Dispatch and Response Procedure
When there is a reported emergency the call is received by the central dispatch division, which is located at Station 89 (HQ). Fire calls are transfered to the proper companies and the dispatcher sends the alarm to the companies over a paging system on the main fire dispatch frequency. Information included usually consists of the company or companies that the alarm is for, address, any other additional info, and the time of the alert.
When fire units call in route, dispatch acknowledges and records the time. While in route dispatch will provide any other info received.
Fire units will then arrive on scene and access the situation and advise dispatch of the situation. At this point the commander on scene will either handle the call, cancel additional apparatus responding, or request additional units to respond. The units on scene will then be assigned a Tactical Channel (TAC) for operations..
-Response Structure
First Alarm: Possible Building Fire: 1 Engine, 1 Truck
Box Alarm (Confirmed Fire): 2 Engines, 1 Squad, 1 Truck, 1 Battalion Chief
Second Alarm: 3 Engines, 2 Trucks, 1 Rescue, 1 Squad Engine, 1 Battalion Chief
Third Alarm: 4 Engines, 2 Trucks, 1 Rescue, 1 Squad Engine, 1 Battalion Chief, Mutual Aid: 1 Engine, 1 ladder
Fourth Alarm: 4 Engines, 2 Trucks, 1 Rescue, 1 Squad Engine, 1 Battalion Chief, 1 Tour Commander, Department Chief, all ff duty personnel on call-back, Mutual Aid: 2 Engines, 2 Ladders, 1 Rescue
Fifth Alarm: 4 Engines, 2 Trucks, 1 Rescue, 1 Squad Engine, 1 Battalion Chief, 1 Tour Commander, Department Chief, All off duty personnel called on scene, Mutual Aid: 3 Engines, 2 Ladders, 1 Rescue, 1 special service truck
High Rise Building Fire
- Equivalent of a third alarm.
- Additional units called by incident commander
Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA)
MVA w/ injuries or fluid clean up: 1 squad engine
MVA with entrapment: 1 rescue, 1 squad engine, 1 battalion chief
Car Fire
- 1 engine
Nuisance Calls
- 1 engine
Collapse Rescue
- 1 engine, 1 ladder, 1 squad engine or 1 rescue, 1 battalion chief
Water Rescue
- 1 engine, 1 rescue, 1 boat, 1 battalion chief
CO Alarm or Odor of Gas
- 1 engine or 1 truck
Medical Alarms
- 1 engine
Hazardous Materials Incidents
- Level 1: 1 engine, 1 ladder, 1 battalion chief
- Level 2: 2 engines, 1 ladder, 1 battalion chief, 1 rescue
- Level 3: 2 Engines, 1 ladder, 1 battalion cheif, 1 rescue, haz-mat trailer
*A big thanks goes out to Paul B for helping create and edit the response structure.