Fork Ridge Fire Department
Marshall, West Virginia
How we verified this
As of August 2026 RadioReference marks "2446 | Fork Ridge FD Pv | Fork Ridge Fire - Private" on the WV SIRN as "T Enc", while Marshall County's countywide fire dispatch and fire tactical channels remain unencrypted.
Encryption Details
Marshall County Context
Of the 20 public-safety agencies we track in Marshall County, Fork Ridge Fire Department is currently the only one we have flagged as encrypted.
See every agency we track in Marshall County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
Coverage here is uneven — parts of the system are locked and parts are open, so a scanner gives you an incomplete rather than an empty picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fork Ridge Fire Department radio encrypted?
Yes — Fork Ridge Fire Department's radio system runs on P25 AES-256 encryption. Coverage here is uneven — parts of the system are locked and parts are open, so a scanner gives you an incomplete rather than an empty picture.
Can I listen to Fork Ridge Fire Department on a police scanner?
Partially. Fork Ridge 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 Fork Ridge Fire Department encrypt their radio?
Departments typically point to officer safety and operational security. Neither claim tends to come with evidence specific to Marshall 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 Marshall County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes, and some departments already have. Because encryption here is a choice rather than a technical necessity, the path back runs through the same people who chose it: budget hearings, records requests, and residents who keep asking in public.
What can I do about Fork Ridge Fire Department encryption?
Ask for the paperwork first — the policy that authorised encryption for Fork Ridge 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 Marshall County with you.