S.A. Country Fire Service

The S.A. Country Fire Service (CFS) has a complex radio network that consists of the SAGRN, VHF and HF radios. Generally the SAGRN is used for command and control communications, and the VHF network is used for fire-ground traffic. The CFS use VHF narrowband frequencies shared with the CFA, and reuse the frequencies with different CTCSS tones to provide more channels..

The administration headquarters of the CFS is located in Waymouth street in Adelaide, previously a 24 hour a day Operations Centre was located within this facility, however as of the 1st of July 2007 all Call Receipt and Dispatch functions for the CFS are now located within the 'Adelaide Fire' Communications Centre at the Metropolitan Fire Service headquarters in Wakefield street Adelaide.

The Adelaide Fire staff monitor many state wide GRN talk groups continuously. They also handle a number of ancillary functions vital to ensuring the safety and smooth running of incidents throughout the state.

CFS brigades may receive calls directly to their own fire alarm number, this is answered by local volunteers and Adelaide Fire communications centre operators, local operators can take the details of incidents from callers and then the communications centre operator will send a response page using the SAGRN paging network to the relevant brigades. This system enables a local operator to receive the call and interpret the caller's information. This is especially useful out of the major towns where there are no street names or where the caller may be unfamiliar with the area.

All CFS brigades and SES units rely on the SAGRN paging network for response and general information messages. Samsung SFA-170 pagers are utilised by volunteers and staff state-wide.  The SAGRN paging service transmits on 148.8125mhz using the Flex 1600 protocol and has transmission sites at the same location as most of  the GRN voice transmitters, this provides exceptional coverage throughout the settled areas of South Australia. Brigades members can receive alphanumeric messages advising them of turnouts or general information, weather warnings and fire ban information.

All CFS brigades have SAGRN and VHF radios fitted to fire appliances and fire stations. The SAGRN is generally used for command and control communications and the VHF network is utilised for the local fire-ground traffic. GRN simplex channels serve as a backup, should a network failure occur. As well as volunteer brigades the Fire spotting towers, Regional Headquarters, Training Centres and Fire bombing aircraft also use the SAGRN.

The CFS uses Motorola MCS 2000 mobile and MTS 2000 portable radios on the SAGRN. All appliances carry one mobile radio and at least one portable, whilst group command vehicles have two mobiles and two portables issued. Group officers and Brigade captains are also allocated one GRN portable or mobile radio each. All fire stations are fitted with one mobile radio, however Group control centres have three.

Some radios also have the ability to initiate telephone calls, private calls and page other radios. All radios operating on the network also have access to the emergency button which when activated which will alert all other users and the State Operations Call Centre that assistance is required immediately. The State Operations Call Centre is fitted with three Motorola Centracom consoles, these have the ability to patch CFS and other agency talkgroups together, as well transmit on multiple talkgroups simultaneously.

In remote areas the CFS use satellite telephones and more than 20 HF bases and 40 HF mobiles. Typically many rural areas also use UHF CB channels to liaise with farmers and the general community.

The CFS responded to 8079 incidents in the 2002 - 2003 financial year.

New Motorola XTL2500 digital mobile radio fitted to a DEH fire appliance

CFS GRN Talkgroups

CFS VHF/UHF Channels and Frequencies

CFS Direct Paging

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