Difference of 1st, 2nd & 3rd alarm fires...................

Some where within Facebook, a person asked the differences of 1st, 2nd & 3rd alarm fires. Newark Fire Department's Assistant Chief Dave Decker responded with a brief and detailed description. I just hope know one cares about copyright etc.

• The alarm assignments in Newark are set up for "Residential fires" and "High risk/value" which is a commercial occupancy or multi-family dwelling such as an apartment.
  
  Initial alarm for a single family dwelling is 3-engines, 1-ladder, 1-chief, 1-medic. The working fire announcement gets you an additional engine to act as a RIT crew which is a safety crew, and an additional medic for an EMS sector just in case of any injuries. 

  
  

  2nd alarm gets you an additional 3&1 (3 engines - 1 ladder) plus an air supply unit and a chief officer when available. 

  
  

  Each subsequent alarm provides an additional 3&1 plus an EMS unit and another chief officer.
  
  Commercial fire assignments are beefier because of the increased fire load and staffing necessary to combat the fire. Initial assignment is a 4&2 assignment. 4-engines, 2-ladders, 1-chief, 1-medic. Again, the working fire gets you an extra engine for RIT and medic for the EMS sector.
  
  Most departments follow something very close to this with 1 exception. Departments in areas without hydrants will have a number of tankers on each alarm to provide water where there are no hydrants .

  
  

  Editor's note: No where in the assignments it mentions Newark Fire's Unit-G, but usually responds to all first alarm assignments. If not, there would be no one present to bother the assistant chief in command.