When should fire personnel perform radio checks to ensure that radios can be used in all areas of a building?

• A. During preincident surveys
• B. When arriving on scene
• C. When the Incident Command Post (ICP) is established
• D. Once the emergency is under control

Answer: (A)

Radio communications planning happens best before an incident starts. By testing radio coverage across a building during preincident surveys, you can identify areas where signals fade or fail—dead zones behind thick concrete, metal structures, stairwells, basements, or elevator shafts. Knowing these gaps ahead of time lets the team plan how to maintain contact, whether that means positioning more radios, using portable repeaters, or establishing specific communications routines. This proactive check ensures responders can operate with reliable information and coordination from the outset, rather than discovering coverage issues only after arrival, after the ICP is set, or once the situation is already under control.