Our Mutual aid system can only be as effective as the communications between communities and the control center. Listed below is a summary of actions required by local community dispatchers.
Notify Metrofire control each time your apparatus reponds on and returns from a mutual aid assignment. (Except line boxes-notify only if apparatus is working at a line box.)
Notify Metrofire control each time a working fire is in progress or a multiple alarm is struck in your community. Give box number and fire location-follow up with progress reports.
Report Availability only during the daily test at 1000 hrs. If availability has changed for any reason when you are requested by the control center to respond to another community, simply state "unable to respond" and the next community in rotation will be called.
Request Coverage for unfilled normal assignments or unusual activity levels. Coverage will be obtained from specific communities if requested. If no community is requested, the first due units from the next alarm level on the 10 alarm card will be dispatched.
Request Greater alarms over your normal assignment by requesting alarm level: and giving box number, fire location and any special instructions such as routes or staging areas.
Request Specialized apparatus or equipment, giving detail of need and location. This includes; the HazMat team, the CISD team, the command unit, the air supply unit, state police and MDC related response units, the MBTA buses and requests for other specialized apparatus.
Uhf frequency 483.3125hz (Red Channel) still simulcasts with vhf frequency 154.220 mhz. and will be the fireground frequency. All communications between apparatus/mobiles or to the control center from apparatus/mobiles shall be on this channel.
Announcements Of multiple alarms, activation of special teams, evacuation signals, and status reports on incidents will be broadcast on both 483.2875 And 483.3125/154.220. (Red Channel)
Uhf frequency 483.2625 mhz. (Blue Channel) will be used for "direct" mode communications, and will be utilized the incident commander at major incidents. Any community may use this channel in direct mode on a non-interference basis.