[Scan-DC] [OT] Four-Alarm Fire in Baltimore Last Night

[Andrew Clegg]

Thanks Doug! I've heard the term "alarm" with regard to fires since as long
as I can remember, but I never really did know exactly what it meant until
now.

Andy

-----Original Message-----
From: scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of oldsdoug at hotmail.com
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 1:14 PM
To: scan-dc at mailman.qth.net
Subject: RE: [Scan-DC] [OT] Four-Alarm Fire in Baltimore Last Night


Hey Andy,

Yes, that's the general idea... and of course those pre-defined responses
may (probably!) differ from one jurisdiction to another.  And it would be a
different collection of stuff for a building fire than a brush fire... for
example, you wouldn't normally need a ladder truck on a brush fire (or a
brush truck on a building fire.)

Most of the ECCs screen their callers to try to determine what exactly is
going on... how strong is the odor, any flames showing, high-rise building,
alarm bells, etc... and they may base the equipment they send at least
partially on the information from the caller... for example, on an alarm
bells call, they may not send the whole "box" assignment (4 engines, 2
ladder trucks, 1 squad, 2 ambulances, 2 command officers) but only send one
engine and one truck.  But for the same building, if they have alarm bells,
an odor, and an activated smoke detector, they'd send more stuff or the
entire box assignment.

Also, Montgomery county will dispatch a RID or rapid intervention dispatch,
right after the "first alarm", if they think they have a working building
fire... not sure what that consists of, let's say an engine, ladder truck
and ambulance), those guys are to do any rescue of personnel that might get
in trouble, or hit a spot that flares up... I'm sure somebody else can
explain that better.

Confused?  :)

Regards,

Doug

> From: w4jecom at w4je.com
> To: scan-dc at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: RE: [Scan-DC] [OT] Four-Alarm Fire in Baltimore Last Night
> Date: Sun, 23 Mar 2008 21:35:23 -0400
>
> David, Mike,
>
> Thanks for the feedback. To summarize (to make sure I'm clear on this), an
> "alarm" is a pre-defined response effort that is a combination of
equipment
> from one or more stations.
>
> Regards,
> Andy
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