Stafford - River Rescue

[dtscho]

Stafford Fire/Rescue has been working a river rescue on the Rappahannock since about 9:00 PM. They're using Incident 1. The Fairfax 1 helicopter has been called - they're using 851.8625 [94.8] simplex (Fairfax 4N) to coordinate with units on the ground.

They appear to have found the kayaker near the Motts Run Reservoir.

Dave

 

[N4VKF]

The use of 4N by Stafford is unique but I guess being a member of COG they probably have radio programming that is unknown to most of us.

 

[fredva]

The use of 4N by Stafford is unique but I guess being a member of COG they probably have radio programming that is unknown to most of us.

Actually Stafford isn't a member. Here is the list of members: https://www.mwcog.org/about-us/cog-and-our-region/local-governments/

Having said that, it's not unusual for Stafford or Spotsylvania to request Fairfax 1, so they probably have worked out communication options in preparation.

 

[N4VKF]

Okay I stand corrected. They have a COG number for radio zones I thought. (15)

 

[dtscho]

The Stafford unit that was coordinating with Fairfax 1 was advised by command to switch to the Fairfax zone in his radio. He was told to go to 4N, which was described (correctly) as a "line-of-sight" channel. So Stafford units do have Fairfax channels in their radios, even though Stafford isn't a COG member.

Dave

 

[JSsignal16]

I'm curious why chose that channel when Fairfax 1 has Stafford Fire in their misson radios. I've heard them on their talk groups when they came out for a Medevac the past. Does Stafford have poor coverage in that area?

 

[dtscho]

Not sure why Fairfax 1 didn't use Stafford's system. The Stafford units didn't seem to have trouble communicating on their system in that area.

Dave

 

[Hbright]

Did anyone ever hear Fairfax 1 on the Stafford TGs? Trying to determine if there was a radio issue or if maybe fire command wanted to prevent Fairfax 1 from tying up Incident 1.

 

[fredva]

Okay I stand corrected. They have a COG number for radio zones I thought. (15)

Interesting that you should give the number. Just today I heard a Stafford ambulance responding to a call in King George identify itself as 15-01. First time I had heard that type of identifier used. Apparently they're using their COG-assigned number for mutual aid calls, even though they aren't officially a COG member.

 

[N4VKF]

Ambulance 1 went to king George?

 

[JSsignal16]

Did anyone ever hear Fairfax 1 on the Stafford TGs? Trying to determine if there was a radio issue or if maybe fire command wanted to prevent Fairfax 1 from tying up Incident 1.

I've heard them several times on Stafford Fire for Medevac calls and water search missions on the Potomac. Both times they were on INC 1. Fairfax 1 pretty much has everyone north of I64 in their radios. I've heard them as far south as Albemarle/Charlottesville and west as Rockingham County Virginia. I've even heard them talking on the CSX RF&P railroad channel trying to reach a train that was approaching a scene that was near the tracks.

 

[fredva]

Ambulance 1 went to king George?

I'm assuming 15-01 is aka Ambulance 1 from Falmouth. Ambulance/Medic 7 would be the first choice for mutual aid to King George. Either Ambulance/Medic 1 or Ambulance/Medic 5 would be next due if 7 wasn't available. It's not unusual for Stafford to provide mutual aid to King George. It only takes one major incident - like a structure fire or the big brush fire they had today - to tie up everything in King George. Then they are calling for mutual aid.

 

[Hbright]

I've heard them several times on Stafford Fire for Medevac calls and water search missions on the Potomac. Both times they were on INC 1. Fairfax 1 pretty much has everyone north of I64 in their radios. I've heard them as far south as Albemarle/Charlottesville and west as Rockingham County Virginia. I've even heard them talking on the CSX RF&P railroad channel trying to reach a train that was approaching a scene that was near the tracks.

FCPD doesn't have any Stafford Co or Albemarle Co channels in their radio.

 

[JSsignal16]

Perhaps that's true for patrol units, but that doesn't appear to be the case for their helos (Fairfax1 N211FX and Fairfax 2 N212FX) which provide regional aviation support. I've been listening to them for years and on several ooccasions I've heard them far outside their county assisting other jurisdictions.

 

[JSsignal16]

On every occasion they were operating on the counties radio system that they were assisting. I've never heard them use interop channels.

 

[Hbright]

The Helicopters' TDFM 9000 has channels from most COG agencies (except Stafford Co), and Clarke Co, Frederick Co Va, and a couple channels for Warren Co and Jefferson Co Wv.

In Albemarle Co yesterday Fairfax 2 used 8TAC91 to communicate with ACPD. OT but VSP's helicopter that came afterwards used APMX TAC2 with a road Trooper who was dispatched to the command post.

 

[JSsignal16]

The Helicopters' TDFM 9000 has channels from most COG agencies (except Stafford Co), and Clarke Co, Frederick Co Va, and a couple channels for Warren Co and Jefferson Co Wv.

In Albemarle Co yesterday Fairfax 2 used 8TAC91 to communicate with ACPD. OT but VSP's helicopter that came afterwards used APMX TAC2 with a road Trooper who was dispatched to the command post.

There must have been a code plug change at some point which resulted in the removal of Stafford talkgroups from their radios for some reason.

You seem to know what you're talking about and I by no means am trying to question that. I'm just stating some of my observations of Fairfax 1 and 2 from over the years of listening to them.The most recent that I've heard them on Stafford's system was earlier this year on Inc 1 for a flyout. They were using one of their 316xxxx radio IDs, so they weren't patched in. In regards to Albemarle, back in 2017 they were supporting Albemarle PD, Cville PD, and VSP during the Unite The Right incident. They were operating on various talkgroups on the Albemarle system and on VSP App 1 and 2 during that incident. When that tragic VSP helicopter crash happened, they were the ones who radioed it in to dispatch. Some of the audio from that is on YouTube.

 

[Hbright]

Confirmed last night during the bailout from the Stafford Co pursuit across the line into PWC that Fairfax helo doesn't have access to Stafford Co channels.

 

[JSsignal16]

I was listening to that as well. I heard Fairfax helo say that they don't have Stafford. Which can be assumed, since that was an LE Incident, that they were referring to the SO channels. I honestly can say that I've ever heard them use Stafford SO talkgroups before since they've been encrypted full time after switching to 700mhz P25 in 2010. I've only heard them on the FD talkgroups which I'm now wondering if they still have in their radios.

 

[Hbright]

Fairfax 1 performed a medevac from Stafford Co this afternoon. They used DISP 2, because they said they didn't have INC 2 (the assigned incident channel) because of mislabeling on their radios.