Every after-action review seems to reinforce the same lesson: Communication is one of the biggest factors influencing the outcome of an incident. Read enough NIOSH reports and you’ll find communication failures appearing again and again. Yet it’s one of the skills we often spend the least amount of time intentionally practicing. Fire Communications Week serves as a crucial reminder to assess and improve our communication strategies on the fireground.
Strong fireground communication starts long before the tones drop. It begins with common language. Does everyone in your department use the same terminology? What about your mutual-aid partners? If one crew says “evacuate” and another hears “exit,” are you confident everyone interprets those words the same way? Establish common benchmark reports — such as “fire control” and “primary all clear” — and ensure everyone understands exactly what those announcements mean. Building a shared vocabulary eliminates confusion and creates consistency when seconds matter.
Just as important is radio discipline. Every transmission should have a purpose. Avoid unnecessary radio traffic and resist the temptation to provide “good news” reports that don’t add value. Before keying the microphone, ask yourself whether your message improves situational awareness, communicates a benchmark or alerts others to a hazard. Concise, intentional communication keeps channels clear for critical information.
Like any fireground skill, communication requires repetition. We wouldn’t expect firefighters to master hose deployment or SCBA operations without practice, so why would we expect radio communications to be different? Incorporate realistic radio traffic into every training evolution, from routine company drills to full-scale exercises. The more reps your crews get, the more naturally clear communication becomes under stress.
Finally, don’t overlook the incident commander. Whether your organization runs command from behind the apparatus, inside the cab or from a mobile command vehicle, practice it before the real incident. An unfamiliar command environment creates unnecessary friction during the moments when clear communication matters most.
Communication isn’t a skill reserved for major incidents. It’s built on every response, every drill and every radio transmission. The departments that communicate best on the fireground are the ones that make communication a daily habit, not an annual reminder.
Additional Resources:
From July 20-24, we mark Fire Communications Week, exploring the protocols and personnel that enable effective fireground communication, from dispatch to demobilization.
