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Probably winding up now, but radio listening was interesting.....

1) I could seemingly hear units much better than the batallion chief. He was frequently asking for repeat or not answering on calls that I could understand while watching a soccer game at marymoor park :-)

2) They asked for 2 extra "Tac" channels, fire was on Eastside Tac2, they also took Tac3 & Tac4, not really sure why. Only once heard some traffic on Tac3.

3) This REALLY stressed out the system. They had L1, L73, L26, and Lightforce 3, as well as many engine companies (most of bellevue, one of Mercer Island). There were moveups from Redmond & other cities into Bellevue, but for example during the fire there was a rescue call on 405 just south of 90 and the nearest ladder truck to dispatch was a Bothell unit. Redmond L16 got done with their other call and was able to come instead, but even that's a 15 minute run-time.

So a good object lesson is that in the event of something like an earthquake or even just a couple large fires the entire Eastside's fire service capabilities will be severely stretched without a call-in of off-duty personnel. I found it interesting that one large structure fire could cause so much strain on the system.

We get our fair share here when it comes to large fires.

Usually a fruit warehouse once year and the last one I went on, they were asking for an aerial from either Toppenish or Ellensburg. Talk about a move up. We've got one repeated dispatch channel and they were coordinating water supply, ops on all four sides as well as comms. between division sups and the IC using only one simplex tac channel. It was constant communication without any dead air. At one point they dropped call signs and were talking to one another on a first name basis. That was a long 11 hours...

We get people here, and more so recently, that call the media and bitch because it takes a fire truck too long to get to their house. I just wish everyone would buy a scanner and listen to it to find out what's really going on and realize that it's all politics. It's pretty bad when politics finds its way into saving lives, one of my biggest pet peeves.

I digress, systems do get taxed during large incidents. Even multi-million dollar 800 trunk systems. VHF is simple, but less efficient in my opinion.

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Interoperability is an attitude, not a technology.

Bellevue Fire did an excellent Strip cut on that roof!

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Realistic Patrolman PRO-48, Uniden BC-800XLT, Radio Shack PRO-2018, Uniden BC-895XLT, Uniden BC-245XLT, RCA RP-6100,
Realistic PRO-2006, Uniden BR330T, Uniden BCT15X

Was by there this morning. There was one ladder truck, an aid unit, and an engine that i was able to see. Also one PD officer for traffic. The place was still smoldering pretty good. Lots of fuel in that building. Can say that the place is pretty well gutted.. Be interesting to see the cause.

Battalion 1 never asked for a 2-11 but he got one with the units there .My list was Engines 1,2,4,6,7,9,81,91,93 Ladders 1 , LF-3 , 73 , 26 . Air unit 1, Medic 2 Aid 1, Aid 2, Mso 5 ,Battalion 1, Cheif 101 102 103 Bell 132 with the FIU the PIO and about 10 more showed up to help out. Buff 5 Provided rehab for crews. ATF showed up also ?

FYI, a "stripcut" aka a "trench cut" is not a defensive tactic. Most people think it is, but the trench cut is used in concert with hoselines from below, to cut off the fire. That is an offensive tactic.

Just a point of clarification...

Hey Pal ! I'm not going to get into tactics with you. I am a professional paid firefighter and all I said was that it was a good job. And to teach you a little about Firefighter terminology, Trench Cut in this area of the Northwest is old school. The term for the last 5 to 10 years is Strip Cut.

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Realistic Patrolman PRO-48, Uniden BC-800XLT, Radio Shack PRO-2018, Uniden BC-895XLT, Uniden BC-245XLT, RCA RP-6100,
Realistic PRO-2006, Uniden BR330T, Uniden BCT15X

Okay car I took the word defensive out of my post, you got me on that one.

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Realistic Patrolman PRO-48, Uniden BC-800XLT, Radio Shack PRO-2018, Uniden BC-895XLT, Uniden BC-245XLT, RCA RP-6100,
Realistic PRO-2006, Uniden BR330T, Uniden BCT15X

"FireDawg89": Please accept my sincere appologies, as it was not you I was trying to correct. Funny thing happens when you have multiple windows open at once. I meant to respond on another forum regarding what someone else said about "Bellevue's defensive stripcut." I had Intercept open at the same time, and accidentally responded in the wrong forum.

Oopsy-daisy!

It's okay Car have a good Memorial Day!

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Realistic Patrolman PRO-48, Uniden BC-800XLT, Radio Shack PRO-2018, Uniden BC-895XLT, Uniden BC-245XLT, RCA RP-6100,
Realistic PRO-2006, Uniden BR330T, Uniden BCT15X