BFW
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)
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