Radio Use and Operations for Hired Contractors is a course that is designed specifically for hired equipment contractors who are required to have and use mobile and portable radios for themselves or their equipment. This course gives a contractor everything they would need to know, whether being assigned to an incident or being contracted for coverage in a CAL FIRE unit.

 

This course will cover radio use, discipline and etiquette; which gives the contractor the ability to speak clearly and use the appropriate terminology while using a radio on an incident or during a cover assignment. The contractors will also be taught basic radio use, instructed on what a report on conditions is and for what various incident types they are used when on a cover assignment, and where to find the necessary communications information needed within an IAP. The information provided during this course, gives the hired contractor the foundation needed for operating a radio proficiently. The course also provides a basic overview of radio theory and why things work the way they do. 

 

During a hands-on instructed portion of the course, we will go over the radios that are accepted for use by CAL FIRE through the FC-100R agreement as well as the approved radios for the USFS. Those radios are the BK GPH, BK DPH, BK GPH-CMD, BK DPH-CMD, KNG P150-CMD, KNG2 P150-CMD and the BKR 5000. Students will be shown and work in conjunction with the instructor on how to operate, field program frequencies, build command zones and clone from one radio to another. These are the necessary and expected skills needed while assigned to an incident.

 

The course finishes with a review of the current FC-100R agreement and the frequencies that are allowed to be programmed into a contractor’s radio that is the agreement between the contractor and CAL FIRE.

Although this course is not required, it is highly recommended for all contracted employees within a contracted agency who provide emergency services and that are expected to use mobile and portable radios.

 

This course is taught privately, not affiliated with any fire agency and can be provided at an offsite location within a CAL FIRE unit or can be done regionally. Programming of the contractor radios with current FC-100R frequencies can be requested as part of this course.

For further information or to schedule a course, please contact us.