Communications



Kent County Chiefs Association

Standard Operating Guidelines &

Standard Operating Procedures



Subject: Communications

SOG # 1-8




Approved

June 2000


Approved by: President Daniel Menchey

Revised

July 2020


  1. Purpose

To establish a guideline for communications and radio use for Fire and EMS Agencies operating in Kent County, Maryland.


  1. Scope


This guideline shall apply to all Fire and EMS Agencies operating on the Kent County Office of Emergency Services (OES) 700mhz radio system in Kent County, Maryland.


  1. Policy


  1. The Communications Committee under the direction of the Kent County Chiefs Association shall be the supervisor of these standards.


  1. Each Chief or his/her designee shall oversee the mobile and portable radios assigned to their respective station by OES.


  1. The Chief of each company, in coordination with OES, may authorize Chief Officers, Junior Officers and Fire Police to have a portable radio in their possession.


  1. Each company shall be issued a maximum of 10 portable radios for Chief Officers and Junior Officers.


  1. The Communication Committee shall evaluate the radio system throughout the year and bring feedback to the Chiefs’ Association, Chief of Communications, and the Emergency Management Director.




  1. Requests for Maintenance / Repair


  1. The Chief or designee shall notify Kent if there is a problem with a radio or if they believe there is a problem in the radio system.


  1. Call Kent by phone, speak with the Captain or Senior ESD on duty and notify them of the problem.


  1. A request shall be made for an immediate response for repairs should any problem be deemed detrimental to the operations of the Company.


  1. Talkgroups


  1. KFIREDISP

  1. Used for Dispatching of Incidents, Non-Incident Unit Status transmissions only.

  2. Transfer companies shall remain on KFIRETAC when en-route to their assignment, until dispatched on an incident.


  1. KEMSOPS

  1. Used for EMS Only Incidents, including medical assist units.

  2. Any upgrade of an incident bringing in Fire apparatus, not for medical purposes, shall be moved to the next available KFIRETAC talkgroup.

  3. If Aviation is requested/dispatched, the operations shall be moved to the next available KFIRETAC talkgroup.


  1. KFIRETAC3 / KFIRETAC4 / KFIRETAC5 / KFGOPS1 / KFGOPS2

  1. Used for any incident involving Fire, MVC, or incident where Fire Apparatus is dispatched as the primary company.

  2. May be used for EMS Incidents should more than 3 EMS Incidents be active at one time on KEMSOPS.

  3. Incidents where Kent County units are dispatched for Out of County Mutual Aid.

    1. Kent will assign the dispatched station to KFIRETAC channel

    2. Units will respond on the assigned KFIRETAC channel

    3. Kent will advise the responding units to switch to the mutual aid county’s TAC or OPS talkgroup.

    4. Units will switch and operate with the mutual aid county

    5. Should a unit need to make contact with Kent, they shall return to assigned KFIRETAC and contact Kent.


  1. KFIREPOL

  1. Used for Fire Police Operations on Fire, EMS, or other mutual aid incidents.


  1. KSPCL

  1. Used for Special Event(s) that have been pre-planned.

  2. All personnel operating at the specific event shall operate on this talkgroup for the duration of the event, unless otherwise advised by Kent Communications.


  1. KINOPS1

  1. Used for Major Incidents that may require the response of Multiple Agencies.

  2. May be used as an overflow talkgroup should KEMSOPS and all KFIRETAC talkgroups be committed to other incidents.


  1. KADMIN

  1. Used as an Administrative talkgroup for all Kent County departments (appropriate usage is required)


  1. Operations


  1. Kent shall assign the incident to EMSOPS or a FIRETAC talkgroup at time of dispatch.


  1. The Incident Commander can request an additional talkgroup for a specific operation of the emergency.


  1. Kent shall use the standard checklist on all working emergencies. See Attachment A for details.


  1. The Base station shall be used for official business only.


  1. There shall be no “BIDDING ON CALLS”. Station shall refrain from advising Kent that they are attended with a crew unless they have been dispatched on the emergency.


  1. When apparatus respond on an alarm, they shall give their crew status. Example – Brush 2 with 3, etc.


  1. Officers with radios in their POV’s shall not advise Kent that they are responding to station. They shall contact Kent if they are responding to the scene or have information that is of assistance to the emergency.


  1. Fire Police shall not advise Kent that they are responding. On the assigned Talkgroup (EMSOPS, TAC 3, TAC 4, or TAC 5) the Fire Police will notify the first responding apparatus from the first due company of your response. See Attachment for Fire Police Communications Procedure.


  1. Voice Command or plan language shall always be used. See Attachment for details.


Fire Police

Communications Procedure


For Responding and Operating on Emergencies in Kent County


  1. On the assigned Talkgroup (EMSOPS, TAC 3, TAC 4, or TAC 5) notify the first responding apparatus from the first due company of your response.


A. Examples


  • Fire Police 2 to Engine 2 – I am responding, or I am on the air

  • Fire Police 3-1 to Command 3 – I am responding, or I am on the air

  • Fire Police 4-2 to Rescue Pumper 4 – I am responding, or I am on the air


  1. The first arriving Fire Police on the scene shall assume overall control of all other Fire Police responding.


  1. The first arriving Fire Police on the scene shall ask the Incident Commander if he/she has an assignment for the Fire Police.


A. Examples


  • Fire Police 5 to Command 5 – Do you have an assignment for the Fire Police

  • Fire Police 6-1 to High Street Command - Do you have an assignment for the Fire Police

  • Fire Police 7-2 to Rock Hall Command – Do you have an assignment for the Fire Police


  1. The Fire Police that first arrives and asks the Incident Commander for the assignment shall be the Fire Police Branch Leader.


  1. After the Incident Commander gives his/her assignment(s) to the Fire Police, all Fire Police shall switch to the Fire Police Talkgroup for the duration of the emergency.


  1. Only the Fire Police Branch Leader shall switch back to the assigned TAC Channel to talk with the Incident Commander.


Betterton Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.


Chief Daniel Menchey


Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.


Chief John Darling


Community Volunteer Fire Company of Millington, Inc.


Chief Richard McIntyre


Galena Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.


Chief Christopher A. Powell


Kennedyville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.


Chief James L. Price, Jr.


Kent & Queen Anne’s Rescue Squad, Inc.


Chief Allan Schauber


Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.


Chief Troy White


Kent County Emergency Service Board


Chair Charlene Perry











ATTACHMENT A


KENT DISPATCH INCIDENT CHECK LIST


  • 8 to 10 MINUTES INTO THE EMERGENCY

  • Advise Command that they are _____ minutes into your alarm.

  • Advise Command if the box is complete or what has not made the response.

  • Advise Command what the staffing is.


  • 10 MINUTES FROM THE FIRST UNIT ARRIVAL ON SCEN

  • Advise Command that they are ____ minutes into your alarm

  • Advise Command if the box is complete or what apparatus has not made the response

  • Advise Command what the staffing is

  • Ask Command if they need the electric company

  • Ask Command if they need the State Fire Marshall


  • 20 MINUTES INTO THE EMERGENCY

  • Ask Command if they would like regional cover ups RULE PENDING

  • Ask Command if he/she needs state or county roads for road closures.

  • Ask Command if he/she needs MDE (Haz-Mat incidents)

  • Ask Command if he/she needs MSP of Sheriff Department.


  • 20 MINUTES FROM THE FIRST UNIT ARRIVAL ON SCENE

  • Advise Command that they are 20 minutes from the first unit arrival

  • Advise Command of the 20-minute PAR Check


  • USEFUL INFORMATION

  • Notify Command of any forthcoming weather problems.

  • Contact another source of medic evacuation If MSP is not available.

  • Contact next due ALS if Kent County is not available.

  • Ask Command if he/she wants the MASS CASUALTY PLAN implemented if four of more patients are reported.










































ATTACHMENT B


These are the most commonly use Voice Commands.


VOICE COMMAND 10 - CODE

Use Caution 10-0

Unable to Copy 10-1

Receiving Good 10-2

Message Received/OK/Copy 10-4

In Quarters, In Station of the Air 10-7

Responding 10-8

Repeat the Message 10-9

Transfer/Fill In/Stand by 10-12

Returning / Available 10-19

Location 10-20

Contact by Phone 10-21

Disregard 10-22

Arrived / On Location 10-23

Motor Vehicle Collision 10-50

Under Control
















Communications S.O.G. 1-8

Attachment C

Kent County Chiefs’ Association

Portable Radio Distribution Policy


Aerial Device – One for each riding position including the driver


ALS Chase – Two


Ambulance – Two


BLS Chase – Two


Command – One


Dive Unit – Two


Engine – One for each riding position including the driver


Engine-Tanker – One for each riding position including the driver


Initial Attack – One for each riding position including the driver


Quint – One for each riding position including the driver


Rescue – One for each riding position including the driver


Rescue – Engine/Pumper – One for each riding position including the driver


Squad – One for each riding position including the driver


Tanker without a Pump – Two


Tanker with a Pump – Two


Utility – Two

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