10-75 Signal Revision

[seniorofficer]

Just remember in the good times when we had 5 (somertimes 6) man engines, you could use All Hands with 3 engines, and have 3 lines stretched and operating. Telling the dispatcher that you had a heavy fire condition meant you had 3 stretched and operating. Medium was 2 lines. Some people today also have no concept of the meaning "fully involved" anymore.

 

[seniorofficer]

Engines - 25
Trucks - 36
Battalions - 4
Division - 2
Rescue - 6
Squad - 6
RAC - 1

Total of 80 (Or 81 if the RAC gets two FF, cant remember.)

Realistically, Engines should be 20 on average. Officers aren't counted in manpower since they are supervisory personnel; same with ladder officers. (unless you're counting total bodies)

 

[fdhistorian]

Alarm levels, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. were originally established to dispatch a predetermined number of specific companies to a specific location, and to make predetermined relocations, all by sending one telegraph signal. Each additional alarm essentially multiplied the 1st alarm response (sometimes slightly more). The anecdotal correlation was that the number of alarms transmitted reflected the size of the incident, usually a reasonable assumption, but really, only a reflection of the number of units sent.

With the variable number of 1st alarm units, as changed over the years and by areas of the city and by policy revisions and by building specific responses (10-76, 10-77, etc), automatic 2nd alarms, and 10-75 revisions, even the number of units initially sent varies significantly. By total number of units sent, a Midtown 10-77 is a 3rd alarm in residential Queens. Without predetermined response orders or relocations, each incident at a particular box location may differ, from one incident to the next. Comparing 6 and 7 firefighter staffed companies from past decades to today's responses is difficult as they have changed so much.

 

[HCO]

Summary of the Evolution of the “All Hands” Signal

In 2020 the All Hands assignment of 4 engines, 2 ladders + FAST ladder, 2 BC, DC, Rescue, Squad, and RAC replaced the then lesser “10-75” response. The assignments for the two signals became identical.

The 2024 Safety-driven policy change to the All Hands (7-5) assignment increases the engine and ladder assignment and sets forth additional guidelines:

5 Engines, 4 Ladders (3rd is FAST) 2 BC, DC, Rescue, Squad, RAC. The 5th Engine and 4th Ladder are not included in 10-76 or 10-77 signals

One additional engine may be special called; any further units require a higher alarm —however, one more engine may be special called for Overhaul Relief and one for CFR.

When Probably Will Hold, any additional units assigned will be the nearest available.

When Probably Will Hold or Under Control, additional engines may be special called without transmission of a higher alarm.

 

[Darrell]

Summary of the Evolution of the “All Hands” Signal

In 2020 the All Hands assignment of 4 engines, 2 ladders + FAST ladder, 2 BC, DC, Rescue, Squad, and RAC replaced the then lesser “10-75” response. The assignments for the two signals became identical.

The 2024 Safety-driven policy change to the All Hands (7-5) assignment increases the engine and ladder assignment and sets forth additional guidelines:

5 Engines, 4 Ladders (4th is FAST) 2 BC, DC, Rescue, Squad, RAC. The 5th Engine and 4th Ladder are not included in 10-76 or 10-77 signals

One additional engine may be special called; any further units require a higher alarm —however, one more engine may be special called for Overhaul Relief and one for CFR.

When Probably Will Hold, any additional units assigned will be the nearest available.

When Probably Will Hold or Under Control, additional engines may be special called without transmission of a higher alarm.

The 4th Due is FAST now?? Wouldn't that mean longer times at a job without a FAST Truck in some areas of the City?

 

[JA290]

The 4th Due is FAST now?? Wouldn't that mean longer times at a job without a FAST Truck in some areas of the City?

3rd due is FAST on all signals(75,76,77,60,7-5)
Unless there’s a 3rd due truck assigned prior (Minresp in CIDS, understaffed, etc)

 

[seniorofficer]

3rd due is FAST on all signals(75,76,77,60,7-5)
Unless there’s a 3rd due truck assigned prior (Minresp in CIDS, understaffed, etc)

So then, the presumption is that when the dispatcher assigns 4+3 due to numerous calls, that third truck is assigned for fire duty, and the 4th truck will then be assigned as the FAST on the 10-75?

 

[NikFDNY]

So then, the presumption is that when the dispatcher assigns 4+3 due to numerous calls, that third truck is assigned for fire duty, and the 4th truck will then be assigned as the FAST on the 10-75?

Unless it changed, dispatcher only assigns 4 Engines, 2 Trucks, Squad, Rescue & the Battalion