Fire codes

[cstockmyer]

How many trunks are in a Battalion? You always hear the dispatcher say Battalion 1 then go on to say things like 22's a pair, 13's a pair and so on. What's the difference between the two?

 

[KB9LMJ]

Okay, when DFD says 22's a pair, 13's a pair, etc. they are dispatching both the engine and the truck out of that station. Rather than repeat "Engine 22, Truck 22" they just shorten it to 22's a pair. As far as Battalions, there are 7, technically 8 in Denver. They call then District Chiefs (same things as a Batt. Chief). Here's a rundown of Co's and Chiefs.

Dist 2 (Downtown)
Station 1
-Engine 1, Tower 1, Chief 2, Underwater, Collapse, Trench Trailer. (Eng cross-staffs Underwater, Twr cross-staffs Trench/Collapse)
Station 3
-Eng 3
Station 4
-Tower 4
Station 6
-Eng 6, Hamer 1(Hazmat unit), Hamer 3 (Dump truck) (Eng 6's crew as also Hazmat Techs)
Station 11
-Eng 11, Rescue 1

Dist 3 (DU area)
Station 13
-Eng 13
Station 16
-Eng 16, Trk 16, Chief 3
Station 21
-Eng 21, Command Van (For the time being, new "super command van" coming online shortly, not sure where it's going)
Station 22
-Eng 22, Twr 22
Station 24
-Eng 24

Dist 4 (City Park/Hosptial Row/old Glendale)
Station 5
-Eng 5
Station 8
-Eng 8, Trk 8, Air/Light (Usually a light duty staffed unit)
Station 10
-Squirt 10, Decon (cross-staffed)
Station 15
-Eng 15, Trk 15, Chief 4
Station 19
-Eng 19, Trk 19

Dist 5 (NE area/Stapleton)
Station 2
-Trk 2, Chief 5
Station 14
-Eng 14
Station 26
-Eng 26, Trk 26
Station 27
-Eng 27, Twr 27
Station 29
-Eng 29

Dist 6 (NW/ Tennyson/Mouse Trap area)
Station 7
-Eng 7
Station 9
-Eng 9, Twr 9
Station 12
-Eng 12, Trk 12, Chief 6
Station 17
-Squirt 17

Dist 7 (S Federal/Westwood Neighborhood)
Station 20
-Eng 20
Station 23
-Eng 23, Twr 23, Chief 7
Station 25
-Eng 25
Station 28
-Eng 28, Trk 28
Station 30
-Eng 30

DIA (Dist 8, unofficially)
Station 31
-Twr 31, Red Chief (Dist Chief), RED units (ARFF)
Station 32
-Eng 32, ARFF
Station 33
-ARFF
Station 34
-ARFF

Hope that answers any ?s

 

[cstockmyer]

Okay, when DFD says 22's a pair, 13's a pair, etc. they are dispatching both the engine and the truck out of that station. Rather than repeat "Engine 22, Truck 22" they just shorten it to 22's a pair. As far as Battalions, there are 7, technically 8 in Denver. They call then District Chiefs (same things as a Batt. Chief). Here's a rundown of Co's and Chiefs.

Dist 2 (Downtown)
Station 1
-Engine 1, Tower 1, Chief 2, Underwater, Collapse, Trench Trailer. (Eng cross-staffs Underwater, Twr cross-staffs Trench/Collapse)
Station 3
-Eng 3
Station 4
-Tower 4
Station 6
-Eng 6, Hamer 1(Hazmat unit), Hamer 3 (Dump truck) (Eng 6's crew as also Hazmat Techs)
Station 11
-Eng 11, Rescue 1

Dist 3 (DU area)
Station 13
-Eng 13
Station 16
-Eng 16, Trk 16, Chief 3
Station 21
-Eng 21, Command Van (For the time being, new "super command van" coming online shortly, not sure where it's going)
Station 22
-Eng 22, Twr 22
Station 24
-Eng 24

Dist 4 (City Park/Hosptial Row/old Glendale)
Station 5
-Eng 5
Station 8
-Eng 8, Trk 8, Air/Light (Usually a light duty staffed unit)
Station 10
-Squirt 10, Decon (cross-staffed)
Station 15
-Eng 15, Trk 15, Chief 4
Station 19
-Eng 19, Trk 19

Dist 5 (NE area/Stapleton)
Station 2
-Trk 2, Chief 5
Station 14
-Eng 14
Station 26
-Eng 26, Trk 26
Station 27
-Eng 27, Twr 27
Station 29
-Eng 29

Dist 6 (NW/ Tennyson/Mouse Trap area)
Station 7
-Eng 7
Station 9
-Eng 9, Twr 9
Station 12
-Eng 12, Trk 12, Chief 6
Station 17
-Squirt 17

Dist 7 (S Federal/Westwood Neighborhood)
Station 20
-Eng 20
Station 23
-Eng 23, Twr 23, Chief 7
Station 25
-Eng 25
Station 28
-Eng 28, Trk 28
Station 30
-Eng 30

DIA (Dist 8, unofficially)
Station 31
-Twr 31, Red Chief (Dist Chief), RED units (ARFF)
Station 32
-Eng 32, ARFF
Station 33
-ARFF
Station 34
-ARFF

Hope that answers any ?s

Yeah that helps a ton thanks!

How about when they call the Rescue? Is that just one trunk for all of Denver? Is hammer 3 really a dump truck?

 

[jimmnn]

Yeah that helps a ton thanks!

How about when they call the Rescue? Is that just one trunk for all of Denver? Is hammer 3 really a dump truck?

And that's just for Denver a box, district, first alarm, task force etc is different in Aurora, than Denver or West Metro or South Metro etc.

Yes Hammer 3 is a dump truck to bring much needed dirt to a hazmat incident near you.

Rescue-1 is one truck and goes on all task forces citywide, water rescue, collapses, hazmats etc, but most if not all the truck companies 9's, 15's etc have extrication tools so if the rescue goes along with them then it be a good one, worth paging that is.

Jim<

 

[cstockmyer]

And that's just for Denver a box, district, first alarm, task force etc is different in Aurora, than Denver or West Metro or South Metro etc.

Yes Hammer 3 is a dump truck to bring much needed dirt to a hazmat incident near you.

Rescue-1 is one truck and goes on all task forces citywide, water rescue, collapses, hazmats etc, but most if not all the truck companies 9's, 15's etc have extrication tools so if the rescue goes along with them then it be a good one, worth paging that is.

Jim<

So is it just a city Dump Truck tasked to Denver Fire? Or is it Denver Fire's Truck? Meaning in the DFD colors?

 

[KB9LMJ]

So is it just a city Dump Truck tasked to Denver Fire? Or is it Denver Fire's Truck? Meaning in the DFD colors?

It's an old truck I'm not sure where they got it, it's yellow and it is DFD's. It's not staffed and is usually brought out by whoever's available at the time. You may hear Hamer 40, that's the Hazmat Officer for the city. He goes and mitigates/investigates incidents that may need help outside of the city's resources.

Also, Jim was right, Twr 1, Twr 9?, Trk 19, Twr 22, Twr 27 are Heavy Rescue Trucks that have a full compliment of extrication and some speciaity rescue stuff to help Rescue 1 out.

 

[KB9LMJ]

Oops, and Twr 23 is a Heavy Truck also

 

[KB9LMJ]

but most if not all the truck companies 9's, 15's etc have extrication tools so if the rescue goes along with them then it be a good one, worth paging that is.

Jim<

Yes and no. The Rescue is now on the latest run cards for reported parties trapped. It's Eng and Trk, Heavy Trk or Rescue (which ever is closer or in service), and Chief. Some dispatchers will send 1 Eng, 2 Trks, 1 Chief, and the Rescue, but that's them doing it (just because). Most of the time Rescue is turned around because it's a simple cut/pry. But yes, if they make it all the way there, or are added when not initally responding, then it's a good one.

They're playing around w/ the cards now to see what works best. You may now hear Rescue on an elevator rescue in a high-rise (over 75 ft) too. Just new stuff at this time, it's bound to change again.

 

[cstockmyer]

Thanks!

 

[chris_a_rodgers]

Denver Hammer 3. Found on Denver Fires website.

 

[papaelk]

What is purpose of this Truck ?

 

[cstockmyer]

Denver Hammer 3. Found on Denver Fires website.

Wow intersting. Thanks! Does DFD have "brush" trucks like you hear called for in Boulder? Also what is a "DFD Box Alarm"?

 

[KB9LMJ]

The dump truck is for loads of dirt for any hazmat they may need. Denver does not have wildland trucks, but interestingly enough, they do have a wildland team. Right now, members deploy and augment fire teams from around the state/western region. There's talk about possibly getting a type 6 or even a type 3 for deployments. This all spun up after the Hayman Fire in 2002, and is just now gaining some strength.

 

[MikeyB]

Wow intersting. Thanks! Does DFD have "brush" trucks like you hear called for in Boulder? Also what is a "DFD Box Alarm"?

The only brush trucks Denver has are the mini-pumpers at DIA. They are Hummers.

 

[KB9LMJ]

Wow intersting. Thanks! Does DFD have "brush" trucks like you hear called for in Boulder? Also what is a "DFD Box Alarm"?

DFD Box is a fire alarm. You'll hear it as a "box, Class 1 Alarm, or alarm bells ringing." This brings 1 Eng, 1 Trk, and 1 Chief. Class 2 alarm is a private alarm system in a residence and that brings 1 Eng.

 

[KB9LMJ]

The only brush trucks Denver has are the mini-pumpers at DIA. They are Hummers.

True, they can be used for this. But the primary reason for them is to get into the miles of tunnels under the airport that a regular engine can't get into. They are also part of an FAA standard that makes up time/water available on any airpor, given the size of the planes that fly in. The large ARFF rigs can't make the time (can't remember what's required, it's from the firehouse to the end of the longest runway), but they have the water. The ramp trucks, mini pumpers (Hummers) can make the time, but don't have the water. So running them together makes the requirements for the FAA.

 

[epbernstein]

And that's just for Denver a box, district, first alarm, task force etc is different in Aurora, than Denver or West Metro or South Metro etc.

Yes Hammer 3 is a dump truck to bring much needed dirt to a hazmat incident near you.

Rescue-1 is one truck and goes on all task forces citywide, water rescue, collapses, hazmats etc, but most if not all the truck companies 9's, 15's etc have extrication tools so if the rescue goes along with them then it be a good one, worth paging that is.

Jim<

I like the way Boulder dispatches Station 1 (Engine 2501 and Ladder 2516) as "Group 1."

 

[n0doz]

The dump truck is for loads of dirt for any hazmat they may need. Denver does not have wildland trucks, but interestingly enough, they do have a wildland team. Right now, members deploy and augment fire teams from around the state/western region. There's talk about possibly getting a type 6 or even a type 3 for deployments. This all spun up after the Hayman Fire in 2002, and is just now gaining some strength.

We used to have a brush truck at DIA... it was replaced by one of the Hummer fire trucks, but I think it's still around somewhere as a reserve. If anyone's interested, I'll get a photo of it if I can find the rig. It (and the Hummers) also are used for fire response in the baggage tunnels.
Speaking of Hummers, we have 3.

 

[n0doz]

True, they can be used for this. But the primary reason for them is to get into the miles of tunnels under the airport that a regular engine can't get into. They are also part of an FAA standard that makes up time/water available on any airpor, given the size of the planes that fly in. The large ARFF rigs can't make the time (can't remember what's required, it's from the firehouse to the end of the longest runway), but they have the water. The ramp trucks, mini pumpers (Hummers) can make the time, but don't have the water. So running them together makes the requirements for the FAA.

Absolutely not true. The full-size rigs do in fact make the time as required. They train constantly to make sure they do. The Hummers, structure rigs, etc., are part of the overall plan but they are not part of the initial response on the runways.
BTW, the standard at DIA is 3 min from the time the crash phone rings to the rig showing water at the runway mid-point. ARFF 4 was rebuilt in another location after the new runway was completed to make sure that runway was covered properly.
Sorry for the duplicate info on the Hummers... didn't read all the way down before replying.

 

[KB9LMJ]

Thank you, my misunderstanding. I couldn't remember the time that was allowed, for some reason I was under the understanding that the bigger rigs couldn't. Thanks!