Types of Alerts

All incidents are reviewed for the specific criteria prior to dispatch:

Working Fires

Defined as a minimum first-alarm assignment working at a structure fire with at least one hand line operating with an established water supply (either from a hydrant or from tankers). Companies are actively involved in firefighting.

Hazardous Materials Incidents

Serious incidents involving hazardous materials units. Genuine incidents are usually indicated by evacuations, environmental threats, hot zones and prolonged operations. These incidents may include confined space or technical rescues.

Mass Casualty Incidents

Defined as incidents with at least six injuries requiring emergency transport. CFP does not dispatch routine traffic collisions or entrapments. Collisions that involve three or more fatalities may be dispatched.

Weather Related Emergencies

Tornadoes, hurricanes or extensive flooding requiring a large fire-rescue service response.

Vegetation Fires (Brush, Woods, Wildland)

May be dispatched if at least three (3) fire departments/companies are engaged, the fire is spreading and is a danger to exposures.

Other Incident Types

The following types of incidents may be dispatched at the discretion of a Dispatcher: aircraft incidents involving injuries and/or fatalities, explosions with injuries and/or property damage, departmental apparatus MVCs.

Incidents typically NOT dispatched: bomb threats, law enforcement activities, routine motor vehicle collisions/entrapments, vehicle and other nuisance fires, routine fuel leaks/spills.