Toronto Heavy Urban Search & Rescue deployment exercise

[SCPD]

I came across this info in a recent media release:

Media Advisory - Toronto Heavy Urban Search & Rescue deployment exercise

TORONTO, Aug. 25 /CNW/ - The Toronto Heavy Urban Search & Rescue (HUSAR)
Team has partnered with the Ontario Provincial Police Provincial Emergency
Response Team (OPP PERT) in a deployment exercise where they will be
self-sustaining for five days. Media are invited on the third day of this
deployment exercise:
This exercise will simulate a real-time disaster with emergency personnel
on duty 24/7 over the course of the event, which is the first of its size and
kind to be held in Ontario. The teams will operate from a self-sustaining
"Base of Operations" that will house all components of the teams, including
canine and technical search, heavy breaking and breaching, shoring of
structures, and medical capabilities.

<<
Date: Monday, August 28
Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: 155 Belsyde Ave. W., Fergus, Ontario
>>

This will be a rare photo opportunity for media to get up close and see
high-tech equipment used during tactical heavy search and rescue operations.
Such close proximity would not be possible during a real emergency.
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada defines HUSAR as:
"The location of trapped persons in collapsed structures using dogs and
sophisticated search equipment; the use of heavy equipment such as cranes to
remove debris; the work to breach, shore, remove and lift structural
components; the treatment and removal of victims; and the securing of
partially or completely collapsed structures."


Might be a good chance to listen in...

 

[exkalibur]

Okay, so the question is... what Fleetnet tower would we have the best chance in hearing action on? I'm thinking either Guelph West or Ballinafad.

 

[mciupa]

I'm wondering if Primrose may be a good one as well ?
ve3 nsv should know this area like the back of his hand.

 

[EJB]

Listowel is an option up there as well?
Before Guelph W was operational I used Listowel as we started to leave B-fads area, between Fergus and Arthur.

 

[jellotor]

Guelph West is your best choice for Fergus.

 

[motomeso]

Are we even sure all the comms will be on Fleetnet and not some simplex training channel?

I'm wondering if Primrose may be a good one as well ?
ve3 nsv should know this area like the back of his hand.

I would say either West Guelph or Cedarwoods and maybe Ballinafad. The site according to streets and trip will be the old high school at the corner of Hwy 6 and County road 18. If there is a low power in house repeater or mobile repeater I will hear it no problem but portables are a bit of a stretch from here.

Anybody have a list of possible frequencies or talkgroups being used?

If the County is involved in the drill their communications will be on Passport system so your only hope there wil be listening conventionally.

 

[motomeso]

Anybody try and monitor any traffic from this event today? I was tied up all day until now and didn't get a chance.

 

[Chrome69]

Up in that area i grab both Durham and Primerose towers when i am their... More stronger is Primerose

 

[motomeso]

Stronger then the Guelph West or Cedarwoods tower?

 

[jellotor]

Up in that area i grab both Durham and Primerose towers when i am their... More stronger is Primerose

In Fergus? Guelph West is certainly stronger in Fergus than those two sites...both of which are probably 50+ kilometres away.

Terry, was hoping to get down into that area for a listen today but got hung up and never left the north country. My guess is that communications would be low power, but I don't really know anything. Other than which site I listen to in Fergus. Which is Guelph West. More. Stronger.

 

[Chrome69]

In Fergus? Guelph West is certainly stronger in Fergus than those two sites...both of which are probably 50+ kilometres away.

Terry, was hoping to get down into that area for a listen today but got hung up and never left the north country. My guess is that communications would be low power, but I don't really know anything. Other than which site I listen to in Fergus. Which is Guelph West. More. Stronger.

Sorry was thinking of another loctaion... What are they searching for?

 

[jellotor]

It's an exercise, so whatever they're searching for isn't really missing.

 

[ocscan]

TFS uses 800mhz in Toronto...so isn't the I-TAC/I-CALL a btter starting point...I know they have two Talkgroups assigned on the Toronto Motoroloa system...

OPP will obviously be either on fleetnet or UHF low band...

 

[jellotor]

Well, I suppose radios could be loaned by either agency to each other or what-have-you. Seems that the only way we're going to get some definitive answers is to listen in.

 

[ocscan]

From HUSAR website...

http://www.toronto.ca/wes/techservices/oem/husar/fleet.htm

OSU-1 Search & Communications

Radio systems, repeaters, FRS and V/UHF
ACU-1000 Communications System
Satellite, Cellular, Fax, and hard wired phone systems
Navigation and Technical Search Equipment
Digital still and Video Camera Equipment

Sothey could show up on alot of different freqs

 

[pathalogical]

From HUSAR website...

http://www.toronto.ca/wes/techservices/oem/husar/fleet.htm

OSU-1 Search & Communications

Radio systems, repeaters, FRS and V/UHF
ACU-1000 Communications System
Satellite, Cellular, Fax, and hard wired phone systems
Navigation and Technical Search Equipment
Digital still and Video Camera Equipment

Sothey could show up on alot of different freqs

That's quite the list of equipment they have. Did anyone get a visual on this excersise in progresss ? I'm sure there is a lot of open fields in that part of town where they may have set up. Would have been a great opportunity to park the car nearby and try out Close Call for some comms.

 

[als_medic]

Sorry for dredging up an old post

I've been offline for a while and was reviewing old posts, so sorry for this being old news.
Toronto's HUSAR teams uses the ITAC/ICALL channels in the 800Mhz range. They also set up a repeater on those channels when on deployment. On past exercises they have also used FRS radios as well.
Hope that helps.

 

[ocscan]

Makes sense...if they have 800mhz Radios as standard equipment that this is what they will use. The ITAC/ICALL is becoming a continent wide common channel (as allocated)