COMMUNICATIONS MANUAL CHAPTER 6 April 13, 2011 ALARM RESPONSE TABLE OF CONTENTS 6.0 INTRODUCTION 6.1 RESPONSE TO BARS ALARMS

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1 CHAPTER 6 April 13, 2011 ALARM RESPONSE TABLE OF CONTENTS 6.0 INTRODUCTION 6.1 RESPONSE TO BARS ALARMS 6.2 RESPONSE TO ERS AND TELEPHONE ALARMS 6.3 RESPONSE OF MARINE COMPANIES 6.4 RESPONSE TO ALARMS UNDER "FALLBACK" CONDITIONS 6.5 RESPONSE PROCEDURES FOR VERBAL ALARMS 6.6 RESPONSE TO SPECIAL ALARM SYSTEMS 6.7 RESPONSE TO TELEPHONE AND ERS ALARMS INVOLVING SPECIFIC LOCATIONS OR SITUATIONS 6.8 DISPATCHER'S RESPONSIBILITIES 6.9 RESPONSE POLICY 6.10 BOROUGH COMMAND CADS DESIGNATIONS

2 6.0 INTRODUCTION All units respond to alarms as directed by the dispatcher via the Computer Assisted Dispatch System (CADS), voice alarm, telephone, radio, or Mobile Data Terminal (MDT). Alarms are received by the dispatcher through Box Alarm Readout System (BARS) and Emergency Reporting System (ERS) street boxes, telephone, special alarm systems, and verbal reports. Responses may also be made to investigate still alarms (fires or emergencies reported after they are extinguished or concluded). 6.1 RESPONSE TO BARS ALARMS BARS alarms are received directly from street boxes at borough communications offices and are transmitted to units in quarters over the teleprinter, voice alarm, or telephone if necessary, and to units in the field by radio or MDT Response to BARS alarms shall be a single unit response. That unit shall respond in emergency mode A BARS alarm, received in conjunction with an ERS or telephone report of an incident requiring a structural response, will result in the dispatch of three Engines, two Ladders and a Battalion Chief; as will receipt of an ERS or telephone report of an incident requiring a structural response following the transmission of a BARS alarm Response assignments may be temporarily adjusted by the Deputy Director of Dispatch Operations after consultation with the Chief of Operations or his/her designee A full first alarm assignment for street, dummy, or special alarm system boxes shall consist of at least one Battalion Chief and the number of Engine, Ladder, and Marine companies assigned on the first alarm If the Battalion Chiefs assigned on the first and second alarms are not available, the nearest available Battalion shall be directed by the dispatcher to cover the alarm In the event the full first alarm assignment has not responded to the alarm received, and such assignment is required, the officer in command shall transmit by radio a In the event subsequent reports indicate all Engine and Ladder Companies dispatched in response to the signal are operating, the dispatcher shall be guided by the provisions of Chapter 8 and transmit a 7-5 signal. 3

3 6.2 RESPONSE TO ERS AND TELEPHONE ALARMS ERS alarms are received directly by FDNY Dispatchers. All 911 calls for fires/emergencies are received by NYPD call takers and sent electronically via CADS to FDNY Dispatchers. Contact with callers requires that specific questions are asked of the caller and the data obtained is processed by CADS or manually Responses to ERS and telephone alarms are in accordance with dispatch policy. However, a minimum of three Engine Companies, one Ladder Company, and a Battalion Chief and, a maximum of three Engines, two Ladders, and a Battalion Chief shall be dispatched to any alarm received from a single source (ERS or telephone) reporting an incident requiring a structural response If, prior to the arrival of Fire Department units, an alarm is received from more than one source reporting an incident requiring a structural response, and any one of those sources is a telephone or ERS alarm, the dispatcher shall dispatch a total of three Engines, two Ladders, and a Battalion Chief to that location. EXAMPLE: Box 2187 has been transmitted, and only one Engine and one Ladder assigned on the first alarm are in service to respond. Prior to their arrival a subsequent telephone alarm is received reporting an incident requiring a structural response at the same location. The dispatcher shall then transmit the necessary special calls to provide a response of three Engines, two Ladders, and one Battalion Chief. However, if Fire Department units are already on the scene and a second source is received, the dispatcher will notify the responding Battalion Chief and attempt to contact a unit on the scene. The box will not be filled out by the dispatcher unless requested to do so by the responding Battalion Chief or the on-scene Incident Commander. NOTE: A BARS alarm received in conjunction with an ERS or telephone report of an incident requiring a structural response will also result in the dispatch of three Engines, two Ladders, and a Battalion Chief; as will receipt of an ERS or telephone report of an incident requiring a structural response following the transmission of a BARS alarm Exceptions If there is no contact with the caller on an ERS box between 0800 and 2300 hours, there is no response. If there is no contact between 2300 and 0800 hours, one Engine is required to respond. 4

4 6.3 RESPONSE OF MARINE COMPANIES Upon receipt of an incident for a box location requiring the response of a Marine Company on the initial alarm, the indicated Marine Company shall be dispatched, and the IC shall be notified accordingly. In the event the Marine Company (or companies) assigned to respond on the first alarm is not in service, the dispatcher shall special call either the Marine Company assigned on subsequent alarms or the nearest available Marine Company When a request for a Marine Company is received and the assigned Marine Company is not in service, the dispatcher shall special call the nearest available Marine Company A 2nd Marine Company shall be assigned by the dispatcher for the incident types indicated in Section A below, when either of the following occur: Multiple calls received by the dispatcher, and a Marine Company is either already assigned because of the box location, or is required as part of the Response Matrix. Confirmation by an FDNY unit on scene. A. Incident types requiring the response of a 2nd Marine Company: Fire Person in water Jumper from bridge/shore Vessel in distress Medical Dive operation The 2nd Marine Company would provide the following: A support system for Marine Company members. Reduce reflex time for on scene help. The ability to transport resources and firefighters from land based units. Perimeter protection to secure the scene during rescue operations When an operating Marine Company requires the assistance of land based personnel, the dispatcher shall special call an Engine Company to respond to a pick-up site selected by the Marine Company officer. A. The Engine Company selected by the dispatcher shall respond to the pick-up site, where the officer and all members (except the chauffeur) will be used to supplement the fire boat personnel. The Engine Company chauffeur will remain at the pick-up site, unless ordered otherwise, and monitor the radio. If necessary, the Dispatcher shall direct the Engine Company chauffeur to respond to an alternate location to pick up returning members Marine Company Relocations are described in Chapter 7 of this Manual. 5

5 6.4 RESPONSE TO ALARMS UNDER FALLBACK CONDITIONS During periods of inordinately heavy volume of incidents (fires and/or emergencies) or when an emergency exists which impacts a Fire Communications facility, the normal response to alarms may be adjusted according to a FALLBACK response mode. Conditions requiring a change to FALLBACK must be clearly identified, implemented and terminated as indicated herein FALLBACK Triggers Conditions that can trigger the implementation of FALLBACK include but are not limited to: A. Sustained Alarm Rate of 140 incidents per hour, for longer than twenty minutes (not associated with a single incident). B. Sustained Availability of Engine or Ladder Companies below 50%, for longer than twenty minutes. C. A 2nd Alarm or greater transmitted in the borough of Staten Island. D. Severe weather conditions that are either imminent or occurring, which will significantly impact activity levels (e.g.: severe thunderstorm, tornado, blizzard, red-flag warning, etc.). E. Any in conjunction with a FALLBACK Definitions A. Step 1: Nearest available unit (Engine or Ladder) on electromechanical boxes. Class-3 maximum response: 1 Engine, 1 Ladder and 1 BC. B. Step 2: (Includes Step 1) Class-3 response: Nearest available Engine or Ladder. CO Detector: 1 Ladder or nearest available CO meter equipped unit. Water leak: Nearest available Engine or Ladder. SOC matrix response that requires a Structural Response: 2 Engines, 1 Ladder, 1 BC and SOC units. 6

6 C. Step 3: (Includes Step 1 & 2) Structural Responses: 3 Engines, 1 Ladder and 1 BC. Note: On a verified second source: 3 Engines, 2 Ladders and 1 BC. SOC matrix response that requires a Structural Response: 1 Engine, 1 Ladder, 1 BC, nearest available Rescue and Squad and nearest available SOC Support Ladder. Note: On a verified second source: fill out to normal SOC matrix response. Gas Leaks, odors of gas or similar odors: 1 Engine and 1 Ladder. Manhole Fires: 2 Engines, 1 Ladder and 1 BC. Minimum responses, based on CIDS or Box numbers, are suspended. Responses will be based on information received. Note: FALLBACK procedures may be instituted step-by-step, or Step 2 or 3 could be opted for at the outset FALLBACK Implementation A. Step 1 is recommended by the Tour Supervisor and approved by the on-duty Chief Dispatcher based on Section or other relevant factors. Upon implementation, notification shall be made by the on-duty Chief Dispatcher to: FDOC; the Chief of Communications and the on-call Fire Dispatch Operations Administrator. There is no response to ERS No-Contact, daily from hours. The response to electromechanical boxes is 1 Engine, twenty-four (24) hours a day. B. Steps 2 or 3 are recommended by the on-duty Chief Dispatcher based on Section or other relevant factors received from Tour Supervisor approved by the Chief of Communications. Notification shall be made by the on-duty Chief Dispatcher to: FDOC and on-call Fire Dispatch Operations Administrator. The Chief of Communications will make appropriate Staff Chief Notifications. C. In the event that critical operational conditions necessitate the immediate implementation of FALLBACK by the on-duty Chief Dispatcher, required notifications to the FDOC, Chief of Communications and the on-call Fire Dispatch Operations Administrator shall be made as soon as possible after implementation. 7

7 6.4.5 Continuation and/or Termination of FALLBACK A. On-duty Chief Dispatchers shall continuously monitor conditions in Boroughs where FALLBACK has been implemented. Tour Supervisors shall provide updates to the on-duty Chief Dispatcher at a minimum of 30 minute intervals on alarm rate, availability and other factors that will affect the need to continue in, upgrade or downgrade, or terminate FALLBACK. The Chief Dispatcher shall confer with the Chief of Communications or his/her designee at 60 minute intervals, as long as FALLBACK STEPS 2 or 3 remain in effect. B. The decision to terminate FALLBACK STEP 1 shall be made by the on-duty Chief Dispatcher, with notification of termination made to FDOC, the Chief of Communications and the on-call Fire Dispatch Operations Administrator. C. The decision to terminate FALLBACK STEPS 2 or 3; shall be recommended by the On-Duty Chief Dispatcher to the Chief of Communications. Notification of a termination or downgrade in FALLBACK STEP 2 or 3 shall be made to FDOC and the on-call Fire Dispatch Operations Administrator. D. At the conclusion of FALLBACK, Tour Supervisors in the Boroughs concerned shall complete a detailed journal entry noting the date, time, and Step(s) of Fallback, as well as notifications made and the number of incidents that occurred. 6.5 RESPONSE PROCEDURES FOR VERBAL ALARMS Verbal Alarms in Quarters Engine, Ladder, Marine, Rescue and Squad companies receiving a verbal alarm while at quarters, shall notify the dispatcher by using the Verbal button on the PC/ATS. Units shall not await teleprinter confirmation before responding. Verbal alarms received at quarters where only a special unit is in service shall be immediately reported to the dispatcher. Note: The VERBAL button on the PC/ATS should be used only if the alarm is within two blocks of a unit's quarters in any direction. If the alarm is more than two blocks away, the unit should respond and give information and location via radio Verbal Alarms Out of Quarters A. Any unit observing a fire or emergency or receiving a verbal alarm while out of quarters shall immediately notify the dispatcher by radio of the alarm location and nature of incident and proceed to the location of the verbal alarm. 8

8 B. In the event the unit is responding to another alarm and it is evident human life is not in jeopardy at the scene of the verbal alarm, the unit shall proceed to the original alarm after transmitting radio notification of a verbal alarm to dispatcher and receiving acknowledgement Response to Verbal Alarms by Marine Companies A. Before responding to a verbal alarm on the waterways where staffing in addition to that of the Marine Company will be required, the officer on duty shall request by telephone or radio that the FDNY special alarm system (CL3) signal assigned to the Marine Company's quarters be transmitted. B. A Marine Company awaiting additional staffing shall remain at berth until land units have responded and personnel have boarded. C. Land units responding to such special alarm box signals shall comply with instructions on reverse side of assignment cards. D. While the unit is enroute, the dispatcher shall be informed by radio of the alarm location and cause Dispatcher's Action on Verbal Alarms When notified of the cause of a verbal alarm the dispatcher should follow provisions pertaining to telephone alarms. 6.6 RESPONSE TO SPECIAL ALARM SYSTEMS Special alarm systems are located in buildings and tunnels and on Islands, bridges and highways. Special alarm systems are installed, maintained and monitored by either the Fire Department or by private fire alarm companies. They are referred to collectively as Class 3 alarms because 3 was the preliminary telegraph signal used for such alarms Numbers are assigned to all alarm boxes in buildings that are serviced by private fire alarm companies in conjunction with preliminary Signal 3. Class 3 box numbers incorporate the nearest street box and alarm terminal numbers. For example, the number on the teleprinter response message indicates a class 3 alarm with box 342 as the nearest street box and terminal 42 as the location or area of the source of the alarm At least one Engine Company, one Ladder Company, and a Battalion Chief shall respond to every special alarm system box. This minimum requirement shall not apply to boxes requiring response of full assignment. 9

9 6.6.4 Companies or units, while out of quarters and available, may be assigned by radio to respond to a special alarm system box. The dispatcher shall broadcast the number of the special alarm system box and identify the units selected to respond. Broadcast shall include: special alarm system location, address, specific area if known, and type of alarm transmission. A. When a special alarm system box is transmitted, and shortly thereafter an alarm is received from the associated street box, a response of three Engine Companies, two Ladder Companies, and a Chief Officer shall be provided and incoming units notified. B. When an alarm is transmitted for a street box, and shortly thereafter an alarm is received for the associated special alarm box, responding units shall be notified of the details of the special alarm Marine companies respond to special alarm system boxes having Marine Company assignments. If the Marine Company (or companies) assigned are not in service, the dispatcher shall assign the nearest available Marine Company Fires on Governor s Island (8204), Liberty Island (8420) and Ellis Island (8421) are reported by telephone to Manhattan. Upon receipt of such alarms, the dispatcher shall transmit the appropriate special alarm systems. Procedures shall be in accordance with response instructions on special alarm system assignment cards. Before responding, Marine companies assigned shall remain at berth until personnel of assigned land units have boarded When notification is received of fires or emergencies aboard vessels underway or anchored in waters in and around New York City, or on Islands for which there are no regular assignments, the borough communications office shall transmit the special alarm system box or boxes of Marine companies selected to respond. Procedure shall be in accordance with instructions on assignment cards. Before responding, Marine companies assigned shall remain at berth until personnel of assigned land units have boarded. 6.7 RESPONSE TO TELEPHONE AND ERS ALARMS INVOLVING SPECIFIC LOCATIONS OR SITUATIONS The dispatcher shall transmit a box alarm when a report is received for a fire in a building, structure, pier, or ship at a pier The dispatcher shall transmit the special alarm system box when a report is received for a fire in a school, hospital, institution, theatre, church, or other place of public assembly having a special alarm system. If there is no associated special alarm system box, the alarm shall be transmitted for the street or dummy box nearest the location. A full first alarm assignment shall be the required response. 10

10 6.7.3 The dispatcher shall transmit the appropriate special alarm system box when a telephone or ERS alarm is received for a fire or emergency for bridges, tunnels, elevated or depressed vehicular highways, parkways, or expressways having special alarm systems. Instructions on reverse side of assignment cards shall be followed under such circumstances The dispatcher shall dispatch a minimum of two Engines, two Ladders and a Battalion Chief when a report is received for a fire or emergency for a bridge, tunnel, elevated or depressed vehicular highway, parkway or expressway for which there is no special alarm system box. One Engine and one Ladder shall be dispatched from each direction to all such incidents. No fewer than two units shall operate at an incident on an express highway or other potentially dangerous roadway The nearest available Engine Company is to be dispatched when a telephone or ERS alarm is received for a fire in brush, rubbish in street or open lot, or railroad ties outdoors. One Engine Company and one Ladder Company are to be dispatched to all fires or emergencies involving motor vehicles. Fires and emergencies involving elevated railroad right of way el-ties shall be responded to by one Engine and one Ladder Company The procedures described in Sections through shall apply when a report is received for a fire on or just beyond borderline of the city. Upon arrival the officer in command shall determine the action to be taken by the NYC Fire Department Response Procedures for Reports Involving Refrigerant Leaks The following procedures are followed when a telephone alarm is received for a refrigerant leak: A. If the leak is in a household unit, the dispatcher shall dispatch the nearest engine company. If necessary, the Engine officer shall request additional resources. B. If the leak involves a large refrigerating unit, an Engine Company, Ladder Company, Rescue Company, Battalion Chief, Haz-Mat Company 1, Haz- Mat Battalion and the nearest available HMTU will be directed by the dispatcher to respond. C. If there is both a refrigerant leak and fire in the same premises a full first alarm assignment along with Haz-Mat Company 1, Haz-Mat Battalion, and the nearest available HMTU shall be the required response. 11

11 6.7.8 Response procedures for Reports Involving Water Flooded Conditions The dispatcher shall direct the nearest available Ladder Company and Battalion Chief to investigate when a report is received reporting a water flooded condition which has created or may develop into a situation hazardous to life and property. Note: The dispatcher shall direct the nearest available ladder company to respond to routine minor water leaks. A. The investigating officer shall promptly transmit conditions to the dispatcher. The Battalion Chief shall notify the Deputy Chief if conditions warrant. B. When a borough communications office has become or is in danger of being flooded, the dispatcher shall special call the nearest available Ladder Company, and the nearest available Battalion Chief. The Deputy Chief shall be notified of the incident. The dispatcher shall also notify the Fire Commissioner, Chief of Department, Chief of Dispatch Operations and the Duty Chief Dispatcher Response Procedures for Reports involving Explosions, Bombs, or Incendiary Devices A. Upon receipt of a report of an explosion or the discovery of a bomb, incendiary devices or other explosive devices, the dispatcher shall transmit an alarm for the box nearest the location. Notification of such alarm shall be immediately telephoned to the Police Department. Note: Units responding to the incidents listed above shall be guided by the response procedures described in the Emergency Response Plan, Addendum 3. B. In all such incidents, the dispatcher shall be directed to transmit promptly by radio all known particulars for the information and precaution of responding units. C. Upon receipt of a bomb/incendiary device threat, the dispatcher shall notify the Police Department. Fire Department units will respond to bomb threats only when assistance is requested by the Police Department through the Fire Department dispatcher Response Procedures for Reports Involving Hazardous Materials A. Initial notification of a hazardous material incident will be through the transmission of the radio signal by field units. Transmission of the signal will serve to warn responders to proceed with caution to avoid entering a restricted area. 12

12 B. Responding units should be especially alert to the need for transmission of signal in the following circumstances: 1. Transportation accidents 2. Industrial accidents 3. Leaks, spills or suspicious odors 4. Medical emergencies involving chemical inhalation 5. Explosions 6. Structural collapses C. Upon receipt of radio signal 10-80, dispatcher shall re-transmit promptly by radio all known particulars for the information and precaution of responding units. Upon receipt of radio signal with code, dispatcher shall ensure proper response. D. Units responding to hazardous materials incidents shall be guided by the response procedures described in the Emergency Response Plan: Hazardous Materials Response Procedures for Auto-Extrication Incidents A. EMS/PD auto-extrication incidents, or any report of an auto accident where there is a possibility of a person trapped and a Hurst tool may be required, shall receive the response of an engine company and the nearest available Hurst tool equipped unit. B. If a single engine company is assigned to a medical response or other incident, and additional information received from any source indicates an "auto extrication", the nearest available Hurst tool equipped unit shall be added to the response. C. When it is determined by the first arriving units that the Hurst tool will be used, the Dispatcher shall be notified immediately and a Rescue or Squad shall be special called as a back-up if not already assigned. When a Rescue or Squad is assigned, an additional Rescue or Squad is generally not required, unless specifically requested. D. If a second Hurst tool is immediately needed, the next closest available Hurst tool equipped unit shall be special called Response Procedures to "MEDIC ALERT" Alarms received from an alarm service A. One unit response; nearest available CFR Unit. 13

13 6.8 DISPATCHER'S RESPONSIBILITIES Upon report of the following conditions, the dispatcher shall notify the appropriate Deputy Chief to respond: A. Three Engine companies and two Ladder companies are being put to work and fire is "Doubtful." B. Any unusual or hazardous condition exists. C. If no report has been received and/or the dispatcher is unable to contact any operating unit for more than 15 minutes Dispatchers shall, when notified of violations of the Fire Code, Building Code, or complaints of fires requiring the attention of units, promptly inform the officer of the company in whose administrative district such premises are located Dispatchers shall, when notified of unusual occurrences or emergencies other than fires, requiring the response of apparatus, inform officers on duty with these units of the conditions or emergency to which they are responding Dispatchers shall, when notified of complaints, overcrowding or unusual conditions related to places of public amusement and entertainment such as theaters, sports arenas, convention halls, dance halls, cabarets or similar occupancies, promptly notify the administrative Battalion Chief. If unable to contact the administrative Battalion Chief, the administrative Deputy Chief shall be notified Dispatchers shall, when notified by the officer in command of a fire or emergency of conditions requiring attention of other city departments or outside agencies, inform such departments or agencies of the situation and request proper action and cooperation When a report is received for an incident not involving fire, the actions of, and notifications by, the dispatcher shall be in accordance with provisions of "Dispatchers Action Guide" on file in each borough communications office. In the event a subsequent report for an incident indicates a fire has resulted, the dispatcher shall take appropriate actions described in Section 6.7 of this chapter. 14

14 6.9 RESPONSE POLICY The following guidelines for response policy are indicated below: Ladder Companies with 4 Firefighter Staffing An additional Ladder Company (above the Fast Truck) shall be assigned to a when both of the two initially assigned Ladder Companies report responding with 4 firefighters. The additional Ladder Company shall be the 3rd Ladder Company, and the 4th Ladder Company shall be designated as the Fast Truck Understaffed Units When notified that a company is responding understaffed (less than four firefighters), the dispatcher shall special call another unit (Engine for Engine, Ladder for Ladder, etc.) to respond in addition to the understaffed unit. Note: Under this response policy, the total First Alarm response shall not exceed a total response of: (4) Engine Companies and (4) Ladder Companies 6.10 BOROUGH COMMAND CADS DESIGNATIONS Each Borough Commander has been given a PCATS and CADS designation as follows: Manhattan: Bronx: Staten Island: Brooklyn: Queens: CB01 CB02 CB03 CB04 CB The CADS designation can be used in Starfire to assign a Borough Commander to an incident, or to relocate a Battalion or Division to the Borough Command for a visit or conference. Assignment of a Borough Commander to an incident will produce a Fire Ticket at the Borough Command Battalions and/or Divisions relocated to a Borough Command are able to receive Fire Tickets at that Borough Command. 15