First Alarm Assignment

[SBrooks]

What do you guys send for a report of a fire in a multifamily dwelling?

In Washington, DC, a report of fire in any building, or smoke in a 3 storey or more building gets:
5 Engines, with an officer and 3 F/F;
2 Trucks, with an officer and 4 F/F;
1 Rescue Squad with an officer and 4 F/F;
and 1 Battalion Fire Chief with a SGT aide.
37 F/Fs

Evidence of fire on arrival gets a Working Fire Dispatch, which brings more...

[LaFireEducator]

Combo department. Surburban/Rural area.

1 manned station (Central) with vollies responding to it as well (engine, rescue, light rescue/service, brush truck) with 1 to 3 paid personnel, depending on time of day and often at least 2-4 volunteers hanging out or doing a ride-out shift. 4 volunteer stations. Parish medic unit also housed at our Central Station and at least 1 medic per shift is either an off duty firefighter from our/another fire dept. or cross-trained medic who can drive our apparatus and pump our engine.

We only have 2 apartment complexes. Both are 2 story and have 6-8 units per building. Both masonary with external open stairwells and walkways. One has 6 buildings of 6 units each. Other has 5 buildings of 8 units each.

Run Card:

3 engines
1 Rescue
Tanker 1 (3000 gallons)
1 service (often the light recue, but its optional as the rescue can also serve as the service truck uder our rating system)

Daytime we often call mutual aid to cover the 3rd engine and Tanker.
Working fire evening may bring request for 1 additiional mutual aid engine from duty officer, depending on initial dispatch.

Confirmed fire might get a truck company from the neighboring full-time city department, depending on the officer who has the duty and the nature of the information. They have a 75' quint at the station on the district line, about 10 miles from these buildings, but they don't like to send it out of the city unless we have a confirmed fire as it leaves a fairly big hole in thier coverage area if it leaves the city. They also have a 95' quint about 15 miles out. We could request it but they really hate to send that MA as it's thier only dedicated truck company, so it's unlikely we would request it.

Both complexes are on descent water systems but a tanker box is an option in a high-flow situation.

Manpower will fluctuate. M-F we have 2 paid FFs on plus FT Asst. Chief. Average daytime vollie response is 4-8. Weekend days 2 paid FFs, with an average vollie response of 6-10. Evenings (weekdays and weekends) 1 paid FF. Average evening vollie rideouts at Central Staion 3-5 plus another 10-15 vollies responding from home to scene or our other 4 stations for apparatus.
Chiefs average 1-2 for evening and weekend fires. We may get a 2nd Chief for daytime runs as they work for career FDs and may catch them on thier days off.

[rfd599]

Brooks:

Here is Rockford (IL)'s initial response for a fire in multi-family:

(3) Engines-Staffed with an Officer, DR, (2) FF's
(2) Trucks-Staffed with an Officer, DR, (2) FF's
(1) Ambo-Staffed with (2) FF's (Only for Medical Stand-by)
(1) District Chief

Total: 20 FF's, 2 FF/PM's, and a Chief

Note: If it is confirmed, we may get another Engine for RIT.

rfd599
www.IllinoisFireStore.com

[PFDTruck18]

A report of an apartment wether in a building or dwelling gets 4 Engines, 2 Ladders, 2 Chiefs.

[MemphisE34a]

3, 2, & 2.

Any apparent working fire gets a heavy.

All staffed with 1 officer, 1 driver, 2 firefighters.

[Dalmatian190]

Staffing will be variable by time-of-day and day-of-week. Indeed, even if all the apparatus on the 1st alarm card gets out will depend on that.

For our center area which contains most of the MFDs, nursing facilities, and correctional center first alarm is us (1 station & 1 sub-station), and 3 additional stations on automatic mutual aid in a "dump the barn" situation. Figure between all of them manpower will be 30 to 70.

4 Engine-Tanks (Our "attack" units)
3 Engines (Hose-Tenders...about 10,000' of 5" between them)
1 Aerial
2 Tankers
3 Rescues (Medium / Heavy)
1 Ambulance
Several small engines, mini-pumpers, support units

If it's working, you'll see either a special call or additional alarm struck very quickly to bring in another aerial or two, and additional manpower as necessary.

Yep, the alarm is heavy...OTOH, it's rare (three times I can think of in 20 years...) to strike a 2nd alarm.

[doughesson]

Staffing will be variable by time-of-day and day-of-week. Indeed, even if all the apparatus on the 1st alarm card gets out will depend on that.

If it's working, you'll see either a special call or additional alarm struck very quickly to bring in another aerial or two, and additional manpower as necessary.

Yep, the alarm is heavy...OTOH, it's rare (three times I can think of in 20 years...) to strike a 2nd alarm.

Better to have it and not need it works in many jobs.My old volunteer department responds with as many people as can answer the pager.Due to our area being split by a river,the area the call is in decides which rig does the engine work and which does truck.The closest unit is the engine and the other is the truck.It seems to work well enough for now.
We don't have any buildings high enough to really warrant a ladder,though it would be useful for the water tower or when we DO get taller buildings(3 stories or so).

[BoxAlarm187]

Work:

3 engines (each staffed with at least three)
2 special services companies
- Both our towers and heavy squads fall into this category
- At least one of the SS companies has to be a TL, you can't have two heavy squads
- Each staffed with at least three
1 BC

A working fire decloration gets you an FD ALS-staffed ambulance, the air & light unit, and EMS supervisor.

Each extra alarm gets you two more engines and one more special services company.

We run 20 engines, 5 tower ladders, a 3 heavy squads.


Volunteer:
3 engines & 3 tankers with as much available manpower as there is!

[tfpd109]

We don't have any buildings high enough to really warrant a ladder,though it would be useful for the water tower

You know your having a bad day when you need to put out the water tower

[Dalmatian190]

You know your having a bad day when you need to put out the water tower

*whistles* and looks the other way...

And not the day that happened...but I was once assigned to the ladder pipe...with the orders that our mission was to keep another aerial cooled down so they could stay in their location! Did have a nice vantage point when another aerial further up the block had to axe cut their supply lines to hasten the retreat...

[Dave1983]

3 Engines
1 Truck
1 Squad (heavy rescue)
1 DC

Minimum staff is 3 per (except DC), officer, engineer, FF. Most are 4 (1-1-2)

3rd Engine is RIG (RIT/FAST).

All Engines are ALS (as are most Squads), so a seperate medic unit isnt required.

[firefighter2454]

we resond with

3 Engines each with 3 guyes (one officer on each)
2 Trucks one staffed with 3 one staffed with 4 (one officer on each)
1 medium rescue with 3 (one officer)
3 chiefs

[NDeMarse]

Normal response for a Phone Alarm reporting a fire in a building is:

2 Engines, 2 Trucks and a B/C.

If one or both of the responding Engines have only 4 firefighters (which is normally the case) then they respond "10-14" (ONLY 4 Firefighters).

If there is a 10-14 Engine on the assignment then an extra engine must be added to make the response 3 & 2.

If upon arrival there is a confirmed fire, then one of the first arriving officers will transmit a 10-75. Upon transmission of a 10-75 the TOTAL ASSIGNMENT will be

4 Engines (4 or 5 firefighters depending on location and the boss)
2 Ladders (5 firefighters and the boss)
1 Ladder as a FAST TRUCK (5 firefighters and the boss
2 Battalion Chiefs
1 Rescue (if available) (5 firefighters & a boss)
1 Squad (if available) (5 firefighters & a boss)

If the normally assigned Squad or Rescue are not available upon transmission of the 10-75 then the Dispatcher will advise the Battalion Chief, "Your normally assigned Squad/Rescue is not available, if one is needed we can special call one.

If the Battalion Chief transmits and "All Hands, doubtful" then a Rescue and a Squad MUST be assigned even if it is from another borough. The "doubtful" means that the fire is "doubtful will hold" or not yet under control.

Upon the tranmission of an "All Hands, Doubtful" the TOTAL ASSIGNMENT will be:

4 Engines
2 Ladders
1 Ladder as a FAST TRUCK
2 Battalion Chiefs
1 Rescue
1 Squad
1 Division Chief
1 RAC (Recouperation & Care or rehab)

There are three phases of fires when it comes to radio/dispatch terminology. "Doubtful will hold", "Probably will hold" and "Under Control". Normally, a fire will not go to a "Probably Will Hold" until they are sure that fire is not extending in the walls, shafts or other voids. If there is a heavy fire condition or a well advanced fire on arrival, normally the "All Hands on arrival, extra engine & truck" will be transmitted. Obviously, you would get one more Engine and one more truck

A 10-76 or 10-77 transmission (confirmed fires in a commercial or residential hi-rise occupancy) receives a lot more equipment, specialized equipment and manpower.

[NDeMarse]

My former department would respond to a working fire whether it be in a hi-rise, a store, multiple dwelling or house fire with:

2 Engines (1 officer, 1 firefighter and a Chauffeur)
1 Automatic Aid Engine (1 officer, 1 firefighter and a Chauffeur)
1 Ladder (usually 1 officer, 1 firefighter and a Chauffeur but sometimes could be only 2 FFs).
1 Automatic Aid Squad (1 Chauffeur, 1 firefighter & 1 boss normally)
1 Automatic Aid Ladder (1 Chauffeur, 1 firefighter & 1 boss normally)
2 Ambulances (2 firefighter/paramedics)
1 Command Van

I couldn't even begin to count how many chiefs that we used to receive upon the transmission of a confirmed fire. I am not kidding when I say 8-10 Chiefs.

Additionally, these would respond later but couldn't be counted on since they were manned by callback personnel and you never knew if anyone was going to show up:
2 Engines
1 Aerial Ladder
1 Squad

[bcarey]

Boston

Fire in a MFD, with minimum staffing:

If it is only one call to 911, between 0800 and 2400 hours:
2 Engines (4 men companies), 1 Ladder (5 men companies), District Chief
- In E.10's first and second due, Rescue 1 responds; In E.42's first and second due, Rescue 2 responds. Rescues run 5 men companies
Staffing: 14 to 19 personnel

If units arrive and find smoke or fire showing;
- in District 1, 3, 4, 6, 11: TL (tower ladder) 3
- in District 5, 7, 8, 9, 12: TL.10
Staffing: 19 personnel

If it comes in after those hours, or with additional calls, it is a Struck Box, or, if you're listening, you'll hear the company say "__company calling Fire Alarm, strike box ___".
3 Engines, 2 Ladders, Rescue__, District Chief
- Downtown: C.6 (Division 1 Chief), TL.3* (tower ladder), Rescue 1
- Division 2: C.7 (Division 2 Chief), TL.10*, Rescue 2
- Waterfront: Marine Unit added
- High Rise: Division Chief, Evac Chief (District Chief), Field Comm, TacCom
* if not already assigned.
Staffing: 34 personnel if TL not previously assigned.

Working Fire:
1 Engine, 1 Ladder, 1 Ladder (FAST)
H.1 (Safety Chief)
Division Chief
1 Tower Ladder, if not already assigned.
Special Unit
W.25 (Air Supply)
Field Comm
TacCom
W.25 (Rehab)

Staffing: 49 personnel, not counting staffing for "support" apparatus.

Basically if it goes to a working fire the compliment is 4 Engines, 4 Ladders, 1 Tower Ladder, 1 Rescue, 2 District Chiefs, 1 Division Chief and the specials.

Truly a unique department. They are among the few who still "tap out" the box bumbers. Brooks, you'd find it interesting to know they alternate who responds on the medic-locals. Odd months, Engine. Even months, Ladder and Rescue.