Volunteer firefighters transition to new communications system

Wayne County’s 12 volunteer fire departments have begun using a new radio system designed to improve communication during an emergency.

The switch from VHF radio frequencies to the statewide Hoosier SAFE-T digital network results from a three-year, $3.5 million project prioritized during the county’s participation in the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs’ Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program, according to a news release. The program used federal American Rescue Plan Act stimulus funding.

“This project is an excellent example of how the HELP process was intended to work,” said Jeff Plasterer, president of Wayne County’s commissioners, in the release. “Our citizens and community stakeholders helped identify an important public safety need, and Wayne County was able to use this funding opportunity to make a substantial, long-term investment in infrastructure that benefits communities throughout the county.”

The aging VHF system created communication barriers between first responders and county emergency communications personnel. Radio dead spots existed in the southwest and northeast portion of the county.

TowerKing of Defiance, Ohio, constructed two new towers — one west of Centerville and another northeast of Fountain City — to improve radio coverage. The county leases space on the towers and furnished communications shelters and radio equipment necessary to join the SAFE-T system, which county law enforcement agencies already use. The county also provided the volunteer fire departments 225 radios and 275 pagers.

“Reliable communications are one of the most fundamental tools we can provide our first responders,” said Matthew Cain, director of Wayne County Emergency Communications and Emergency Management, in the release. “This project gives our firefighters a modern communications platform while also greatly improving interoperability between fire, law enforcement, dispatch and outside agencies. Whether we are handling a routine incident involving several local departments or a large-scale emergency requiring district and state resources, we now have a much stronger ability to communicate across agencies and jurisdictions.”

The volunteer fire departments were involved in stakeholder meetings throughout the project, impacting decisions about equipment, programming, procedures, training and implementation. They also received training on the new system prior to Sept. 21 implementation.

“Having representatives from the fire departments involved throughout this process gave us an opportunity to provide input from the people who will actually be using the equipment in the field,” said Andy Aughe, chief of Centerville Fire/Rescue. “This is a major change from the radio system we have relied on for many years, but it gives our firefighters improved communications, better interoperability with other responders and technology that will serve our departments well into the future.”