I see this on the news a lot: “a 3-alarm fire occurred today at . . .”.
How many firefighters, vehicles and fire companies (I think they’re called Ladders) are involved in a 1-alarm fire?
What qualifies a fire as a 2-Alarm, 3-alarm, etc. fire?
I’m guessing there are actual numbers of personnel and/or equipment that qualifies a fire as 1-Alarm, 2-Alarm, etc.
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A three-alarm fire call will bring triple the amount of firefighters, trucks, and equipment to the scene of the fire. Any fire alarm dispatch that goes past 2 is considered a very big fire that could take considerable time to completely extinguish.
A 2 alarm fire is the last level of fire alarm before firefighters really begin to take the fire and the danger involved more seriously.
You are pretty spot on. Most fire departments these days operate on a system of alarms. Each one is designed to essentially reach further away from the first area of response. Typically it for not resources like you said, personal , equipment and what not. How each alarm is set up really depends on department, size/manpower, location (city-rural) and volunteer or full time. Obviously it can really go further then that too but you have the general concept correct.
You’re pretty much right. 1st alarm is usually a minimal amount of manpower and equipment to fight a fire. If the person in command on scene determines they need more equipment, they can either request an additional piece of equipment (if they need only a little bit more help) or more frequently they’ll request a 2nd alarm.
If they need even more help on scene, they’ll request a 3rd alarm.
Around here where there’s almost all volunteer fire departments, a 1st alarm includes at least 3 departments. First department (in whatever district its in) is a full response – all pieces of apparatus. Second department might be an engine and a truck (we can write a whole post on the difference between the apparatus’). Third department might be just an engine, or a truck).
Second alarm, you get even more. Your own alarm will be resounded for a second alarm fire, then you get more from the departments that are on scene, usually +1 rig from the second department, +1 rig from the third department, then +1 rig from 2 other departments to the scene plus additional standby rigs from other departments to cover the departments that are at the scene.
That’s how it works here with volunteers, at least.
You can see here how the NYFD works with multiple alarms: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple-alarm_fire
The first alarm fires go to whatever jurisdiction the fire is in.
A second alarm requests additional help (mutual aid) from nearby agencies.
A third alarm requests even more units from a place further away.
There’s also a tiered system set in place so responding agencies still have coverage in their own jurisdictions. Third alarms usually pull from places further away so less strain is put on the towns in the middle.
(First alarm)
If A has a fire, A responds.
Mutual aid has certain response zones so B responds as well.
C might stay put or cover new calls in A’s jurisdiction by parking an engine at A’s department which is still relatively close to their own town
(2nd Alarm)
D & E would respond to the fire.
F & G would stay put helping out D & E’s township.
(Third Alarm)
H & I would respond to the scene.
F & G may also have fire zones in D & E so they are helping cover calls in those respective areas. I is far enough away that their fire zones are adequately supported by their own mutual aid.
It also depends on the type of fire/emergency so different apparatus may respond from specific areas.
J may have HAZMAT & would respond regardless.
C could have water rescue and be tapped out (requested) instead of B.
Edit: The amount of responders depends on the area you live in. I want to guess the average is 3-4 people per full time department / vehicle.
Volunteer departments depend on the people that show up.
The incident commander, usually the highest ranking member first on scene, will request additional man power from their initial assessment.
Therefore, a three alarm fire is usually pretty hefty work since so many places are being requested to assist.
Apparatus changes upon the needs of those on scene.
A fire will usually have one engine which has, in the most basic explanation, ladders, tools, and a supply of water.
You will usually also see tankers / tenders which carry almost double the amount of water. The gallon per second ratio of flowing water can really reduce an areas water supply. If it’s more secluded, more tankers usually show up.
Ladders are predominantly those who specialize in ventilation / different types of tools compared to the basic all around set up of an engine.
You will also have an Ambulance, police, and fire police for medical (Patients or the well being of fire fighters) & traffic.
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