Re: arlington mass fd radio tests

we left out major info

each unit has a crew of three typically - an officer and 2
firefighters - those are payroll 'terms' / civil service terms - afaik
there is no 'payroll term' nor 'civil service term / classification'
for driver or pump operator in Massachusetts - at least not in
Arlington - each person has a portable radio

'Engine 1 alpha' is actually the portable for the driver / pump
operator / ladder operator - the term "engine 1 pump" is also commonly
used on the fireground when 'engine 1 alpha' is running the pump

on a firescene - when a message such as "Engine 1 charge the line" is
sent - it is open to miscommunication / misunderstanding - it could be
intended for someone at the pump or someone at the hydrant or for
someone at a standpipe valve in a large building

to review - here are the radio test terms and the corresponding 'real
world' terms / meaning

Engine 1 mobile - could be officer or driver

Engine 1 portable - could be anyone on the crew but is typically the officer

Engine 1 alpha = the driver / pump operator - "Engine 1 Pump" -
"Engine 1 Chauffeur" - "Engine 1 Operator" - "Engine 1 Driver" - "Pump
1" - Driver 1 - Chaffeur 1 - yadda yadda

Engine 1 Bravo = Engine 1 backstep - Engine 1 hydrant (this is the
typical position for the 3rd person on the 2nd due pumper at a fire)

mountain meet mole hill - but it is important if you dont want mass
confusion when the crap is hitting the fan

Boston FD is - "Engine 1" is the officer - "Engine 1 Pump" is the
driver - Engine 1 ?can? or "nozzle" is 3rd person - 'Engine 1 hydrant'
is 4th person - always - (long time since we have listened to bfd)

On Fri, Jan 9, 2026 at 5:35 PM agent yo'range <zerg90@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> 8 am today - daily radio tet - engine 1 mobile - engine 1 portable -
> engine 1 alpha - engine 1 bravo
>
> presumably 'engine 1 mobile' is the mobile radio on the vehicle
>
> presumably 'engine 1 portable' is the officer's portable radio
>
> in everyday radio traffic - 'engine 1 mobile' is rarely used - and
> 'engine 1 portable' is rarely used
>
> commonly they say "engine 1 pump" or 'engine 1 driver' when talking to
> the driver / pump operator
>
> commonly they say "engine 1" when talking to the officer
>
> bottom line - there is a major disconnect between the radio test terms
> and the everyday radio comms - and this sometimes shows up during
> urgent situations when multi people try to answer to the same callsign
> - its not good