SA MFS Communications

S.A. Metropolitan Fire Service

The SA Metropolitan Fire Service (SAMFS) uses the SAGRN for all voice transmissions throughout South Australia. Its communications centre (call sign Adelaide Fire) is located in the MFS Adelaide Headquarters building and handles all call receipt and dispatch functions for all MFS and CFS brigades as well as all SES units throughout South Australia. Operators also control traffic lights in the central business district of Adelaide and dispatch keys required to gain access to city buildings.

Temporary MFS Communications Centre

Metropolitan fire appliances use a mobile data terminal mounted in the vehicle for receiving information on incidents and also for sending status messages, the data network operates on the VHF radio channels previously used for voice transmissions. Another VHF frequency is dedicated to the station turnout systems operating in the 19 metropolitan fire stations, the communications centre operator broadcasts details of incidents over this channel which is then directed into the station PA system.

The GRN radio equipment in vehicles consists of one Motorola MCS 2000 mobile radio and three MTS 2000 portable radios. One 99 channel Motorola Syntryx radio is fitted for use with the Mobile data terminal and also to serve as a backup should the GRN fail.

Metropolitan appliances transmit messages to the communications centre on talkgroup 150 MFS Dispatch 1. When operating at incidents simplex channel 182SPX01_MFS (411.5857 mhz) is used. For larger or specialized incidents the communications centre will allocate a group of talkgroups for fire-ground communications, these are normally talkgroups 155 -157, 158 - 160, 161 -163 or 164 - 166.

The MFS has fire stations in many larger country towns, they rely on retained firefighters who are required to carry SAGRN pagers for incident notification. All emergency telephone calls are relayed through to the Adelaide communications centre where details are taken and a pager message is sent to the appropriate fire fighters. Local fire alarms are connected to the town fire station, when an alarm is received a pre programmed message is sent to the fire fighters pager alerting them to the incident.

Country fire station crews do not transmit messages back to the Adelaide communications centre, all situation reports and requests for assistance are relayed to the local fire station using the SAGRN.

MFS Country Talkgroups

Station	Talkgroup
Port Pirie	192MFS_WESTCST
Port Augusta	192MFS_WESTCST
Whyalla	192MFS_WESTCST
Port Lincoln	192MFS_WESTCST
Loxton	193_MFSRIVERLD
Berri	193_MFSRIVERLD
Renmark	193_MFSRIVERLD
Tanunda	194MFS_MID_NTH
Wallaroo	194MFS_MID_NTH
Burra	194MFS_MID_NTH
Kapunda	194MFS_MID_NTH
Eudunda	194MFS_MID_NTH
Moonta	194MFS_MID_NTH
Kadina	194MFS_MID_NTH
Peterborough	194MFS_MID_NTH
Victor Harbor	195MFS_STHEAST
Murray Bridge	195MFS_STHEAST
Mount Gambier	195MFS_STHEAST

The typical number of incidents for the SAMFS is 35 per day in winter and 56 per day in summer. Approximately 11 separately acknowledged transmissions occur for each incident. The peak call rate is approximately 70 calls per hour. The SAMFS attended 21975 incidents in 2002 - 2003.

MFS GRN Talkgroups

MFS Channels and K Codes

MFS Situation found and Stop codes

MFS Call signs and Station Numbers

Updated September 2007

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