[Scan-DC] "Fill the Box"

[BoxAlarm187 at aol.com]

"Send all available units" is a little misleading.

The term "box" is short for "box alarm," which made reference to the fire department pull boxes that were on the corners of the roads in major cities.  In the event of a fire, the citizen would go to the box, pull the lever down ("pulling the box").  An coded message would come out via ticker tape at the fire station/and or the dispatch center, indicating the box number that had been pulled.  For example, it might say "Box 1-8-7" (hence, my screen name).

The dispatcher or the fire department watch officer would have a large board that would indicate where Box 1-8-7 was, such as the intersection of Elm St & Main St, and then the fire apparatus would respond to that intersection to see what the problem was.

Some systems also used a gong system that would ring a bell inside the fire station would would "tap-out" the box location - 1 bell ring, 8 bell rings, 7 bell rings to indicate box 1-8-7.

Anyhow, onto modern times.  I'll throw some hypotherical info our there - Lets say that your house is locate in box 7501.  This would be in Station 75's first due, which is divided into many smaller areas (01).

For a *working fire*, the computer would recommend 4 engines, 2 ladder trucks, 1 heavy rescue, and a battalion chief.  However, for a simple fire alarm sounding, you'd only get 2 engines and 1 ladder truck.

If the FD is dispatched to a fire alarm, but arrived to find that it was actually a working fire, the officer will request to "fill the box," which will fill out the assignment with the other 2 engines, ladder truck, heavy rescue, and battalion chief.

In most places, box alarm assignments will vary with water supply availability, target hazards, high-rises, and things of that nature.

I hope that some of this makes sense, please let me know if it doesn't!  :-)

Taylor Goodman
Richmond, VA