Boston 10-alarm running card.

[grumpy grizzly]

Boston will soon implement a 10 alarm running card in place of the current 9 alarm card. One of the changes will be an engine company RIT assignment when a box is transmitted in addition to the normal 3 engine companies' Ladder company assignments are 2 straight ladder companies or the Tower Ladder and a ladder company as well as the Rescue Company. On receipt of the initial report of "smoke showing" FAO will dispatch the Tower company if not originally assigned. In addition a ladder company is assigned to the RIT assignment. There is also a DC, a Safety Chief, and the RIT Chief. Second alarm assignment is 2 engines and 2 ladders as well as the Deputy Chief. Additional responses are: 3rd, 5th, and 7th alarm gets 2 engines and 1 ladder, 4th, 6th,and 8-10th get 2 engines on each alarm. Total response for 10 alarms is 22 engines, 8 ladders, a tower company, and the rescue. In addition automatic mutual aid kicks in on the 5th alarm.

 

[mack]

Current BFD Fire Alarm Assignments:​

​

Boston Fire Department Alarms and Assignments​

In the City of Boston, a fire can go as high as 9 Alarms. These numbers can vary from city to city, so what does it mean? Ever wonder who is getting sent to an alarm when it hits a 5th alarm, 6th alarm, and so on? Here is a break down:

Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA)	Special Incident	1 Engine, 1 Ladder
Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) with Rollover/Entrapment	Special Incident	1 Engine, 1 Ladder, 1 District Chief, 1 Resuce
Vehicle Fire	Special Incident	1 Engine, 1 Ladder
EMS Response	Special Incident	1 Engine, 1 Ladder, or 1 Rescue
Haz-Mat. Level 0	Special Incident	1 Engine, 1 Ladder
Haz-Mat. Level 1	Special Incident (*Upgrade*)	1 District Chief, Special Unit, 1 Haz-Mat. Inspector
Haz-Mat. Level 2	Special Incident (*Upgrade*)	1 Engine (Haz-Mat.), 1 Ladder (Haz-Mat.), Safety District Chief, Haz-Mat. Unit, Fireground Rehab./Mass Casualty Unit, Field/Comm. Tac. Unit, 1 Boston Police Department Environmental Safety Group Unit
Haz-Mat. Level 3	Special Incident (*Upgrade*)	2 Engines (Decon.), 1 Division Chief, 1 Public Information Officer, 1 Fire Investigation Unit, Photography Unit

ALARM TYPE	ALARM LEVEL	ASSIGNED UNITS
Central Station Alarm	Still Alarm Assignment	1 Engine, 1 Ladder
Brush/Large Outside Fire	Still Alarm Assignment	2 Engines, 1 District Chief, 1 Brush Fire Unit
Box Alarm	1st Alarm Assignment	4 Engines (1 for R.I.T.), 2 Ladders, 1 Rescue, 1 District Chief
Box Alarm (Downtown)	1st Alarm Assignment	4 Engines (1 for R.I.T.), 2 Ladders, 1 Tower Ladder, 1 Rescue, 1 District Chief, 1 Division Chief
Box Alarm (High-Rise Fire Response)	1st Alarm Assignment	4 Engines (1 for R.I.T.), 2 Ladders, 1 Rescue (R1 or R2), 3 District Chiefs (1 for Operations, 1 for Evacuation, 1 for Accountability), 1 Division Chief, Safety District Chief, Air Supply Unit, Field/Tac. Comm. Unit
Box Alarm (MBTA Station/Tunnel Fire Response)	1st Alarm Assignment	4 Engines (1 for R.I.T.), 2 Ladders, 1 Rescue, 1 District Chief, 1 Division Chief, Safety District Chief
Box Alarm (Waterfront/Ship Fire Response)	1st Alarm Assignment	4 Engines (1 for R.I.T.), 2 Ladders, 1 Rescue, 1 District Chief, Marine Unit (Fireboats)
Full Box Alarm/Confirmed Fire	1st Alarm Assignment (*Upgrade*)	1 Ladder (R.I.T.), 1 Tower Ladder, 1 District Chief (R.I.T.), Safety District Chief, Fireground Rehab./Mass Casualty Unit
2nd Alarm	2nd Alarm Assignment (*Upgrade*)	3 Engines, 1 Ladder, 2 District Chiefs (1 for Accountability), 1 Division Chief, Special Unit, Air Supply Unit, 1 Public Information Officer
3rd Alarm	3rd Alarm Assignment (*Upgrade*)	2 Engines, 1 Ladder, Field/Tac. Comm. Unit
4th Alarm	4th Alarm Assignment (*Upgrade*)	2 Engines
5th Alarm	5th Alarm Assignment (*Upgrade*)	2 Engines, 1 Ladder
6th Alarm	6th Alarm Assignment (*Upgrade*)	2 Engines
7th Alarm	7th Alarm Assignment (*Upgrade*)	2 Engines, 1 Ladder
8th Alarm	8th Alarm Assignment (*Upgrade*)	2 Engines
9th Alarm	9th Alarm Assignment (*Upgrade*)	2 Engines (Total Apparatus on Scene: 21 Engine Companies, 7 Ladder Companies, 1 Tower ladder Company, 1 Heavy Rescue Company, 4 District Chiefs, Safety District Chief, 1 Division Chief, Special Unit, Fireground Rehab./Mass Casualty Unit, Air Supply Unit, Field/Tac. Comm. Unit, 1 Public Information Officer)

Boston Fire Department Alarms and Assignments

Following The Boston Fire Department

www.bostonfirewire.com

Note - When working fire confirmed, RIT Team is 1 Engine, 1 Ladder and 1 District Chief. Also, a tower ladder is assigned as an additional truck.

 

[grumpy grizzly]

This is the current set-up. New system goes into effect 1-26-2022.

 

[Bulldog]

The amount of equipment responding per alarm is certainly significantly less than it is for FDNY! How many units do they actually have?

 

[grumpy grizzly]

Operating from 34 firehouses are 33 engines, 20 ladders, 2 rescue, and 2 platform/tower ladders

 

[paul612]

From what I have heard is Division 1 has been using it for a bit now. It's Division 2 that it's new for.

 

[mack]

The amount of equipment responding per alarm is certainly significantly less than it is for FDNY! How many units do they actually have?

Boston had unit assignments similar to NYC for multiple alarms but changed in the 1990s to an expanded 9-alarm system which might be considered more precise requesting and assigning assets required for multiple alarms. The BFD incident commander can request smaller assignment increments (e.g. - 2 or 3 companies) needed instead of a larger assignment (4 or 5 companies). It is a more precise assignment system and moves fewer companies (to the fire and relocating) with each alarm increment. FDNY currently uses additional special calls for extra companies at multiple frequently because a full additional alarm is not required. Each system seems to work well for both departments.

 

[mack]

Operating from 34 firehouses are 33 engines, 20 ladders, 2 rescue, and 2 platform/tower ladders

Also includes the combined company "Fire Brigade" on Long Island in Boston Harbor (the 34th engine with a ladder truck).



Boston Fire Historical Society

The firehouse was built in 1937 as a Work Projects Administration (WPA) project, Project #12545, coordinated through the the City of Boston Institutions Department. The initial fire protection services was provided by the Long Island Hospital and staffed by Hospital employees.

The firehouse became part of the Boston Fire Department on April 10, 1946 when Engine Company 54 and Ladder Company 33 were organized. The apparatus of Engine 54 and Ladder 33 were barged to Long Island, as there was no land access to the island at that time. A bridge was built in 1951.

The firehouse is located on the grounds of the Long Island Hospital on Long Island in Boston Harbor. The island is only accessible by vehicular traffic via a bridge, from Moon Island, which is only accessible from a causeway from the Squantum section of the City of Quincy.

Ladder 33 was re-designated Ladder 31 on October 14, 1957. Engine 54 and Ladder 31 were deactivated on April 10, 1981.

The Long Island Hospital was closed in the years from 1980 to 1982 and its facilities were converted to a homeless shelter. Homeless persons are bused to the island each evening, so that on cold winter nights up to 1500 persons may be housed on the island.

The Fire Brigade, an understaffed engine company, was organized in 1981 to provide fire suppression services, due to isolated location of the island and the amount of time needed for land-based fire companies to respond from Dorchester to Long Island (approximately 15 minutes). Due to the poor condition of the Long Island Bridge, fire companies are prohibited from driving fully-loaded fire apparatus on the bridge.

In order to provide ladder truck services, a 65 foot junior aerial ladder truck was purchased from the Town of Whitman and is quartered as part of the Fire Brigade. The ladder truck does not leave the island.

Note - the island is now abandoned since 2015 due to long, unsafe bridge. Firehouse is not staffed and there may be a ladder truck left in empty firehouse. see below

 

[paul612]

Also includes the combined company "Fire Brigade" on Long Island in Boston Harbor (the 34th engine with a ladder truck).

View attachment 16418

Boston Fire Historical Society

The firehouse was built in 1937 as a Work Projects Administration (WPA) project, Project #12545, coordinated through the the City of Boston Institutions Department. The initial fire protection services was provided by the Long Island Hospital and staffed by Hospital employees.

The firehouse became part of the Boston Fire Department on April 10, 1946 when Engine Company 54 and Ladder Company 33 were organized. The apparatus of Engine 54 and Ladder 33 were barged to Long Island, as there was no land access to the island at that time. A bridge was built in 1951.

The firehouse is located on the grounds of the Long Island Hospital on Long Island in Boston Harbor. The island is only accessible by vehicular traffic via a bridge, from Moon Island, which is only accessible from a causeway from the Squantum section of the City of Quincy.

Ladder 33 was re-designated Ladder 31 on October 14, 1957. Engine 54 and Ladder 31 were deactivated on April 10, 1981.

The Long Island Hospital was closed in the years from 1980 to 1982 and its facilities were converted to a homeless shelter. Homeless persons are bused to the island each evening, so that on cold winter nights up to 1500 persons may be housed on the island.

The Fire Brigade, an understaffed engine company, was organized in 1981 to provide fire suppression services, due to isolated location of the island and the amount of time needed for land-based fire companies to respond from Dorchester to Long Island (approximately 15 minutes). Due to the poor condition of the Long Island Bridge, fire companies are prohibited from driving fully-loaded fire apparatus on the bridge.

In order to provide ladder truck services, a 65 foot junior aerial ladder truck was purchased from the Town of Whitman and is quartered as part of the Fire Brigade. The ladder truck does not leave the island.

The island is abandoned now. They knocked the bridge down. They took the pump off the island before the bridge came down but the maxim mid mount ladder is still in the fire house.

Here's a cool video of the island some urban explorers shot last year.
you can see the firehouse and Maxim at 9:18

 

[mack]

The island is abandoned now. They knocked the bridge down. They took the pump off the island before the bridge came down but the maxim mid mount ladder is still in the fire house.

Here's a cool video of the island some urban explorers shot last year.
you can see the firehouse and Maxim at 9:18

Thanks Paul612. Bridge to Long Island gone. No reason for BFD to provide fire protection. A lot of abandoned structures on island.

 

[paul612]

They use the pump for details on the mainland now. I've also heard rumors they were going to reopen the shelter due to the large homeless population in the city.

 

[Bulldog]

They use the pump for details on the mainland now. I've also heard rumors they were going to reopen the shelter due to the large homeless population in the city.

Are they planning on using a ferry or have they built a new bridge?

 

[paul612]

Are they planning on using a ferry or have they built a new bridge?

That I don't know. Problem with the bridge is although the island is part of Boston and to get there you had to drive thru Quincy and Quincy doesn't want the bridge rebuilt.

 

[entropychaser]

Some people probably do need a 10 alarm card.

From 1943 to 1950 the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire had a chief named William Davis. His firehouse nickname was "Multiple Alarm". Much to the amusement of the troops, whenever he arrived on the fireground, regardless of the status of the fire, they knew he was gonna bang out another alarm.

 

[grumpy grizzly]

They use the pump for details on the mainland now. I've also heard rumors they were going to reopen the shelter due to the large homeless population in the city.

If there is no bridge to access the island do they plan on using water craft? and if there is a fire the only apparatus available is that 65' mid mount.

 

[paul612]

If there is no bridge to access the island do they plan on using water craft? and if there is a fire the only apparatus available is that 65' mid mount.

If there is an incident on the island now they'd have to ferry everyone over by boat. Boston Fire has a large boat and a small boat. Same for Logan Airport They have a large and small boat and work together with Boston all the time.

 

[grumpy grizzly]

If there is an incident on the island now they'd have to ferry everyone over by boat. Boston Fire has a large boat and a small boat. Same for Logan Airport They have a large and small boat and work together with Boston all the time.

I meant the homeless.

 

[paul612]

I meant the homeless.

haha, no I have no idea what their plans are. I can't imagine they can open the facility without land access.

 

[entropychaser]

Thanks to Ken Little:

Chicago established 5-11 running cards for the downtown area in 1927. The first 5-11 was on 3/13/28 on South Wells Street.
After 14 years of development, 5-11 assignments were published for the entire city in 1941.

Between 1926 and 1956 CFD had 18 5-11 or greater alarms (one every 20 months).

The grandaddy of all 5-11's was, of course, the Union Stockyards fire at 43rd & Morgan on 5/19/34....5-11 and 15 special alarms.

On 1/21/57, the Continental Grain Elevator at 93rd and Harbor Drive on the Calumet River caught fire. Box 1549 was struck. Two minutes later the 14th Battalion struck the 4-11. Subsequently, it went to a 5-11 and seven specials. The nominated (but not the actual Commissioner who was present on the fireground) new Fire Commissioner Robert Quinn then sent in an eighth special for three engines and two squads.
Ken was working that night and stated all the FAO's felt Quinn ordered it only to get his telegraph signature (214) on the record.

 

[entropychaser]

Whoaa!
STOP THE PRESSES!

At 0800 hours on 2/4/80, the Boston FD instituted the Computerized Alarm Assignment System (CAAS). This scheme allowed nine alarms to be transmitted for a five alarm incident. Instead of the fourth and fifth alarms, mutual aid would now occur on the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth alarms. On the ninth alarm 21 engines and 7 ladders will have been dispatched on the box.
Far more importantly on that date, previous orders were revoked and box preliminary and "All Out" signals were once again transmitted on the tapper and radio circuits.
Forty two years later, on 1/26/22, BFD had the computer system up the ante. Now, chief officers have a ten alarm running assignment at their fingertips which provides 22 engines , 8 ladders as well as fifth alarm mutual aid.

In other news; life forms have been discovered on Mars.