Radio Communications - Allocation of Call Signs

Scope

This Operational Guideline outlines the process for for allocating call signs to NSW Rural Fire Services (RFS) appliances. This does not provide guidance for staff structure call signs.

Fundamental Protocols underpin the actions of all NSW Rural NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) members and must be adhered to at all times. They outline the Principles of being an RFS member and provide guidance on conduct to support the safety and wellbeing of members.

Guiding Principles

• The call sign for FireCom regardless of where it is located will be FireCom.
• The call sign for a firefighting appliance consists of three descriptive components, being:
  • The name of the brigade;
  • The category number of the vehicle (up to Category 9), or use a suitable simple descriptor (above Category 9), and;
    • For Cat 10 or 11 appliances, use “pumper” regardless of category (e.g., “Ashford Pumper”)
    • Call signs for all other vehicles will be a suitable simple descriptor – such as “slip-on”, “trailer”, “support”, “canteen”, “boat”, “OCV”, “dozer”, “grader”, “bulk water”, etc. Refer to the table below.
  • A distinguishing letter (e.g., Alpha, Bravo, etc.) but only where there is more than one appliance of the same category in the same brigade. (I.e., Ashford 1A and Ashford 1B where both are the same category).

Category	Vehicle	Call Sign
Category 1	4x4 crew / single cab (3000 – 4000 Litre) tanker.	Ashford 1
Category 2	4x4 crew / single cab (1600 – 3000 Litre) tanker	Ashford 2
Category 3	4x2 crew / single (3000 – 4000 Litre) tanker	Ashford 3
Category 4	4x2 crew / single cab (1600 – 3000 Litre) tanker	Ashford 4
Category 5	4x4 or 6x6 crew / single cab (over 4000 Litre) tanker	Ashford 5
Category 6	4x2 crew / single cab (over 4000 Litre) tanker	Ashford 6
Category 7	4x4 crew / single cab (800 to 1600 Litre) tanker	Ashford 7
Category 8	4x2 crew / single cab (800 to 1600 Litre) tanker	Ashford 8
Category 9	4x4 crew / single cab (less than 800 Litre	Ashford 9
Category 10	Pumper	Ashford Pumper
Category 11	Pumper	Ashford Pumper
Category 12	Personnel Carrier / Transport, 4x4	Ashford PC
Category 12	Bus - small or large	Ashford Bus
Category 13	Bulk Water Carrier	Ashford Bulk Water
Category 15	Fire Boats and other Boats	Ashford Boat
Category 16	FCO Vehicle / Group Vehicle	Ashford Command Alpha, Bravo etc
Category 17	General cargo, tip trucks, and support vehicles.	Ashford Logistics Alpha, Bravo etc
Category 17	Prime movers	Ashford Prime Mover
Category 18	Catering vehicles	Ashford Catering
Category 19	Communication Vehicles	Ashford OCV
Category 20	Other appliances/Rescue	Ashford Rescue
Category 21	Light rescue	Ashford Rescue

• The call sign for a senior officer’s or group vehicle, will be the district / Area Command name followed by Command and a distinguishing letter (e.g. Sutherland Command Alpha or Greater Sydney Area Command Alpha ). This allows others to utilise the vehicle without confusion.
• The call sign for Mitigation vehicles will be the Area Command name followed by “Mitigation”, category number of vehicle and a sequential Alphabetical identifier (e.g., “Hunter Area Command Mitigation 17 Alpha”)
• Shortened versions of call signs, will not be used by radio.
• Do not use a person’s name as a call sign.
• The call sign of the Incident Controller (IC) consists of the name given to the incident followed by the word “Control” (e.g., ZULU Control).
• The call signs of units with other specific Incident Control System (ICS) functions, at a particular incident, shall be given ICS call signs for the duration of the incident. These may include call signs containing ICS terms such as “Operations”, “Division”, “Sector”, “Staging Area”, “Strike Team” or “Task Force etc, plus a combination of any identifying number, letter, or location name. (e.g., Alpha Sector, Three Sisters Division).

Special Considerations

• Call signs for logging in CAD will be prefixed with an individual District Identifier, abbreviated brigade name, appliance type, and letter if multiple appliances of the same category. This is to meet CAD character restrictions (e.g., Sandy Point 1 Alpha would be SUSANPO1A).
  • for single word brigade - the first five letters of the brigade.
  • for multiple word brigade names - the first three letters of the first word followed by the second two letters of the second word.
• Brigades will always use their plain language call sign (e.g., Sandy Point 1 Alpha).

Related Information

• OMP 6.12.03 - Call Signs Staff
• RFS OPG - Radio Communications - General
• RFS OPG - Radio Communications - Allocation of Channels
• RFS OPG - Radio Communications - Phraseology
• RFS Radio Communications - End User Guide
• RFS Interagency Conversion Chart
• RFS Radio Profile Conversion Chart
• RFS Service Standard 5.1.3 Communication Systems