Spokane Valley Fire Department Deparment of Emergency Management Communication Trailer

Like other public safety entities, the existence of a robust communications plan is critical for our efficient operation.  We have worked hard within our Department as well as with our partners in Spokane County and regionally to address needs, predict future challenges and provide a high functioning, interoperable communications system.  Below you will find a brief overview of our current system as well as a description of our future plans.

In 1998 SVFD and other local fire departments switched from having their own dispatch centers to forming the Combined Communication Center (CCC).  All fire department emergency calls in Spokane County come through and are dispatched by CCC.  Fire/EMS resources operate on a VHF system currently and utilize portable (hand held) and mobile (mounted in vehicles) radios and carry individual pagers on which we receive dispatch information.  Additionally, all SVFD apparatus are equipped with mobile computers which integrate mapping, dispatch information, business information and contacts as well as other information that make our responses more efficient.

At SVFD we have also taken the initiative to administer a communications trailer program.  This is a communications resource that is available for incidents regionally as well as anywhere in Spokane County.  It contains a radio cache, portable repeaters to construct a local system and is staffed by qualified SVFD personnel.  We are receiving additional equipment for this resource through Spokane County that will make it a Washington State Type 3 communications trailer.  It has been utilized at large wild land fires and has proven itself and the expert personnel that staff it, to be a great resource for SVFD and the many other agencies who have utilized it.

In 2004 the Federal Communications Commission mandated that narrow banding be utilized by all users by 2013 to free up channels which were becoming overcrowded.  To achieve this, a bond was approved by the voters of Spokane County in May of 2008 for a 1/10 of 1% sales tax to fund a new narrow banded communication system.  That system is currently in the design phase with some changes beginning implementation.  When the system is complete it will offer 700Mhz, 800Mhz and VHF capability.  Most operations will occur on 800 MHz which will be on a trunked system that will greatly increase our capabilities.  In addition to creating more channels the system will also allow more users at once, increase coverage and increase our interoperability with other agencies.  The project is both large in scale and cost but the changes too will be dramatic.  Spokane County will have a cutting edge system that will carry us into the future and ensure we optimize our ability to protect and serve our public.