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Post by Gregg on Feb 26, 2003 0:47:46 GMT -5
Is it true that the county departments (Hamilton Co.) use a 2 company response for each extra alarm?
I heard that most county 2nd alarms only get 2 Engines and a 3rd Alarm would get 2 more Engines. Is this true?
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Post by RichSuburbFF on Feb 26, 2003 19:15:09 GMT -5
That depends on the specific department...I know some that on a second alarm will get 2 engines, 1 ladder, 1 ambulance, and possibly a special resource vehicle
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Post by Mark on Feb 28, 2003 11:03:25 GMT -5
Rich is correct. County departments can specify pretty much anything they want on an extra alarm - but the typical response seems to be 2 engines, 1 ladder, a squad or medic unit, and a support vehicle (air, canteen, etc.)
The county departments also have EMS alarm assignments - 2nd through 5th. Each alarm is usually 4-5 transport units, with a 50/50 split between squads and medic units.
Mark
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Post by Gregg on Feb 28, 2003 15:26:40 GMT -5
I was under the impression that the following would be county-wide, but maybe it is only for the township.
Through a recent contact with a township official in the west, I was informed that there is a fairly new plan where depts. would just request a 2nd alarm, 3rd alarm, etc. like CFD makes their request for an extra alarm.
In the past they would always request which specific units that they wanted to respond at a working incident (ie. Main St. Command - dispatch Engine x and Quint y to this fire). I was told that now they do not specifically request a certain fire company (unless just 1 additonal unit is required).
I was also told that their 2nd alarms are 2 additional fire companies. The way that I understand it is that if it is a dual-dispatch response (mutual aid/automatic aid), then the 2nd alarm would only get 1 additional fire company because the automatic aid company is counted as the other 2nd alarm company.
I was wondering how 2 fire companies on a 2nd alarm will provide adequate assistance. It seems like there is basically just one 2nd alarm fire company and 1 company is the RIT.
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Post by Mark on Feb 28, 2003 18:30:12 GMT -5
Gregg,
Like Rich said, it depends on the department. Let's take Golf Manor for example. We have on file with Hamilton County Communications an alarm assignment sheet (which needs some updating) listing the 2nd through 5th alarms. If the situation warrants, I can get on the radio and simply ask "Elbrook Command, give me the second alarm for Golf Manor". They will then dispatch the companies from that list. This system has been around for as long as I've been on the department (12 years).
I can think of many instances though, when we've needed only a few additional companies, maybe two engines, where the entire 2nd alarm was not required. I think this might be the reason you hear the individual companies being dispatched.
Another concern I've heard is the amount of time it takes the dispatchers to looks up the alarm assignments, enter them into the CAD, which then activates the tones. Not to take anything away from Hamilton County's finest, but there is something to be said for the time delay involved. Sometimes it's easier to simply memorize your 2nd alarm, and request the individual companies. But, I think this problem will be mitigated once Hamilton County Comm Center installs a new CAD system that will be better equipped to handle and automate the alarm assignments.
The township you mention may very well have only two companies per alarm. Boston has small multiple alarm assignments - 3rd through 9th at least. The idea is to keep the incident more manageable, and not clog the streets for blocks with unused apparatus. So maybe the township is looking in that direction... Who knows...
Just a few thoughts to ponder.
Keep it safe! Mark
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