bnglbill
Member
Ok, I have been trying to figure this one out for a long time, Box 30-15. I know what the first number in the box area means but what does the second number mean?
Local Box 30-15, what does it all mean?
- Thread starter bnglbill
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mlevin
Member
Each company's first due area is split into several boxes. These are similar to a grid on any other street map. So 30-15 is station 30's area and box 15 on their map. Each box is a seperate page with detailed information on driveways, hydrant locations etc. etc. Local, medical, fire, resue box just refers to the type of call it is and what reponse profile will be dispatched. Kapish? 
wadeless28
Member
Bill,
Well for Anne Arundel...Nothing, really. Actually it does. Each stations first due area is reduced down to smaller graphic areas called box areas. The center of each box area has mileage calculated from each station, and I'm not sure if it is just the first alarm stations, first 4 alarms, or all of them. But anyway, the borders are determined by streets and distances to the station. Box area numbers, when originally mapped out in the late 70's or early 80's were numbered (lowest to highest) from east to west and north to south for each stations first due area.
Box areas also ring up extra equipment depending on location. Some box areas that are known non-hydrant areas, automatically get tankers for fire calls. The first due officer will decide enroute if that particular community has hydrants or not.
Slot boxes were added in the early to mid 90's for limited access highways. Dispatches for those have units coming from each direction so Fire Alarm can ensure a unit will be at the scene without turning around 3 miles down the road.
Special boxes (ex. 26-7A which is North Arundel Hospital) were added to high risk facilities like hospitals, nursing homes, some industrial areas to add additional equipment to assist with those special needs.
Off the top of my head that’s all I can think of. Any other AACo Fire Guru wants to add info. don’t hesitate.
I hope it cleared up at least some of your questions
Mike
Well for Anne Arundel...Nothing, really. Actually it does. Each stations first due area is reduced down to smaller graphic areas called box areas. The center of each box area has mileage calculated from each station, and I'm not sure if it is just the first alarm stations, first 4 alarms, or all of them. But anyway, the borders are determined by streets and distances to the station. Box area numbers, when originally mapped out in the late 70's or early 80's were numbered (lowest to highest) from east to west and north to south for each stations first due area.
Box areas also ring up extra equipment depending on location. Some box areas that are known non-hydrant areas, automatically get tankers for fire calls. The first due officer will decide enroute if that particular community has hydrants or not.
Slot boxes were added in the early to mid 90's for limited access highways. Dispatches for those have units coming from each direction so Fire Alarm can ensure a unit will be at the scene without turning around 3 miles down the road.
Special boxes (ex. 26-7A which is North Arundel Hospital) were added to high risk facilities like hospitals, nursing homes, some industrial areas to add additional equipment to assist with those special needs.
Off the top of my head that’s all I can think of. Any other AACo Fire Guru wants to add info. don’t hesitate.
I hope it cleared up at least some of your questions
Mike
cohenner5377
Member
Local Box...
There is also the issue of local box.
A local box is a minor incident (I believe) such as a medical call or traffic accident. A still box is dispatched to send units on an alarm or other minor fire incident (fire already extinguished). Then I believe there is a "box" dispatch which is used for a fire.... I think I got it right.
David
IPN MAR018
There is also the issue of local box.
A local box is a minor incident (I believe) such as a medical call or traffic accident. A still box is dispatched to send units on an alarm or other minor fire incident (fire already extinguished). Then I believe there is a "box" dispatch which is used for a fire.... I think I got it right.
David
IPN MAR018
mlevin
Member
Assuming we're talking about Baltimore Co. here.
Local Box-A single engine response
Medical Box- Imminent death situation (1 engine, 1 medic 1 EMS supervisor)
Local Firebox- 2 engines 1 truck. This is for calls that are determined to not require the whole fire box.
Local Rescue box-1 engine, 1 truck or 1 squad, and 1 medic unit. For calls determined to not need a full rescue box
Fire box-Full assignment including 4 engines 1 truck (two trucks if building or apartment) squad (if at night) and cheif
Rescue box- Full recues assignment including 1 engine, 1 truck, 1 squad 1 medic, 1 cheif, and 1 EMS supervisor.
Fire Rescue box- 5 engines, 1 truck ( 2 trucks if building or apartment), squad (regardless of daylight situation) 1 cheif, 1 medic, and 1 EMS supervisor
There are certain response files that will vary depending on the details of the call. Also, fire apparatus responding on a medical call require a minimum staffing of two personell. Fire apparatus responding on a fire call require a minimum staffing of four personell. MVCs are considered medical calls and require two personell, while MVCs with rescue and all other rescue calls are considered fire calls and require four personell.
{EDIT}There's also a Hazmat box but don't know the response profile off hand.
David, there's no still box for Baltimore Co. I don't know if there is one for AA Co. or not.
Local Box-A single engine response
Medical Box- Imminent death situation (1 engine, 1 medic 1 EMS supervisor)
Local Firebox- 2 engines 1 truck. This is for calls that are determined to not require the whole fire box.
Local Rescue box-1 engine, 1 truck or 1 squad, and 1 medic unit. For calls determined to not need a full rescue box
Fire box-Full assignment including 4 engines 1 truck (two trucks if building or apartment) squad (if at night) and cheif
Rescue box- Full recues assignment including 1 engine, 1 truck, 1 squad 1 medic, 1 cheif, and 1 EMS supervisor.
Fire Rescue box- 5 engines, 1 truck ( 2 trucks if building or apartment), squad (regardless of daylight situation) 1 cheif, 1 medic, and 1 EMS supervisor
There are certain response files that will vary depending on the details of the call. Also, fire apparatus responding on a medical call require a minimum staffing of two personell. Fire apparatus responding on a fire call require a minimum staffing of four personell. MVCs are considered medical calls and require two personell, while MVCs with rescue and all other rescue calls are considered fire calls and require four personell.
{EDIT}There's also a Hazmat box but don't know the response profile off hand.
David, there's no still box for Baltimore Co. I don't know if there is one for AA Co. or not.
Admin0140434
Member
all of you are right about the meaning of each box assignment (AACO FF)
I know somebody is going to ask, so here it is:
Box area 30-15 is located in the vincinity of Ritchie Highway & Jumper's Hole Rd, Pasadena, MD AACo. If there was a vehicle accident or sick person in the intersection, it would be a "Medical Box 30-15", unless someone was trapped in a car, then it would be "Rescue Box 30-15". If there was a small brush fire on the corner, it would be "Local Box 30-15". An alarm sounding in the Huffard Animal Hospital, it would be a "Still Box 30-15". If Shopper's Food Warehouse was on fire, it would be "Box Alarm 30-15".
Make sense of all that? Welcome to AACo!
Box area 30-15 is located in the vincinity of Ritchie Highway & Jumper's Hole Rd, Pasadena, MD AACo. If there was a vehicle accident or sick person in the intersection, it would be a "Medical Box 30-15", unless someone was trapped in a car, then it would be "Rescue Box 30-15". If there was a small brush fire on the corner, it would be "Local Box 30-15". An alarm sounding in the Huffard Animal Hospital, it would be a "Still Box 30-15". If Shopper's Food Warehouse was on fire, it would be "Box Alarm 30-15".
Make sense of all that? Welcome to AACo!
wadeless28
Member
Or Hazmat Box.....Water Rescue Box.....Etc. :lol: :lol: :lol:
:lol: :lol: :lol:
bnglbill
Member
All very good info. Thanks. I have Lived in AAco. all of my life and have been scanning for, well lets just say that my first scanner had crystals, anyway, most of this info I have pretty much figured out on my own but I was just never really sure about those last two digits although I had speculations such as map coordinates, etc. Thanks again, that's what makes this site GREAT.
cohenner5377
Member
Box Numbers
Just a quick note on the topic:
Most of the departments in the Baltimore area (Baltimore, Baltimore County, AA, Howard) use box assignments, and generally they all work the same way, in that they correspond to the first due response area.. I cannot vouch for Carroll or PG counties, but I do know that DC Fire & EMS does not use box numbers. The box numbers in New York do not correspond with apparatus locations, rather, they use a different box number for a different location (for instance, Box 5674 is a Queens box (100th Ave & 208th St) while box 5675 is 104th Ave & 208th St), but it has nothing to do with engine 56 or 75 1st due area.
Additonally, in New York a Box number could be the same for numerous boroughs, such as Box 2435. According to the lookup:
2435 240 FOOD CNT DR PARK AREA FRUIT AUCTION Bronx
2435 HITCHCOCK AVE & ST ANDREWS RD/RVFD Staten Island
2435 FOSTER AVE & E 29 ST Brooklyn
If you are interested or curious, check out http://www.fdnewyork.com/getbox.asp
Just a little note on box numbers.
David
MAR018
Just a quick note on the topic:
Most of the departments in the Baltimore area (Baltimore, Baltimore County, AA, Howard) use box assignments, and generally they all work the same way, in that they correspond to the first due response area.. I cannot vouch for Carroll or PG counties, but I do know that DC Fire & EMS does not use box numbers. The box numbers in New York do not correspond with apparatus locations, rather, they use a different box number for a different location (for instance, Box 5674 is a Queens box (100th Ave & 208th St) while box 5675 is 104th Ave & 208th St), but it has nothing to do with engine 56 or 75 1st due area.
Additonally, in New York a Box number could be the same for numerous boroughs, such as Box 2435. According to the lookup:
2435 240 FOOD CNT DR PARK AREA FRUIT AUCTION Bronx
2435 HITCHCOCK AVE & ST ANDREWS RD/RVFD Staten Island
2435 FOSTER AVE & E 29 ST Brooklyn
If you are interested or curious, check out http://www.fdnewyork.com/getbox.asp
Just a little note on box numbers.
David
MAR018
BarnacleBill
Member
Those are great explanations. I've been listening to AA county fire dispatch and others for several years and never figured that out. By the way, I just stumbled on this web site about a week ago and have already learned a lot. Does anyone, including the RR database, have the AA county boxes listed and mapped?
Llwellyn
Member
I don't think anyone has the mappings of all of the box areas. I've been privately working on it, but I haven't been scanning much lately to get a lot of data to enter. Someone did post a very nice map of all of the fire stations and all the corresponding police beats.
When I'm finished, it will be a rough map of the county, with the box areas as detailed as I can get given the data. Needless to say, this is easier for busy stations and very, very hard for South County stations who get less than 1/4 the calls of the North and West County Stations.
When I'm finished, it will be a rough map of the county, with the box areas as detailed as I can get given the data. Needless to say, this is easier for busy stations and very, very hard for South County stations who get less than 1/4 the calls of the North and West County Stations.
Admin0140434
Member
if i can get down to HQ sometime soon, i will see what i can do about getting a map with the box areas... but i cant promise anything
wadeless28
Member
To show maps of box areas could be a bit tricky. First due area maps from the county come in "E" size drawings. (At least they used to) That shows a lot of detail but to reduce it down to a jpg or even a pdf would take a lot of detail away. I remember a file on here one time show the police beat for the county. It was a lot of information (and good I might add) but you could only just see where they were. If we map out the box areas it would be even more polluted.
One option is to just put community names down for each box area. An example would be:
Box Area 26-7 Southgate
Box Area 28-2 Severn Orchard (Pioneer City)
Box Area 28-3 Meade Village
Box Area 28-11 Ridgeway
I guess you can tell where I vollie at now.
There's a lot of box areas in the county this is a job in its self. I remember as a pup I had those box area maps of only part of west county taped together up on my wall. It went from ceiling to floor and only covered about 5 stations. Yes I know, I was a scanner hound back then also. With crystals I might add.
Food for thought.
Mike
One option is to just put community names down for each box area. An example would be:
Box Area 26-7 Southgate
Box Area 28-2 Severn Orchard (Pioneer City)
Box Area 28-3 Meade Village
Box Area 28-11 Ridgeway
I guess you can tell where I vollie at now.
There's a lot of box areas in the county this is a job in its self. I remember as a pup I had those box area maps of only part of west county taped together up on my wall. It went from ceiling to floor and only covered about 5 stations. Yes I know, I was a scanner hound back then also. With crystals I might add.
Food for thought.
Mike
Llwellyn
Member
Hah, I had never made the wadeless28 connection before! :shock: How slow am I? :lol: Nothing wrong with 28 if you like to stay busy...
I'm actually using Microsoft Streets and Trips 2005 (until I can find a copy of MapPoint) to keep the points posted, it's not perfect but it's got a MUCH improved address finding database over the old versions and any similar-priced product. It also lets you draw on the map, which is what I'll need to do once I narrow down some of them. My plan was just to release the file on my webspace every so often, so anyone with the software or any package that can open it can print out their own maps.
That reminds me too, I really need to get my second computer built/bought and setup so I can start recording during the middle of the night and all day while I'm at work, so I can get a lot of data and listening practice that way.
I'm actually using Microsoft Streets and Trips 2005 (until I can find a copy of MapPoint) to keep the points posted, it's not perfect but it's got a MUCH improved address finding database over the old versions and any similar-priced product. It also lets you draw on the map, which is what I'll need to do once I narrow down some of them. My plan was just to release the file on my webspace every so often, so anyone with the software or any package that can open it can print out their own maps.
That reminds me too, I really need to get my second computer built/bought and setup so I can start recording during the middle of the night and all day while I'm at work, so I can get a lot of data and listening practice that way.
cohenner5377
Member
MapPoint
I am using MapPoint to plot Baltimore City Box areas... However, I don't ever anticipate compiling a comprehensive list.
I am using MapPoint to plot Baltimore City Box areas... However, I don't ever anticipate compiling a comprehensive list.
Llwellyn
Member
Have you used Streets and Trips at all? I'm wondering just how much better MapPoint might actually be.
cohenner5377
Member
MapPoint
Nope. Never used streets and trips... but mappoint is rather very cool. It can find everything based on streets, schools, and even hotels. It's very advanced.
David
Nope. Never used streets and trips... but mappoint is rather very cool. It can find everything based on streets, schools, and even hotels. It's very advanced.
David
n3bxv
Member
That has got to be the busiest box in the county...
I've been penciling in Box assignments on my ADC map when I remember but haven't got very many yet...
wadeless28
Member
n3bxv said:
Not really! For 28's area its 28-27 (Piney Orchard) and the 28-19 (Odenton Gardens) box area's that are tops. The 28-2 and 28-5 box areas might even beat the 28-3 box out. I doubt these box area's are not even the busiest in the county. I'm sure it would be somewhere in Glen Burnie or Annapolis that should beat them out.
Mike
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