Interesting thread, hope you don't mind a little rejuvenation...most houses with a chief have an alert system as described in the first reply. When I worked in 88/38 we did not use the bells, we just used the house intercom. Same thing when I was in L5 during the 90's. (I see in the video above they are using bells, times change!). There were some variations at other firehouses, and when you were detailed to a house you inquired how their bell alert system was. Or you might find yourself running to the truck everytime the truck boss would get a phone call!...a few times I was detailed to L 111 they had a unique bell alert. If I recall it went smething like this:
1 bell- engine officer
2 bells- truck boss
here was the change:
3 bells quickly, pause, 1 bell: engine only
3 bells quickly, pause, 2 bells; truck only
3 bells quickly, followed by another three bells meant everybody goes.
Detailed to E 45 / L 58 back years ago, same as the first reply;
5 bells meant engine only
7 bells meant truck only
rapid tapping out the bell meant everybody goes.
Some houses without a chief had something altogether different, for instance HW would tap out 5 bells, pause then 2 more; for everybody goes.
I am sure there are other variations.
Prior to being hired by FDNY I was a firefighter in DCFD, assigned to a single engine house. We had a 14" brass gong that was mounted in the bunkroom. On the corner of the HW desk was the button to activate the gong...When we got a run, the HW firefighter would tap out the gong, some guys hit it once or twice, some guys hit the gong button in rapid fashion. Also, the gong button was in a precarious place on the front corner of the HW desk and you had to be careful to not accidently hit it. On occasion a member would have the early morning watch, begin to nod off, start to lean over in the chair, catch himself and smack the gong button by accident.