St. Lucie Fire: Communication Protocols

• St. Lucie County Fire District's communications are designed to ensure efficient communication, safe operations, rapid responses, and effective incident management.

Communications Division

• The Communications Division is responsible for the initial dispatch.
• The Communications Division must be notified of any deviations from the initial dispatch.

Incident Dispatch on Designated Channels

• All incidents and tones are dispatched on COM1/COM2.
• Secondary tones or ALL INCIDENT alerts may be dispatched on Channel 1 on the 450 MHz system.
• It is required all 450 MHz radios are always on in each station.
• The volume for both 800 MHz and 450 MHz control stations should be audible in the general vicinity of the radio.

Acknowledgment and Response Protocol

• Information is provided through pagers, printouts, and verbal communications (radio).
• Stations must immediately acknowledge and respond, regardless of dispatch priority or information source.
• Acknowledgments are made on COM1/COM2.
• Stations are notified over the air if dispatched in error.

Handling Dispatch Failures

• A dispatch failure is assumed if a station fails to acknowledge "immediately" when in service, or within 30 seconds if in quarters.
• The Communications Division rebroadcasts a "second tone" and re-dispatches the unit in case of failure.
• Other units hearing a "second tone" should prepare to be dispatched.
• A "second due" unit is dispatched if no response is received after 30 seconds.

Protocol for Communications Failures

• A communications failure is assumed if a unit fails to acknowledge after three hailing attempts.
• In case of failure, Communications alerts the portable radios of the unit involved.

Emergency Incident Communication Protocols

• During emergency incidents, successful alerts with no response, or unsuccessful alert deliveries trigger immediate dispatch on a separate TAC Channel.
• Law enforcement, a Division/Battalion Chief, a Field Training Officer, 1-Engine/Aerial, and 1-Rescue unit are dispatched, responding with Priority 2.

Non-Emergency Communication Protocols

• Division/Battalion Chief are notified if there is no response, or unsuccessful alert deliveries.

Requesting Law Enforcement

• Provide a reference to Communications when requesting Law Enforcement for a non-escalating incident.
• Units should verbally request "LEO" over the radio for potentially escalating incidents.
• Communications will send law enforcement without asking for a reference for potentially escalating incidents.

Unit Response Time Expectations

• Units in quarters should respond within 60 seconds for EMS incidents.
• Units in quarters should respond within 80 seconds for fire incidents when dispatched.
• Communications transmits a second tone to the fire station if a dispatched unit is not responding within two minutes.

800MHz Failures

• The 800MHz Radio Backup System policy is in effect when the 800MHz system fails.

Requesting Additional Resources

• The Communications Division is raised first before requesting additional resources.
• The Communications Division echoes back the request to confirm clear communication.
• If there is no confirmation, the Communications Division is raised again to confirm the request.

Phonetic Alphabet

• The Phonetic Alphabet is used to spell out names to avoid confusion.

Communication Style

• Plain English and the military style "call up" are the ways to communicate.
• State the station or unit being called, followed by the station or unit calling.

Obtaining Run Numbers and Times

• Access the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) reporting icon on the station PC to obtain run numbers and times.
• Exceptions are trauma alerts, stroke alerts, cardiac alerts, dead on arrival (DOA), etc.
• Obtain information from the Communications Division when CAD is down.

CAD Printouts

• CAD printouts contain confidential information so they should be shredded.
• Use the CAD – Information Form located in Laserfiche Forms for incorrect CAD information.
• Use the CAD – Information Form to submit pertinent additional information regarding an address.

Status Messaging

• Status updates are mandatory, both verbally and with mobile data computers.
• Units are not required to raise the Communications Division before transmitting status updates.
• The Communications Division echoes back all verbal statuses including the time of day.

Initial Dispatch Information

• The initial dispatch information consists of the units responding, the incident type, and location.
• The station acknowledging the Communications Division is being dispatched.
• The Communications Division attempts to relay vehicle travel direction, mile markers and vehicle description/number of vehicles.

Radio Monitoring and Location Reporting

• Units that are in service must monitor the radio at all times.
• Units responding from a location other than the station shall advise the Communications Division of their location.

Incident Personnel Reporting

• When a unit responds to a fire incident, the number of personnel on the apparatus is reported to the Communications Division.

Talk Group Monitoring

• The Communications Division determines to monitor talk groups based on staffing and incident volume.
• The Communications Division advises if they are unable to monitor an assigned tactical talk group.

Contacting Communications for Tactical Talk Groups

• Contact the Communications Division on COM1/COM2 if the assigned tactical talk group(s) is not being monitored, and additional resources or information is needed.

Additional Tactical Talk Groups

• A request should be made to the Communications Division when incidents need additional tactical talk groups.
• The Communications Division will assign the next available tactical talk group.

Incident Command and Unit Availability

• Responding units contact the Incident Commander for assignment(s) when incident command is established.
• Units return to COM1/COM2 to notify the Communications Division once available.

Transporting to the Hospital

• The units use status/messaging and verbal communication to report their status when transporting to the hospital.

Priority Traffic Conditions

• The Communications Division initiates a priority traffic condition alert tone during high radio traffic.
• Priority request or message repeats twice and all unit-to-unit transmissions discontinue until the Communications Division clears.

Alerting for Key Personnel

• The Division Chief, Battalion Chiefs, and Field Training Officers shall keep their portable radio on COM2 for alerting purposes.
• All non-essential radio traffic shall be on COM1 should COM2 be utilized for a MAYDAY emergency.

Structure Fire Declaration

• The Communications Division records the time of the announcement once a structure fire has been declared.

Law Enforcement Stand-Off Incidents

• The appropriate Division/Battalion Chief are notified anytime law enforcement advises of a stand-off incident in their zone.

Requesting Law Enforcement Assistance

• Communications requests the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office to respond, if city police are unable to respond in a timely manner.
• The Florida Highway Patrol will be requested if the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office is unavailable.

Alarm Assignments

• The alarm assignments are for residential and commercial structures that are not investigative.
• The Incident Commander decides on a separate tactical channel after the first alarm to stage and minimize radio traffic.

First Alarm Response Levels

• Level 1: Working Fire or multiple reports are received by the Communications Division, like smoke and/or fire.
• Level 2: A Possible Structure Fire report is received by the Communications Division, for example, smell of smoke with no smoke or fire reported.

Level 1 Alarm Resources

• Four Engines/Aerial, with a minimum of 1 Aerial.
• Two Rescue Units
• One Tanker
• Two DC/BC’s
• One FTO
• Notify PIO, Fire Investigator, Administrative Chief and Fire Chief.

Level 2 Alarm Resources

• Three Engines/Aerial, with a minimum of 1 Aerial
• One Rescue Unit
• One DC/BC
• One FTO

Second Alarm Resources

• Two Engines/Aerial
• One Rescue Unit (minimum)
• One Tanker
• One DC/BC
• One FTO
• Administrative Chief
• Public Information Officer

All Other Alarms

• Same as Level 1 First Alarm Response

Special Incident

• Any equipment or personnel as requested by IC of the incident, for example, Special Ops, Tanker 11, Red Cross, Water Rescue, Cascade unit, and Mechanic.

Aerial Apparatus Response

• One aerial apparatus responds to all structure fires.

Personnel Goal for Initial Response

• Minimum of 14 personnel, including Division Chief/Battalion Chiefs and Field Training Officers arrive on scene.

Level 1 First Alarm Assignments

• Consists of four closest companies and the first due company responds with all personnel on the engine/aerial.
• The second and third due companies respond with the engine/aerial and rescue.
• The fourth due company responds with the engine/aerial.

Rapid Intervention Team

• An engine/aerial company with a minimum of three personnel is the rapid intervention team (RIT).

Resource Management

• Resources that are not needed during the incident should be put back in service as soon as possible.

Tanker/Tender Response Priority

• Tankers/tenders respond priority 3 to all incidents.

Structure Fires in Station 11 Zone

• Tanker 11 is placed on the initial assignment in addition to the next closest tanker.
• This is when Engine 11 and Rescue 11 are in quarters.
• If both units are not in quarters, the closest two tankers are placed on the alarm assignment.
• The second tanker is canceled immediately if not needed.

Structure Fires in Station 7 Zone

• Tanker 7 is placed on the initial alarm assignment in addition to the next closest tanker if Engine 7 is in quarters.
• Closest two tankers are placed on the alarm assignment if Engine 7 is not in quarters.
• The second tanker is canceled immediately if not needed.

Structure Fires in Zone 6 and 16

• Tankers from Station 6 and Station 16 are not part of the alarm assignment in their zones.

Response Flexibility

• Responses may change based on information from on-scene units and/or communications division.

Dispatching for Chiefs and Field Training Officers

• Air Rescue Trauma Flight Criteria: Respond DC/BC and FTO
• Choking/Not Breathing: Respond FTO
• Respiratory Arrest/Full Arrest:. Respond FTO
• Air Rescue Interfacility of Out of County Response: Radio Advisory DC/BC
• Drowning: Radio Advisory DC/BC, Respond FTO
• Aircraft Alert II, III, and IV: Respond DC/BC and FTO
• Building/Bridge Collapse: Respond DC/BC and FTO
• Commercial/Recreational Vehicle Fire: Respond DC/BC and FTO
• Structure Fire: Respond DC/BC and FTO
• HazMat/Special Ops: Respond DC/BC and FTO Marine Vessel Fires
• Respond DC/BC and FTO Task Force Response
• Respond DC/BC and FTO Solar Panel Farm Fire: Radio Advisory DC/BC
• Car/Truck Fire: Respond DC/BC and FTO I-95 or Turnpike
• Brush Fire (based on info): Radio Advisory DC/BC Comm Supervisor

Communications Division Role

• During Mutual Aid: It notifies the Division Chief, who decides if a Battalion Chief or Field Training Officer is needed.

PIO Notification

• PIO is notified or requested at the Division Chief's or Incident Commander's discretion for incidents included in the chart.
• The PIO responds with appropriate PPE, reports to the Incident Commander, and included in the accountability system.

Dispatching Chiefs and Field Training Officers

• Chief, Battalion Chiefs, and/or Field Training Officers can also be dispatched at the Communications Supervisor's discretion.

Emergency Response (Medical) Priorities

• Level 1: All Units are Priority 1 except for Tanker(s).
• Level 2: The Rescue teams and the first-due engine/aerial teams are given 1st priority.
• Level 3: Responding Unit Priority 1
• Level 4: Responding Unit Priority 3

Investigative Initial Response

• Unknown Odors: 1 Engine/Aerial
• Arcing/Down Power Lines or Transformers:1 Engine/Aerial
• Smoke Outside of Structures: 1 Brush Unit depending on location

Power Line Incidents

• The Communications Supervisor assesses arcing for fire/safety hazards of hazards are not apparent provide utilities response electrical utilities.

Electronic Fire Alarm Responses

• Report of Smoke or Fire causes the First Alarm Assignment Level 1 Incident with 2 DC/BCs being All Units Priority 1
• Multiple Electronic Alarms or Flow Alarms causes the 1st Due Engine/Aerial Priority 1 and 2nd Due Engine/Aerial Priority 3
• Multiple Alarms from the Same Zone or with No Report of Smoke causes the 1st Due Engine/Aerial
• Alarm Company Reports a False Alarm but Does Not Cancel Response causes the 1st Due Unit to Slow to Priority 3
• Alarm Company Reports a False Alarm with Request to Cancel Response causes All Responding Units being Canceled

Responding Units

• Units notify the Communications Division and state the reason for the false alarm (system malfunction or tampering, etc.).

Additional Incident Responses and Units

• Brush Fire: Provide 1 Brush Unit

• Task Force Brush Fire: Provide 2 Brush Units, 1 Engine, 1 BC/DC, 1 FTO, 1 Tanker, 1 Plow Unit(Florida Forest Service)

• Commercial Transport or Recreational Vehicle Fire: Provide 1 Engine/Aerial (priority 1), 1 Engine/Aerial(priority 3), 1 Tanker, 1 Rescue, 1 BC/DC, 1 FTO

• High-rise Fire: Provide First Alarm Assignment Level 1

• Train Derailment or Fire: Provide First Alarm Assignment Level 1 and a Special Operations Assignment and 1 Additional Rescue Unit

• Train vs. Vehicle: Provide 2 Engines/Aerial, 2 Rescues, 1 DC/BC, and 1 FTO Provide 1 Engine/Aerial and 1 Rescue Unit Marine Vessel Fire on Land

• Vehicle Fire: Provide 1 Engine/Aerial Unit(1 DC/DC- Additional Equipment Florida Highway might be necessary.

• Parking Structure Fire : First Alarm Assignment : Special Opertations Assignment/ Coast Guard Indication on Florida-Water.

• Build Structure: Special Assignment

• MVC One Aerial; One rescue

• Special operation must be called; HAZMAT, HIGH Angle

• Unknown Subtances" 1 Engine Arial

• Spill and Fires Call for Fire Alarm

• Solar Panel" Call 1. Engine; 1 Brush

• Petroleum TankFire/ Call First alarm/Operation Priority

• Offiste Incident: Brush to Call brush depending on Location

• HONEY BEES Due Priority 1, Due Priority@ or more patients.

• Toll consider on road

• Injuries consistent 1 arial

• Aircraft: all available

Lock Call Unit to rescue

• Medical: Call for rescue priority, Engine team" addition to 40 MAUD EVENT battalion staff assign the Team for assessment; and call helicopter." Call staff and page"
• Airport:
• All unit must be notified MCTV Transport Vehicle and its purposes: Mass call for help.
• Transoprt up to Patients and Seats if available. Light if available Air Rescue Activation Status.

Air Rescue Activation Levels

• Communications Division will notify ground and flight when aircraft will transport.

Situations Warranting Air Rescue

• trauma for accidents
• crash" accidents.
• collision injuries.

Zone Coverage

• The purpose is guidelines personnel move from to call.

Communications Supervisor Make-up Assignments

• They will need equipment and need constantly to move.

They will move during drill and fire

• For additional information read on

Call Division for notification.

Need a unit must need and must be called regardless.