Seattle Fire Radio Goes Silent | Seattle News

Seattle News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 26, 2026 · 1m

Seattle’s emergency radio channels are going dark — the Fire Department is encrypting most of its communications by August, ending real-time access to fire, paramedic, and tactical operations. While dispatch calls remain open for public monitoring, sensitive chatter like building codes and live incident updates will be locked down for safety and security. This move follows the Police Department’s earlier encryption efforts and is part of a regional upgrade to improve inter-agency coordination. News outlets now rely on social media, PIOs, and community tips — as seen during a recent East…