Yolo County Frequency Guide
by Robert Schulz KC6UDS
First Revision, Copyright 1997
This listing of Yolo County Public Safety Frequencies is supplied for your convenience. While efforts have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information presented, nothing is perfect. While much of this information is a matter of public record, the organization and additional insight represents many hours of work. This document may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, for the purpose of deriving a profit without written permission from the author.
General Information:
Yolo County Public Safety agencies coordinate their activities, so information that applies to one agency often has relevance to other agencies.
In Yolo County, there are three dispatch centers on the air. They are the City of Davis, the University of California at Davis, and the Yolo County Communications Emergency Services Agency. Yolo County Communications is a Joint Powers Agency formed to pool the communications resources of Yolo County public safety agencies. Its members include the cities of West Sacramento, Winters, and Woodland, the County of Yolo, and all of the fire protection districts in Yolo County. Yolo County Communications provides centralized dispatch and radio services to these agencies.
Fire Frequencies:
Note that all Yolo County fire agencies have the capability to operate on all or most of these channels to allow for ease of communication during Mutual Aid situations.
BLUE FIRE -- 154.370 Simplex, CTCSS 141.3
Blue Fire is the primary channel for Davis Fire, UC Davis Fire, and Woodland Fire. AMR Ambulance will operate on this frequency when responding to calls for Davis and UC Davis, with units identifying as "AMR 330" or similar (AMR 300 is a supervisor unit).
Woodland Fire is dispatched by Yolo County Communications, which identifies as FIRE CONTROL, KNDN 882. Davis Fire is dispatched by the Davis Police Department, which identifies as DAVIS FIRE, KMF 995. UC Davis Fire is dispatched by the UC Davis Police Department, which identifies as UC FIRE, KAQ 659 (Note that UC Fire uses an automatic morse code identfier). Due to a recently approved automatic aid agreement, the various dispatch centers may dispatch fire units from other agencies.
Several transmissions can be heard on this frequency on a daily basis. Around 0800 Davis Fire tests station alarms, at 0900 Fire Control advises of agricultural burn requirements from Air Pollution Control (simulcast on Green Fire), and at 1800 UC Fire tests all-call systems. Many other tests and announcements are made on a weekly basis.
GREEN FIRE -- 154.445 Simplex, CTCSS 141.3
Green Fire is the primary channel for West Sacramento Fire, Winters Fire, West Plainfield Fire, Capay Fire, Willow Oak Fire, Clarksburg Fire, Knights Landing Fire, Zamora Fire, Yolo Fire, Madison Fire, Elkhorn Fire, and Esparto Fire. All of these, except West Sacramento, are mostly volunteer fire departments. Winters Fire operates an ambulance service that is dispatched on this channel, with units identifying as "Winters Med 26" or similar. In addition, the Robbins Volunteer Fire Department in southern Sutter County, across the Sacramento River from Knights Landing, is dispatched on this channel.
All of these agencies are dispatched by Yolo County Communications, identifying as FIRE CONTROL. The FCC calls will vary by the agency dispatched, because Yolo County Communications operates several different transmitters on this frequency (Woodland, West Sacramento, Winters, Bald Mtn.). Calls that are usually heard are KNDN 882 and KFF 264.
Many weekly and daily announcements and tests can be heard on this frequency, including the 1200 Noon siren test by Fire Control.
GREY FIRE -- Input 159.180 Output 151.085 CTCSS 141.3
Grey Fire was recently added to the channels available to Yolo County Communications for use by fire protection agencies. These frequencies were previously in use by the Sacramento County Road Dept., but became available when Sacramento County switched to a trunked 800 MHz radio system. These frequencies will likely be reconfigured with Green Fire in the future to give repeater capability to Green Fire, while Grey will become a simplex tactical channel.
WHITE FIRE #1 -- 154.280 Simplex (Base, Mobile, Portable)
WHITE FIRE #2 -- 154.265 Simplex (Mobile, Portable Only)
WHITE FIRE #3 -- 154.295 Simplex (Portable Use Only)
The White Fire channels are Statewide mutual aid frequencies for fire departments. They may only be used in mutual aid situations, and not for any other purpose. The most commonly used frequency in Yolo County is White Fire #1, usually just referred to as "White Fire." Yolo County fire agencies will normally only use this frequency during large incidents involving more than one department. On occasion, it is used to relay emergency information from one dispatch center to another, most commonly between Yolo County Communications, identifying as YOLO FIRE CONTROL and the Sacramento City and County Fire dispatch center. At times, the State Office of Emergency Services may be heard, identifying as O.E.S. FIRE. Other area agencies can also be heard from time to time. Some agencies use CTCSS tones on these frequencies while others do not.
BLACK FIRE -- 153.830 Simplex
BROWN FIRE -- 158.835 Simplex
These are low-power frequencies, used for mutual aid communications and training exercises.
SPECIAL "E" (SPECIAL EMERGENCY) -- 155.235 Simplex, CTCSS 141.3
Special "E" is not really a fire channel, although several fire agencies use it on occasion. In the past, Special "E" served as something of a secondary channel for Yolo County ambulance services. AMR Ambulance is considering using this frequency as their primary ambulance dispatch channel in Yolo County. Currently, it is often used by rural fire districts to communicate with responding ambulances, and at times for ambulance to hospital communications.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection:
More commonly known as the CDF, this State agency provides wildland fire protection to the western edge of Yolo County. The Lake/Napa/Sonoma Ranger Unit covers Lake, Napa, and Sonoma Counties, and the western edges of Solano, Yolo, and Colusa Counties. Lake/Napa/Sonoma CDF fire units are dispatched from the St. Helena Emergency Command Center, identifying as ST. HELENA. There is one seasonal CDF fire station located in Yolo County, in the Capay Valley town of Brooks. Other nearby CDF stations include Wilber Springs (Jct. Hwys. 16 & 20), Spanish Flat (west side of Lake Berryessa), and Gordon Valley (west of the Vacaville area). A seasonal fire lookout is on the top of Berryessa Peak, above the Capay Valley.
LAKE/NAPA LOCAL -- Input 159.315 Output 151.340
This is the primary dispatch channel for the eastern area of the Lake/Napa/Sonoma Ranger Unit. Tactical channel assignments are made from frequencies available to CDF and the US Forest Service, and are normally announced at the time of dispatch.
Several mountain-top repeaters are used to cover the area served by this channel. Each repeater is accessed by using a different CTCSS tone. Repeaters normally heard from Yolo County are located on Berryessa Peak, Walker Ridge, and Mount Vaca.
Police Frequencies:
GOLD CHANNEL -- Input 154.875 Output 159.090 CTCSS 141.3
Gold is the primary channel for the Davis Police department. Most dispatch and regular traffic takes place on this channel. UC Davis Police have the capability to transmit on this channel. Davis Police Dispatch identifies as DAVIS or DAVIS POLICE, KUE 702 (an automatic morse code identifier is used on this channel). The repeater uses a voted receiver system with four receive sites in the Davis area. In addition, Davis PD uses an 800 MHz frequency pair for their mobile data terminals.
BROWN CHANNEL -- 155.535 Simplex, CTCSS 141.3
Brown is the primary dispatch channel for UC Davis police. UC Davis Police dispatch usually identifies as UNIVERSITY, KTG 518 (Note that UC Davis uses an automatic morse code identifier on this channel). Brown is used as a secondary channel by the Davis Police when traffic on Gold is too heavy or restricted to emergencies, or the repeater is down.
ORANGE CHANNEL -- 155.445 Simplex, CTCSS 141.3
Orange, also known as "Channel 5" to UC Davis police, is the secondary police channel on campus. It is often used to deliver additional information about a call, for tactical operations, and even to decide where to go for lunch. When Davis PD is using Brown channel, UC Davis often retreats to this channel. UC Davis Student Patrol and Aggie Hosts normally operate on this channel. From time to time, YONET conducts special operations using this frequency.
WHITE CHANNEL -- 154.935 Simplex
White channel is used by the Davis Police Department. It is used infrequently, mostly by police cadets during special events or by officers for relaying information. Dispatch does not have the capability of transmitting on this frequency.
YELLOW CHANNEL -- Input 155.850 Output 154.800 CTCSS 141.3
Yellow, also sometimes called "primary", is the primary dispatch channel for the Yolo County Sheriff's Department and the Winters Police Department. Traffic on this channel can become heavy at times, and units may switch to other channels for non-priority traffic. The West Sacramento Police Department uses this channel when the Sacramento County 800MHz trunked radio system (their normal home) is down. Dispatching on this channel is handled by Yolo County Communications. This is a complex repeater system, with voted receivers in West Sacramento, Davis, Woodland, Putah Ck. Canyon, and Bald Mtn., and transmitters located in West Sacramento, Woodland, Putah Ck. Canyon, and Bald Mtn.
YOLO COUNTY "TAC" -- 155.595 Simplex, CTCSS 141.3
Secondary or tactical channel used by the Yolo County Sheriff and Winters Police for special operations or for non-priority communications, much as Orange is used by UC Davis. Like Green Fire, this channel has mutiple transmit and receive sites.
WOODLAND "PRIMARY" -- Input 154.770 Output 155.055 CTCSS 141.3
A channel without a color designator, the Woodland Police Department's primary channel is either referred to as "Woodland PD" or "Primary" by units. Woodland Police are dispatched on this channel by Yolo County Communications. This is a voted repeater system.
RED CHANNEL (CLEMARS) -- 154.920 Simplex
Red or "CLEMARS" (for California Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Radio System) is uses as a secondary or tactical channel by Police agencies throughout the region. All Yolo County agencies use it from time to time for anything from delivering additional information on a suspect or a dispatched call to using it as a dispatch channel for large events such as Picnic Day or the County Fair. Some agencies use CTCSS on this frequency while others do not.
NALEMARS -- 155.475 Simplex
NALEMARS (for National Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Radio System) is a nationwide common channel for law enforcement agencies. In Yolo County, it is at times used as an additional tactical channel when CLEMARS is in use by another agency.
LAWNET -- Input 159.030 Output 155.070 CTCSS 110.9
LAWNET is used solely for inter-agency communication between dispatch centers. Most commonly heard is traffic between the regional CHP dispatch center, identifying as SACRAMENTO CHP, and local agencies. The California Office of Emergency Services can also be heard on this channel, usually identifying as OES Sacramento, particularly during the first Tuesday of the month at 1030 when they test the Emergency Alert System.
California Highway Patrol:
The Yolo County office of the CHP is dispatched out of the Sacramento Command Center, which also provides dispatch services for Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, and Sacramento County CHP offices.
GREEN Mobile 42.24 Base 42.54 Nevada/Placer/El Dorado Counties
GOLD Mobile 42.20 Base 42.12 Sacramento County North
BLACK Mobile 42.70 Base 42.46 Sacramento County South/Yolo County
California Department of Fish and Game:
Fish & Game units patrol often in Yolo County and surrounding areas. Yolo County Communications has the capability to operate on the Fish & Game frequency, and Fish & Game units may at times be heard on Yolo SO Primary.
PRIMARY -- Input 159.420 Output 151.430
Medical Channels:
A great many frequencies devoted to medical services can be heard in Yolo County. This is a brief listing of the most common:
Med 1 Input 468.000 Output 463.000
Med 2 Input 468.025 Output 463.025
Med 3 Input 468.050 Output 463.050
Med 4 Input 468.075 Output 463.075
Med 5 Input 468.100 Output 463.100
Med 6 Input 468.125 Output 463.125
Med 7 Input 468.150 Output 463.150
Med 8 Input 468.175 Output 463.175
Med 9 (Dispatch) Input 467.950 Output 462.950
Med 10 (Dispatch) Input 467.975 Output 462.975
Multiple repeaters using many different CTCSS tones are in operation on these frequencies, serving the entire Central Valley.
BLUE CHANNEL/DISASTER NET/LIFEFLIGHT -- 155.340 Simplex
Blue Channel is an inter-hospital coordination channel. "Disaster Control" at Sutter General Hospital in Sacramento can often be heard requesting emergency room status reports from area hospitals. In addition, the UC Davis Medical Center Lifeflight Helicopter is dispatched on this frequency.
Public Works & Community Services:
DAVIS PUBLIC WORKS
Yellow Channel -- Input 155.145 Output 156.015 CTCSS 141.3
This channel is used almost exclusively by various public works functions of the city, including street maintenance, parks crews, water and sewer repair, and the like. All mobile units identify by their vehicle number, and many vehicles may be paged by dispatch. All control stations identify by the station number and the FCC call KCR 930. The control stations are:
Control 1 -- Public Works Administration (Dispatch)
Control 2 -- Parks & Community Services, City Hall
Control 3 -- Water Division, Public Works Administration
Control 4 -- Waste Water Treatment Plant (Rds 105 & 28H)
Control 5 -- Public Works Annex
Control 6 -- Transportation Division
Control 7 -- Water Division, Crews
Control 8 -- Central Stores
Control 9 -- Parks & Community Services, Corporation Yard
Control 10 - Central Equipment
Control 11 - Unknown
Various public works equipment alarms can be heard on this channel, identifiable by the obnoxious data burst noise. These alarms are for various pieces of equipment at the waste water treatment plant. These alarms are tested on a regular basis. The Davis Police Department monitors this channel and serves as dispatch after normal working hours, identifying as "Davis P.D." or "Davis Police." On very rare occasions, Davis Police will use this as a tactical channel during the evening or weekends.
SCADA -- Input 458.0625 Output 453.0625
This data channel is used by the Davis Public Works to monitor and remotely control various functions. The SCADA (System Control and Data Acquisition) system monitors and controls the City's water wells and storm drainage and sewage pumping stations.
YOLO COUNTY - LOCAL GOVERNMENT --
Input 154.115 Output 158.940 CTCSS 141.3
This channel is used by several Yolo County agencies, including Animal Control, Parks, Agriculture, Yolo County Communications, Facilities Maintenance, and others. This frequency is monitored by Yolo County Communications and various department control stations.
YOLO COUNTY - ROAD DEPARTMENT --
Input 156.180 Output 151.115 CTCSS 141.3
This channel is used by County road maintenance crews.
YOLO COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT --
Input 456.125 Output 451.125 CTCSS 141.3
Yolo County Flood Control maintains many miles of canals, irrigations ditches, and drainage channels, and operates Indian Valley Reservoir, Clear Lake Dam, and the Cache Creek Diversion Dam.
UC DAVIS PHYSICAL PLANT -- Input 469.925 Output 464.926 CTCSS 85.4
Learn about stuck elevators. Hear about backed up sewers. All this and more, live, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, broadcast from the top of Sproul Hall. Dispatch is handled by the Physical Plant Department during normal working hours and the UC Davis Police after hours.
