Fireground Comms, Mayday & RIC Pillar – LUNAR, CAN Reports, PAR, and Survival Training Framework Last updated: February 14, 2026
Fireground communication is a survival skill. This pillar is designed to create repeatable performance under stress —short messages, consistent formats, and a clean workflow when everything goes wrong. Use your department SOP/SOG; this is a training-first guide.
Important: Terminology and exact procedures vary by department. The goal here is to standardize the structure of information so it arrives fast and usable.
🆘 Mayday LUNAR Generator Build short, structured Mayday messages for reps and drills.
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🫁 SCBA Air Time Calculator Use for training discussions about air management and trigger points.
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📅 Shift Calendar Keep drill cadence consistent across crews.
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Cluster guide (already live): Mayday LUNAR Generator Guide
Core Principles (Why Comms Fail) Most fireground comms failures are predictable:
Too long: stress creates rambling and repeats; the actionable parts get buried.Missing location: the one thing command and RIC need first is often absent.No structure: crews do not share the same “order of information,” so radio time is wasted.Channel chaos: people step on each other because there’s no discipline or priority rules.Training objective: turn comms into a muscle memory format . Under stress you won’t rise to the occasion—you’ll fall back to your training.
Choose one format per message type and drill it until it’s automatic. Common, high-utility formats:
1) CAN / UCAN (Company-to-Command) C – Conditions: what you see (smoke/fire/heat/structural/occupancy).A – Actions: what you’re doing (searching, stretching, venting, forcing entry).N – Needs: what you need now (line, ladder, PPV, TIC, additional company).Some departments use UCAN (Unit + CAN) or other frameworks. The key is: keep it short and prioritized.
2) LUNAR (Mayday) LUNAR is built for Mayday because it forces the essentials first. A simple template:
“Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. Location: ___. Unit: ___. Name: ___. Air/Assignment: ___. Resources: ___.”
3) Location Language (Make It Teachable) Train location in the same consistent building language every time:
Level: basement / first / second / atticSide: Alpha/Bravo/Charlie/Delta (or your equivalent)Landmark: stairs, hallway, kitchen, heavy fire room, exterior door, hose line referenceMayday Workflow (Simple + Repeatable) Mayday success is largely about speed and clarity. Your workflow should be boring—because boring means it’s practiced.
1) Declare early: don’t wait until air is critical. Early Mayday gives options.2) Give location first: even an imperfect location is better than none.3) Use LUNAR structure: short + complete beats long + emotional.4) Then listen: after one clean message, stop transmitting unless asked.5) Conserve air and orient: protect the basics while help is moving.For drill reps and scenario building, use the tool + guide together:
Open Mayday LUNAR Generator Read the Guide
RIC Workflow (What Command Needs From the Radio) RIC operations are faster when radio traffic is structured. At minimum, command/operations needs:
Exact problem type: lost / trapped / entangled / injured / collapseBest location: floor + side + landmark + last-known referenceAir status: approximate is better than nothingAccess info: entry point, stairwell, hose line, wall orientation, etc.Training tip: Make one person the “radio coach” during drills. Their only job is to stop rambling and force structure.
PAR Discipline (How PAR Becomes Useful) PAR is only useful if it’s consistent. Train the same rules each time:
PAR is headcount + status: “PAR 3, advancing line to second floor,” not just a number.PAR triggers: major tactical shift, collapse indicators, Mayday, loss of water, sudden fire behavior change.Keep it short: count + location + assignment; nothing else.Training Framework (Micro-drills + Quarterly Scenarios) The goal is frequency and consistency. Suggested approach:
Monthly: 10–15 minute micro-drill 5 reps of CAN report (Conditions/Actions/Needs) 5 reps of LUNAR Mayday (random scenario prompts) 2 reps of PAR response (with assignment + location) Quarterly: scenario evolution Add movement (crawl, stairs), low visibility, and “task loading” (forcing/searching) Force a decision: “call Mayday now” vs “self-rescue” vs “change route” Grade only two things: location quality + message structure How you win: You don’t need perfect words. You need predictable structure and early activation.
Quick Checklists (Print These) Before Entry (Comms Hygiene) Radio check: correct channel, volume, mic placement, backup plan.Talk path: who talks to command (officer vs firefighter) per SOP.Location language: agree on sides/levels/entry point naming.Mayday (Minimum Viable Message) Declare: “Mayday” x3Location first: level + side + landmarkLUNAR: unit, name, air/assignment, resources neededThen listen: one clean transmission, wait for directionAfter-Action Review (Make It Stick) Was location usable? If not, what would have made it usable?Was structure kept? Did anyone ramble or repeat?Did the crew activate early? If late, why?Train LUNAR (Tool) Read LUNAR Guide
Frequently Asked Questions What is the fastest Mayday format to use under stress? + Most departments train a structured format like LUNAR (Location, Unit, Name, Air/Assignment, Resources). Exact wording varies—follow your SOP/SOG—but structure prevents rambling and missing critical details.
What is a CAN report in firefighting? + CAN is a quick status update format: Conditions, Actions, Needs. Some use UCAN/COAL WAS WEALTH—use the format your agency trains, but keep it short and actionable.
How often should crews drill Mayday communications? + Short, frequent reps beat rare, long classes. Many crews benefit from a monthly 10–15 minute micro-drill plus a quarterly scenario-based evolution that adds movement, low visibility, and stress inoculation.
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