San Diego Fire Dispatch Protocol

This list is not all inclusive and not 100% accurate as it was taken from memory, which, in my case, is shaky at best. Any corrections from persons within the Fire Service or scanner community would be appreciated.

Medical Aid
Engine (or truck if engine busy) dispatched with all ALS calls (engine helpful for making entry, cutting chains, ect.)
All level 1 calls get an Engine (or truck if Engine busy) , but not all ALS are level 1
Assigned Radio Channel CMD 1 TAC 1 (7E, 7F)

Structure Residential
3 engines, 1 truck, a battalion chief , PDS when avail.
Assigned CMD (3-7) and matching TAC (8A, 8B - 8D, 8E - 8G, 8H - 9A, 9B)

Structure Commercial (Commercial means any business or any housing that contains more than one unit, like an apartment or condo)
4 engines, 2 trucks, 2 battalion chiefs, ALS, PDS when avail.
Assigned CMD (3-7) and matching TAC (8A, 8B - 8D, 8E - 8G, 8H - 9A, 9B)

Structure Hi-Rise
5 engines, 3 trucks, 2 battalion chiefs, rescue rig, ALS, PDS when avail
Duty Medical Support, Light and Air Rig
Assigned CMD (3-7) and matching TAC (8A, 8B - 8D, 8E - 8G, 8H - 9A, 9B)

Vegetation Fire
Varies depending on conditions/location.
Assigned CMD (3-7) and matching TAC (8A, 8B - 8D, 8E - 8G, 8H - 9A, 9B)

For "low hazard" (non fire season, middle of street, downtown, areas where fire has little chance of being large or a problem) which is 1 engine.

During fire season the same area gets a "fire season hazard" response which is 2 engines.

A first alarm vegetation response (used in canyon areas, wildland areas, high hazard areas)

    1st alarm low        3 type-1 engines, 1 truck, 1 bc, 1 copter, 1 type-3 engine and PDS.

    1st alarm medium  4 t-1 engines, 1 truck, 2 bc, 3 t-3 engines, 1 copter, 1 water tender, PDS and staff notification.

    1st Alarm high       5 type-1 engines, 1 truck, 2 bc, 5 type-3 engines, 2 water tenders, 1 copter, 1 medic unit, PDS, 1 utility, and staff notification.

The CAD is built 4 alarms deep for these Reponses.

Smoke Check
Single engine
Assigned CMD (3-7) and matching TAC (8A, 8B - 8D, 8E - 8G, 8H - 9A, 9B)

Illegal burn
single engine
Assigned CMD (3-7) and matching TAC (8A, 8B - 8D, 8E - 8G, 8H - 9A, 9B)

Ringing Alarms
single engine
except hospitals -Truck and Engine
Assigned CMD (3-7) and matching TAC (8A, 8B - 8D, 8E - 8G, 8H - 9A, 9B)
Ringing alarm with combination of burglar alarm, issued ""Stand back for PD
Light and Air Automatic on Structure Hi-Rise otherwise requested after units go on scene and find valid fire

Traffic Accident
Engine and ALS
Assigned CMD 2 TAC 4 (7H 7I)

Vehicle Rescue
Engines, ALS, Rescue Rig and ????
Usually dispatched when ""Traffic Accident"" responders advise someone is trapped.
Also can go out initially this way if RP (CHP, Police, RP) states trapped party.
Assigned CMD 2 TAC 4 (7H 7I)

HAZMAT
Variable based on nature of incident
Least serious - Single Engine HASMAT response"" e.g. Spilled oil, paint cans found in bushes
More serious - Will add HASMAT rig to any response or they are requested by BC or Captain
Assigned CMD (3-7) and matching TAC (8A, 8B - 8D, 8E - 8G, 8H - 9A, 9B)"

AIRPORT
Alert 1 Possible aircraft problem
Alert 2 Aircraft problem - example landing gear down light not locked, fluid leak
Alert 3 On field crash
Alert 4 Bomb threat
Alert 5 Off field crash

Alerts have varied responses
Alert dispatches also add CRASH rigs that are stationed at airports.
Gets dispatched as ""ALERT xx (insert airport name) for (insert list of apparatus)


PDS Unit
PDS Unit - A San Diego police officer in a PD Car who is assigned to responds with fire on structure dispatches. (PD Support)
PDS Function: Ticket drivers who do not yield to fire equipment and Immediate traffic control at scene
The PDS unit roves and waits for fire calls. In the meantime, the unit acts as a traffic unit doing enforcement
The PDS unit is from the Traffic Division
 

MEDICS:

ALS/BLS Transport Codes
Code 10 Critical Trauma Patient
Code 20 Acute Trauma Patient
Code 30 Trauma Case
Code 40 Serious Case, IV started
Code 50 Basic Transport
Code 60 Newsworthy Transport


SDCity Medic Hospital Catchments

Trauma cases, by default transport as follows UNLESS the default trauma center is on bypass, then the default hospital radio operator will direct to another facility

South of interstate 8 and east of interstate 805 Mercy
South of interstate 8 and west of interstate 805 UCSD
North of interstate 8 west part of city Sharp Memorial
North of interstate 52 east part of city Palomar


Medics generally notify their dispatch on 7C that they are enrt CODE XX (e.g. CODE 10, CODE 40) to (hospital name)
Then they contact the hospital they are going to on the appropriate hospital channel.
Typical = San Diego Medic 30 with an acute status trauma. Are you Open?
If hospital accepts patient then the medic will run down the vitals, etc…
If hospital is on bypass, hospital radio operator will contact other hospitals for acceptance and advise

Medic units are floating, however basically assigned to a general area. ALS units are GPS located and dispatched by location. If 7B notices that certain areas are lacking sufficient units, they will re-position clearing units.
Typical "Medic 30 clearing at Mercy" "Ten-four Medic 30, can you hold the area of Station 18?"

Typically, medical aid calls for suspect traumas are first dispatched on 7C to the ALS units
Oftentimes the call will be dispatched to the medics even while caller is on line and details are still being obtained.
Typical ""Medic 30, respond to (Address) Call still in triage. Responding with engine 18 or if sufficient information is given ""Medic 30, respond to (address) for a gunshot. You'll be responding with engine 18"
Then shortly thereafter the full dispatch will go out on 7A
Engine 18 with medic 30, respond to (address) for a gunshot wound(or GSW)"
Medics and fire are routinely told to stand back for PD. In any event which the dispatcher fells danger still exists policy dictates that fire/medic units stage several blocks away until PD advises they are "clear in"
This is used for any assault calls where the assailant is still present in a fight or just about any shooting or stabbing call. Also any domestic calls unless it is made clear assailant has left the scene

All fire and medics receive their calls on pagers as well as MDT. Audio dispatch is actually secondary.
Should also be noted that the audio dispatch often lags behind. Units are oftentimes already rolling from pager information and station alerting equipment by the time it goes on the air.