Fire apparatus numbers

[policefreak]

I know there is supposed to be some logic behind the fire apparatus numbers in Camden, Burlington, Glouceseter counties as well as anyone else who uses the 3 or 4 digit system. I do know that for each county all apparatus ending in a number 1 is an engine, a number ending in 2 or 3 is a squad or an engine. I am really confused about the apparatus that ends in numbers 4 thru 8. E.g. Quint 4314 is in Medford Farms, burlington Co. In Evesham the ladder is 2235. It seems that each twp does it different, and this goes for twps in each county. How many counties in NJ actually use this numbering system?

 

[SCPD]

i do remember hearing about this some where where the station number, the appuratus type are in the number, for ex 22-21 22 would be the station number, and 21 would be the unit number. now i know that for ladders some places have a system where you can tell the hight of the ladder from the number from it. being in north jersey, the system really does not exist where i am, but i do remember hearing about it. im sure someone will correct me if im wrong

 

[apu]

Union County fire/EMS numbering

Union County uses a slightly confusing system (IMHO).

Its a unified fire & EMS system, however. So, if multiple agencies in a town provide the same services (Union Fire and Union EMU both provide EMS) the number system accounts for this so their numbers are similar but unique (EMU ambulances are 20-1971 to 76 and fire is 20-1977 to 79, for example).

First, number each town 1 thru 21. There are a few other special "towns" beyond the 21 municipalities. These include county hazmat, industrial fire/EMS agencies, commercial EMS providers and the ALS agencies.

1 = Berkeley Heights
2 = Clark
[...]
21 = Winfield

22 = County OEM (HazMat)
23 = Merck
24 = Schering-Plough
25 = Conoco Phillips

31 = Hatzola
32 = Nationwide
33 = On Time

73 = MONOC ALS
74 = Muhlenberg ALS
75 = Overlook ALS
76 = Rahway ALS
77 = Trinitas ALS
​

Now, if you add a single digit to that, you get a fire or EMS station. Fire stations are numbered from 1 up, EMS stations from 9 down.

11=fire station & 19=EMS station in Berkeley Heights
21=fire station #1, 22=fire station #2 & 29=EMS in Clark
211=fire & 219=EMS in Winfield
241=Schering-Plough Kenilworth, 242=S-P Union, 243=S-P Summit
​

If you add two digits to the town, you get a fire or EMS unit. Units ending in a "0" are officers (00=fire chief, 10=deputy or battalion chief, etc. except, since EMS is the public-safety stepchild the EMS Chief is 90 and the other EMS officers are 90A, 90B, etc.).

1700=Springfield Fire Chief, 1710=deputy chief, 1720=highest ranking fire captain, etc.

1790=Springfield FAS Captain, 1790A=Springfield FAS First Lt., 1790B=Second Lt.
​

The other unit identifiers are for vehicles:

31-39 = ladder
41-49 = staff vehicle
51-59 = special apparatus
61-69 = rescue
71-79 = ambulance
81-89 = engine
​

Prefix a "20-" in front of all of these since we are Union County and that makes our (Springfield) first ambulance 20-1771 and the second ambulance 20-1772.

That said, only a few agencies actually use these numbers routinely. Its supposed to be on all the fire & EMS vehicles (it's on ours) but you'll still hear "Elizabeth Engine 1" or "Summit [First Aid] Squad 2" on the radio.

Oh, and our county issued EMS radios use a different identifer which matches the CenCom CAD system instead.

 

[emtbrat29]

this is warren countys set up and how we id units its fairly simple


PREFIX STATION/MUNICIPALITY AGENCY TYPE(S)
21 Belvidere Police/Fire/EMS
22 Warren County Hazardous Materials Response Team Hazmat
23 Harmony Fire
26 Mt. Bethel (Mansfield) Fire
27 Butler Park (Mansfield) Fire
28 Mansfield Police/Fire/EMS
29 Tri-County (Mansfield) Fire
33 Warren County Fire Marshal Fire
34 Mallinkrodt-Baker Chemical (Industrial) Fire/EMS/Hazmat
35 BASF (Industrial) Fire
36 Roche Vitamins (Industrial) Fire/EMS
38 Hope Fire
39 Oxford Police/Fire/EMS
41 Knowlton Fire/EMS
42 Warren County Road Department Public Works Department
44 Warren County RACES OEM
46 Blairstown Police/Fire/EMS
55 Warren County Fire Academy Fire (Training)
56 Franklin EMS
57 Franklin Fire
58 Asbury Fire
66 Warren County Emergency Management OEM & Fire/EMS Coordinators
72 Mountain Lake (Liberty) Fire
73 Independence Police/Fire/EMS
74 Lopatcong Police/Fire/EMS
75 Pohatcong Police/Fire
76 Washington Township Police/Fire
77 Warren County Communications Communications
78 Hackettstown Police/Fire/EMS
81 NJ State Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife State
82 Alpha Fire
83 Washington Boro Police/Fire/EMS
84 Frelinghuysen No hosted services
85 Warren County Serious Collision Accident Reconstruction Team (SCART) Law Enforcement
86 Warren County Health Department Health, Hazmat and Bio-Terrorism
87 Warren County Corrections Law Enforcement
88 Warren County Tactical Response Team Police (Special Response Team)
89 Warren County Prosecutor's Office Law Enforcement
90 Warren County Sheriff's Department Law Enforcement (Courthouse Security)
91 Allamuchy Fire
92 Hardwick No hosted services
93 White Township No hosted services
94 Phillipsburg Police/Fire/EMS
95 Green Township (Sussex County) Fire/EMS
97 Warren County Medical Examiner Medical
98 Greenwich (Stewartsville) Police/Fire/EMS
99 NJ State Forest Fire Service Fire

Police Suffixes

Note: Police suffixes designate either a type of patrol unit or an officer rank.
SUFFIX VEHICLE OR OFFICER RANK
A Director/Commissioner/OIC
01 Police Chief
02-04 Sr. Officers (e.g. Lieutenants/Sergeants)
05-09 Detectives
10-29 Patrol Vehicles
35 Police Headquarters
36-49 Portables

Fire Suffixes

Note: Fire suffixes designate either a type of fire vehicle or an officer rank.
SUFFIX VEHICLE OR OFFICER RANK
60 Fire Chief
70 Deputy or Assistant Chief
80 Jr. Assistant Chief or Sr. Captain
90 Sr. or Jr. Captain
91-98 Jr. Officers or Portables
61-68 Engines (Pumpers)
69 Truck (Ladder)
71-72 Water Tenders or Tankers
73-75 Utility or Support
76A-Z Other Fire Vehicles
78 Boat/Marine Unit
79 Fire Police Vehicle
81-82 Mini-Pumper or Brush
83-84 Auxiliary or Transport Vehicles
85 Chief or Command Vehicle
86 Cascade (Air) Unit
87 Fire Prevention/Inspection Official
88 Hazmat Vehicle or Trailer
89 Fire Boat/Marine Unit
99 Fire Police Chief
99A-Z Fire Police

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Suffixes

Note: EMS suffixes designate either a type of ambulance or rescue unit or an officer rank.
SUFFIX VEHICLE OR OFFICER RANK
50 EMS Captain or Chief
50A-Z EMS Lieutenants
51-54 Basic Life Support (BLS) Ambulances
55-57 Crash or Rescue Vehicles
58-59 Auxiliary or Transport Vehicles
46A-Z Other EMS Vehicles
48A-Z Jr. Officers or Portables
49 Rescue Boat/Marine

Emergency Management Suffixes

Note: Emergency Management suffixes designate either an officer or a functional title.
SUFFIX VEHICLE OR OFFICER RANK
30 Emergency Management Coordinator (EMC)
31 Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator (DEMC)
31A-Z Additional Deputy EMCs
32 Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Coordinator
33 Shelter Coordinator
34 Transportation Coordinator
32-35 Redesignate as needed, or add A-Z (e.g. 31A)

Department of Public Works (DPW) Suffixes
SUFFIX DPW EMPLOYEE OR VEHICLE
100 DPW Supervisor(EMC)
101 to 199 DPW Employees in Seniority Order

Unit/Officer Numbering Examples

By combining the prefix and suffix together you can tell which agency and what type of unit or officer is operating on the radio.
SUFFIX VEHICLE OR OFFICER RANK
74-01 Lopatcong Police Chief
39-10 Oxford Police Patrol Car
41-30 Knowlton Emergency Management Coordinator
73-50 Independence EMS Captain
78-51 Hackettstown BLS Ambulance
23-60 Harmony Fire Chief
82-61 Alpha Fire Engine
94-79 Phillipsburg Fire Police Vehicle
22-88 Warren County Hazmat Vehicle
33-87 Warren County Fire Marshal
44-01 Warren County Chief RACES Operator
66-01 Warren County Public Safety Director
66-30 Warren County Emergency Management Coordinator
77-05 Warren County Dispatcher #5
89-01 Warren County Prosecutor
90-01 Warren County Sheriff

 

[ayaresr]

Gloucester County the first two digits are fire district (usually by township) followed by station number and apparatus number. EX:
District 39=Elk Township
District 43=Franklin Township
Station 39-1=Aura Fire
Station 39-2=Ferrell Fire (Elk Squad 39-2 also Ferrell for whole township)
Station 39-3=Lawns Fire
Then the units would be:
39-21 = Engine
39-23 = Pumper Tanker (can also be engine, depends on dept.)
39-24 = Tanker (sorry, Gloucester decided its a tender...tankers are for air drop)
39-25 = Field Piece (aka Brush or Power Wagon)
39-29 = Ambulance

Theres also 1 thru 3 are engines, 4 tanker, 5 brush, 6 ladder, 7 utility, 8 rescue, 9 ambulance

 

[wildbillx]

Cape May Co.

Cape May county uses a 4 number system, The first 2 numbers are the fire station and the last 2 are the app. number. ie. Erma is station 62. Engine numbers are in the 30-39 range so one of our engines is 31. When on the radio we are 6231. The reason we do this is because we have numberous stations that have the same last 2 numbers. ie Townbank station 61 has an engine 32, erma has engine 32, and Cape May city station 51 has engine 32.

 

[jetskiman98]

So Confusing

I know I'm a few weeks late on this, but from my understanding NIMS is pushing (or requiring) plain English for all communications. Where i live and volunteer in Mercer County things are easy to understand.

We have Engine 17 and Tower 17 from station 17.... Ladder 14 and Engines 14-1 and 14-2 from Station 14-1 and Station 14-2 respectively. There's a Tower 33 from Station 33 and a Rescue 44 from Station 44. Things just make sense.

I work in Burlington County and am still very confused on the numbering. At station 322 in Bordentown, they have Ladder 25 written on their ladder. Ok, that's cool, but you're known on the radio as 3225. Now by going with the 4 digit numbering system, every district 2 would have a Ladder 25! (33 being the Township of Bordentown [county district], 2 being Bordentown District 2 and 5 being ladder). It just makes more sense to me if you want individuality and identification that Ladder 33 would be more appropriate to self name. It's the only Ladder in District 33.

Honestly i enjoy the plain english system better. I don't have to think about numbers and apparatus classifications to figure out that Engine 17 is an Engine from Station 17. Anyone want to take a stab at what Burlington 2612 is?

 

[kenisned]

I know I'm a few weeks late on this, but from my understanding NIMS is pushing (or requiring) plain English for all communications. Where i live and volunteer in Mercer County things are easy to understand.

We have Engine 17 and Tower 17 from station 17.... Ladder 14 and Engines 14-1 and 14-2 from Station 14-1 and Station 14-2 respectively. There's a Tower 33 from Station 33 and a Rescue 44 from Station 44. Things just make sense.

I work in Burlington County and am still very confused on the numbering. At station 322 in Bordentown, they have Ladder 25 written on their ladder. Ok, that's cool, but you're known on the radio as 3225. Now by going with the 4 digit numbering system, every district 2 would have a Ladder 25! (33 being the Township of Bordentown [county district], 2 being Bordentown District 2 and 5 being ladder). It just makes more sense to me if you want individuality and identification that Ladder 33 would be more appropriate to self name. It's the only Ladder in District 33.

Honestly i enjoy the plain english system better. I don't have to think about numbers and apparatus classifications to figure out that Engine 17 is an Engine from Station 17. Anyone want to take a stab at what Burlington 2612 is?

Wouldn't applying clear text as you state, indicate that you shouldn't use station numbers, but use the town's name?

Ex
Bordentown engine 1
Etc?

To be honest, I don't know that cleartext really pushes the elimination of all numbers. Merely the use of "codes".

Thanks

 

[jetskiman98]

Wouldn't applying clear text as you state, indicate that you shouldn't use station numbers, but use the town's name?

Ex
Bordentown engine 1
Etc?

To be honest, I don't know that cleartext really pushes the elimination of all numbers. Merely the use of "codes".

Thanks

Yes, but there are two stations in Bordentown Township... and then Bordentown City has another 2. I miss spoke, i meant the use of codes. Numbers are still very necessary. I'm just not a fan of the 1-3 = Engines, 4-5 = Ladders and so on. Why just not say ladder?

 

[kenisned]

Morris County keeps looking for a way to do apparatus numbering.

It's really very simple, and all their proposed ways in the past were too complicated.

Just use your department name, resource type, and id number.

Mt. Olive Engine 59
Mt. Olive Engine 95
Mt. Olive Chief 52

Seems very simple.

 

[SCPD]

Morris County keeps looking for a way to do apparatus numbering.

It's really very simple, and all their proposed ways in the past were too complicated.

Just use your department name, resource type, and id number.

Mt. Olive Engine 59
Mt. Olive Engine 95
Mt. Olive Chief 52

Seems very simple.

That's the problem, it's too simple. Morris County needs complication. You should send that to Jack!

 

[policefreak]

I agree with what you guys are saying and down here in camden county we seem to be abandoning the digit system. So squad 2323 is now Squad 23-2 and so on. But what if on station has two engines. I think this is one of the rare cases where the digit system comes in handy. In camco station 21-1 has an engine 2111 and 2112. Lately it sounds like they're addressing both as just engine 21-1. I think this could potentially cause confusion. But I am also in favor of just plain english. Who else in the state (and even neighboring states if you're reading this) use the 4-digit system, or at least some variation of it? I'm curious.

 

[mikea7531]

Here's Somerset County's numbering system, they use a XX-YYY system:

101 - 109 Pumpers/Engines
111 - 114 Ladders/Trucks
115 - 119 Ladders/Trucks with Pumps
121 - 124 Articulating Booms
125 - 129 Articulating Booms with Pumps
131 - 134 Tankers
135 - 139 Tankers with Pumps
141 - 149 Field/Brush + Mini Pumpers
151 - 159 Utility, Service, Light
161 - 169 Command Vehicles
171 - 179 Ambulances


Here is an example of the usage of the Mutual Aid Codes and Vehicle designations:

• 55-115

55 is the Station Number for the South Bound Brook Fire Dept.
115 describes the apparatus as a Ladder with a Pump.



Some neighboring communities to Somerset County use the system. Some Hunterdon and Morris County units use this sytem.

 

[W2SJW]

Here's Somerset County's numbering system, they use a XX-YYY system:

101 - 109 Pumpers/Engines
111 - 114 Ladders/Trucks
115 - 119 Ladders/Trucks with Pumps
121 - 124 Articulating Booms
125 - 129 Articulating Booms with Pumps
131 - 134 Tankers
135 - 139 Tankers with Pumps
141 - 149 Field/Brush + Mini Pumpers
151 - 159 Utility, Service, Light
161 - 169 Command Vehicles
171 - 179 Ambulances


Here is an example of the usage of the Mutual Aid Codes and Vehicle designations:

• 55-115

55 is the Station Number for the South Bound Brook Fire Dept.
115 describes the apparatus as a Ladder with a Pump.



Some neighboring communities to Somerset County use the system. Some Hunterdon and Morris County units use this sytem.

Yes, but going by the current system there, Bound Brook mis-numbered 23-114! :lol:

 

[One13Truck]

Cape May county uses a 4 number system, The first 2 numbers are the fire station and the last 2 are the app. number. ie. Erma is station 62. Engine numbers are in the 30-39 range so one of our engines is 31. When on the radio we are 6231. The reason we do this is because we have numberous stations that have the same last 2 numbers. ie Townbank station 61 has an engine 32, erma has engine 32, and Cape May city station 51 has engine 32.

Sorry to drag this from it's long dead state but this thread popped up when I was searching.

Has Cape May County gone away from their 4 digit system? They were still using it a few years ago last I was down that way but when I listen off and on lately it seems to have changed. Any info on when/if it has changed or what is being used now?

 

[monebill]

Here's Somerset County's numbering system, they use a XX-YYY system:

101 - 109 Pumpers/Engines
111 - 114 Ladders/Trucks
115 - 119 Ladders/Trucks with Pumps
121 - 124 Articulating Booms
125 - 129 Articulating Booms with Pumps
131 - 134 Tankers
135 - 139 Tankers with Pumps
141 - 149 Field/Brush + Mini Pumpers
151 - 159 Utility, Service, Light
161 - 169 Command Vehicles
171 - 179 Ambulances


Here is an example of the usage of the Mutual Aid Codes and Vehicle designations:

• 55-115

55 is the Station Number for the South Bound Brook Fire Dept.
115 describes the apparatus as a Ladder with a Pump.



Some neighboring communities to Somerset County use the system. Some Hunterdon and Morris County units use this sytem.

That's the old system. A couple of years ago Somerset County changed its numbering system to something similar to Mercer County. For example an engine used to be XX-101 and its now Engine XX-1. Ladders are Ladder XX or Tower XX. Ambulances are XX BLS 1 and so on. Much easier to understand for the inexperienced IMHO.

 

[JK96]

I agree with what you guys are saying and down here in camden county we seem to be abandoning the digit system. So squad 2323 is now Squad 23-2 and so on. But what if on station has two engines. I think this is one of the rare cases where the digit system comes in handy. In camco station 21-1 has an engine 2111 and 2112. Lately it sounds like they're addressing both as just engine 21-1. I think this could potentially cause confusion. But I am also in favor of just plain english. Who else in the state (and even neighboring states if you're reading this) use the 4-digit system, or at least some variation of it? I'm curious.

In Camden County, most single stations no longer have two engines, and even in the example you give, I believe that one of them is actually a Squad company. I've only ever heard Engine, Squad, Quint, Rescue, Brush, and Utility followed by 21-1 on dispatch. In our station we actually do have two engines, and they are dispatched as Engine 82. Then when responding, they sign on as Engine 821 and/or Engine 822. In districts with multiple stations, like Winslow, they are dispatched as Engine 25-whichever station number, so Engine 25-3, Engine 25-4, etc.

Now, the exceptions to that are Camden City, which simply dispatch as Ladder 1, 2, 3, Engine 1, 6, 8, etc., with reserve apparatus using Ladder 21, Engine 29, etc., and Cherry Hill, which does primarily use the four digits: Engine 1322, Ladder 1324, Squrt 1351. Even then, the Squad and Rescue are dispatched simply as Squad 13 and Rescue 13.

Regardless of how they are dispatched, Engines, Squads, Squrts, and Tenders are 1, 2, & 3, Ladders & Quints are 4, and Rescues and Utilities are 6 (though I've seen one listed as a 5). Brush I'm not sure about, but I think 7 or 8.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

 

[JK96]

Oh wow, I didn't realize this was such an old thread.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

 

[camco911]

Just a update on some numbering for Cape May and Ocean County's

Cape May has started to create a county communication system which most, not all will be working on. As well as most have done away with the old county numbering and has gone to a simple format

Lakewood, Ocean County has gone to a simple format as well. Ex- 6401 is now Engine 1, 6411 is now Engine 11. It is unknown if they will use the county numbering when they are out of town

 

[RadioChief55]

How about you just say what it is, why numbers? My town Engine 1 to your town Ladder 3. I just listened to a 3 alarm fire in a town where all companies use a county numbering system, they were fumbling all over the numbers, one guy calls a number, the wrong guy answers numerous times. Every big city says what it is (Engine, Ladder, Rescue and so on) and they have no problems, when try to reinvent the wheel.