Collection: Wildland Fire Two-Way Radios

Wildland Fire Two-Way Radios and Field Gear for Crews That Can’t Afford Downtime

Every fire season has that moment. A crew is spread out along a ridge, the smoke thickens, and somebody needs to reach the division supervisor right now. If the radio is dead, set to the wrong channel, or missing the right accessory, nothing else matters much. Good communication on a wildland assignment comes down to a lot of small details done right, and most of them get settled before the crew ever leaves the station.

New London Technology puts those details in one place. This collection brings together wildland fire two-way radios, batteries, charging gear, programming tools, and everyday accessories for crews working with USFS, NIFC interagency teams, CAL FIRE, BIA, BLM, NPS, and municipal fire departments. We’re a factory-authorized dealer with an in-house service center, so warranty questions and repairs stay with one team.

Whether you’re equipping a single engine crew or outfitting a multi-region fleet, the goal is the same: radios that are ready to work the day they arrive. We can pre-load your codeplug, including NIFOG, NIFC, and agency-specific channel plans, so crews aren’t sorting out channels at the staging area. Browse the products below, or call us if you’d rather talk it through with a radio specialist.

Why Radio Choices Matter on a Wildland Assignment

Terrain and Conditions Don’t Give You a Break

Wildland crews work in canyons, heavy timber, and long stretches with little or no cell coverage. Add smoke, dust, heat, and the constant noise of saws, pumps, and aircraft, and your equipment takes a beating. Radios, batteries, and accessories need to stand up to that, and they need to be simple enough to operate with gloves on.

Interagency Work Means Planning Ahead

Big fires pull in people from everywhere. Federal, state, and local crews often share an incident, and each group may bring its own channel plan. What you can actually reach depends on how your radios are programmed and what your partners are running, so it pays to sort that out before the call comes in. Getting the plan right early beats troubleshooting it on the line.

Portable Radios Built for Daily Fireline Use

BKR5000 and BKR9000 Handhelds for Crew Communication

The handhelds in this collection come from BK Technologies’ BKR line. The BKR5000 is a single-band portable that suits agencies running on one frequency band, and it’s a practical way to equip a large crew. The BKR9000 is BK’s multi-band P25 handheld, covering VHF, UHF, and 700/800 MHz, with oversized, glove-friendly controls. Both are built for public safety work, and we can supply them in NDAA-compliant configurations.

Match the Radio to the Systems Your Partners Use

Before you pick a model, look at who you work with. If your agency and your mutual-aid partners operate on the same band, a single-band radio keeps things simple. If your crews cross jurisdictions or work with agencies on different bands, a multi-band handheld gives you more room to adapt. Our Radio Finder is a good starting point, and you can also browse VHF radios and multi-band radios to compare options.

Batteries and Charging That Keep Radios Working Through Long Shifts

Batteries Sized for Real Assignments

A radio is only useful as long as its battery lasts. We carry a high-capacity 4900 mAh lithium-ion battery with an IP68 rating for the BKR5000, plus AA battery clamshells and magazines for crews that want a backup when charging isn’t an option. If you’re comparing two-way radio batteries for the coming season, think about shift length, how often crews get back to camp, and whether your agency requires intrinsically safe options. Ask us if you need help sorting that out.

Plan Spares Before You Deploy

Fire assignments rarely follow a schedule. Extra two-way radio batteries in the truck or at the camp cache can save a crew from a bad afternoon. It’s usually cheaper and easier to stock spares ahead of time than to scramble during an active incident.

Charging at Base Camp and in the Field

Charging needs to fit the way your crews live on an assignment. For camp or station use, the SURPASS 2-bay desktop smart charger is a solid option for BKR radios. For field deployments, we also build custom FOCS charging cases that let you charge multiple units from one portable setup. When you’re choosing two-way radio chargers, match them to the batteries and radio models your crews carry, and think about where you’ll plug them in.

Think Through Your Power Sources

Not every camp has easy access to power. Vehicle power, generators, and solar setups all come into play on remote incidents. We also offer in-vehicle charging options for apparatus. Whatever mix you choose, make sure your two-way radio chargers can handle the number of radios you’ll be turning around each day.

Programming, Cloning, and Encryption Tools

Put Every Radio on the Same Channel Plan

Programming is where a lot of preparation either pays off or falls apart. A USB PC programming cable and the BKR Radio Editor software let your own team build and update codeplugs. If you’d rather hand that off, we include fleet programming with most quote orders. Browse our radio programming cables to find the right connection for your radios, or send us your channel list and we’ll load it before shipment.

Cloning and Key Loading Save Time Across a Fleet

Once you’ve got one radio set up the way you want it, cloning cables make it easier to copy that configuration to the rest. We also carry cable kits for encryption key loading and radio authentication. If your agency uses encryption, review your key-management process before the season starts so crews aren’t waiting on a technician.

Speaker Mics, Holsters, and Gear That Gets Used Every Day

Hear and Be Heard Around Engines, Saws, and Wind

Noise is a constant on the fireline. The right audio accessories can make a real difference in how clearly crews send and receive traffic. The Fire Speaker Microphone for the BKR9000 is rated for high heat and includes an emergency button, which suits the demands of wildland work. We also carry other speaker mic options for BKR radios.

Carry Accessories That Hold Up Over a Season

Small parts matter more than people expect. Holsters, belt clips, tether straps, side-port covers, replacement knobs and collars, and antennas all take a beating in the field. Having replacements on hand means a worn knob or a cracked clip doesn’t take a radio out of service. We stock leather and nylon holsters, belt clips, VHF antennas, and replacement parts for BKR5000 radios.

Equipment for the Agencies That Run Wildland Operations

USFS and NIFC Interagency Crews

Federal and interagency crews need radios that are ready for NIFOG and NIFC channel plans on day one. We pre-program to those plans and to your agency’s own channel list. You can also visit our Wildland Fire USFS page for more on how we support federal crews.

CAL FIRE and CAL OES Operations

For California operations, we configure radios and accessories with CAL FIRE channels, field batteries, multi-unit charging cases, and rugged speaker mics. Send us your channel plan and quantities, and we’ll put together a quote that fits.

BIA, BLM, NPS, and Municipal Fire

Land management agencies and local fire departments often share incidents with federal and state crews. Our BIA, BLM, and NPS radios collection covers more equipment for those teams, and we’re happy to help you build a setup that works across your mutual-aid partners.

Why Agencies Order From Us

Factory-Authorized Sales and Service

We’ve served land mobile radio customers since 1987. As a factory-authorized dealer and service center, we handle warranty repairs and service in-house. Our configurations are NDAA-compliant, and we can provide documentation if your RFP requires it. Our compliance page is a good place to start.

Build One Complete Quote for Your Fleet

When you request a quote, include the radios and the supporting gear together. Add your channel plan, quantities, and extras like spare batteries, radio programming cables, and audio accessories. Volume pricing kicks in quickly on larger orders, and we’ve handled deployments of more than 1,000 radios, including staging, programming, and serialization.

New London Technology is ready to help your crews get equipped before the season ramps up, from the first radio to a full fleet. Request your bulk quote today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wildland Fire Two-Way Radios

1. Which two-way radios are best for wildland firefighting?

Wildland firefighters need rugged radios with clear audio, reliable communication, and long battery life. New London Technology offers professional radios from BK Technologies, L3Harris, Tait, and Icom.

2. Are these radios suitable for USFS and CAL FIRE operations?

Yes, selected radios can be configured for applicable USFS, NIFC, and CAL FIRE communication requirements, depending on the model and agency specifications.

3. Can wildland fire radios be programmed with NIFC channels?

Yes, compatible radios can be programmed using NIFC, NIFOG, and agency-specific channel plans, subject to authorization and equipment compatibility.

4. What accessories are available for wildland fire radios?

New London Technology offers batteries, chargers, antennas, speaker microphones, holsters, and other accessories for compatible wildland fire radios.

5. Are NDAA-compliant wildland fire radios available?

Yes, NDAA-compliant configurations are available. Contact New London Technology to confirm the compliance requirements for your selected radio and accessories.

6. Can fire departments request bulk pricing for two-way radios?

Yes, fire departments and government agencies can contact New London Technology for bulk quotes, radio programming, and equipment recommendations tailored to their operational needs.