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What is an additional alarm to you?
Here in New Castle County DE when we call for an additional alarm we're supposed to get 2 engines a ladder and rescue. Each additional alarm brings the same. Since we normally don't double pull three alarm will be 12 stations. Including cover ups the total could be 16 stations involved. Companies can contact Fireboard and say they have another piece available for response.
The reason I'm asking is that I read about 3 alarms and 5 companies being involved. Do you consider additional alarms calling for another engine or rescue or ladder? Or do you consider an upgraded alarm the full boat.
The reason I'm asking is that I read about 3 alarms and 5 companies being involved. Do you consider additional alarms calling for another engine or rescue or ladder? Or do you consider an upgraded alarm the full boat.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Smoke Eater on
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Well we don't call for alarms but we do call for mutual aid from other depts. Usually how we do it in our county is that we request certain equipment from another dept. and they send it.
Example:
Dispatch 703
Go ahead 703
Dispatch I need a Tanker from Center Twp. and tankers and manpower from Liberty Twp. and Blountsville.
Clear 703
Then dispatch drops the appropriate tones to get the resources we need.
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Permalink Reply by Doug Walton on
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Here in the majority of the Baltimore/Washington area, we run on a box alarm system - a box alarm gets you 4 or 5 engines, at least 2 trucks, and maybe a rescue squad (assigned, at least in PG County, as the dedicated rapid intervention team; subject to variation by the IC as he/she sees fit). An additional alarm would be an echo of the first, plus additional items (PG adds Water Supply 25, out of Clinton V.F.D. (with large diameter hose), as well as other apparatus, in addition to the assigned suppression apparatus.
Regarding double pulling, the companies with multiple crews are supposed to advise PSC (Public Safety Communications) via direct line of additional crews in the house. Sometimes, for some reason or another, this doesn't happen (oversight, or crews converge on the firehouse after being notified of a working incident in the area, and they want to run the assignment extra).
Hope this helps some.
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This sounds like a special call to me, versus a request for an additional alarm. You can special whatever you need (start me 6 brush trucks, a bulldozer and 6 helicopters from California), but an additional alarm is a bundle of resources; as I said before, we in the B/W area usually get between 4 and 5 engines, at least 2 trucks, etc. on an alarm assignment.
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Permalink Reply by PFC Harmon on
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We are about the same, we will respond with our tanker and engine then request manpower, tanker or pumper as needed. We normally request all these from one department at a time so another department can cover their area.
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Permalink Reply by Avery Dale on
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Our way is similar to Capt.ENG71INE. The first alarm is always for two stations, they roll whatever trucks they can man. If additional is needed Command with notify dispatch and specify what piece is needed from the 3rd,4th+ due. Being we are an all volunteer county it is hard to know what you will get. A structure fire on Saturday morning may bring two engines and a tanker with three personnel, if your lucky, or a fire in the middle of the week may empty both 1st alarm stations and have more manpower than you need, you just never know.
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Permalink Reply by Robert C. Baker on
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In our area, a assignment consisits of 2 engines, at least 1 or possibly 2 tankers and a private ambulance for stand by at working fires. Additional units are at the discretion of the OIC of the incident. Not really a good way of doing business I'm afraid, but true. Here's a new twist though, the OIC calling for additional help specifically at his or her own whim and depending on who there friends with that day or week, call in their friends not nessasarily the actual next due company. Thus and I have personally seen it house's burn down and property lost, and by then the whole county is there except for the closest next due company. Trying to understand their thinking here.
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Permalink Reply by Just Plain Craig Moyer on
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While we have alarms set up we still are able to request whatever we need, An engine company (1 engine) a rescue or ladder. The probelm we have is that officers piece meal alarms. They don't want to pull the gun on a 2nd alarm but by the time they request all the equipment they needed they have almost a 3rd alarm.
Years ago we had an issue of a company calling for additional equipment and nothing was hitting the road. (it was mid morning) We were sitting in the that companies station and weren't called. Now they call cover ups to make up some of the second alarm or amy additioonal equipment.
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Permalink Reply by Bruce Mack on
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An alarm in my district could bring a full complaiment of equipment or a single piece on special call. It depends on what has been place into fire dispatch cad system, by the individual companies in the county
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Permalink Reply by Scott on
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Under our system we use MABAS Used in ILL, WI and Parts of IN & MO (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) its regional and our alarm response is predetermined by area (box card number) and it gives response and move ups. The IC makes the call on the alarm type and level he wants.
Fire response would be something like this:
Still = 2 Engines, 1 Truck & 1 Battalion Chief
Working incident = 2 additional Rescue Engines(if not already there one as RIT) Paramedic unit and additional Chiefs as operations and safety
Box = 2 Engines, 1 Truck, 1 Chief, Special equipment (rehab, air etc) and move ups
2nd Alarm 2 Engines, 1 Chief additional EMS & Move ups
3rd Alarm 2 Engines, 1 Truck, 1 Chief & Move ups
4th Alarm 2 Engines, 1 Chief & Move ups
5th Alarm 2 Engines, 1 Truck, 1 Chief & Move ups
Some of the responses are a little different depending on the Box # and if its Fire, MCI, Disaster, Extrication etc.
Some Dept's have up to a 7th alarm listed most are 5. Some of the larger dept's have 3 Engines, 2 Trucks and 2 Chiefs on the cards.
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Permalink Reply by sully on
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I'm on a Missouri Fire Department. when a second alarm goes out that either one of to things. we need more man pwoer or the shit has hit the fan and we more guys and more water at the scene. We have 3 full-time fire stations manned 24hrs a day 365 a year . when a structure fire or first alarm tones out we send 2 engines, one tanker, and get two more engines from are neigbing departments. plus the duty officer, and the asst. fire chief. my deaprtment doesn't mess around when it comes to saving someone house and their belongings. we are a small comunity and we help one another out when the time comes. the mabas training is a good thing to train on. it works out for the best. it's always good to have more guys and deaprtments show up then not have enough. been there done that. it doesn't always come out tthe right way.
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Permalink Reply by Tony P on
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We don't use the 'alarm' system but our neighbouring all-career service do. Their system has a different mix of vehicles for each alarm number. In my urban area we always have at least two Stations responding for a structure fire (more than two if the pre-plan says more are needed). The OIC of the job, ususally the crew leader of the first vehicle out from the primary Station, will make the call for extra pumpers if needed. The need is usually for extra FF's on the ground, the pumpers are just the means of getting them there. This call for extra vehicles/personnel is in the form of a call on the radio "Make pumpers 5" for instance, dispatch know how many pumpers are on scene or on the way and will page for the extras to make up the number.. The extra vehicles are responded from the nearest Station. All our vehicles are listed on the CAD, if step-ups are needed that is also taken from the CAD. If the need is there for an aerial, or for comms support, or for breathing apparatus support, then that specific resource is requested and the nearest available one responded.
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