Travis FES receives new radios

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, CA, UNITED STATES

02.07.2017

Story by Senior Airman Nicole Leidholm 

60th Air Mobility Wing

“These new radios have the ability to talk from one radio to all Solano County, Cal Fire, Napa, Yolo, Contra Costa, Sacramento and San Joaquin county fire departments,” said John Speakman, 60th CES Travis FES chief. “The new radios are extremely durable with steel reinforcement rods inside, and have the ability to track each radios’ position.”

These radios increase TFES’ capabilities by a factor of 10, said Kirby.

TFES has a mutual aid agreement with local fire departments in Solano County, allowing them to respond off base if assistance is needed or for local agencies to come on base if TFES needs assistance.

The new radios allow the firefighters to seamlessly communicate without having to change radios or carry multiple ones.

“Prior to receiving these radios, TFES had to carry three different radios to communicate with Solano County firefighters, either when they respond on-base or when TFES responded off-base to support the community,” said Speakman. “This is a huge safety increase not having to worry which agency uses which radio.”

The new radios have been in the works for quite some time, said James Kirby, 60th CS.

“The need for these new radios was identified three years ago,” said Kirby. “It took nine months to receive the funding.”

The 60th CS worked with Fairfield and Vacaville, California fire departments to obtain permission to access their radio channels.

“When they finally arrived, we wrote the program for the radios and coordinated with local cities and integrated the new radios into the radio system,” said Kirby. “This is the first time Travis AFB firefighters have the ability to access the Vacaville and Fairfield Radio Communications System directly.”

• Date Taken: 02.07.2017
• Date Posted: 02.23.2017 16:35
• Story ID: 224593
• Location: TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, CA, US