FC Fire & Rescue language

[mhoecker]

While monitoring FCFD traffic I hear the dispatcher mention box numbers. For example Engine 4##, Box 1302 or something like that. To what is the dispatcher referring? Is it a reference box on a county map, something related to the batallion, or what? I can't seem to find this information. Any help that can be provided is much appreciated.

On a second note, I have done some onine research to see if I can find the apparatus photos to correspond with FC use of the terms engine, truck, tower, etc. Is there a resource or collection of resources where I could go that would show me the difference between these pieces of equipment? I've looked at individual station web sites but none seem to give a complete picture. Again, thanks for your help. :wink:

 

[BoxAlarm187]

The term box alarm is a carry-over from the "box alarm" system that was used on the street corners many decades ago. In the big city, there would be a fire department pull station on most street corners. If you needed to summon the fire department, you would simply go to the pull station, pull the lever, and a ticker tape would come out either at the closest fire station or at the fire department HQ. This was long before radio communications, so the nearest fire stations to the pull box (hence, a "box alarm") would respond to investigate.

Nowadays, the term just defines a small geographical response area within the jurisdiction.

As for the apparatus terms, here's a quick breakdown:
Engine - carries water & hose, the main work horse of the fire service (sometimes also called a wagon or pumper)
Truck - a vehicle with a 75-100' aerial device on top
Tower - like a truck, the the aerial device has a bucket on the end for people to stand in.
** NOTES: The terms truck, tower, and ladder can used differently from one area to the next. For example, at work, all of our aerials are towers, but we call them "truck" on the radio

To see pictures and examples, you might want to check www.firepics.net in the apparatus section, or www.fdnytrucks.com.

Hope this helps ... please let me know if you have any other questions, I'll give all of the help that I can!

 

[CelticRavenVA]

As I understand it, in Loudoun and will get clarification tonight from my neighbor, "box call" is a residence with a reported fire/alarm, and also dictates what vehicles are sent to the scene. My neighbor is a Fire Fighter and will get full clarification on this tonight and post for all.

 

[Towpro]

While monitoring FCFD traffic I hear the dispatcher mention box numbers. For example Engine 4##, Box 1302 or something like that. To what is the dispatcher referring? Is it a reference box on a county map, something related to the batallion, or what? I can't seem to find this information. Any help that can be provided is much appreciated.

On a second note, I have done some onine research to see if I can find the apparatus photos to correspond with FC use of the terms engine, truck, tower, etc. Is there a resource or collection of resources where I could go that would show me the difference between these pieces of equipment? I've looked at individual station web sites but none seem to give a complete picture. Again, thanks for your help. :wink:

The pre-fix of the # 4 means it's a Fairfax County unit. #1 would be Arlington, 2 is Alexandria, 6=Loudoun County & so on. The "Box" # coincides with a map grid system that is layed out through the county. It's not that complex, just hard for me to explain it in writing, LOL. But you can buy a map, with all of the box assignments written in red @ the Ffx. Government center building for $3.00. We just got one for the office @ the tow lot.

Here is a example of a typical response:

Single Family 4 Engs 1Truck 1Heavy Rescue 1EMS Unit 1EMS Supervisor 1Batt Chief

Townhouse 4Engs 2Trucks 1Heavy Rescue 1EMS Unit 1EMS Supervisor 1Batt Chief

Comm'l/Highrise 4Engs 2Trucks 1Heavy Rescue 1EMS unit 2EMS Supervisors 2Battt Chief's

Interstate Accident 2Engs 1Heavy Rescue 2EMS Units

 

[adamleff]

The term box alarm is a carry-over from the "box alarm" system that was used on the street corners many decades ago. In the big city, there would be a fire department pull station on most street corners. If you needed to summon the fire department, you would simply go to the pull station, pull the lever, and a ticker tape would come out either at the closest fire station or at the fire department HQ.

As little as 6 years ago, my previous hometown in Connecticut still used fire boxes and ticker tapes that feed into the dispatch center. I remember visiting a few friends at dispatch and hearing/seeing that thing activated -- I felt like I was in a museum.

In fact, I think the 21st-century fire alarm systems at the schools were hooked into an old fire box just outside the building, and that was the way the dispatch center was notified of the fire alarm activation. If memory serves, I think my old high school was box "53".

I have many memories of an engine going box to box, setting it off for testing, and hearing the dispatcher confirm "Box ###, four good rounds" -- then the engine crew would wind up the box again, close it up, and move to the next one.

Sadly, BoxAlarm, I wish your "many decades ago" comment was true.

 

[ALF900]

Fairfax Fire & Rescue

To add to Towpro's reply:

Box xx00 is in the close proximity to the station.

Box xx9x are mutual aid boxes. Ex. Box 1092 which draws companies 10, 77, and 56 or 410, 107, and 206 under the COG system.

4200 boxes are in the town of Vienna
4300 and 4500 boxes are in the city of Fairfax which are 3 and 33 boxes.
4400 is the town of Herndon
4600 are Falls Church boxes, hence no 4600 for the town of Clifton
6300 is for Ft. Belvoir
6400 is Dulles airport

There is system for the interstates boxes which the last two digits designate something, cannot remember that one.....has been a long time since I ran in Fairfax.

 

[beastieboy101]

Are there maps police and fire maps available for prince william county also

 

[gcgrotz]

As little as 6 years ago, my previous hometown in Connecticut still used fire boxes and ticker tapes that feed into the dispatch center. I remember visiting a few friends at dispatch and hearing/seeing that thing activated -- I felt like I was in a museum.

In fact, I think the 21st-century fire alarm systems at the schools were hooked into an old fire box just outside the building, and that was the way the dispatch center was notified of the fire alarm activation. If memory serves, I think my old high school was box "53".

I have many memories of an engine going box to box, setting it off for testing, and hearing the dispatcher confirm "Box ###, four good rounds" -- then the engine crew would wind up the box again, close it up, and move to the next one.

Sadly, BoxAlarm, I wish your "many decades ago" comment was true.

I remember them as a kid in Richmond, it was decades ago. The old Gamewell system. Just the other day here in C'ville, I noticed an old pole where you could still see the red paint band on it.

BTW, just as a reference, here in Charlottesville/Albemarle or the immediate surrounding counties, they don't use the box system. Once in a while the dispatcher will refer to a map page/grid for directions to the responders.

 

[CelticRavenVA]

I was listening to Loudoun Fire last night with my neighbor and asking him questions. Pretty much everything here is correct, he added one thing you can here "Box Call" which is different then hearing, for say his engine company, where you hear "Baker Box 11" which like previous people have mentioned, is a general area to start moving to, Usually he said you will here Unit-Box-#, then a list of vehicles assigned to the fire.

If you hear Unit-Box-#-Box Call, it is basically they roll everything in the fire house to that location annd they are marked as assigned until such a time as they are able to identify the call as a real fire, or the first responding vehicle is able to cancel the call for whatever reason.

 

[RockyNCC]

Fairfax Fire Box System

At the county Government center, in the map sales office on the lower level, ask for the map titled:
"Fire and Rescue department Assignment Box system"
This is a wall size map of the entire county and shows every fire station, battalion area
andevery box boundary - a must have.