Dispatching and Radios

Dispatching Process

When a call is taken, a determination of the incident type is made. The call handler then places it in the CAD Pending Incidents Queue. A Controlling Dispatcher will process incidents immediately unless extenuating circumstances exist. Extenuating circumstances may include, but are not limited to:

● Need for additional information - The call taker advises a hold to be placed on the dispatch. The hold is made pending call type change, incorrect location, or other situations that may change the nature of the dispatched incident.

● Duplicate call - The call taker has an indication of the incident being a duplicate call. Other dispatch personnel will be called upon to assist the primary Controlling Dispatcher during periods of high call volume and multiple calls in the pending queue.

CAD Unit Recommendation

Protocols designed in CAD cause unit recommendations to be made and the Dispatcher generally assumes CAD selections to be correct. However, the Dispatcher may opt to alter the CAD plan because of the jurisdiction location of the incident and the nature of an incident. The dispatcher may opt to alter the CAD recommendation under the following conditions:

• Obvious Error - There is an obvious error and the Dispatcher is aware of a closer unit with appropriate capabilities. Another error in CAD recommendation can be the result of programming errors, issues with the GIS data, the use of a secondary location by a requesting agency, or other similar causes. All cases of CAD recommendation errors are investigated by for a resolution in Dispatch.

• Discretionary Response Plan - The response plan is designed to allow the dispatcher the use of discretion in the selection of units. Currently, the only response plans specifically designed to give the dispatcher a pre-dispatch choice are the plans for collisions, carbon monoxide calls, and the response plan known as “K plans”. The K plan includes call types of:

• PS - Assist Public

• BWP - Broken Water Pipe

• PS - Elevator/Person Stuck

• UNLOCK - Vehicle or Building

• Extenuating Circumstances - Conditions exist that necessitate a change in response from the established plan. Events such as CAD failures, a lack of appropriate units for the response, or an elevated System Alert (RECON), level may result in a manual change to the typical response plan recommendation.

Unit Status on Initial Assignment

When performing the initial assignment recommendation through CAD, the dispatcher confirms the status of these selected units before dispatching. Any unit(s) showing a computer status of “Available Local Area” (AVLA) or “Available, Clear, (AVCL) will be hailed on the appropriate channel and advised that they have a call pending. 

• Still Alarm Broadcast - When the hailed unit replies, the dispatcher shall provide the unit with the following incident information:

  • The problem/nature of the incident.

  • The address/location of the incident.

  • The assigned channel of the incident.

  • Additional pertinent information.

Exceptions:

• If the unit responds verbally with “Received”, it is an indicator that they have the incident information on their MDC and do not require a broadcast of the incident information.

• The unit may opt to acknowledge receipt of the call by using the MDC in which case the Dispatcher should see the status change at the CAD workstation.

• Broadcast Information - Multi-Unit Response. When there is a unit or multiple units AVLA or AVCL for a multi-unit incident, the dispatcher should announce “Call Pending” for the affected units and then broadcast the incident announcement with the following information.

  • The problem/nature of the incident.

  • The box number (response area).

  • The assigned tactical channel.

  • The address/location of the incident.

  • Additional pertinent information.

  • Units assigned to the incident.

Rebroadcast/Simulcast for Tactical Incidents

At 1 minute, 50 seconds (110 seconds) after dispatch of a tactical incident, incident information should be broadcast on the tactical channel. The Dispatcher may choose to multi-select other channels and perform a simulcast of the incident information as the situation warrants. Tactical incidents include the following:

• Alert 1, 2C, 2H, 3

  • ALERT0 - Aircraft Standby

  • ALERT1 - Standby Only

  • ALERT2C - Cargo or Small Plane

  • ALERT2H - Aircraft Emergency

  • ALERT3 - Aircraft Down

• HIRISE Alarms

  • ALARMH - Fire Alarm HIRISE

  • BOXHI - HIRISE Structure Fire

• WRESQT - Water Rescue TF

• PS - Boat/Stranded Boat

• Brush Alarms

  • BRSHL - Brush Alarm/Light

  • BRUSH - Brush Fire

• Hazmat Alarm

  • HMTF - Hazmat Taskforce

  • HMCLAN

  • HMI - Hazmat Investigation

• Structure Fires

  • BOX - Structure Fire

  • BOXL- Structure Fire

  • BOXMAR - Marina Fire

  • BOXMID - MIDRISE Structure Fire

  • BOXS - Still Box Alarm

• RESQV - Vehicle Rescue

• PKG - Auto In Parking Garage

• Rescue Alarms

  • RESQC - Rescue Condition

  • RESQT - Rescue Task Force

The dispatcher will provide the following information in the rebroadcast announcement:

• The problem/nature of the incident.

• The box number (response area).

• The assigned tactical channel.

• The address/location of the incident.

• Additional pertinent information.

• Units responding to the incident.

• Request verification of response from units not currently responding.

Example: Incident Announcement

Confirmation of Response

If a unit has not indicated that they are responding to an incident within 110 seconds of dispatch the dispatcher will attempt to contact the assigned unit on the appropriate channel to confirm their response. CAD has a timer in the unit queue set to alert the dispatcher when a unit has remained in “DISP” status for more than 110 seconds.

• Unconfirmed Response - If the Dispatcher is unable to confirm a response from the assigned unit, a backup unit shall be assigned to the incident within the next 30 seconds. Dispatch will continue to contact the originally assigned unit through a variety of means, including but not limited to; radio contact, manual station alerting, hotline phone call, and/or dispatch of an adjacent station or their Battalion Chief to perform a welfare check. If Dispatch is unable to contact the originally assigned unit after multiple attempts to locate; via multiple means of communication, it shall be cleared off the incident and placed out of service. The unit will remain out of service until contact is restored and the ability to alert the company is confirmed.

Locution Alerting

Locution is an automated dispatching system providing the primary alerting mechanism for resources. The status of Locution is monitored by Dispatch Supervisors. Should CAD Voice Supervisor show a failure of an individual station PC or the AFDRADIO PC, the controlling dispatcher should be advised to monitor the assigned unit to ensure it responds within 110 seconds.

• District Station Alerting - District stations are equipped with the same alerting redundancy as AFD stations (an in-station Locution PC and radio back-up).

• Manual Alerting - Fire stations may also be alerted via the radio console. Radio console alerting may be utilized in the event of a Locution failure, for periods when Locution is offline, or for special alerts or announcements.

Maintenance of Unit Status

While the accurate status of a unit is the responsibility of the Company Officer, monitoring status and assistance with status reporting is an important function of the Dispatcher. Unit status is a primary factor in the CAD for unit recommendation as well as statistical analysis of incident response. Most front-line units can maintain their own status using MDCs.

• Delay Status - A delay status may only be attached to a unit by Dispatch. Units that show an extended time on delay status may be hailed or contacted to determine if the status still applies.

• Spec Ops Status - This is a conditional out-of-service status that may only be attached by Dispatch. This status is most often used by Special Operations units.

• Responding Status (RESP) - This status is as implied. Units seen moving on the CAD map in dispatch status may be hailed to confirm their responding status.

• On Scene Status (ONSC) - MDC-equipped units are programmed to automatically place the unit in an “On Scene” status when the Automatic Vehicle Locator (AVL), data shows the unit within 200 feet of the CAD’s incident location. There are occasions when a unit may stop outside the 200-foot geofence or pass through the geofence area while still responding to the correct area. Should a unit stop outside the geofence area and the MDC does not manually status itself “On Scene”, the Dispatcher can manually change status. Should a unit pass through the geofence area before arriving the MDC will automatically status itself as “On Scene prematurely”. The CAD system does not allow a unit to status change from “On Scene” back to “Responding” and the unit simply should be left in “On Scene” status.

• Available Clear (AVCL) /Available Local Area Status (AVLA) - “Available Clear” indicates a unit is available for a call outside the assigned the fire station, however, the unit may be outside its normally assigned response area. “Available Local Area” indicates a unit is available for a call outside the assigned the fire station and in the assigned response area. Both status conditions refer to units that are monitoring their home radio channel and are available for assignment to an incident. Units located at a fire station should be in the “Available Station” status.

Below is a list of all active fire incidents within Travis County.

https://services.austintexas.gov/fact/default.cfm

*Effective July 16th, 2024 all fire units will be dispatched before EMS units allowing for first response from fire while the dispatcher determines if an ambulance is required on scene. Prior to July 16th, a delay in response was present with fire units not being dispatched until the call was appropriately triaged, and then fire and EMS were dispatched at the same time. Now fire units will begin moving to the call the moment a dispatcher receives a 911 call and the ambulance will be dispatched within 2 to 3 minutes allowing the ambulance crew to have accurate call information while they respond to the call.*

Fire Dispatch

In Travis County, multiple call types exist to allow for accurate dispatching of units. The call types are listed below along with the dispatching tone and follow-up traffic. Alarm assignments are the minimum for each alarm. Additional units can be requested at the discretion of the officer in command.

Restricted Fire Department Only Link

Public Link