Procedure
M3-2 SOP
Land mobile radio communications
Introduction
When to use
Fire and Emergency New Zealand personnel wil  use this procedure when
communicating via the Land Mobile Radio LMR network.
Purpose
This document describes the procedures to fol ow when communicating either
verbally or using the Message Signalling Unit (MSU) via the Land Mobile Radio
(LMR) network.
Procedure
Mobile signal ing
Mobile signalling units (MSUs) are the units on appliances that are used for sending
units and status
automated status messages, to minimise radio transmission time.
messages
Personnel attempting to contact the ComCen wil  do so by using either the Routine
or Priority button, then will wait for a response from ComCen before passing their
message.
If automated status messaging is unavailable, status messages must be transmitted
verbally on the LMR.
Verbal messages
Verbal messages passed by LMR shall:
• start with the call sign of the party being called
• always use full call signs
• use the appropriate K code whenever possible
• be clear, accurate, relevant and timely
• use the phonetic alphabet when clarity is required, e.g. when spelling names of
hazardous substances.
Alternative forms
The use of a cellular or landline is appropriate for:
of communications  • communications with ambulance clinical support
under the Official Information Act 1982
• transmission of hazardous substance names and hazardous action guide (HAG)
codes
• messages of a sensitive nature that should not be transmitted over the air.
Message types
Arrival message
The Officer in Charge (OIC) of the first arriving appliance will pass an arrival
Released message for other responding appliances (sent by LMR and MSU) that will:
• verify the address of the call, AND
• describe the situation and type of incident using the appropriate K code.
• ComCen dispatchers will acknowledge verbal arrival messages.
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Procedure - Land mobile radio communications
Priority message
A Priority message indicates that urgency is required and requests radio channel
priority.
Priority messages will be used in the following circumstances:
•  persons reported
•  assistance messages, greater alarms or the make-up of individual appliances
•  urgent response of other services
•  running call to appliance or station
ComCen may also initiate a Priority message when important or crew safety
information has been received.
Note: Pressing ‘Priority’ on the MSU will sound a distinct alarm in the ComCen
resulting in an immediate response.
Situation report
A situation report (SitRep) provides a description of the incident and the measures
being taken to manage that incident.
SitReps are to be transmitted in the following circumstances:
•  within five minutes of arrival at an incident, and subsequently at intervals of 30
minutes or less
•  when a major change in the incident situation occurs
•  to request non-urgent assistance
•  when al  persons are accounted for
•  a change of command
•  a command or control point is established
•  a Fire and Emergency vehicle is unable to proceed
•  injuries or fatalities, using the appropriate patient status or K code.
Stop message
A Stop message (‘Stop mobilising’) means that the currently assigned resources are
sufficient and further resources are not required.
A Stop message may contain details of a SitRep.
under the Official Information Act 1982
Released
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Procedure - Land mobile radio communications
K Codes
Status
Al vehicles
K0 - not available (State location)
K1 - proceeding to incident
K2 - in attendance at incident
K3 - on RT outside normal turnout area
K4 - on RT inside normal turnout area
K5 - on RT available at incident
K6 - on pager (state location)
K7 - at normal station
K8 - not allocated
K9 - off RT – (state location)
K10 - re-commissioning appliance
KE - unable to proceed (state reason) (spoken Kay echo)
Arrival messages
First appliance in attendance
K55 - special service incident
K66 - vegetation, scrub or rubbish fire
K77 - nothing showing
K88 - property fire apparently small
K99 - property fire well involved
Support services
(state the service required, and if necessary, the reason)
K11 - suffix is used in CAD and not by responding appliances
K11P - Police (spoken K11 Police)
K11P-1 - Police – confidential (spoken K11-1 Police)
K11P-2 - Police – urgent, scene or personnel safety
under the Official Information Act 1982
Intelligence
K12 - suspicious nature (deliberate with intent to cause damage)
K13 - traumatic/wellbeing/disturbing/infectious incident
K14 - uncontrol ed burn/smoke nuisance
K15 - incident involved hazardous substance
K16 – incident involved fireworks
Released
Appliance
K20 - PRIORITY MESSAGE risk to crew safety DO NOT PROCEED (ComCen only)
movement
K22 - is your appliance available for a further call?
K22-1 - appliance is available to respond to a further call
K22-2 - have you any appliances that can be released?
K25 - proceed to, and stand-by at (location)
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Procedure - Land mobile radio communications
K25-1 - appliance standing by awaiting instructions at (location)
K26 - appliance will be engaged at incident for (time)
K26-1 - appliance still engaged, no additional developments
K28 - response no longer required (ComCcen only)
K28-1 return other or specific responding appliances
Radio procedure
K30 - request ‘agency’ monitor IGC liaison (IGC VHF – Zone A/CH10)
K31 - request permission to go off RT (fires and standbys)
K32 - on radio test – how do you receive?
K33 - radio test received satisfactorily (strength 1 to 5)
K34 - repeat your message
K35 - verify address of call
K35-1 - request map reference
K36 - contact ComCen by telephone
K36-1 - contact ComCen by telephone urgently
K37 - Mobility App has updated information (used by ComCen)
K37-1 - updated information received (used by the Mobility App user)
K38 - associate this officer/callsign to incident (state incident address)
K39 - retransmit your current status (MSU or verbal)
K39-1 - transmit K1
Incident ground
K41 - fatality (indicate number with suffix)
command
K42 - fire suppressed, commencing overhaul
K43 - all available personnel fully utilised
K44 - command or control point established (OIC and location)
K45 - command responsibility change (state name)
Stop messages
K46-1 – false alarm - good intent
K46-2 – false alarm - accidental
under the Official Information Act 1982
K46-3 – false alarm - defective apparatus
K46-4 – false alarm - malicious
K46-5 – false alarm - alarm agent in attendance
K46-6 – false alarm - nothing showing on panel
K46-7 - false alarm - undetermined alarm activation
Released K47 – unchanged from SitRep
K48 – details to follow
K49 - stood down by requesting agency (state service)
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Procedure - Land mobile radio communications
Trial evacuation
K51 - trial evacuation to be carried out at (state location)
K52 - was a 111-call received? (state location)
K53 - evacuation successful (state location)
Patient messages
Sitrep messages about patients are to contain the following on each patient:
•  age
•  gender
•  status
•  chief complaint
•  treatment (e.g. CPR, First response duties).
Fire and Emergency personnel will use the following patient status codes to
communicate the status of casualties at incidents.
Status  Patient
Stability  Potential to
Special criteria
condition
deteriorate
Zero
deceased

One
critical,
unstable  obvious
•  under active resuscitation to maintain airway,
extreme
breathing, or circulation, e.g. airway obstruction
•  uncontrol ed haemorrhage
•  needs definitive medical intervention on arrival at
hospital.
Two
serious
unstable  probable
•  not under active resuscitation, but airway, breathing,
or circulation at risk
•  needs definitive medical intervention within 10
minutes of arrival at hospital.
Three  moderate
stable
unlikely

Four
minor
stable
none

Phonetic alphabet
A
Alpha
J
Juliet
S
Sierra
B
Bravo
K
Kilo
T
Tango
C
Charlie
L
Lima
U
Uniform
D
Delta
M
Mike
V
Victor
under the Official Information Act 1982
E
Echo
N
November
W
Whiskey
F
Foxtrot
O
Oscar
X
X-ray
G
Golf
P
Papa
Y
Yankee
H
Hotel
Q
Quebec
Z
Zulu
I
India
R
Romeo

Released
18 March 2022
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Procedure - Land mobile radio communications
Related information
Policy
M3-2 POP Land mobile radio communications
Reference
M1 TM Command and control technical manual

Document information
Move Document information to the bottom of the page (or top of page 2, if only one page).
Owner
National Manager Response Capability
Stewardship
National Communications Centre Manager
Last reviewed
18 March 2022
Review period
Every second year
Record of amendments
Date
Brief description of amendment
15 January 2018
•   ‘include ful  cal  signs at al  times’ added to Verbal messages list
•   Rebranded for Fire and Emergency
•  Links updated to published documents
21 May 2019
•   Updated minor changes to k-codes to match printed version.
•   Updated template.
09 July 2020
•  Minor update to introduction, procedure and message improves explanation
•   Added new and removed redundant K-Codes
11 November 2020
•  Revised K Codes
18 March 2022
under the Official Information Act 1982
Added:
•  K37 Mobility App has updated information (used by ComCen)
•  K37-1 - Updated information received (used by the Mobility app user)

Released
18 March 2022
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Document Outline