In January 2009 the U.S. Department of Homeland Security awarded $76,000 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) to the Madison Fire Department. $29,000 of this grant was to improve inter-department communications and department radio communications both on a regional and state level.

The cutting edge UHF Digital P-25 Compliant radio equipment will provide greater safety and enhancement of communications for Madison Fire fighting personnel. The new equipment not only has the ability to provide clear and secure radio communications for firefighters during day to day operations with the Boone County E-911 Center, but will also enhance interoperability and our ability to communicate with other fire, emergency medical, law enforcement, public works and state agencies both regionally and state- wide during emergency incidents and events. This system allows the fire department access to the WV Interoperable Radio Project, also known has IRP. The project is a collaborative cost-sharing effort by state, county and municipal public safety agencies to establish and maintain a state-wide interoperable radio network utilizing some of the latest technologies in the radio industry.

The IRP Radio System is robust enough to overcome our natural mountain and valley terrain and will provide the distance and reliability that we need in our communications system.