MABAS Box Alarm Card Definitions
| Cell Title | Definition | |
| Department Name | The name of the Fire Department issuing the card. | |
| Box Alarm Type | The type of emergency situation covered by the card. | |
| Effective Date | The date the use of the card is authorized to begin by the issuing department. | |
| MABAS Division | The Division in which the Fire Department holds a membership. | |
| Box Alarm Number | The number for the card designated by the Fire Department. The numbering system should be coordinated with the other members of the Division. | |
| Location or Area | This can be a single location or building; a geographical portion of the departments area of response or the entire area of response. | |
| Authorized
Signature |
The signature of the Fire Chief of the department issuing the card. | |
| Local Dispatch
Area |
This portion of the card is intended to show the response for any units prior to the Box Alarm level. The primary responding units will be those of the local department and possibly outside departments generally using auto-aid agreements. | |
| Alarm Level | This refers to the designation given by the issuing department for responses to this location prior to the Box Alarm level. This allows for the two levels prior to the Box Alarm level. The name of the alarm levels will be based
on local preference. Includes the names of the departments that are committed to provide this type of equipment at the alarm level designated. |
|
| Engines | Based on local designations. | |
| Tenders | Based on local designations. | |
| Trucks | Based on local designations. | |
| Squads | Based on local designations. | |
| Chiefs | Can include Chief, Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief, Battalion Chief or those staff officers acceptable to the members of the Division. | |
| Special Equipment | Any ancillary units, individuals or specialized apparatus that would be beneficial for the type of alarm designated by the card. These resources may or may not be owned and operated by the member departments. | |
| Change of Quarters | This lists the station/s that will house units from neighboring departments. The specific units that are specified on each level will respond to other emergency calls for the duration of the original call or moved up to the scene during further alarms. | |
| MABAS Box Alarm | This portion of the card is intended to show the response for any units starting at the Box Alarm level. These responses are covered by the MABAS mutual aid agreements. |
| Alarm Level | This refers to the Box Alarm, 2nd Alarm, 3rd Alarm, etc. to the ultimate level deemed appropriate by the department to handle the possible emergency situations. Includes the names of the departments that are committed to provide this type of equipment at the alarm level designated |
| Engines | Based on local designations. |
| Tenders | Based on local designations. |
| Squads | Based on local designations. |
| Chiefs | Can include Chief, Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief, Battalion Chief or those staff officers acceptable to the members of the Division. |
| Special Equipment | Any ancillary units, individuals or specialized apparatus that would be beneficial for the type of alarm designated by the card. These resources may or may not be owned and operated by the member departments. |
| Change of Quarters | This lists the station/s that will house units from neighboring departments.
The specific units that are specified on each level will respond to other emergency calls for the duration of the original call unless they are asked to move up to the scene. |
| Special Instructions | This area is reserved for any information that will allow the MABAS telecommunicators handling the radio communications for the incident to have quick access to specific information to assist responding units. Some of these could be the address of the change of quarter’s stations, special contact numbers for key department members, and numbers for departments that are due to respond that may have special contact requirements. |
| Interdivisional
Request |
An Interdivisional Request is activated when all companies have been dispatched on the specific Box Alarm Card have been dispatched and additional companies are required for a large scale incident. During an Interdivisional Request, speed of response is important. The Division providing companies determines which departments and units respond based upon pre-determined Interdivisional or Task Force response cards. Types of Interdivisional cards may include Fire, Engine Only, Tender Only, Ambulance, Haz-Mat or Specialized Rescue. |
| Task Force Request | A Task Force Request refers to activation of MABAS assets through the State of Illinois Mutual Aid Response Flow Plan. This type of request is intended for extended duration incidents where Quality and Quantity of Response takes president over speed of response. |
Source: mabas-il.org
