plans. They only deviate if the assigned VHF channel is already taken, in which case they assign any available one. Keep in mind there are only 5 VHF command channels and 20+ battalions.

 

[AM909]

Could it be that the "0" channels are equipped differently (like maybe on its own antenna separate from any transmit/receive combining), and reserved for special use for that reason? Or maybe just organizationally considered a failsoft for field allocation if dispatch is unable to be reached or if their system they track allocations with is down.

 

[XTSJunior]

All UHF channels are issued sequentially. Some may be out of service drill, event, or maintenance. ie: C-40 is OOS maint.

 

[E5911]

Thanks for all the info, definitely a complex set up

 

[prcguy]

f40ph said: "The above picture should only be for Division/Group supervisors and above on an incident. (those who need to be on command and tac simultaneously). If EVERY Captain has to do that, you need a better comm plan or ICS org. <my opinion of course>"

He is a LACoFD Captain attending a training drill with other agencies and every time I've worked with him he has a pair of APX8000s. Here are a few of the other participants gathered for refreshments after the training.

 

[Mikerh91]

LACoFD has soooo many channels to keep track of the Capt here has to carry two APX8000s to do his job.

View attachment 190939

Carrying two radios is routine for every Captain/Officer in at least LAFD/LACoFD. One for Command and one for tactical