Manchester, NH
Fire Department

Live Scanner Audio

Manchester, NH Fire Department
Radio System General Information

The Manchester Fire Department has assigned 16 "Tac" channels for specific purposes. The assigned channel plan is below:

The live audio feed on NHFireNews.com is currently only scanning Tac 1, Tac 3 through Tac 12, and Tac 16 to provide the best opportunity to hear fireground activity.

The Fire Alarm Office has ultimate control over the radio system and no one is allowed to operate on a Tac channel without being assigned to that channel by a Fire Alarm Operator.

Tac 1 is the primary fire and EMS dispatch channel. All emergency calls are toned and announced on Tac 1. At the end of each dispatch, the Fire Alarm Operator will assign a Tac channel for the incident, and all subsequent communications are moved to that channel. Tac 1 is also used for routine field communications with Fire Alarm. Incidentally, you will rarely hear Manchester fire apparatus sign "on responding" or "in service", as they utilize a Zetron system with push-button computer communications with Fire Alarm for such messages.

Tac 2 is only assigned for BLS EMS traffic. It would rarely, if ever, be used by fire apparatus. Tac 2 is not being rebroadcasted on NHFireNews.com.

Tac 3 is a joint fire and EMS operational channel. It is assigned for incidents which both agencies will operate at such as motor vehicle accidents or ALS medical calls. Multiple incidents may be "stacked" on Tac 3.

Tac 4 is the "Still Alarm" fireground operational channel. It is assigned for single unit or 1 and 1 responses, such as car fires, dumpster fires, or low-risk alarm activations with only one engine company and one truck company responding. Multiple incidents may be "stacked" on Tac 4.

Tac 5 through Tac 12 are fireground operational channels. These channels are assigned anytime multiple companies or a full box alarm (3 engine companies, 2 truck companies, 1 rescue company, 1 district chief) is dispatched. They are used for incidents such as building fires, high-risk alarm activations , smoke or gas in a building, technical rescues, or anything else requiring multiple resources and a dedicated communications channel. Multiple incidents are not "stacked" on Tac 5 through Tac 12, however a single incident my be assigned more than one Tac channel for various uses on the fireground (i.e.: fireground operations on Tac 5, FAST operations on Tac 6).

Tac 13, 14, & 15 are the administrative channels. Typical uses are company training, fire alarm and radio repair, fire inspections, and civic event fire details. They are very busy with routine traffic during business hours, making it possible for the scanner to be tied up with such traffic while fire operations are underway. They are not being rebroadcasted on NHFireNews.com.

Tac 16 is a Fireground Direct channel which is not included in the trunked system. It is intended to be used in situations where portable radios are unable to access the trunking repeater (ie: high rise incidents). The channel is repeated into the trunked system by the District Chiefs' vehicle to allow cross-system communication.

*** New Feed and New Computer 2-2-10 ***

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