Why do some agencies find it necessary to program UHF fire ground frequencies into their mobile radios, on the highest wattage setting? These frequencies are licensed for low power (usually 5 watts or slightly higher) and there are numerous agencies that have them programmed into their mobile radios anywhere between 25 & 100 watts.
While some might not think there is a problem with this, it can cause a serious problem. When there is a crew of FFs performing an interior fire attack and conducting a search for victims in a fire, their radio transmissions are obviously important and when some FDs tanker, who has nothing to due with the interior fire attack, gets on the high powered mobile radio asking about a water fill site and "steps on" the interior crew, who is in the middle of trying to relay important information to the IC or someone is calling for help, this becomes a serious problem, especially if that crew or individual FF is unable to repeat their important transmission for some reason.
This issue has been going on for a very long time, but after listening to several recent incidents over the past several months, I personally feel that it needs to be addressed.
If the frequencies are licensed to the County, then maybe it should be addressed by the person in charge of the county communications center, to the County Fire Coordinator, who can disseminate this information to the deputy/assistant coordinators, who can then talk to the Chiefs of the departments and have them address the issue. I know that every department does not use the same communications vendor, but all the vendors involved should be aware of what wattage the fire ground frequencies are licensed for and program them accordingly into the mobile radios. I am well aware that some agencies have members, who have the ability to program their radios, but if this is the case, then the Chiefs should make sure that the FG frequencies are programmed at the correct power output.
While some might not think there is a problem with this, it can cause a serious problem. When there is a crew of FFs performing an interior fire attack and conducting a search for victims in a fire, their radio transmissions are obviously important and when some FDs tanker, who has nothing to due with the interior fire attack, gets on the high powered mobile radio asking about a water fill site and "steps on" the interior crew, who is in the middle of trying to relay important information to the IC or someone is calling for help, this becomes a serious problem, especially if that crew or individual FF is unable to repeat their important transmission for some reason.
This issue has been going on for a very long time, but after listening to several recent incidents over the past several months, I personally feel that it needs to be addressed.
If the frequencies are licensed to the County, then maybe it should be addressed by the person in charge of the county communications center, to the County Fire Coordinator, who can disseminate this information to the deputy/assistant coordinators, who can then talk to the Chiefs of the departments and have them address the issue. I know that every department does not use the same communications vendor, but all the vendors involved should be aware of what wattage the fire ground frequencies are licensed for and program them accordingly into the mobile radios. I am well aware that some agencies have members, who have the ability to program their radios, but if this is the case, then the Chiefs should make sure that the FG frequencies are programmed at the correct power output.