[Scan-DC] Scan-DC Digest, Vol 64, Issue 6

[Jeff Krauss]

>Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:25:16 -0400
>From: b_thom at juno.com
>Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] 3-Alarm Working Fire in Montgomery
>To: Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net
>Message-ID: <20090812.222525.1576.4.b_thom at juno.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain
>
>
>
>On Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:39:10 +0000 ltbrown122 at aol.com writes:
> > Hey Doug,
> >
> > It's 2nd task force - not 3rd alarm :
> >
> > U/D MD| MONTGOMERY| HILLANDALE| *2ND TASK FORCE*| 632 SYMPHONY WOODS
> > DR| CMD ADV STILL HAVE HVY FIRE THRU ROOF & IN ATTACHED 2 STORY
> > GARAGE / PRIM SEARCH NEG, DOING SECONDARY & FINDING MORE FIRE /M/A
> > PG CO / 800 OPS 7 CHARLIE, 7 DELTA| (C) BNN |
> > NEWSDESK/NYC712/MDN302/MDC008
>
>On Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:24:35 -0400 Doug Kitchener <oldsdoug at hotmail.com>
>writes:
> >
> > Thx - so how do they count alarms now?  I wondered about that as I
> > entered it... I guess a "task force" is not a full "alarm" (in terms
> > of assignments?)
> >
> > D
> >
> > PS - at any rate, it's a "big fire"!  :)
>
>What does all this mean?

>CMD ADV STILL HAVE HVY FIRE
Incident Command advises still have heavy fire

PRIM SEARCH NEG,
Primary search for victims

/M/A  PG CO
Mutual Aid companies from Prince Georges County

800 OPS 7 CHARLIE, 7 DELTA
Using talkgroups 7C and 7D on Montgomery County 800 MHz radio system


Typically in Montgomery County these days, a "first alarm" to a 
report of a building fire (called a "box alarm") consists of 5 
engines, two ladder trucks, a rescue squad, a basic life support 
ambulance and two command officers.  If an actual building fire is 
encountered (a "working fire"), a Rapid Intervention team is 
dispatched, consisting of a ladder truck, rescue squad and advanced 
life support medic unit.  A task force alarm consists of 2 engines 
and a ladder truck.  (However, there are special alarms defined for 
rural water supply task force, hazmat or foam task force, emergency 
medical or mass casualty task force, belowground or building collapse 
task force, etc.)  A second alarm and higher would typically send 4 
engines and two ladder trucks.

Different jurisdictions have different dispatch policies.
For example, the City of Chicago FD dispatch policies are listed here:
http://www.emergency.com/cfdpage.htm