mapping keys

[bigdaddyrox4574]

I hope someone knows this. When my local fire department and/or ambulance services are dispatched, they typically give out what they are dispatching the units to ("structure fire" "medical aid" etc.) the address, and then they will say something like "mapping key 31 C-Charles". Does anyone know what these "mapping keys" are?

 

[gmclam]

Map pages

In my area they use a specific edition of Thomas Bros maps. The first number called is the page in the map book. The letter-number combination called after that is the coordinate on that page where the address can be located.

Welcome to RadioReference.com!

 

[Raven95150]

Several Fire Depts in my area do this as well.

Sounds to me like they aren't using a map book, but rather the City's "official" street map. These are usually made by the City rather than an independent publisher so they aren't readily available to the public, but you may be able to get one from City Hall. Typically they will map out each individual address on every street. The "map key" is the grid location on the map where the address is.

Here's an example, this is my city's map. If you zoom in you can see how each individual address is mapped out, although this one is just a zoning map so it doesn't have the address numbers marked. You can also see how the map is split up in a grid.

http://www.ci.blaine.mn.us/_Docs/_Planning/ZoningMap.pdf

 

[Eng74]

In Kern County we use a key map for the whole county. when a call goes out will be" Engine 74 medical aid at 1234 3rd st. cross of A street. Key 48-29 D." The county is covered in a grid that starts in the north west corner of the county then going left to right is 1, 2, 3 ect. all the way to 226 in the south east corner of the county. Each key is 6 miles by 6 miles. The next number is one of the 36 square miles in the key, right to left then left to right from 1 to 36. Then each square mile is broken down to quadrents a,b c, and d. It is a nice system to have you can be anywhere in the county with a map book and find out where to go even if you are out of you area. I have worked with people where they have used the Thomas guid system and say our key map is better.

 

[bigdaddyrox4574]

Eureka!

Your answer is the one I was looking for, because I am in Kern County...I'm in taft, however, so its Engine 21 that I listen for...I just wasn't remembering the second number for some reason.

 

[bigdaddyrox4574]

Further, is it possible to get a hold of one of these maps?

 

[Eng74]

Sorry, hard enough to get updated maps to the stations. Glad to help out. Station 21 is a nice place, it is a bit of a crowd with the engine, truck, and BC there.

 

[Navycop]

Planning | Zoning Maps in PDF Format
This is the link to Virginia Beach. Dispatch will say: Eng 21 243 blackwater dr. structural fire M (mary) 6.