Questions & Answers
Question: What happened to the signals and codes previously used by the fire and rescue units?
Answer: The National Incident Management System has mandated that in times of an multi jurisdictional response to an incident, that all agencies be able to speak to each other in a manner that everyone understands.
Listed below is the fire service conversion from signals to “Plain Language” communications. For EMS/Rescue incidents the medical descriptions are used consistent with the Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) protocols.
| RADIO LANGUAGE CONVERSION CHART |
| Old Signal System |
Currently In Use Plain Language |
| Signal |
Description |
Description |
| 23 |
Emergency |
Medical Emergency (Specify type) |
| 50 |
Notice of Fire |
(Specify type) Fire |
| 51 |
Report to Station |
Report to Station |
| 52 |
Off the Air |
Off the Air |
| 53 |
On the Air |
Responding or On the Air |
| 54 |
Incident Under Control |
Incident Under Control |
| 59 |
Call by Phone |
Contact ………….. By Phone |
| 60 |
Change Frequency |
Switch To ……….. |
| 62 |
Call for Mutual Aid |
Responding Mutual Aid To…... |
| 63 |
On the Scene |
On the Scene |
| 64 |
Make Inspection at….. |
Investigate |
| 69 |
Special Call for Apparatus |
Respond (Unit ID) To…….. |
| 70 |
Announcement |
Announcement |
| 71 |
Responding to Station |
Returning |
| 72 |
Working Fire |
Working Fire |
| 73 |
Unit is Available |
(Unit ID)…. Available |
| 80 |
All Clear on 23 or 50 |
(Acknowledge) Incident Under Control |
| 83 |
Proceed with Caution |
Proceed with Caution (or with Traffic) |
| 88 |
Check Station for Message |
Check the Station for a Message |
|
