Fire Service terminology/callsigns
slippery
various callsign and terminolgy used to identify firefighting appliances. I
am interested more in the way that numerous pumpers at one station are
termed, as well as station/appliance numbers versus names.
Knowing really only of what goes on in WA, where we seem to have a small
overall fire service, relative to nsw and vic, it is interesting to hear of
how its done differently.
Here in WA, a standard station or crew has 1 officer +3 f/f's, who man a
pumper of some form and a light tanker (toyota landcruiser). We use a
station name for identification. Where a station has more than one pump,
they are 1st, 2nd etc, or 'station' pump, and 'station' medium tanker etc.
This is the basic idea, and there are some variations... This system seems
to work well, over the radio it is easy to follow.
Perhaps one downside is that when you are looking at an appliance, there is
no clear distinction or identification. Our fleet number is small, and not
referred to other than on paper generally, which does not really reflect the
callsign. The bushfire service actually has a good system, for once <g>, as
they have their brigade and callsign marked well, although they
traditionally belonged to the actual brigade, and did not move between
stations at all. All this is changing slowly, as FRS, BFS, SES, and other
small ES in WA are administered by FESA now (since 99 IIRC). thats enough
ranting for now...
slippery
you can wake up now, i'm done
Craig Musselwhite
Hopefully I can shed some light on your query.
Here in Victoria, the MFESB (Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board)
have a number system, e.g., the main fire station in Melbourne is Fire
Station 1, West Melbourne is Fire Station 2 and Carlton is Fire Station 3
and so on. The appliances attached to the stations have numbers after
appliance type, e.g., Pumper 1A, Pumper 1B or Control Unit 1 and Ladder 1.
West Melbourne or FS02 has Pumper 2A and Pumper 2B and Carlton or FS03 has
Pumper 3 and Rescue 3. Some MFESB stations have water tankers and one
example is Templestowe or FS30 and that callsign is Water Tanker 30.
The MFESB appliances have a number on the side of the appliance. Note there
is no letter on the appliance so Pumper 1A and Pumper 1B would only have the
number 1 on the side.
With the CFA (Country Fire Authority) it is by station name rather than
numbers. A couple of major stations in Melbourne are Dandenong and Frankston
and the appliance call signs are, Dandenong Pumper 1, Dandenong Pumper 2,
Dandenong Platform, Dandenong Tanker and Dandenong Rescue or Frankston
Pumper, Frankston Tanker and Frankston Teleboom.
CFA appliances actually have the name of the station on the appliance. I
know with Dandenong Pumper 1 and 2 they have a name plate on the door which
says Dandenong 1 and Dandenong 2.
Both systems are in place across each of the two fire services. It is a very
easy system to use for both the persons in the field and the fire service
communications operators.
I hope this makes sense and sheds some light on the matter for you.
Regards,
Craig....
"slippery" <kyleDOTparkerATiinetDOTnetDOTau> wrote in message
news:3d11aa87$0$43...@echo-01.iinet.net.au...
Alistair Harding
> After some of the recent talk on the ozfire group, I am interested in
> the various callsign and terminolgy used to identify firefighting
> appliances. I am interested more in the way that numerous pumpers at
> one station are termed, as well as station/appliance numbers versus
> names.
>
In NSW the fire fighting services are split in two separate
organisations. One is the NSW Fire Brigades, which has retained
firefighters (callout fee + hourly rate) and full time firefighters.
Some stations are full time, some are retained, and some have a mixture.
Stations are numbered alphabetically, but split into city & country, ie:
city (meaning Sydney) are two digit numbers (alphabetically) and country
(the rest of the state) are three digit (again alphabetically).
Appliances are generally designated by type & station number (or vice
versa depending who is talking) for example: Pumper 260 (or 260 Pumper),
Tanker 464, Composite 458 (Combo pumper/tanker), Ladder 462, Bronto 260
(Extra large ladder). And so on...as I mentioned, sometimes the station
is first, other times behind...
I'm about 95% sure of the above info...it has been some time since I
listened to NSW FB.
The other service is the NSW Rural Fire Service. Purely volunteer
(except for the two senior officers in each region who are full time
admin/operational). Stations are generally named geographically by the
town they are based in. Appliances are called by the station name,
followed by a number indicating type & capability. For example, we have
two units at our station. Seahampton 2 = Heavy (3300lts), 4WD, tanker.
We also have Seahampton 7 = Light (1100lts), 4WD, tanker.
I don't have the full list at my disposal...perhaps someone else could
oblige....
Hope that helps!
--
Cheers,
Alistair Harding - VK2LLL
NSW Police Communications Operator (VKG3)
Firefighter - Seahampton Rural Fire Brigade
www.alistairharding.com / radc...@SPAM.yahoo.com.au (remove SPAM.)
'The impossible we do straight away - miracles require 24hr notice!'
"Above statements are my own opinion and are not to be taken as official
statements of my employing agency, nor should they be taken to reflect
official protocols/policies of the NSW Police Service or the State
Government of New South Wales, Australia."
Erk
Alistair
"Alistair Harding" <radc...@spam.yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:Xns9233E8D28EC4ra...@140.99.99.130...
> slippery said (and I quote):
>
> > After some of the recent talk on the ozfire group, I am interested in
> > the various callsign and terminolgy used to identify firefighting
> > appliances. I am interested more in the way that numerous pumpers at
> > one station are termed, as well as station/appliance numbers versus
> > names.
> >
> In NSW the fire fighting services are split in two separate
> organisations. One is the NSW Fire Brigades, which has retained
> firefighters (callout fee + hourly rate) and full time firefighters.
> Some stations are full time, some are retained, and some have a mixture.
> Stations are numbered alphabetically, but split into city & country, ie:
> city (meaning Sydney) are two digit numbers (alphabetically) and country
> (the rest of the state) are three digit (again alphabetically).
Slight correction here - it is possible for metro Sydney units to have a 3
digit station number, Regentville (102) and Bonnyrigg Heights (101) come
immediately to mind as well as some future stations that haven't been bulit
yet. I'm not sure if you can say that they are numbered alphabetically. I've
got a list of metro Sydney stations at:
http://www.erk.au.com/emergency/nswfb/list.htm
> Appliances are generally designated by type & station number (or vice
> versa depending who is talking) for example: Pumper 260 (or 260 Pumper),
> Tanker 464, Composite 458 (Combo pumper/tanker), Ladder 462, Bronto 260
> (Extra large ladder). And so on...as I mentioned, sometimes the station
> is first, other times behind...
>
Also with the callsigns, you have Scania Aerial Pumpers (or Teleboom or TAP,
depends who you talk too LOL) which aren't as tall as a Bronto but they are
still refered to as Pumpers like any other despite their roof ID showing AP.
While on the Brontos, their roof ID shows LP for Ladder Platform. If a
station has two pumpers of the same type (for instance Richmond), one is
called a Pumper and the other is called a Runner. Another example iof the
same thing is Flyer and Pumper for City of Sydney.
> I'm about 95% sure of the above info...it has been some time since I
> listened to NSW FB.
>
> The other service is the NSW Rural Fire Service. Purely volunteer
> (except for the two senior officers in each region who are full time
> admin/operational). Stations are generally named geographically by the
> town they are based in. Appliances are called by the station name,
> followed by a number indicating type & capability. For example, we have
> two units at our station. Seahampton 2 = Heavy (3300lts), 4WD, tanker.
> We also have Seahampton 7 = Light (1100lts), 4WD, tanker.
>
> I don't have the full list at my disposal...perhaps someone else could
> oblige....
>
IIRC, there's a full list somewhere on the RFS site. I must have a look (had
to go there anyway). In addition to what's already been said, a station
might have two Cat 1 Tankers, one would be Station Name 1 Alpha and the
other Station Name 1 Bravo. Some stations have Urban Pumpers and instead of
being called Station Name 10 or Station Name 11, they'd be refered to as
Station Name Pumper.
This might fill some gaps.
Erk
Henry
> IIRC, there's a full list somewhere on the RFS site. I must have a look
(had
> to go there anyway). In addition to what's already been said, a station
> might have two Cat 1 Tankers, one would be Station Name 1 Alpha and the
> other Station Name 1 Bravo. Some stations have Urban Pumpers and instead
of
> being called Station Name 10 or Station Name 11, they'd be refered to as
> Station Name Pumper.
>
> This might fill some gaps.
>
> Erk
>
To add on to what Erk said here is the list from the NSW Rural Fire Service
Communications SOP
Callsigns shall include the category number from those listed below which
nearest matches the vehicle:
1 - 4x4 heavy (eg. 3300 l.) tanker 6 - 6x6 wheel drive tanker
2 - 4x4 medium (eg. 2000 l.) tanker 7 - 4 x 4 light (eg. 1100 l.) tanker
3 - 4x2 heavy (eg. 3300 l.) tanker 8 - 4 x 2 light (eg. 1100 l.) tanker
4 - 4x2 medium (eg. 2000 l.) tanker 9 - 4 x 4 striker/mop-up (eg. 500 l.)
5 - Bulk water carrier (For Cat 10 or 11, use
"pumper")
or a suitable one word description, such as "slip-on", "trailer", "carrier",
"support", "canteen", "boat", etc
Henry
Brucebunkum
number to describe the truck. North Coast region stations are numbers like this
454 (Noosa station) the 4 stations for regeion 4 the 5 is Area 5 and the last 4
is station 4. Their trucks are 954, 154 and u54.
The first number tells you what it is.
1 is a pumper
2 is a pumper
3 is a pumper
4 is a TAP
5 is a ET
6 is a LP
7 is a TTL
8 is a hazmat
9 is a rescue/pumper compsite
u is a Ute
TR is a Technical Rescue truck
CR is a Comand and Rescue truck
LP is a TLP
WT is a water tanker
if their are 2 compsites at the same station it would be 901
and 901A
On the Rural side there is at this stage no standard numbering as it is only a
newish thing them being able to talk to fire com, but a comittee is suppose to
be looking at the issue.
Erk
"Brucebunkum" <bruce...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20020620184815...@mb-mg.aol.com...
> QFRS. all stations are numbered with the last 2 station numbers plus a
prefix
> number to describe the truck. North Coast region stations are numbers like
this
> 454 (Noosa station) the 4 stations for regeion 4 the 5 is Area 5 and the
last 4
> is station 4. Their trucks are 954, 154 and u54.
> The first number tells you what it is.
> 4 is a TAP
Hey Blair!
Bruce said TAP.
<g>
Erk
Ross
of appliance and a suffix that identifies the station. The prefixes
are:
1 1st pump
2 2nd pump
3 3rd pump
4 teleboom
5 heavy rescue
6 hydraulic platform
7 turntable ladder
8 BA hazmat
9 composite (a pumper with road accident rescue gear)
CR command rescue
FCU fire control unit
TR technical rescue
LP ladder platform
WT water tanker
In South East Qld each station has a designated number as pumps often
cross regional and district boundaries. These run from 01 to 83 (with
some gaps). 975 in South East Qld would be pronounced as "nine seventy
five". 975 indicates a composite from Station 75. This station is
actually from South East Region Area 4. The south east corner has two
communications centres covering three regions. Firecom South East
covers the Gold Coast/Beenleigh/Beaudesert Areas of South East Region.
Firecom Brisbane covers BRisbane North Region, Brisbane South Region
and the Ipswich/Gatton Areas of South East Region.
Ouside the south east corner the station number consists of two digits
- the first is the district or area and the second is the station
number in that area. THese can double up across regions - there might
be a 975 in NOrthern Region as well as one in Central Region, but the
two would never work together due to distance and would operate
through their respective regional firecoms. In this case (outside
south east Qld) they would be pronounced as "nine seven five". In both
cases 975 would indicate a composite (pumper/rescue) from Area 7
Station 5.
The other thing is that if there is more than one composite pumper at
a station the second will have an extra suffix of "A". Caboolture
station has 928 (nine twenty eight) and 928A (nine twenty eight
alpha).
The Rural Fire Service has separate VHF frequencies and there is no
standard callsign system. When rural appliances contact urban Firecom
on UHF urban channels they identify using their three or four digit
brigade number. This is unrelated to the system above and does not
identify the appliance type. Clear Mountain Rural Fire BRigade
(Brigade No. 1459) would contact Firecom Brisbane using the callsign
"Rurals one four five nine" or "Clear Mountain Rural One Four Five
Nine".
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Ross.
"slippery" <kyleDOTparkerATiinetDOTnetDOTau> wrote in message news:<3d11aa87$0$43...@echo-01.iinet.net.au>...
Blair Dellemijn
UGH!
Blair.
"Erk" <citize...@erk.au.com> wrote in message
news:3d127acc$0$21005$afc3...@news.optusnet.com.au...
slippery
through it all
this definitely seems to show the difference in size of our services
ok WAFRS
we have
heavy pumpers
medium pump
light pump
medium tanker
gpa - general purpose appliance
with a light tanker usually attached
we only have to brontos - CLP1&2 - combined ladder platform - perth &
fremantle
SET - special equipment tender - BA/hazmat with small control room thing.
this is based at perth, but recently heard them do a changeover and saw what
i think was the 'spare' an acco packed full of gear
MCU - mobile command unit - at perth
HRT - heavy rescue - at perth
i believe there is also some other special tenders at kalgoorlie and maybe
up north. All stations and appliances have a number and fleet code/number.
These are not referred to over the radio andin everyday talk, only in admin
matters. The names are easy to use as we don't have nearly as many BRT's as
you others do.
The Bush Fire Service is another story, and our terminology is beginning to
merge. They only really have what you call composites, and 4x4 tankers and
fast attacks. We use the same comms, however many BFS units talk through
their staition comms, and they control and pass info onto our comms.
"Ross" <fire...@firehousemail.com> wrote in message
news:8375ed8a.02062...@posting.google.com...
Mark Heatley
"Craig Musselwhite" <craig...@bigpond.com> wrote in message
news:nhjQ8.16305$Hj3....@newsfeeds.bigpond.com...
Al
"Alistair Harding" <radc...@spam.yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:Xns9233E8D28EC4ra...@140.99.99.130...
Most stations are like that, but my old brigade (which borders Seahampton)
wasn't named after the area it's based in or covers.
Al
Craig Musselwhite
"Mark Heatley" <mhea...@optushome.com.au> wrote in message
news:3d12bca1$0$28004$afc3...@news.optusnet.com.au...
Glenn
Yours in ignorance,
Glenn.
"Blair Dellemijn" <blai...@bigpond.com> wrote in message news:<JGvQ8.16652$Hj3....@newsfeeds.bigpond.com>...
Alistair Harding
> Most stations are like that, but my old brigade (which borders
> Seahampton) wasn't named after the area it's based in or covers.
>
> Al
Was that Reserve Al?
Erk
"Glenn" <upt...@ancc.com.au> wrote in message
news:2cce980f.02062...@posting.google.com...
A TAP is Queensland-ese for a Teleboom, much to Blair's disgust
<g>
Ooops Blair, I said TAP again.
Erk
Erk
Category 1-heavy fire appliance 4WD (3,001 ltr's - 4000ltr's of water)
Category 2-medium fire appliance 4WD (1,601 ltr's - 3000ltr's of water)
Category 3-heavy fire applaince (3,001 ltr's - 4000ltr's of water)
Category 4-medium fire appliance (1,601 ltr's - 3000ltr's of water)
Category 5-heavy fire appliance 4WD (4,000 ltr's +)
Category 6-heavy fire appliance (4,000 ltr's +)
Category 7-light fire appliance 4WD (801ltr's - 1600 ltr's)
Category 8-light fire appliance (801ltr's - 1600 ltr's)
Category 9-mop up appliance 4WD (350 ltr's - 800 ltr's)
Category 10-urban fire appliance (1,600 ltr's +)
Category 11-urban fire appliance 4WD (1,600 ltr's +)
Category 12-personal transport vehicle
Category 13-bulk water carrier
Category 14-tanker trailers
Category 15-boats
Category 16-command vehicles
Category 17-general cargo vehicles
Category 18-catering vehicles
Category 19-communications units
Category 20-allother appliances/vehicles
slippery
> Category 8-light fire appliance (801ltr's - 1600 ltr's)
If you class our BRT's (WA FRS), our 12 tonne medium pumper would be a
'light fire appliance' having only around 1000L??? cos it doesnt fit a 10
(below)
> Category 9-mop up appliance 4WD (350 ltr's - 800 ltr's)
Our light tanker is a MOP UP APPLIANCE??? thats just offensive, i'll have to
talk to RFS <g>
we get in and do the most work in our light tanker
Al
> Al said (and I quote):
>
>
> > Most stations are like that, but my old brigade (which borders
> > Seahampton) wasn't named after the area it's based in or covers.
> >
> > Al
>
> Was that Reserve Al?
Nope, think more to the north, north west. Aboriginal for Black Hill.
Al
Brucebunkum
standard callsign system. When rural appliances contact urban Firecom
on UHF urban channels they identify using their three or four digit
brigade number. This is unrelated to the system above and does not
identify the appliance type. Clear Mountain Rural Fire BRigade
(Brigade No. 1459) would contact Firecom Brisbane using the callsign
"Rurals one four five nine" or "Clear Mountain Rural One Four Five
Nine".
Well actully All RFB are suppose to keep contact with firecom. Also rurals
don't usally use the numbers when contacting Firecom it is usally just brigade
name and unit number. Also the RFS is about to have a standard callsign system
Ross
short for Telescopic Aerial Pumper. Sometimes its called a TAPA or
Telescopic Aerial Pumping Appliance.
Regards,
Ross
fire...@firehousemail.com (Ross) wrote in message news:<8375ed8a.02062...@posting.google.com>...
SES Tim
Put it this way, the RFS needs carry large amounts of water, simply because
they can be fighting fires far from any hydrant or a static water supply.
Also you'll probably find that RFS trucks are pretty much built around the
tank and pump and depending on the Category, I think it's fair to say don't
carry the same amount and varied gear as say NSWFB.
Stay Safe,
SES Tim who got to know RFS tankers and NSWFB pumpers quite well during the
Christmas Bushfires.
"slippery" <kyleDOTparkerATiinetDOTnetDOTau> wrote in message
news:3d1414ee$0$73...@echo-01.iinet.net.au...
slippery
this was more a point of shit stirring, sometimes i just can't help having a
dig.
it just seemed a little funny about the classifications, but as you say,
rural appliances generally vary more on their tank capacity, rather than
more urban vehicles, which look more at all the bits and pieces and pumping
capacity
slippery
"SES Tim" <trp...@NOSPAMhotkey.net.au> wrote in message
news:3d1fb89f$1...@news.iprimus.com.au...
Ross
afield. In the Firecom Brisbane area rural brigades are required to
give their brigade number on the radio, but of course it is different
in the areas covered by Firecom North Coast, Firecom South East and
Firecom South West.
I guess this is due to the large amount of radio traffic through
Firecom Brisbane compared to the others.
Regards,
Ross
bruce...@aol.com (Brucebunkum) wrote in message news:<20020623203017...@mb-fb.aol.com>...
Neerkat
> QFRS. all stations are numbered with the last 2 station numbers plus a prefix
> number to describe the truck. North Coast region stations are numbers like this
> 454 (Noosa station) the 4 stations for regeion 4 the 5 is Area 5 and the last 4
> is station 4. Their trucks are 954, 154 and u54.
> The first number tells you what it is.
> 1 is a pumper
> 2 is a pumper
> 3 is a pumper
> 4 is a TAP
> 5 is a ET
> 6 is a LP
> 7 is a TTL
> 8 is a hazmat
> 9 is a rescue/pumper compsite
> u is a Ute
> TR is a Technical Rescue truck
> CR is a Comand and Rescue truck
> LP is a TLP
> WT is a water tanker
> On the Rural side there is at this stage no standard numbering as it is only a
QFRS: For example lets say (501A) for a pump, 5=Region, 01= Station, A= Pump Type
So it goes in that format there is no area code only regions.
Here's another example:
(632I) Surfers Paradise Fire and Rescue Station, Region 6, Station 32. I = India - ladder type
Alex Bigg
the callsigns "> > 1 is a pumper
> > 3 is a pumper
> > 4 is a TAP
> > 5 is a ET
> > 6 is a LP
> > 7 is a TTL
> > 8 is a hazmat
QLD Fire & Rescue Services only became sometime in 2014/15.