USDA Forest Service Question

[svfire1]

I am Sorry If This has been asked before. I looked and can't find it if so.

What Freq / Radio System does the USDA Forest Service use when Operating at a Brush Fire in the George Washington NF in Virginia, If Any?

Thanks

 

[spanner]

Start here: Federal Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Also visit the county that the fire is in when it starts.

If they go to "expanded dispatch", go here: National Interagency Fire Center Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

The crews, teams and aircraft coming in will be assigned on these.

Hope that helps.

Carl

 

[brownlab]

I would also make sure you have the Departments of Forestry and Fire Program talk groups added to your STARS frequencies. The DOF TGs are very active during forest fires (statewide).

 

[svfire1]

Great. Thank You Very Much!

 

[svfire1]

I heard them talking about the fire in the Shenandoah Nat Park in Va on the Park Freq. They said they are bringing in a fixed wing aircraft and the pilot would contact the ground crew on 'Southeast Contact"

My question is what radio system do they use that have multiple nationwide channels. Thanks.

 

[nd5y]

There is no nationwide radio system.
There several frequencies that can be used in most places nationwide that are shared by USFS, NPS, FWS, BLM, BIA, etc.
See National Incident Radio Support Cache - The RadioReference Wiki
They also use their own agency specific frequencies and state/local agency and interop frequencies.
Each incident has a communications plan. When units arrive at the incident they program a zone in their radios with the inicdent commummunications plan which can have a mix of federal, state and local frequencies.

 

[svfire1]

Okay. They are mentioning "NPS-1". I can't find the freq or I am looking in the wrong place. The only Freq I see are the ones for Shenandoah NP and its none of them.

 

[nd5y]

It might be 166.900 or 166.300 I have seen those listed as NPS Primary on some old lists.

 

[CCHLLM]

Southeast "Contact" is most likely Southeast Compact, 159.285 CSQ.

 

[BigLebowski]

USFS operates on two repeater frequencies for Virginia, 171.525 and 171.575. There are multiple sites, and different tones for each site. Make sure you scan the NIFC tacs as well as "R8 Tac", which is 169.9000.

 

[CCHLLM]

To add to this....

USFS operates on two repeater frequencies for Virginia, 171.525 and 171.575. There are multiple sites, and different tones for each site. Make sure you scan the NIFC tacs as well as "R8 Tac", which is 169.9000.

The Southeastern Interstate Fire Fighting Protection Compact is made up of the forest service/DNR agencies of AL FL GA MS NC SC TN VA and WV, as well as the USFS, NPS, and other agencies with fire fighting capabilities in the member states. The common frequency 159.285 CSQ simplex gets busy as mutual aid info is swapped when units are arriving and moving from one area to another.

 

[nd5y]

You forgot Texas.