|
Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Communications Committee |
|
ADVOCACY STATEMENT #10 |
|
Guideline for the Use of the IFERN and IFERN 2 Frequencies Adopted: 06/09/05 |
|
Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Communications Committee
ADVOCACY STATEMENT #10 Guideline for the Use of the IFERN and IFERN 2 Frequencies
1.0 PURPOSE
1.1 To clarify the general policies and procedures related to the use of the Interagency Fire Emergency Radio Network (IFERN) frequency (154.265 MHz) as well as the recently designated IFERN2 frequency (154.3025 MHz).
2.0 SCOPE
2.1 This Advocacy Statement applies to all MABAS Divisions and member Departments.
3.0 BACKGROUND
3.1 Traditionally, the IFERN frequency (formerly NIFERN) has been utilized by the MABAS organization for the dispatch of units and coordination of mutual aid responses to a stricken community. IFERN has also been utilized to coordinate mutual aid activities outside of a MABAS Box Alarm event between fire departments with dissimilar primary radio frequencies. IFERN has experienced increased congestion due to the growing number of MABAS Divisions, member Fire Departments, and Box Alarm dispatches. As a result of comments addressed to the Communications Committee concerning the foregoing situations, this Advocacy Statement has been developed. Other technologies are being implemented that will serve the need for wide area information dissemination that are better suited than IFERN. These technologies include EMNet, Law Enforcement data System (LEADS) and Starcom21.
4.0 POLICY/PROCEDURE
4.1 MABAS BOX ALARMS: Requesting, dispatching, and response to MABAS Box Alarms are appropriate uses of the IFERN frequency. This radio traffic will include, but not necessarily be limited to:
4.1.1 The Incident Commander, or stricken entity’s dispatch authority, requesting the MABAS Box Alarm dispatch including box alarm number, general incident information and staging area.
4.1.2 Coordination of responding units to the emergency scene and/or staging area.
4.1.3 Coordination of the staging area, including communications between the Incident Commander and Staging Officer.
4.1.4 Routine updates, reports and/or requests for additional assistance or resources.
4.1.5 Communications between the Incident Commander and the stricken community’s local dispatch authority.
4.2 CHANGE OF QUARTERS COMPANIES: Coordination of units responding to change quarters into a stricken community is an appropriate use of the IFERN Frequency. This radio traffic will include, but not necessarily be limited to:
4.2.1 Communications between the MABAS Division Dispatch and units responding to the stricken community for change of quarters. 4.2.2 Communications between the change of quarters units and the stricken community’s local dispatch authority to coordinate responses to additional emergencies within the community.
4.3 MUTUAL AID COORDINATION: Coordination of units responding to an emergency incident that involves one or more fire departments that utilize dissimilar primary dispatch frequencies is an appropriate use of the IFERN frequency. This may include responses involving automatic mutual aid or other similar emergencies that do not necessitate a MABAS Box Alarm.
4.4 FIRE/EMS EMERGENCY CALL RELAY: Relay of fire and/or EMS emergency incident information between Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) or fire service dispatch centers that utilize dissimilar primary dispatch frequencies.
4.5 MULTIPLE DEPARTMENT TRAINING EVENTS: The use of IFERN, as well as the MABAS fireground tactical frequencies, is appropriate when coordinating training events that involve multiple fire departments when one or more of the fire departments utilizes a dissimilar primary radio frequency. This type of training event may also include the dispatch of a MABAS Box Alarm for drill purposes.
4.6 INFORMATIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS: The use of IFERN and/or the MABAS Alerting Tones for the purpose of wide-area dissemination of informational announcements is not appropriate. These types of informational announcements may include, but not be limited to:
Severe Weather Watches and Warnings Hospital Bypass, Closure or Diversion Apparatus In/Out of Service or Relocation AMBER Alerts
4.7 RETONING BOX ALARMS: Frequently a MABAS Box Alarm assignment includes departments from adjacent MABAS Divisions. It is not appropriate for multiple MABAS Divisions to activate the MABAS Alerting Tones and dispatch units to the same incident. The MABAS Division with primary mutual aid dispatch responsibility for the incident will be responsible for all dispatch and radio traffic associated with that specific MABAS Box Alarm incident. The exception to this section is for an Inter-Divisional MABAS request that is beyond the last level of the Box Alarm Card. (Please refer to ADVOCACY STATEMENT #4 - MABAS ALERTING/COVERAGE for additional guidance.)
4.8 ALTERNATE TRAFFIC FREQUENCY: The use of IFERN as an alternate radio frequency for local radio traffic is not appropriate. This would include local dispatch or response communications when the primary dispatch frequency is over burdened.
4.9 IFERN2: The narrowband frequency of 154.3025 MHz (IFERN2) has been secured for statewide use in Illinois and Wisconsin as an alternate mutual aid dispatch frequency for the MABAS organization. Uses of IFERN2 include, but are not limited to:
4.9.1 Disaster Response: Command and Control at disaster scenes through the use of temporary fixed base stations and/or mobile command posts. This would include coordination of base camp operations.
4.9.2 Wide Area Information Dissemination: A MABAS Division may elect to construct a network of fixed base stations and alerting receivers for the purpose of timely dissemination of information to member departments. (Note: Fixed Base Stations will require FCC authorization prior to construction.) Informational messages that may be broadcast on the IFERN2 frequency include, but are not limited to:
Severe Weather Watches & Warnings Hospital Bypass, Closure or Diversion Apparatus In/Out of Service or Relocation
5.0 CONCLUSION
5.1 This Advocacy Statement provides policy and direction for the use of the MABAS dispatch frequencies, IFERN (154.265 MHz) & IFERN2 (154.3025 MHz). All MABAS Divisions and member departments are encouraged to enforce the disciplined use of these frequencies as advocated herein.
Approved by the MABAS Executive Board on the 9th day of June, 2005.
By: James Reardon President Attest:
Ralph Blust Secretary
|