SECTION
I: COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
A. Adams County Fire Service Frequencies
1. The Adams County Department of Emergency
Services is assigned the following frequencies on the fire service spectrum by
the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
These frequencies will be referred to by a channel number which is also
shown below:
Channel 1 -
46.180 MHz (PL-186.2 Hz)
Channel 2 -
46.200 MHz (PL-186.2 Hz)
Channel 3 -
46.260 MHz (PL-186.2 Hz)
Channel 4 -
46.320 MHz (PL-186.2 Hz)
Channel 5 -
46.300 MHz (PL-186.2 Hz)
Channel 6 -
154.280 MHz (no PL.) (See page
3)
Channel 7 -
45.600 MHz (PL-186.2 Hz) (see
page 3)
2. As of April 1, 1992, all pieces of
apparatus, operating on the Adams County Fire Communications Network, at a minimum,
are required to have the capability to operate on Fire Frequencies 1 through
4. This includes out-of-county
units. It is recommended that Adams
County units consider the installation of Channel 5 and 7.
B. FCC System License
1. These frequencies are licensed by the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) under the following call sign:
Fire - A KTK-634 @ Emergency
Management - A KTK-786 @
C. Frequency Assignment and Use
1. Channel 1 - Dispatch Channel
This channel
is primarily only to be used for dispatch traffic, as well as the
initial and final direct Aone-on-one@ communications between a fire unit and Adams
County Communications. These messages
will include AResponding@ and AIn-Quarters.@ With the
exception of an emergency dispatch, this channel is to be kept relatively free
of all non-emergency radio traffic.
Non-emergency radio traffic includes reports of work and pump details,
driver training, parade details, etc.
This type of information should be reported by telephone using any of
the non-emergency telephone numbers.
A AFrequency Assignment@ will be designated by Adams County Communications
at the end of each dispatch announcement.
All units are to advise Adams County Communications of their initial
status, AResponding,@ on Fire Channel 1.
Example: On Fire 1 --> In Box 1-7, at 1234 York Road, cross streets
Natural Springs Rd & Shealer Rd, a House Fire, Company 1, Company 1
Ambulance due, operating on Fire Channel 3.
The
telecommunicator will advise each responding line officer and piece of
apparatus of the assigned fire channel.
Example: On Fire 1 --> Chief 1 Responding, OK, Chief 1, Channel 3.
As each unit
advises AResponding@ on Fire Channel 1, the unit will switch to the
assigned fireground channel. Once on
the fireground channel, each responding unit should radio the OIC for
instructions. There should be no
further communications aired over Fire 1 by a unit until placed into service or
transmitting a priority message. The
transmission of AIn-Quarters@ or AAll Units
In-Quarters@ is now
permitted with a time acknowledgment and incident number.
NOTE: If a fire company/unit transmits, AIn-Quarters@ formerly A10-38@ it will be presumed by the telecommunicator
that the company/unit wishes to receive times and incident number by
radio. It is suggested that if a
company/unit wants to receive this information by telephone, AIn-Quarters@ should not be
transmitted by radio. The company/unit should wait and call by telephone
to advise AIn-Quarters.@
Example: On Fire 1 --> Company 1 to Adams County, all units are AIn-Quarters.@
OK,
Co. 1, 1916, Time-Out 1621, Incident 1234.
The purpose of
advising AResponding@ and AIn-Quarters@ on Fire Channel 1, is to permit those responders
using paging devices to receive the current status of apparatus. When only one (1) unit is due the responders
will hear it responding on their paging devices and they may no longer have to
continue.
Transmissions
from fire apparatus such as AOn the Scene@, AUnder Control@ and AIn-Service
Returning@ shall be done
on the assigned fireground channel. All
EMS units shall continue to transmit same on the Med 9 System, as indicated in
the EMS SOG.
2. Channels 2, 3 & 4 - Fireground
Assignment Channels
The three (3)
fireground channels which are to be assigned by the telecommunicator, are to be
used for on-the-scene operations for ALL incidents. This includes both emergency and non‑emergency calls.
On all major
fires, where multiple companies have responded, there may be a need for two (2)
fireground channels. This additional
assignment may be requested by the OIC, and pending channel saturation,
additional fireground channels may be assigned by the telecommunicator. An OIC, once on the scene, may advise that no
fireground channel will be needed, and relinquish it for another company=s use.
Fireground
channels should always be used for non‑emergency radio traffic. This includes pump details, work details,
parades, unit to station communications, etc.
A line officer should telephone Adams County Communications, using a non‑emergency
telephone number, report the activity and request a fireground channel
assignment. All non‑emergency
activities have secondary priority to an existing or future emergency which may
need the channel.
A fireground
channel is also to be used by the Landing Zone Officer (LZO) to coordinate any
Med-O-Vac landings. It is suggested that an alternate frequency, other than the
assigned fireground channel or municipal frequency be used whenever possible,
so landing instructions are not interrupted.
Fire Channel 1 should never be used for Helicopter radio traffic. It
could delay a dispatch or interfere with landing instructions.
AIncident Under Control@ will be transmitted on the fireground channel and
the time will be logged.
3. Channel 5 - Fireground Channel
The fireground
channel is pre-designated for use by the fire police for on-the-scene
operations of ALL emergency incidents.
Non‑emergency use of this channel must be approved by the Director
of the Adams County Emergency Management Agency. This frequency may also be used as an assigned fireground channel
during major county incidents and/or pending system saturation.
4. Channel 6 - Mutual-Aid Channel
This is a
mutual aid frequency which may be used by ASpecial Purpose
Units@ only. The use
of this channel requires special permission from the Director of the Adams
County Emergency Management Agency due to its FCC limitations.
5. Channel 7 - Emergency Management
Interface
A frequency is
only to be used for direct interface with Adams County and/or Municipal
Emergency Management Coordinators.
Participating municipal highway/maintenance vehicles may use this
channel during times of emergency.
D. Communications Center
1. Geographic Location LATITUDE LONGITUDE
Adams County
Courthouse 39E 50' 55" 077E 13' 52"
117 Baltimore
Street, Room 6
Gettysburg,
PA 17325-2313
2. Telephone numbers are listed below:
a. Administrative Offices 334-8603 -
Direct Line
334-6781 - Ext 284
624-4265 - Ext 284
334-1822 - Fax
b. Fire Marshal's Office 334-8602
- Direct Line
334-6781 - Ext 315
624-4265 - Ext 315
334-1822 - Fax
c. Communications Center 334-6781 - Ext 282
624-4265 - Ext 282
334-6926 - Fax
(1) All Emergencies ++ 9-1-1
(2) Non-Emergency 334-8101
624-2101
677-8101
(3) UNLISTED
to public 334-9175 unlisted (This
number is unlisted and should only be used by public safety personnel)
++ = Cellular
Air-Time Free Service - State Wide
E. Transmitter Locations
The Adams
County Emergency 9-1-1 Communications Center operates a three (3)
communications tower network with microwave transmissions as the main
connecting link from the communications center to the transmitter
location. Tower sites are described
below:
LATITUDE LONGITUDE
1. Tower 1 - NAWAKWA Tower Site
763 Upper
Temple Road 39E 57' 35" 077E 19' 04"
Biglerville,
PA 17307
1440' Ground
Elevation
2. Tower 2 - GETTYSBURG
Tower Site
117 Baltimore
St. 39E 49' 46" 077E 13' 49"
Gettysburg,
PA 17325
550' Ground
Elevation
3. Tower 3 - LAUREL
WOODS Tower Site
32 Laurel
Woods Drive 39E 51' 23" 076E 56' 57"
Hanover, PA
17331
1220' Ground
Elevation
All
transmitter locations are equipped with an emergency power generator in the
event of any type of commercial power failure.
F. Alternate Public-Safety Answering Point
Location (ALT PSAP)
1. 9-1-1 Communications & Emergency
Operations Center
Gettysburg
Fire Department
35 North
Stratton St.
39E 49' 55" 077E 13' 39"