Employee perspective: Life as a radio operator in the communications unit
ARKANSAS – The Communications Unit bursts into action. Someone alerts critical members of Type 1 Incident Command Team that we have an Incident Within an Incident – any emergency that happens during the main incident, which is the wildfire.
USDA Forest Service addresses wildfires and other major natural disasters with the Incident Command System — a flexible framework that makes it possible for multiple federal and state agencies to work together, along with volunteers and private organizations. The largest and most complex incidents use a Type 1 Incident Command Team whereas smaller ones use Type 2 or 3 Teams.
Within minutes the medical leader and safety officer arrive in the “radio room” of the communications trailer. The wildfire’s Incident Commander and others stand by listening.
Communications unit personnel write notes on the location and nature of the IWI, patient care and how patients will be transported to the hospital. Other communications personnel jot down the information they hear on the radio. Soon, ambulances are on their way. The patients are in stable condition.
This IWI went very smoothly, with clear communications and patients are on the way to the hospital in under an hour.
The job of the Radio Operator is to monitor radio traffic day and night and relay information between the firefighters on the fireline and the Incident Command Post – especially in the case of emergencies. The Communications Unit is a critical component of firefighter safety.
I have been a RADO on four incidents over the last four years. Life as a RADO is not always thrilling. While there is usually a flurry of radio traffic in the morning when crews are headed out to the fireline and in the evening when they report back to camp, radio traffic is sparse during the day.
Going out on a large wildfire requires a completely different pace and skillset than my regular job of collecting fuel and vegetation data – although that often relates to fire – and telling people about it through presentations and articles. However, during both, I am part of something bigger than myself and trying to contribute to what the first leader of the Forest Service, Gifford Pinchot, would call the greater good.