The Tasmania Fire Service is unique in Australia as the 'rural' and 'urban' brigades are one entity; there is no division between those brigades in the metropolitan and country areas. Therefore, all brigades use the one radio system.

Volunteer personnel (about 4,800) form the bulk of the fire fighting brigades in the country, and volunteers support the regular fire fighters in the metropolitan areas. The only 'career' fire fighter stations on standby 24/7 are Hobart, Glenorchy, Clarence, Launceston, Rocherlea, Devonport & Burnie. Approximately 250 staff are employed. The other stations are either 'retained', 'volunteer' or both.

Simoco SMR 9030's, Tait 2020 and Phillips PMR 8040's are used, and portables either Tait Orca or Kyodo KG209's are also utilised. In the past the TFS channels (in rural areas) have sometimes been used for special events, such as Targa Tasmania. Normally Targa uses Forestry's repeaters.

The TFS is active on its main frequency of 79.0375MHz around the Hobart, Launceston & Burnie areas. You may find that the TFS are not as active as say melbourne fire services and therefore you may notice long periods of no communications. The two other frequencies of interest are the Major incident Simplex No.1 and the Major Incident Repeater No.1. Often they're used when co-ordinating bush fires and are noted further down the page.

VHF is known for greater distance then UHF, and the TFS is able to be heard via country frequencies in Hobart/Launceston. For e.g. Orford station can be heard on the East Coast frequency well in Hobart, as well as New Norfolk and even Huonville. Just because it's out of your area, don't be surprised if you hear communications. Although reception may be somewhat poor or less then local repeaters, please also include other TFS frequencies as they will work. You might need to consider a VHF antenna.

While listening to the TFS you will no doubt come across certain sayings or messages which may at first sound confusing, such things might be 'Wilco' which means 'will comply' or 'message understood', you will also hear things like "Davey Street Control" or "York Street Control", this is the location of the incident, upon arrival to the fire scene, the senior officer of the scene will assume the call sign of the street name or locality appended with 'Control'; for example "York street control", "Davey Street Control" or "K-mart Control".

Most transmissions will be short and simple with the fire truck simply saying arrived at scene or returning to station, though in major incidents or when there is a lot of activity you will hear a lot of chatter going on. "FireComm" is the name for base and it co-ordinates all operations from it's Headquarters in Liverpool street in Hobart.

When a bush fire breaks out a helicopter is often called in to help. The primary helicopter is called "Helitack 721" which was bought in 2009 and located at Cambridge station. They will use F23 to contact "Firecomm" and then use the same frequency as the bush fire crew are. (E.g. Major Incident Repeater) The old Helicopter "FireBird" is also able to be used by the the TFS, it is a shared resource with Forestry and other services. Firebird uses as a simplex channel F39 (see table) but may utilize other TFS frequencies as well.

Please note the Fire and Ambulance Service sometimes share frequencies, especially in the country areas.

All frequencies are in MHz & FM mode unless otherwise stated.