Fire Department Terminology

[rabbitdude22]

Hello,

I am aware that this probably differs from county-to-county or state-to-state but I was wondering if there was a list somewhere or someway of deciphering terminology used by fire companies/dispatches. Perhaps a generalized list?

For example, would it be true that an engine company versus a rescue company would differ in the equipment they use? A tanker would obviously be a tanker....., but sometimes understanding what exactly they are using would be helpful........ And AOS= Ambulance on Service?

And then there is the numbers. For example, Engine Company 17. But sometimes they say Engine Company 1 2 (one, two). Is that to say Engine Company One with Two people? Or......

Even other counties use Delta, ...ect. when describing the situation to their units. I am not sure if there is a location that describes that either.

Thank you!

 

[Smerri]

To try to answer your number question

My most educated guess is If they say Engine 1 2, they may be clarifying saying 12. Kind of like a dispatcher saying respond to 55 Main Street, that's 5 5 Main.

However different towns may be different so it is tough to say 100%.

Maybe some others can shed some light too.

 

[CommJunkie]

If you clarify on the context in which they are used, it might get you better answers. For AOS, the first thing that popped into my head was "Arriving on Scene", but it's all in how it's used for the definition.

Some places use Alpha codes to determine the severity of a call. For example, an "Alpha" response might be a limited response, with only an engine responding, and probably to a non-life threatening call. Whereas a "Delta" response, might be a more hazardous call, with probably more units.

Like you said, it varies county to county. Posting in your state's forum might get you better or more specific answers.

 

[w8jjr]

>> Even other counties use Delta, ...ect. when describing the situation to their units. I am not sure if there is a location that describes that either.<<

What your hearing is EMD (Emergency Medical Dispatch) Protocol.
Do a google search to find info on it.

 

[grayam]

Fire/EMS dispatch is conducted differently from every dispatch center in Americ While many systems are now ueing plain speak others still use codes and signals..
Fire service typically describes a fire truck as an engine or pumper, this vehicle carrys a pump, hose and water. Ambulances can be called Rescues, medics or ambulances. A truck company is often referfing to an Aerial, platform, ladder or snorkel equipped vehicle, when these vehicles also carry a pump, hose and water they are called Quints. Special units can be Special Ops, Heavy rescue Haz mat or Technical rescue units. Aircraft crash rescue and foam vehicles may be called ARFF (aircraft recue fire fighting), foam or crash trucks. Brush fire units might be brush truck, foam trucks booster trucks tractors or plows. Some dispatch centers send stations others list equipment to respond.
whille local protocol determines units dispatched a trypical structural fire call might include 2-3 engines, 1-2 trucks, tankers, a rescue, a battalion chief, a training officer, an inspecter and other support personnel.
Hope this helps some.

 

[steveh552]

In my city we have Engines 3 and 4, rescue 1, Ladders 1 and 2 along with medics one, two and three and battalion 1. The number refers to what station each unit is assigned. Our rescue truck is the same as the engines, but has kept the name from many years ago when it was the only truck with rescue equipment. Additionally, we have a mass causality trailer and Haz-mat 5, which are at our station 3. We have what they call Rescue 4 but that is just an old medic unit that has some more advanced rescue equipment like water rescue and such.

So to answer your question, even trucks that carry the name engine or rescue and be different from other areas. In another city near here, a rescue truck does not carry any firefighting gear, just rescue equipment like a Hurst took and such.

 

[rvictor]

Sometimes a Fire Department will have a web page which will have information on the equipment, station locations, etc. that can be helpful in figuring out the unit numbering. That together with listening for a while will usually make most of it pretty clear.

Dick

 

[DickH]

Hello,

I am aware that this probably differs from county-to-county or state-to-state but I was wondering if there was a list somewhere or someway of deciphering terminology used by fire companies/dispatches. Perhaps a generalized list?

For example, would it be true that an engine company versus a rescue company would differ in the equipment they use? A tanker would obviously be a tanker....., but sometimes understanding what exactly they are using would be helpful........ And AOS= Ambulance on Service?

And then there is the numbers. For example, Engine Company 17. But sometimes they say Engine Company 1 2 (one, two). Is that to say Engine Company One with Two people? Or......

Even other counties use Delta, ...ect. when describing the situation to their units. I am not sure if there is a location that describes that either.

Thank you!

Terms can even vary from town to town. Make a list of the specific ones you want to know and go to the nearest fire station and ask them. They will probably be glad there is someone who is interested in what they do. Most people don't give a damn about the fire department unless they need them.

 

[scanrfan]

Fire Department Codes

As others have stated in other postings, every city/county/state agency is different. Some terms are fairly common (engine or truck units). The best way to get the codes is to just listen over a period of several weeks or months. After a while, you should be able to get a good idea of what a term or code means. If you have a program that allows you to look up addresses on a map, you can look up the addresses of calls and get a general idea of what area (or territory) a specific unit covers. Also many larger departments now have web sites and often there will be a section that will list the locations of the various stations. Here in my area (Jefferson County/Birmingham Alabama) the Birmingham Fire Department conducts a radio test every Sunday morning and they test all the radios station by station and unit by unit. Departments in your area may do something like this (probably on a weekend).

 

[qlajlu]

Terms can even vary from town to town. Make a list of the specific ones you want to know and go to the nearest fire station and ask them. They will probably be glad there is someone who is interested in what they do. Most people don't give a damn about the fire department unless they need them.

You can also make it a personal project, as one of the Utah Forum members has done, and assemble a photo gallery of the apparatus to eliminate all confusion. The RR Wiki Admins are screaming for content such as this and it would help your state's local forum as well.

Unified Fire Authority equipment. This is basically the Salt Lake County Fire Department made up of county equipment and equipment from all of the cities in the county outside of Salt Lake City proper.

Salt Lake City Fire Department equipment. This is the equipment use inside Salt Lake City proper.

Any fire dispatched as, or known as Medic ****, simply means that a paramedic is part of the manpower that crews the apparatus. We also have what is called an "Aux." This is an all-wheel-drive auxiliary unit with tank and hoses that is used in fighting open land fires such as grass and forest fires.

So as you can see, and as has been stated in another post, the description or name of the equipment can vary from state to state, county to county, city to city, department to department, and even job to job.

 

[senduhelp]

Hello,

I am aware that this probably differs from county-to-county or state-to-state but I was wondering if there was a list somewhere or someway of deciphering terminology used by fire companies/dispatches. Perhaps a generalized list?

For example, would it be true that an engine company versus a rescue company would differ in the equipment they use? A tanker would obviously be a tanker....., but sometimes understanding what exactly they are using would be helpful........ And AOS= Ambulance on Service?

And then there is the numbers. For example, Engine Company 17. But sometimes they say Engine Company 1 2 (one, two). Is that to say Engine Company One with Two people? Or......

Even other counties use Delta, ...ect. when describing the situation to their units. I am not sure if there is a location that describes that either.

Thank you!

I used to be a 911 dispatcher in Winchester so I can help you. I'm not aware of a list of terminology. I cannot help with Clarke County though. All I remember about them was that Enders is station 1.

Engine Company-You will hear this in reference to a fire call or medical assist. This means a fire truck is needed.

Rescue Company-Ambulance or medic is needed. You have to be careful though, a rescue squad means a crash truck or heavy rescue used in accidents.

Companies

Frederick County
Co. 11-Stephens City
Co. 12-Middletown
Co. 13-Clearbrook
Co. 14-Gore
Co. 15-Round Hill
Co. 16-Gainesboro
Co. 17-Star Tannery
Co. 18-Greenwood
Co. 19-North Mountain
Co. 20-Reynolds Store
Co. 21-Millwood Station

Winchester
Co. 1-Friendship
Co. 2-Rouss
Co. 4-Shawnee
Co. 5-South End

You may hear them say Engine 1 with 2. That means Engine 1 is responding with 2 personnel.

As stated earlier, Delta does refer to the EMD code that is determined by they dispatcher.

Send me a PM if you have any other specific questions about Frederick County or Winchester City. I hope this helps.