[ScanIndiana] Avon FD on MECA

[Bob Burns K4RXR]

For a month or so now, I've been aware that Avon Fire Department was moving 
some traffic (box alarm incidents, multi-vehicle traffic accidents, etc.) 
to something called "OPS-1". This would generally be implemented by the 
battalion chief or incident commander advising dispatch that all units 
working the incident would be on "OPS-1". I figured that this was a 
talkgroup on MECA. I had tried to find the talkgroup using my Uniden 
BC780XLT, but had been unsuccessful.

Tonight, I figured it out. AFD was dispatched on a box alarm to a residence 
where a carbon monoxide detector had gone into alarm. The battalion chief 
established command and moved traffic to "OPS-1". I started searching 
talkgroups and found the units on the scene using talkgroup 9072. The Avon 
units on the scene plus Brownsburg's Engine 131, which had been dispatched 
to assist, were all heard on that talkgroup. Those of you who scan MECA may 
want to make note of this because 9072 isn't listed on the Indyscan web site.

The general consensus is that the police and fire agencies in the eastern 
part of Hendricks County are going to move to MECA. Plainfield PD and FD 
are already there. Avon FD has the radios, but is still dispatching on VHF. 
Avon PD is still on VHF as far as I know. Sources tell me that a MECA tower 
is in the works somewhere near the CSX rail yard. Brownsburg PD and FD are 
still on VHF, but apparently the FD has a few MECA radios for use in mutual 
aid situations. Brownsburg FD has moved their headquarters and training 
facility to a building on Northfield Drive next to Bill Estes Ford (the 
apparatus is still at Stations 131 and 132). Over the last month, an 
80-foot self-supporting tower has been erected at that site and antennas 
are being installed. My guess is that this could be a new remote site for 
MECA to serve the Brownsburg area.

Bob...