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Crockett council authorizes AFG application to seek radios for firefighter interoperability
Summary
Council authorized staff to apply for a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant to fund radio upgrades aimed at improving interoperability between fire and police communications; staff said the AFG is fire-specific but will help align systems. No bid decisions were made yet.
The City of Crockett authorized staff to submit an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to seek funding for radios and improved communications.
City staff explained the city's current radios are P25 VHF digital and that moving to an 800 MHz trunked system would improve interoperability across counties and jurisdictions. Staff noted AFG funding is targeted to fire departments; the city intends to apply for fire-radio equipment that would eventually enable shared communication standards with police. Staff said they will solicit bids if the grant application is successful and will return to council with specifications and cost commitments.
Why it matters: Improved trunked 800 MHz systems can allow dispatch handoffs and continuous communications during mutual-aid responses; staff said better interoperability would reduce channel-switching among agencies during multiagency incidents.
Next steps: Staff will submit the AFG application and, if awarded, bring back bid information and final equipment specifications for council approval.
