Hoffman Estates Fire Department Standard Operating Guidelines PDF

HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES– 001 January 1, 2022 NIMS COMPLIAN...

HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES– 001 January 1, 2022 NIMS COMPLIANT SOG Title: Fire/Emergency Dispatch Guideline Revision: 5 APPROVED BY: NUMBER OF PAGES: Re-evaluation Date: Alan Wax January 1, 2024 Fire Chief 17 PURPOSE The purpose of the Fire/Emergency Dispatch Guideline is to provide fast, effective assistance to the general public through the fluent, explicit, expedient dispatching of fire apparatus while utilizing clear, brief radio communications. GENERAL Calls for service by the Hoffman Estates Fire Department (Stations 21-24) are received at Northwest Central Dispatch Service (Central) located at 1975 East Davis Street, Arlington Heights, IL.(847/590-3300) Central is then responsible to dispatch and track the status of all fire department units. Central is also responsible for the dispatching of the following other fire departments: Arlington Heights (Stations 1-4), Barrington (Station 46), Barrington Countryside (Stations 37-38), Buffalo Grove (Stations 25-27), Elk Grove (Stations 7-10), Mount Prospect (Stations (12-14), Palatine (Stations 81-85), Inverness Fire Protection District (Station 36), Schaumburg (Stations 51- 55), Rolling Meadows (Station 15 & 16) and Streamwood (Stations 31-33). The Hoffman Estates Fire Department operates its primary radio system on the NWCDS Starcom21, 800 MHz radio system. The department shares the assigned channels with the Hoffman Estates Police and Public Works Departments, as well as the Villages of Streamwood and Schaumburg Fire and Police Departments. Secondary emergency dispatching can occur from the Northwest Central Back-up Dispatch Center located in Schaumburg at 1000 W. Schaumburg Rd, 847-882-3586. Secondary radio communications can occur from a conventional (non-trunked) 800 MHz frequency or from VHF frequency 154.205 (Fire South) depending on the reason that the primary system has become impaired. 1 DEFINITIONS The following clear speech phrases are typically heard on the radio frequency and shall be understood by fire dispatchers and fire department personnel. Affirmative Yes Available on radio Ready to respond CAD Computer Aided Dispatch. The computer program is used by Central to determine which units should be assigned to an emergency/non- emergency incident. ETA Estimated time of arrival Fire Ground Frequency The radio frequency that may be used by companies working on the incident scene. Go ahead Transmit message IFERN Interagency Fire Emergency Radio Network- The radio frequency used when MABAS member departments talk with each other. MABAS/Box Alarm Mutual Aid Box Alarm System- System through which member departments share resources during a large emergency incident. MABAS box alarm; will need the box number, box alarm level, command location and the staging location. Message Received Acknowledge transmission MOVE-UP Should all of the apparatus in one or more districts be committed on emergency incidents, after a predetermined amount of time, the computer will prompt the dispatcher to dispatch the next available unit to move up to cover the other districts. Negative No On the scene Arrived at dispatched call Out-of-service Not available for calls “Use Barrier Precaution” Units responding to an incident where the patient may have an infectious disease, when it is known by Central, will be advised to use barrier precautions. Due to the legalities of what type of patient information can be stated over the radio, it is necessary to use this terminology for all possible infectious disease calls. This would include, although not limited to, patients with Tuberculosis, Meningitis, Septic, HIV, or skin diseases. 2 Responding to Responding to a dispatched call Returning to quarters Units are available returning to their station Emergency Traffic Hold all non-emergency traffic until further advised 610 A fire department officer that has responded to function as the second shift commander, or assumes the position, during a time when the shift commander is occupied at another incident. The 610 officer effectively replaces the shift commander and makes all decisions regarding coverage of stations and incidents. Unreadable Radio signal is weak, broken or interrupted by static. Change of quarters When two units are changing quarters and switching responsibilities for their respective districts. EQUIPMENT NUMBERING AND DISTRICT NUMBERING/LOCATIONS The Hoffman Estates Fire Department operates out of four fire stations (serving Districts) situated throughout the Village and has administrative offices at the Village Hall. The location of these facilities and the apparatus/equipment assigned to each is as follows: District 21 Fire Station #21 225 Flagstaff Lane Engine 21 (E21) Ambulance 21 (A21) Reserve Engine 21 (RE21) Reserve Ambulance 21 (RA21) District 22 Fire Station #22 1700 Moon Lake Blvd. Engine 22 (E22) Ambulance 22 (A22) Truck Tower22 (TWR22) Squad 22 (S22) Car 14 (BAT6) Utility 22 (U22) District 23 Fire Station #23 1300 Westbury Drive Engine 23 (E23) Ambulance 23 (A23) Reserve Engine 23 (RE23) Reserve Squad 22 (RS22) Car 8 (RBAT6) 3 District 24 Fire Station #24 5775 Beacon Pointe Engine 24 (E24) Ambulance 24 (A24) Reserve Tower 22 (RTWR22) Reserve Ambulance 24 (RA24) Boat 24 (Boat 24) Brush 24 (BT24) Dive 24 (DV24) Tech Rescue Truck (TRT24) HAZMAT 24 (HM24) Hazardous Materials Trailer Administration Village Hall 1900 Hassell Road Car 7 600 Fire Chief Car 9 601 Deputy Chief of Operations Car 15 602 Deputy Chief of Administration Car 5 Battalion Chief of Training and Safety Car 2 Fire Prevention Bureau Car 10 Fire Prevention Bureau Prius Spare Bureau Car Mobile/Portable Radio Signatures All apparatus have been assigned an 800 radio and a VHF(IFERN) mobile radio. In an effort to standardize the radio signatures of these units the following shall apply: 1. The company officer or acting officer of engines and towers, and the person occupying the front passenger seat of ambulances and the squad shall assume the radio signature that is the unit number. (Examples: Engine 21, Tower 22, Ambulance 21). 2. A. The driver of each ambulance, squad, engine or tower shall assume the radio signature of the unit plus DRIVER (Example: Engine 21 DRIVER, Tower 22 DRIVER. 3. The person occupying the #3 jump seat position of an Engine or a Tower will assume the radio signature of the unit number plus JUMP. (Example: Engine 21 JUMP, Tower 22 JUMP) 4. In the unusual event that additional firefighters are assigned to an Engine or Tower, their radio signature would be the unit number plus JUMP 2, JUMP 3 etc. 5. With the exception of vehicles used by staff officers or others with assigned radio signatures (see below), when a vehicle such as a car is used the radio signature of the vehicle shall be the assigned car number. (Examples: U22, TRT24,) 4 6. Aerial Platform Basket / Ladder– A. Whenever the aerial is in operation, the firefighter operating the aerial from the pedestal or turntable will assume the radio signature of the vehicle plus TURNTABLE (Example: Tower 22 TURNTABLE) B. whenever the aerial basket is in operation, the officer, acting officer or senior firefighter working inside the basket will assume the unit radio signature plus BASKET (Example: Tower 22 BASKET) Radio designation examples: Engines and Towers Seated position Radio Signature Engine / Tower Officer Engine 21 or Tower 22 Engine/ Tower driver/engineer Engine 21 DRIVER or Tower 22 DRIVER Firefighter position (#3) Engine 21 JUMP Firefighter position (#4) Engine 21 JUMP 2 Squad and Ambulances Seated position Radio Signature Right seat (front) Ambulance 23 or Squad 22 Squad and Ambulance driver Ambulance 23 Driver Squad 22 Driver Firefighter position #3 or Ambulance 23 JUMP 2 or Squad 22 JUMP 2 additional firefighter on an ambulance Important! In order to avoid any confusion during radio transmissions, a radio signature shall be used at all times when initiating a radio message sequence. Using your radio signature over the vehicle identification number will prevent confusion when on the air for company business (example: when using U22 for an investigation, use your investigator signature.) Additional radio signatures have been assigned to personnel assigned to specific department divisional and shift assignments. 6-0-6 Special Events Supervisor 6-1-0 Call Back Shift Commander 6-1-1 First Shift Off-Duty Battalion 6-1-2 Second Shift Off-Duty Battalion 6-1-3 Third Shift Off-Duty Battalion 6-1-4 Special Rescue Officer 6-1-5 Dive Master 6-1-6 Haz-Mat Officer 6-1-7 EMS Officer 6-1-8 TEMS Member 5 Fire Inspectors and Investigators have been assigned 6-X-X designation numbers. See the annual reference page that is put out by the Communications Division Head for the list of names and numbers. CAD CALL TYPES Emergency incidents are divided into several classifications called Call Types. These call types are used to determine the response to an incident. When the dispatcher enters the appropriate call type based on the information collected from the caller or the Keltron fire alarm equipment, the CAD computer will assign the apparatus due to respond to the incident based on established fire department Response Guidelines. CAD utilizes run cards that have been created for each response grid (atom) within the village. Each response grid (atom) contains each of the twenty (20) call type responses. The response to each call type follows the fire department's Response Guidelines. They also serve as a guide to the fire dispatchers in selecting additional apparatus for completing additional alarm assignments. However, there are situations that may require the fire dispatcher to contact the On-Duty Shift Commander (Battalion 6) or 610 (if one has been assigned) in charge to verify the actual apparatus assignment to an incident. AMB 1: Medical emergencies, both basic and advanced life support. ACPI: All traffic accidents with injuries. ACEN: Traffic accidents with entrapment. 911OP: Responses when a 911 call is received, but there is no conversation present from the callers side of the line. BRUSH Responses to brush fire incidents above the initial code 2 response. Code 2: Single company response to the following type of alarms: Rubbish fires, Grass fires, Wires down Wires burning in the trees Electrical transformer burning Lock-outs Stuck elevator AFA-Trouble position that did not reset without occupant/owner contact. CO: Responses to CO detectors sounding without reported symptoms. CARF: Responses to car fires (outside of building). TRKF: Responses to truck fires (outside of building). AFA: Automatic Fire Alarm, full fire position - This would include any alarms received by the Keltron alarm system or through a telephone report from a Central Station. Single station smoke detectors with no smoke or fire reported. Code 3: All reports of a structure fire - This would include any of the following: 6  Reports of any type of fire in a structure. Smoke investigation inside a structure. Lightning striking a structure. Code 4: An upgrade of any initial emergency incident response. Initiates change of quarters, recall of all chiefs, initiates 610 and other actions occur. DROW1: Water incidents that involve contained bodies of water such as a pool or hot tub, etc. DROW2: Water incidents that involve open bodies of water such as a lake or pond. All Haz-Mat incidents - This would include any of the following types of calls: HMAT 1: For hazardous materials incidents (except gasoline spills from automobiles, outside natural gas leaks and all carbon monoxide incidents). HMAT 2: For a confirmed Hazardous Materials Incident that escalates beyond the scope of the “First Responder” and requires the assistance of “Hazardous Materials Technicians”, MUT: Mutual aid request or MABAS BOX alarm to another town. ODOR: Responses to all incidents classified as an Inside Odor Investigation. ELEV: Responses involving stuck elevators and emergency elevator alarms. TECH: Responses to establish the nature of the rescue: Structural/trench collapse, above/below grade rescue or confined space event. Note: Automatic aid calls are treated by Central as if the call was in Hoffman Estates and coded per the type of incident. METHODS OF RECEIVING EMERGENCY INCIDENT DISPATCHES A) Station Alert Toning. Primary Dispatch Method. Each fire station has an alert tone that, when activated by Central, opens the specific station’s radio speakers to permit announcement of an emergency incident. There is also an “All Call” alert tone that will open station speakers in all Hoffman Estates fire stations. From 0700 hours until 2200 hours, the “All Call” alert tone is used to announce calls and information. From 2200 hours until 0700 hours, the specific station alert tones will be used for those stations due to respond on an incident. Anytime that three or more stations are due to respond to an incident the “All Call” alert tones will be used. B) Apparatus Lap-Top Computers/Radio Modems. Each fire and EMS apparatus is provided with a lap-top computer connected to a radio 7  modem. These devices talk back and forth with the CAD computer at Central. When an apparatus is assigned to an incident, the CAD sends dispatch information to the apparatus’ lap-top computer. Information is received at the lap-top usually within 60-seconds. C) Station Alerting in “VHF Back Up Mode” When the link between a station and NWCD goes down, the station will receive an alert notifying personnel that the station alerting is in “VHF Back Up Mode.” 1) The Station alerting system will automatically switch to VHF Back Up Mode and the Company Officer does not need to change any radio settings. 2) The Company Officer should ask Central to send a test station alert to confirm that the VHF radio is working. ** There is no station alert if the VHF radio goes down** 3) Since the VHF radio can potentially go down while in back up mode without notifying personnel, members should also rely on the Phoenix G2 app for notifications. Personnel can also rely on a portable radio to be notified for calls. (The Phoenix G2 app should always work unless the gateway at NWCD is down or loses internet connection. If this occurs, NWCDS will notify the Shift Commander that NWCD is in Back-Up Dispatch Method.) D) Back-up Dispatch Method. Each fire station has its own back-up radio, VHF frequency (154.205) Fire South, that when activated by Central, opens all station’s radio speakers to permit the announcement of an emergency incident. Using the “All Call” two-tone sequential alert tone, it will open station speakers in all Hoffman Estates fire stations In the event we are moved to the back-up radio system, Central will notify the Shift Commander of this situation. The Shift Commander will then notify all stations. The back-up system is designed to remain with open speakers for a period of ten minutes following a dispatch. This will remain the method of dispatch until we are able to return to the 800 MHz system, and normal operations. Each Company Officer will ensure that all radios are changed to the back-up frequency. 1) Station VHF’s on Fire South (NOTE: Station 22 changes the Base Station) 2) Mobile VHF’s to Fire South 3) VHF portables to Fire South Upon completion of this change the Company Officer will notify the Shift Commander of the successful changeover. 8 STATUS MESSAGING Status messaging is the method of using function keys on a unit’s lap-top computer, to send the status of the unit to Central and the CAD computer. By using these buttons, radio usage can be reduced, the current status of a unit can be maintained, and the times for various vehicle status’ can be maintained. When functioning in an apparatus, status message shall be used in place of voice transmissions for all of the following: 1. Units going enroute. 2. Units arriving on the scene. 3. Units available on the scene and available on the radio. 4. Units back in quarters. 5. Units transporting to the hospital and at the hospital. Status messaging does not eliminate all radio traffic, but can reduce the need to report your status to Central. Size-ups and other important information shall be transmitted over the radio to Central. DISPATCH GUIDELINE AND COMMUNICATIONS Using the station alerting tones, Central will dispatch alarms using the following standard message: Sample: "District (#) a Code (#) , (Units due) respond to (address) for a (nature). Your cross streets are (street names). Central will then repeat the address one additional time. Example: "District 21 a Code 3. Engine 21, Ambulance 21, Truck 22 respond to 600 Salem for an AFA-Full Fire. Your cross streets are Bode Road and Parker Street. 600 Salem Drive.” Although individual dispatches might vary slightly, by filling in the blanks of the sample dispatch, every dispatch call is assured of uniformity and clarity. Fire units will acknowledge their response using the status keys on their unit’s computer. The 800MHz frequency radio will be used when status keys are not available and voice transmissions are necessary. Example: "Engine 21 and Ambulance 21 responding to 600 Salem Drive, Apartment 101." 9 When more than one piece of equipment is responding from a station, the lead piece of equipment to leave the station will notify Central that the group is in-service: Example: "Engine 22, Truck 22 and Squad 22 responding to..." or "District 22 companies responding to..." When equipment responds to a call from a location other than quarters, they will notify Central of the approximate location from which they are responding. This information shall be provided to Central even if status keys are functioning in the equipment. Example: "Engine 22 responding from Golf and Barrington to 1515 North Barrington Road." When all assigned fire department equipment have acknowledged that they are responding to the incident, the Central will acknowledge this fact by repeating the units due, location and incident nature. It is following this transmission by the dispatcher that supplemental information can be given to responding units. This is called a “readback.” Example: "Engine 21, Ambulance 21 you are responding to 600 Salem, Apartment 101, for a man with chest pain. Be advised that the patient had open heart surgery 1 month ago." It will be the dispatcher's responsibility to correct information repeated by Fire personnel that is incorrect. Central will attempt to determine the response status of any assigned unit that has not gone enroute within 120 seconds. COMMUNICATION PROCESS The unit to be called should be stated first, the unit initiating the calling second. Example: "Central from Engine 21; Tower 22 from Central; Engine 22 from Battalion 6." After a voice transmission, wait for a "go-ahead" to transmit your message. If you have information that Central needs to know, be specific. 10  Example: "Central from Engine 24" "Go-Ahead Engine 24" “Engine 24 will be on a change of quarters with Engine 22” Please limit the amount of radio traffic to information that dispatchers need to know or critical information that everyone should know. If you are able to communicate the same non-emergency information via telephone, do so. REVISING RESPONSES AFTER INITIAL DISPATCH At times the dispatched fire apparatus assigned to an incident will not respond because other apparatus are closer to the incident. The apparatus closer to the call will advise Central, on the radio, that they will respond to the incident from their location in place of another specific piece of equipment. It is important that companies promptly notify the dispatch center when they are in service. This will reduce the number of times that the response to an incident will need to be changed after initial dispatch! TALK GROUPS All portable radios are programmed to return to the zone that the topside zone selector is set to when the radio is powered up. If you are going mutual aid and need to get back to Primary Zone FD3, if the topside zone selector is set to A, you can turn the radio off and back on. To ensure that your radio will automatically go to the Primary Zone on power up you should use the side buttons on your radio to change zones and leave the topside selector set to A. The Mobile (radios mounted in the rigs) radios have a home button that if held for three seconds will return the radio to Primary Zone FD3. Primary (Zone A) A Starcom21 radio system allows agencies to utilize many different “Talk Groups” in order to carry out their communications needs. A “Talk Group” is a collection of radios set to the same sub- frequency, which utilize an available radio channel to communicate. The following information briefly describes each talk group and when it is to be used. Fire Dispatch – The Fire Dispatch (FD) 3 talk group is located on the Primary Zone in position 1 and 16 on all digital portable radios. All dispatches of emergency and non-emergency incidents for the Hoffman Estates, Elk Grove, Streamwood, and Schaumburg Fire Departments will take place on the Fire Dispatch (FD3) talk group. Therefore, all apparatus mobile and portable radios shall be in position 1 unless the user has been assigned to one of the fireground or other talk groups provided in each radio. Whenever a radio is switched to a talk group other than the Fire Dispatch (FD3) talk 11 group, and the user or unit is available to respond to an emergency incident, the radio shall be put in the scan mode so the Fire Dispatch (FD3) talk group can be monitored. All radios are programmed to scan positions 1-5 only. (Available in All Mobiles/Portables/Base Radios) Hoffman Estates Fire Ground (HFES FG) – The Fireground talk group is located in position 2 and 15 on all digital portable radios when on Primary Zone FD3. This talk group has been assigned to the Hoffman Estates Fire Department as our primary fireground talk group for all fires and other incidents requiring excessive radio traffic, which would disrupt the Fire Dispatch, talk group. (Available in All Mobiles/Portables/Base Radios) The use of Hoffman Estates Fire Ground (HFES FG) shall be used for all calls that are likely to have heavy radio traffic. Example: Structure fires, complicated fire alarms, auto extrications etc. Incident Command will direct on scene and incoming companies to HFES FG during their size up or as soon as practicable. If two incidents are going on at the same time that will likely have heavy radio traffic the first call will move to Hoffman Estates Fire Ground and the next one will use Northwest Central Fire Ground 6 (NW FG6), which is in the scan group. Beyond two calls moving from Primary Zone FD3 (Dispatch) the Incident Commander will state which channel will be used over the radio and the channels options include: NW FG3, VHF: FG White, FG Blue, FG Gray and FG Black. Incident Command should be scanning FD3 (dispatch) or carry a second radio (station spare) set to Hoffman Estates Fire Ground to make sure that they do not miss needed information from Northwest Central Dispatch on FD3. You may only transmit on the channel that the radio is set to; therefore, you would need to switch back and forth from FD3 to Hoffman Estates Fire Ground even though you can hear traffic on both. Schaumburg Fireground – This talk group is located in position 3 on all digital portable radios. This talk group has been assigned to the Schaumburg Fire Department as their primary fireground talk group for all fires and other incidents requiring excessive radio traffic, which would disrupt the Fire Dispatch, talk group. (Available in All Mobiles/Portables/Base Radios) Fireground Red - This talk group is located in position 4 on all digital portable radios. This talk group has been assigned to the Streamwood Fire Department as their primary fireground talk group for all fires and other incidents requiring excessive radio traffic, which would disrupt the Fire Dispatch, talk group. (Available in All Mobiles/Portables/Base Radios) NWC Fireground 3 – The Fireground 3 talk group is located in position 5 on all digital portable radios. (Available in All Mobiles/Portables/Base Radios) NWC Fireground 6 – The Fireground 6 talk group is located in position 6 on all digital portable radios. This talk group is unassigned. Any Fire Department could be assigned to use this talk group as emergency conditions warrant its use (such as in the case of multiple complicated incidents when a department’s primary fireground talk group is already utilized. (Available in All Mobiles/Portables/Base Radios) Hoffman Estates City Wide – This talk group is located in position 7 on all digital portable radios. This talk group is also available on all mobiles and portables owned by the Village of Hoffman Estates. If the need ever arose to talk to a Public Works Unit or Police Unit, both users could switch to this talk group to complete their conversation. (Available in All Mobiles/Portables/Base Radios) 12 Hoffman Estates Fire Admin – This talk group is located in position 8 on all digital portable radios. (Available in All Mobiles/Portables/Base Radios) Elgin FD Main – This talk group is located in position 9 on all digital portable radios. (Available in All Mobiles/Portables/Base Radios) Elgin FD Ops 2 – This talk group is located in position 10 on all digital portable radios. (Available in All Mobiles/Portables/Base Radios) FD 1 – This talk group is located in position 11 on all digital portable radios. (Available in All Mobiles/Portables/Base Radios) Inverness FG – This talk group is located in position 12 on all digital portable radios. (Available in All Mobiles/Portables/Base Radios) Elk Grove FG – This talk group is located in position 13 on all digital portable radios. (Available in All Mobiles/Portables/Base Radios) Hoffman Estates PD 4 – This talk group is located in position 14 on all digital portable radios. (Available in All Mobiles/Portables/Base Radios) OPERATIONS ON THE TALK GROUPS (TG) All fire department radios shall normally be set on position 1 which is the Fire Dispatch (FD3) TG. Central will dispatch all emergency and non-emergency incidents on this talk group. Companies responding to an incident shall remain on the Fire Dispatch (FD3) TG until advised by Command or Central to change to a fireground TG. Typically, this will be the HEFG TG that is position 2 on each radio on Primary Zone FD3. The change-over to a fireground TG shall occur whenever an incident involves an actual working fire or smoke conditions; or, when an incident commander expects that an incident may require extensive communications or scene time such as haz-mat incidents, dive incidents or other similar situations. The transfer for the Fire Dispatch (FD3) TG to a (HFES) fireground TG will normally occur only after Incident Command is established. All companies working on the scene will switch to, and operate on the fireground TG. Command will then communicate with companies working on the scene on the assigned fireground TG and with Central on the Fire Dispatch TG. By making the change to an assigned fireground, the Fire Dispatch TG will remain free of excessive radio traffic and will be clear to handle other dispatched incidents. Whenever a radio is switched from the Fire Dispatch TG to any other TG, except during emergency incidents, the radio shall be placed in the scanning mode so traffic on the Fire Dispatch TG can be monitored. During emergency incidents the scan mode may be used to monitor radio traffic on the 13 Fire Dispatch TG when the user has been assigned to another TG such as one of the fireground TGs. COMMUNICATIONS FOR RESPONSES TO OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENTS AUTOMATIC AID Automatic Aid/Mutual Aid Non-MABAS Incident Currently, automatic aid is provided only to the Barrington Countryside, Schaumburg, and Streamwood Fire Departments. Barrington Countryside Automatic Aid When responding to an automatic aid incident in Barrington Countryside: a. Push your status button that you are enroute. b. Switch to FD1 to let them know that you are responding to their incident and when you are on the scene. c. Stay on FD1 to report size-up and/or receive assignments. You should remain on this frequency until you are directed to a different frequency, or you are released by Barrington Countryside Command. d. Push your status button that you are RTQ while returning to Hoffman Estates and AOR when you are back in town. Streamwood and Schaumburg Automatic Aid When responding to Streamwood, Schaumburg and Elk Grove companies can use their status message buttons and can talk directly with Central on our dispatch talk group when they arrive on the scene for an assignment. There is no need to utilize the IFERN frequency or radio. When responding to Streamwood, Schaumburg and Elk Grove companies should: a. Push your status button that you are enroute. (only use status buttons for enroute and AOR) b. Stay on Dispatch to report size-up and/or receive assignments. You should remain on this frequency until you are directed to a different frequency, or you are released by Streamwood/Schaumburg/Elk Grove Command c. Push your status button that you are RTQ while returning to Hoffman Estates and AOR when you are back in town. 14 MUTUAL AID When responding to a mutual aid request please do the following: a. Push your status button that you are enroute. Report to Central on the dispatch talk group that you are going to the particular town dispatched to and are switching to their dispatch frequency. b. Switch to the appropriate dispatch frequency to let them know that you are responding to their incident and when you are on the scene. c. Stay on the host community frequency until released by the host department. d. When released, call the appropriate dispatch frequency running the incident and let them know you are returning. e. When you are back in your still district call Central on the dispatch talk group and let them know you are back in your district and available. f. Push your status button that you are RTQ while returning to Hoffman Estates and AOR when you are back in town All other Mutual Aid a. Push your status button that you are enroute. Report to Central on the dispatch talk group that you are going to the particular town dispatched to and are switching to IFERN. b. Switch to IFERN on the apparatus mobile, and using the IFERN frequency, contact the MABAS Division running the incident to let them know that you are responding to their incident and when you are on the scene. c. Stay on the host community frequency IFERN, or MABAS Fireground if assigned, until released by the host department. d. When released, call the MABAS Division running the incident and let them know you are returning. e. When you are back in your still district call Central on the dispatch talk group and let them know you are back in your district and available. f. Push your status button that you are RTQ while returning to Hoffman Estates and AOR when you are back in town MABAS INCIDENTS Each fire department belonging to MABAS is assigned to a primary MABAS Division. The Hoffman Estates Fire Department is a member of MABAS Division I. Division I has, as its primary dispatch center, Northwest Central Dispatch. The backup dispatch center for Division I is RED Center Dispatch. All requests by the Hoffman Estates Fire Department for the activation of MABAS shall be made through Division I. MABAS Calls With-in Hoffman Estates The Incident Commander shall be the contact to Division I when MABAS is to be activated. Prior 15  to going on the IFERN frequency and contacting Division I, the IC shall advise Central that he will be switching to the IFERN frequency to activate MABAS. MABAS Calls Outside of Hoffman Estates Central will monitor emergency traffic on the IFERN frequency. Upon activation of the MABAS system the fire dispatcher will: A. Determine which MABAS Division has dispatched the incident. We are most likely to respond to Divisions I, II, III IV, V and XII incidents. The incident's Box Number, location, type of incident and type of equipment due will be determined. A typical MABAS dispatch would be as follows: "MABAS Division I to all locals, the Schaumburg Fire Department is requesting Box 2 to the Box Alarm Level for a structure fire at 700 East Weathersfield Way. Departments due to respond are Hoffman Estates with a Truck; Hanover Park with an Engine to Station 1 and Rolling Meadows with an Engine to Station 2. Departments due to respond switch to and acknowledge on the IFERN frequency." B. HFES units due on the MABAS incident shall be notified by activating the station alerting tones. Example: "District 22 a Code 13. Tower 22 respond to Schaumburg's Box 2 for a structure fire at 700 East Weathersfield Way. Responding unit shall switch to IFERN and report to Division I. FORMAT FOR DISPATCHING INFORMATION For informational messages Central will activate the “All Call” alerting tones. Examples: "The hydrant is out of service at Golf and Gannon." "The CAD System will be down for service from 0800/1200." Recall of Personnel Upon request by a fire department command officer for a recall of personnel. Central will initiate a recall process using the group cell phone notification system. A text style message 16  indicating a request for station coverage and the type of incident will be sent to all personnel currently in the system. Personnel receiving the "Call Back" notification shall contact the Shift Commander or 610 by telephone to verify if the response is necessary. Do Not call Central for directions or with questions! TESTING OF THE ALERTING TONES AND STATION PRINTERS 0700 hrs test (daily) Each day at 0700 hours, Central will activate the “All Call” station alerting tones and station printers. The dispatcher shall announce: "This is the morning test of the Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, Streamwood and Elk Grove Fire Department’s station alerting system. There is no need to acknowledge. Central is clear at 0700 hours, Company officers shall notify their shift commander when any portion of the test is unsuccessful. DISCREET REQUEST FOR POLICE TO RESPOND If a police response is needed in a discreet/silent manner request “Signal Blue” to Northwest Central Dispatch. NWCD should sent a police response with no further questions. This should only be requested when there is an emergency or situation in which members can’t request a police response as they normally would. EXCEPTIONS REFERENCE DEFINITIONS End of Document 17