McCords Volunteer Fire Department
Calhoun, Alabama
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
View 12 talkgroups
| DEC | Alpha Tag | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11736 | BROOMTOWN VFD | Broomtown-Rinehart Volunteer Fire | Encrypted |
| 11737 | MT WEISNER VFD | Mount Weisner Volunteer Fire | Encrypted |
| 11738 | TUCKRS CHAPL VFD | Tuckers Chapel Volunteer Fire | Encrypted |
| 11739 | MCCORDS VFD | McCords Crossroads Volunteer Fire | Encrypted |
| 11740 | CEDAR BLUFF VFD | Cedar Bluff Volunteer Fire | Encrypted |
| 11741 | SPRING GARDN VFD | Spring Garden Volunteer Fire | Encrypted |
| 11742 | CENTRE VFD | Centre Volunteer Fire | Encrypted |
| 11743 | GAYLESVILLE VFD | Gaylesville Volunteer Fire | Encrypted |
| 11744 | SAND ROCK VFD | Sand Rock Volunteer Fire | Encrypted |
| 11745 | SPRING CREEK VFD | Spring Creek Volunteer Fire | Encrypted |
| 11746 | ELLISVILLE VFD | Ellisville Volunteer Fire | Encrypted |
| 11747 | LEESBURG VFD | Leesburg Volunteer Fire | Encrypted |
Verification Status
We don't yet have per-talkgroup data for McCords Volunteer Fire Department from the RadioReference API. The encryption scope and type above come from the RadioReference Wiki, which is community-maintained rather than independently confirmed channel-by-channel. Our automated matching put this at moderate confidence (70%) based on how closely the wiki listing matches this agency's name and county.
If you monitor McCords Volunteer Fire Department directly or have more current information, the fastest way to fix this is to update the RadioReference Wiki entry — our data pulls from there and from the RadioReference API on a regular refresh cycle.
Calhoun County Context
McCords Volunteer Fire Department isn't an outlier here: 18 of the 19 public-safety agencies we track in Calhoun County are fully encrypted (95%), so most departments nearby have made the same move.
See every agency we track in Calhoun County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
This agency is listed in our database as encrypting all of its radio communications, including routine dispatch. The listing is unverified — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is McCords Volunteer Fire Department radio encrypted?
McCords Volunteer Fire Department is listed in our records with P25 AES-256 encryption — a listing we haven't yet verified against live talkgroup data. This agency is listed in our database as encrypting all of its radio communications, including routine dispatch. The listing is unverified — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database.
Can I listen to McCords Volunteer Fire Department on a police scanner?
Likely not, if the listing is accurate: our database lists McCords Volunteer Fire Department as fully encrypted using P25 AES-256, which no consumer scanner can decode. The listing is unverified — check the live RadioReference database for current status.
Why do agencies like McCords Volunteer Fire Department encrypt their radio?
Departments typically point to officer safety and operational security. Neither claim tends to come with evidence specific to Calhoun County; what's verifiable is what's lost — journalists can't monitor fire department activity in real time, and coordination with agencies that stay unencrypted gets harder.
Can Calhoun County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes. Encryption is a policy choice made by department leadership or elected officials, not a technical requirement, so it can be reversed the same way. Public pressure, city council advocacy, and organized local coalitions have reversed encryption decisions elsewhere.
What can I do about McCords Volunteer Fire Department encryption?
Ask for the paperwork first — the policy that authorised encryption for McCords Volunteer Fire Department, and the recordings themselves — because a specific request is harder to wave away than a general complaint. Then take what you learn to a council meeting, and bring others from Calhoun County with you.