Somerset/Pulaski Operations...

[BoxAlarm187]

I'm at the in-laws in Pulaksi County for the week, we're just outside of the City of Somerset. I brought along my new-to-me HP-1 to try it out, and it's working like a champ.

After listening for a couple of days, I have a few questions about operations down here. I might be shooting for the stars getting some answers, but I thought that I'd try anyway...

1. Anyone know the primary way that the helo's communicate with the ground units? There was a flyout from a MVA down the street tonight, but I got ZERO comm's from the helo, even when monitoring the helo/air channels. Seemed unusual.
2. It sounds like both the city and county fire apparatus identify by their unit numbers when changing the status of the units (ie: 124 to dispatch, Engine 3's in quarters). I heard this repeatedly.
3. I've heard them refer to the Rescue Squad on the fire dispatch channel, but then I hear a lot of the EC units on County EMS channel. Two completely different organizations, I assume?

Somewhat related, I've never heard so many 10-codes in my life! Makes me appreciate living in an area where virtually everyone went clear-text years ago.

 

[unitcharlie]

Welcome to my world, BoxAlarm.... Look in the wiki for the KSP 10 Codes... if you can't find them let me know and I'll email you a copy. Also, if you are scanning mobile be careful, there are very few exemptions to the Kentucky Scanner Law, a Ham Ticket works well to protect you keep that and a copy of the law with you. I'll attempt to answer your questions....

1. Anyone know the primary way that the helo's communicate with the ground units? There was a flyout from a MVA down the street tonight, but I got ZERO comm's from the helo, even when monitoring the helo/air channels. Seemed unusual.

Given the location of the chopper, whether at base, at a hospital or in flight you may or may not hear the initial dispatch. The freqs are all Base to Mobile so, unless you are close to which ever radio is talking you likely won't hear much... once in the vicinity of the scene or incident the chopper will communicate with ground via, usually, FD or EMS freqs. You most likely won't hear the Med Report since usually the victim of something requiring a chopper will be flow to Lexington or Louisville and those freqs are also BM.... then there is the added complication of cell fones.

2. It sounds like both the city and county fire apparatus identify by their unit numbers when changing the status of the units (ie: 124 to dispatch, Engine 3's in quarters). I heard this repeatedly.

As you guess, 124 is the individual's unit number, Engine 3 is the rolling stock id... since most of the FD effort in KY is volunteer there is a smaller number of staff to handle the rolling stock.... 124 might not normally be assigned to Engine 3 but could have gone to Station 3 to man that truck because other, closer units were already on scene or en route with other trucks or in their POVs....

3. I've heard them refer to the Rescue Squad on the fire dispatch channel, but then I hear a lot of the EC units on County EMS channel. Two completely different organizations, I assume?

Rescue is also Squad, most counties in KY house their Rescue Squads within the FD realm, ease of accountability.... some counties have separate Rescue Squads that are either independent of or not affiliated with the city/county FD... Some counties house their Rescue Squads within the EMS Branch, again, ease of accountability. EC is short for Emergency Care Unit, basically an ambulance, could be ALS or BLS depending upon the staffing of the county in question....

Somewhat related, I've never heard so many 10-codes in my life! Makes me appreciate living in an area where virtually everyone went clear-text years ago.

Most counties in Kentucky use the KSP model or a modified version of the KSP 10 Codes. Some jurisdictions use their own, highly modified versions, some add a set of Signals and Codes to further complicate the discussion. Most of the available 10 Codes for Kentucky should be listed inthe various county Wikis..... Good Luck and welcome to Kentucky!