Fire Department Partially Encrypted

Moundsville Volunteer Fire Department

Marshall, West Virginia

How we verified this

As of August 2026 RadioReference marks "2430 | Moundsvl VFD Pvt | Moundsville VFD - Private" on the WV SIRN as "D Enc", while the Moundsville and countywide fire dispatch talkgroups this department shares remain in the clear.

Checked against a primary source on 2026-08-09: radioreference.com . Encryption status changes without notice — confirm the current picture on the live RadioReference database before relying on it.

What you can do right now

Encryption Details

Encryption Type P25 AES-256
Scope Some talkgroups encrypted; dispatch audible per verification
Technical Details P25 AES-256

Marshall County Context

Of the 20 public-safety agencies we track in Marshall County, Moundsville Volunteer Fire Department is currently the only one we have flagged as encrypted.

What This Means

This agency encrypts some of its communications while leaving others open. Which channels are affected depends on the operation.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Moundsville Volunteer Fire Department radio encrypted?

Yes. Moundsville Volunteer Fire Department uses P25 AES-256 encryption. This agency encrypts some of its communications while leaving others open. Which channels are affected depends on the operation.

Can I listen to Moundsville Volunteer Fire Department on a police scanner?

Partially. Moundsville Volunteer 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 Moundsville Volunteer 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 Marshall County reverse the encryption decision?

Nothing technical prevents it. Moundsville Volunteer 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 Moundsville Volunteer Fire Department encryption?

File a FOIA request for Moundsville Volunteer 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 Marshall 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.

Data source: RadioReference Wiki

Checked against a primary source on 2026-08-09 — see "How we verified this" above. Encryption status changes; confirm at RadioReference before relying on it.

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