1. Status Codes

These codes indicate the operational status of a fire appliance (vehicle) and its crew. They ensure efficient communication between the control room and fire crews.

• Status 1 – On Duty:
  The crew and appliance are at the station and ready for deployment.
  
  

• Status 2 – Available on the Run:
  The appliance is mobile and available to respond to incidents while en route or elsewhere.
  
  

• Status 3 – At station:
  The crew is in the station usually after a scene.
  
  

• Status 4 – On break but available:
  The crew is taking a short break usually after a scene.
  
  

• Status 5 – On Route:
  The crew is mobilising to a call
  
  

• Status 6 – Arrived
  The crew have arrived at the scene and are assessing what needs to be done
  
  

• Status 7 – Committed to fire:
  The appliance is fully engaged in a fire and cannot respond to other calls.
  
  

• Status 8 – Committed to rescue:
  The crew is temporarily committed to a rescue and cannot respond to other calls
  
  

2. Incident Type Codes

These codes classify the type of incident and help control rooms allocate appropriate resources.

Fire Incidents:

• F1 – Building Fire:
  Includes domestic, commercial, and industrial premises.
  
  

• F2 – Vehicle Fire:
  Includes cars, lorries, buses, and other vehicles.
  
  

• F3 – Grass/Woodland Fire:
  Wildfires or fires involving natural vegetation.
  
  

• F4 – Chimney Fire:
  Fires contained within a chimney.
  
  

• F5 – Refuse Fire:
  Fires involving bins, skips, or rubbish piles.
  
  

Road Traffic Collisions (RTCs):

• RTC1 – Persons Trapped:
  Involves extricating people from vehicles.
  
  

• RTC2 – No Persons Trapped:
  Non-life-threatening vehicle accidents requiring fire service attendance.
  
  

Special Service Calls (SPCs):

These cover incidents outside standard firefighting:

• SPC1 – Hazardous Materials (HazMat):
  Incidents involving dangerous substances, such as chemicals or gases.
  
  

• SPC2 – Water Rescue:
  Includes rescues from rivers, lakes, and floods.
  
  

• SPC3 – Animal Rescue:
  Situations where animals are in danger or require assistance.
  
  

• SPC4 – Height Rescue:
  Rescue operations at height, such as from scaffolding or cranes.
  
  

3. Priority Levels

Indicates how urgently resources are required for a response.

• Priority 1 – Life-Threatening Emergency:
  Immediate deployment is required. Examples include large fires with trapped persons or major accidents.
  
  

• Priority 2 – Urgent but Non-Life-Threatening:
  Quick response is required, but the situation is not critical.
  
  

• Priority 3 – Routine or Non-Urgent Incident:
  Attendance is necessary, but there is no immediate threat to life or property.
  
  

4. "Make Pumps" Calls

These calls are made by the officer in charge at an incident to request additional firefighting resources:

• "Make Pumps 4":
  Request for a total of four fire engines.
  
  

• "Make Pumps 10":
  Indicates a large-scale incident requiring at least ten fire engines.
  
  

• "Make Aerials 2":
  Request for two aerial appliances (e.g., hydraulic platforms or turntable ladders).
  
  

• "Make Water Carriers":
  Request for additional water-carrying appliances, often used in rural or remote locations.
  
  

5. Fireground Radio Channels

Firefighters use different channels for communication during incidents to avoid interference and ensure coordination:

• Channel 8 – Main Fire:
  Primary channel used by crews.
  
  

• Secondary Radio – UHS and PD
  Used when communicating with police, fire and UHS.
  
  

6. Plain Language Commands

In addition to codes, plain language is often used to avoid confusion during operations:

• "Persons Reported":
  Indicates that people may be trapped or involved in the incident.
  
  

• "Make Pumps":
  Requests additional fire engines or resources.
  
  

• "Stop Message":
  Sent to control to confirm that the incident is under control and no further assistance is required.
  
  

• "Oscar":
  Refers to the officer in charge of the incident.
  
  

• "Priority Traffic":
  Used to interrupt radio traffic for an urgent message.
  
  

• "Mayday":
  Emergency distress signal used by a firefighter in immediate danger.