Fire Department Partially Encrypted

Forest Township Fire

Genesee, Michigan

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 ADP
Scope Most Operations except for Dispatch/Paging
Technical Details P25 ADP

Verified Talkgroup Data

Verified Mar 6, 2026 Moderate confidence
7 Total Talkgroups
1 Encrypted
6 Unencrypted
14% Encrypted
Radio System: Michigan's Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS)
View 1 talkgroup
DEC Alpha Tag Description Status
2481 25F39 Forest Twp. Fire: Proprietary Tactical Encrypted

Verification Status

We do have per-talkgroup data for Forest Township Fire from the RadioReference API, and used it to set the encryption scope shown above — but no additional human-reviewed source (a live feed check or a dated news account) has been recorded for this record, so treat it as a data-quality correction rather than an independently confirmed verification. Check the live RadioReference database directly for current status.

If you monitor Forest Township Fire 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.

Shared Radio System

This page is one of 1 built from the same underlying radio record: fire department here shares Michigan's Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS) with 0 other departments in Genesee County, so the same traffic and the same encryption status show up on every one of those pages.

Genesee County Context

Genesee County is a mixed picture: 9 of 38 agencies we track here are fully encrypted (24%), which means some neighboring departments are still audible on a scanner.

What This Means

Our records list a mix here: some talkgroups encrypted, others not. The listing is unverified, so confirm what is audible at RadioReference.

See encryption status nationwide Interactive map showing which US police departments have encrypted their radios. Open the encryption map →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Forest Township Fire radio encrypted?

Our database lists Forest Township Fire as using P25 ADP encryption, though this listing is unverified. Our records list a mix here: some talkgroups encrypted, others not. The listing is unverified, so confirm what is audible at RadioReference.

Can I listen to Forest Township Fire on a police scanner?

Possibly. Our database lists Forest Township Fire as encrypting some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, which would leave some channels accessible. The listing is unverified — check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.

Why do agencies like Forest Township Fire encrypt their radio?

Agencies cite officer safety and operational security. Those are assertions rather than findings — no local evidence is typically produced — while the effects are concrete and land straight away on anyone who relied on hearing Forest Township Fire to know what was happening nearby.

Can Genesee County reverse the encryption decision?

Yes — nothing about the underlying radio technology forces this. It's a decision Genesee County officials made and can revisit, and other communities have pushed departments back toward open channels through sustained council pressure and coalition-building.

What can I do about Forest Township Fire encryption?

File a FOIA request for Forest Township Fire's radio recordings and encryption-decision paperwork, then show up to speak at a council or commission meeting. Find other residents or journalists in Genesee County who want the same access — state legislation requiring public radio access is the longer-term fix, but organized local pressure is what usually moves the needle first.

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