Mavis???

[freqhunter]

What is a “Mavis”? Several times today I monitored a dispatcher in the Hillcrest region say “A Mavis has been declared” They also stated that Shaker Heights Fire Department should respond. They also noted “box 2202 & 2206”

 

[FPO703]

It's MABAS And it stands for Mutual Aid Box Alarm System.

 

[Mike-KC8OWL]

Okay, lets take this one step further - I have always been curious what the box numbers represented too - any background on this would be appreciated.

Thanks ... Mike KC8OWL / WPZP902

 

[daleduke17]

Are you asking like "1st Box" "2nd Box" etc?

go to mabas.org and you can get some information, but, what information I do know (which isn't alot) is:

1st Alarm/1st Box (whatever language the agency uses): Usually brings local equipment, or is for routine/small calls.
2nd Alarm/2nd Box: Brings in more equipment/personnel.

And it goes up from there. If there is something very large, they can go to an Interdivisonal Box, and bring equipment from other divisions.

Box Cards are descriptions of what agencies come in for what area. Like the department I used to be on, we had North Tanker Box, South Tanker, EMS, and one or two other box cards. The North Tanker had some different departments than the south box (since the North was the rural area north of town, and the south was south).

Hope that helps.

 

[KWs]

The MABAS box numbering can represent the map grid the communities use or it cab be the FD's ID for the county .. the numbering systems vary community to community.

 

[Mike-KC8OWL]

Okay, thanks for the additional info.

Mike

 

[NewsShooter]

At the TV station I work at, when the assignment desk hears a MABAS, they FREEEEEK OUT!! They assume that something HUGE is happening.

Causes me a lot of ulcer inducing acid churning when they're wrong.

 

[Mike-KC8OWL]

It seems that CECOMS does MABAS testing every week (or so) by indicating that the traffic is only drill traffic and then reads through a scenario where they call a number of stations to respond for mutual aid. Most stations must verify by phone (if at all) because I have never heard a called station acknowledge by radio.

Mike