radio problems discussed in Wamart fire AAR

[speedway_navigator]

The communication limitations created difficulties, but they did not cause any critical problems during
the initial operations period; however, this is a very significant cause for concern. Firefighters rely on
having radio communications for tactical coordination and particularly for firefighter safety.

This type of problem is often encountered inside large buildings, particularly when the structure contains
a lot of steel. The steel structure of the Pick Module probably created even more shielding. The actual
shielding characteristics often vary significantly from one building to another and even in different areas
of the same building.

Most trunked radio systems are designed to provide exterior coverage; however, coverage inside
buildings, particularly this type of structure, is often not included as a system performance requirement.

The limitations of a radio system should be recognized before an incident occurs and steps should be
taken to ensure that reliable communications will always be available for firefighters inside buildings, as
well as outside.

There are several technological enhancements that can be used to provide reliable
interior coverage, including the use of simplex channels and mobile or portable repeaters for on-scene
communications. Fixed amplified antenna systems can be installed in large buildings that are known to
shield radio communications. In many jurisdictions codes have been adopted to require the owner to
install this type of equipment inside new buildings, where shielding of radio communications can be
anticipated.

It is impossible to determine why direct “portable to portable” communications on the simplex talk-
around channel were unsuccessful. This deserves further analysis in a similar environment.

Best I can guess is they tried 7FIRE63D.

https://ctif.org/sites/default/files/2025-03/mega-warehouse-fire-incident-report%20%281%29.pdf

 

[buddrousa]

I do not get these on a regular basis anymore people have no idea how quick things can change on you.
Things get changed on you without your knowledge.

 

[speedway_navigator]

I listened to this as it happened, we could see the smoke plume from our home about 7 miles away. When I heard the guy on the second floor say he had 0 visibility I got on our county GIS site to look at the building info. It was listed as a single story, our county auditor said that meant no concrete floors inside.

Our FD responded about an hour into the incident along with probably every other one for help with water supply, I think our dep chief ran the bravo side ops. A few years later our town and all the others who helped got a notice we were going to be sued for negligence by Walmart's insurance company, probably standard procedure.

I was on the town council at the time, I did some research and found our MOU with the township FD from many years ago said we were indemnified up to $10 million by the township. I emailed our attorney, we never heard anything more.

I don't know if the ATF has released their report or reports, they had the scene locked down for an arson investigation. A truck driver was denied access to his rig to get his CDL from the cab. My initial attempt to get the AAR about some radio system failures at a tornado response in the southern part of Indiana were turned down. My experience with govt is they always cover up mistakes they make but have no problem exposing to the media and public what they think a citizen might have done.

 

[speedway_navigator]

I asked our former county radio tech about this report, he wondered why they did not use the vehicular repeater most chiefs have.
These had been installed when our county first went to the state's system, we only had 2 sites, 2 more were added after coverage issues like these tilt up warehouses were found.

For whatever reason the coverage agreement with Motorola for 95% was measured with the portable in front of the user with the full size half wave antenna. Since most folks have the radio on their belt or a strap that cuts signal strength to the RX site by at least 4 dB according to the engineer who talked to the county communications advisory board. The stubby antenna also reduces signal strength.