Don't be Alarmed — This is Only a Drill

If you're a "scanner head" who enjoys listening to emergency responder calls over the airwaves, you should know that some of the chatter you're hearing may not be what it seems.

From now until the middle of April, Tampa Fire Rescue crews will be participating in a drill at the Tampa Fire Academy, 116 S. 34th St., on McKay Bay. The drills will happen twice daily — once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

Part of the training involves crews simulating a response to a mock emergency, such as a burning gas tanker, a building fire and a firefighter in distress, sometimes called a "mayday" call.

The radio traffic associated with this drill will be aired on Tampa Fire Rescue frequency No. 4 (153.800 mhz).