When a unit reports "on location" with smoke, fire or other conditions visible, a brief report of the building size (small, medium, large) including height and occupancy and conditions existing upon arrival. When a company reports "on location" with smoke, fire or other conditions visible, the communications dispatcher will repeat the information over the radio for other responding units.

Example: Reporting "on location" with fire or smoke showing, "Engine 11-1 'on location' with a large two and a half story dwelling, heavy fire second floor, side one."

Example: "Attention all companies responding to (address), Engine 11-1 "on scene" reporting a large two and a half story dwelling, with heavy fire second floor, side one."

Chief officers or command units should advise Bucks County when they are on the fireground.

Fireground Report

The officer-in-charge, after summarizing the situation shall, as soon as possible, make a fireground report to Bucks County advising what he has, what units will hold and any estimate of how long the units will be held. This will enable the communications dispatcher to determine the need for cover-ups, etc. All information on firegrounds will be entered into the complaint in CAD, whenever possible. During all fires and emergencies, the officer-in-charge should periodically advise Bucks County as to the current situation and progress. This provides the communications center, as well as the companies on the scene with a overall awareness of the situation.

Calling for Additional Alarms or Apparatus

The Incident Commander when calling for additional apparatus shall call Bucks County and then stand by for the dispatcher to acknowledge his unit and then give his message for assistance.

Example: Unit: "Main Street Command to Bucks County."
Dispatcher: "Proceed, Main Street Command."
Unit: "Respond two additional engines to the scene.

When calling for additional alarms the procedure below will be followed. The Incident Commander when calling for an additional alarm shall be prepared to designate a staging area when requesting the additional alarm assignment. Companies on additional alarms will report directly to the staging area for their assignment and the first arriving officer at the staging area shall assume the title "staging officer," acting as liaison between arriving companies and the officer-in-charge.

When dispatching a unit that is "on radio", the radio dispatcher will sound alert tone, give the alarm and ask for an acknowledgment.

Additional alarm companies will switch their radios to the emergency band before responding and shall remain on that frequency, reporting to the staging area. The apparatus will then be given any instructions by the "staging officer."

Communications in High-Rise Buildings

It may be more practical in some cases where high-rise buildings are involved to revert some communications to the use of the public phone. When in communication with the dispatcher by means of telephone, the following procedure will be used. The officer or person when calling will call via an emergency number. He will give his name and rank and then his message. The dispatcher will then put his message over the air for all units on the fireground to copy.

Message of Confidential Nature