National Incident Radio Support Cache
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NATIONAL INCIDENT RADIO SUPPORT CACHE
This cache is maintained and used primarily for wildland fire, however, it may show up on any large incident such as floods, hurricanes, law enforcement (it was used for the Republican and Democratic National Conventions in 2004), and tornadoes. The cache is located and maintained by the National Interagency Incident Communications Division (NIICD)of the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho. The use of these frequencies is coordinated by the NIICD Communications Duty Officer to avoid interference with nearby incidents.
Tactical
Frequency Type Description 168.050 M Tactical 1 168.200 M Tactical 2 168.600 M Tactical 3 164.1375 M Tactical 4 166.725 M Tactical 5 166.775 M Tactical 6 168.250 M Tactical 7
- These frequencies are authorized for use in handhelds and mobiles only. Installation in base stations is not authorized.
Command
Frequency Type Description 168.700 RM Command 1 168.100 RM Command 2 168.075 RM Command 3 166.6125 RM Command 4 167.100 RM Command 5 168.475 RM Command 6 162.9625 RM Command 7
- These frequencies can be used direct (simplex), but are most commonly used with repeaters. The repeater input frequencies are not shown. These repeaters fit in a small fiberglass case and are placed on the ground in a high place that provides coverage to all or most of the incident. Portable antennas and solar power are normally employed.
Logistics
Frequency Type Description 414.650 RM Logistics 1 415.400 RM Logistics 2 415.500 RM Logistics 3 417.300 RM Logistics 4 417.350 RM Logistics 5 417.500 RM Logistics 6 417.800 RM Logistics 7 The use of the following logistics frequencies is unknown at this time. 410.275 411.800 412.600
- These frequencies may also be used for cross band repeaters and links.
- These frequenices are normally used as repeater outputs.
Air VHF FM
Frequency Type Description 168.625 BM National Air Guard 168.650 BM National Flight Following 166.675 M Air to Air Tactics 169.150 M Air to Air Tactics 169.200 M Air to Air Tactics 170.000 M Air to Air Tactics 167.950 M Air to Air Tactics 166.6875 M Air to Air Tactics 171.1375 M Air to Air Tactics
- Air Tactics Frequencies can also be used as Air to Ground and are normally pre-assigned by area.
- These frequencies are only approved for use in the western U.S., which starts at either 95 degrees longitude or at the Mississippi River. In the east these frequencies may be used, but with restrictions and subject to pre-approval by the National Interagency Incident Communications Division Communications Duty Officer (NIICD CDO).
- There are additional air to ground frequencies being used in local areas for initial attack. They are shown in the annual "Fire Mobilization Plan" for each Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC). These frequency assignments are made for portions of a GACC and are somewhat permanent without much change from year to year. Many of these plans are available on the Internet, however, since 2006 this type of frequency information has not been available to the public. In addition, incidents that grow past the initial attack phase will often have a unique air tactics frequency assigned to it. This assignment is made by the NIICD CDO using the pool of non-allocated federal frequencies in the area of the incident. This frequency may not be used on other incidents or even used in the same area in the same, or subsequent, years. Anyone monitoring a large incident that uses air support should search the federal VHF frequency band to find the VHF FM air to air tactics frequency for the incident if they do not receive air to air radio traffic from the incident on the above frequencies.
Air VHF AM
Frequency Type Description 122.925 BM AA/AG/FW/RW 122.850 BM AA/AG/RW 122.975 BM AA/RW 123.050 BM AA/RW/Helispots 123.075 BM AA/AG/RW/Helispots 123.975 BM National Air Tanker Base AA = Air to Air AG = Air to Ground FW = Fixed Winged (Airplanes) RW = Rotary Wing (Helicopters)
- 122.925 Is is a national natural resources multi-com frequency and is usually not used on fires as it can be used by any level of government in the U.S. as long as it is being used for natural resource management purposes.
Common
Frequency Type 163.100 BM 168.350 BM
- These are used for local tacticals in some areas, however they are common for the entire Federal government. As of January, 2008 the NTIA Redbook contained direction that these frequencies are to be used as a repeater pair, with 168.350 being the input and 163.100 being the output. This repeater pair is to be used for temporary, or itinerant, repeater placement. It may take a few years until all federal agencies using these frequencies program their radios to reflect this change. These former simplex frequencies are most often being replaced with 163.7125 and 168.6125, which are also included in the so called "intra-crew" frequencies used below. Crews are encouraged to use Continuous Tone Coded Subaudible Squelch (CTCSS), or Network Access Code (NAC) while in digital operation, to reduce interference from other crews or other federal uses.
Intra-Crew Communications
Frequency Type 163.7125 M National Intra-Crew 167.1375 M Primary Initial Attack & Incident 168.6125 M Secondary Initial Attack & Incident 173.625 M Tertiary Initial Attack & Incident
- Hand held use only
- These are used for local tacticals in some areas, however they are common for the entire Federal government
- Crews are encouraged to use Continuous Tone Coded Subaudible Squelch (CTCSS), or Network Access Code (NAC) while in digital operation, to reduce interference from other crews or other federal uses.
Incident Command System Initial Callup
Frequency Type 168.550 BM
- Used as a common frequency during initial phase of an incident.
- Also used by smokejumpers as a tactical/air to ground while accomplishing jumping.
Source: The Forest Service Manual, Northern and Southern California Geographical Area Coordination Centers Mobilization Guide, and other sources gained as a retired USFS employee. Fred Richter August 2008