Coal City Fire Department
Raleigh, West Virginia
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference marks "5188 | Coal City VFDpv | Coal City VFD - Private" on the WV SIRN as "D Enc" — notably the only encrypted talkgroup in Raleigh County's forty-eight-row listing — while the county's fire dispatch channel remains in the clear.
Encryption Details
Raleigh County Context
Raleigh County is a mixed picture: 1 of 2 agencies we track here are fully encrypted (50%), which means some neighboring departments are still audible on a scanner.
See every agency we track in Raleigh County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
This is a split system: certain talkgroups are encrypted while others remain in the clear, which means partial monitoring is still possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coal City Fire Department radio encrypted?
Yes. Coal City Fire Department uses P25 AES-256 encryption. This is a split system: certain talkgroups are encrypted while others remain in the clear, which means partial monitoring is still possible.
Can I listen to Coal City Fire Department on a police scanner?
Partially. Coal City Fire Department encrypts some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did Coal City Fire Department encrypt their radio?
The standard justification nationwide is officer safety and operational security, regardless of whether a documented local incident ever required it. The tradeoff that follows is consistent too: public oversight drops, and reporters lose the ability to track fire department response as it happens.
Can Raleigh County reverse the encryption decision?
Nothing technical prevents it. Coal City Fire Department operates encrypted because someone decided it should, and decisions of that kind get revisited when councils hear sustained, organised pressure rather than isolated complaints.
What can I do about Coal City Fire Department encryption?
File a FOIA request for Coal City Fire Department's radio recordings and encryption-decision paperwork, then show up to speak at a council or commission meeting. Find other residents or journalists in Raleigh 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.