NEWARK FIRE DEPARTMENT HISTORY
Working Fire Radio Transcript
November 15, 1980
The following is a transcript of actual radio transmissions that occurred on November 15, 1980, for a fire involving five frame structures 25, 27-31 Dassing Avenue, 40, 42-46 Gladstone Avenue, and 83-85 Whitney Street. The fire went to three alarms. Tour 1 was on duty.
NOTE: The entries highlighted in yellow are field transmissions.
(3 Tones) Attention Engines 11 and 6, Truck 11, Battalion 1; Box alarm, Signal 9, Box 1-4-5-4; Dassing Avenue and Whitney Street. Attention Engines 11 and 6, Truck 11, Battalion 1; Box alarm, Signal 9, Box 1-4-5-4; Dassing Avenue and Whitney Street; 5-1 at 1-1-4-5 hours. Headquarters to Engine 11 acknowledge.
Engine 6 acknowledge.
6 received and responding.
Received. Truck 11.
Truck 11 received and responding.
Received. Engine 11 acknowledge.
Engine 11 received and responding.
Received.
(sirens) … a smoke condition in that area.
Uh, units on 1-4-5-4, we’re transmitting a Signal 10; report of flames at the rear of a house, 16 Gladstone, between South Orange and Dassing.
Engine 11 to ‘quarters, we have a heavy smoke condition in that area!
Battalion 1 on the scene.
Received.
(3 Tones) Attention Engines 21 and 18, Truck 12, Deputy 1, Rescue 1; A Signal 10 sounded for Box 1-4-5-4. Reported to be a house on fire, 16 Gladstone, between South Orange and Dassing. Attention Engines 21 and 18, Truck 12, Deputy 1, Rescue 1; Signal 10 sounded for Box 1-4-5-4. Reported to be a house on fire at number 16 Gladstone Avenue, between South Orange and Dassing Avenues. 5-1 at 1-1-4-7 hours.
Headquarters to Telegraph 7.
Telegraph 7.
Hold off pulling those boxes; we have fire traffic.
Received.
Engine 11 to ‘quarters, we have a working fire!
Engine 11 reports a working fire, Box 1-4-5-4, 1-1-4-8 hours.
Battalion 1 to Headquarters.
Battalion 1.
What engines are comin’ in on the 10?
21 and 18.
Battalion 1 to Engine 18.
Engine 18.
Come in Dassing Avenue, by the way of Whitney, and take a hydrant on Dassing Avenue.
Engine 18.
(Tone) Headquarters to Telegraph 7.
Telegraph 7.
Wind Dassing and Whitney; eight pulls.
Received.
Battalion 1 to Engine 21.
21.
Come in Speedway and take the hydrant on the corner of Dassing.
Received.
Battalion 1 to Headquarters.
Battalion 1.
A large three-story frame structure - it’s occupied; it looks like the entire cockloft is involved.
Received.
Headquarters 20 responding to the fire on Dancing.
Battalion 1, EMERGENCY!
Battalion 1.
Second alarm!
Second alarm, Box 1-4-5-4.
(Bell & Siren Toner) (3 Tones) Attention Engines 26, 7, 17 and 12, Truck 9, Battalion 4: a second alarm sounded for Box 1-4-5-4; Dassing Avenue and Whitney Street. Attention Engines 26, 7, 17 and 12, Truck 9, Battalion 4: second alarm is sounded for Box 1-4-5-4; Dassing Avenue and Whitney Street; 5-1 at 1-1-5-2 hours.
Battalion 4 responding.
Okay, Battalion 4.
Headquarters 5 received and responding.
Headquarters 5?
Received that second alarm.
Okay.
Battalion 1 to Headquarters.
Battalion 1.
Have the first-due engine company come in Gladstone and take the green-top in the middle of the block. Have the second and third stretch in from South Orange Avenue.
Headquarters to Engine 26.
26.
Go in Gladstone Avenue; take the green-top hydrant in the middle of the block.
Received.
Headquarters to Engine 7.
7.
Stretch in from South Orange Avenue.
Received.
Headquarters to Engine 17.
Engine 17.
Stretch in from South Orange Avenue.
Received.
(3 Tones) Attention Engines 15 and 4; Truck 5; Battalion 2; Box alarm, Signal 9, Box 1-3-4-8; 14th Avenue and South 7th Street. Attention Engines 15 and 4; Truck 5; Battalion 2; Box alarm, Signal 9, Box 1-3-4-8; 14th Avenue and South 7th Street. 5-1 at 1-1-5-4 hours. Headquarters to Engine 4 acknowledge.
Battalion 2 responding to 14th and South 7th.
Deputy 1 to Headquarters.
Deputy 1.
Have the fourth-due engine company come in on Grove Street.
Headquarters to Engine 12.
Engine 12.
Go in on Grove Street.
Engine 12 received.
Deputy 1 to Headquarters. EMERGENCY!
Deputy 1.
Uh, send a third alarm. Have the companies stretch in…
… have a company come in Whitney Street!
… have companies come in from Whitney Street and South Orange Avenue, and from Grove Street, down Dassing.
Received.
(Bell & Siren Toner)
Truck 5’s on the scene, 14th Avenue and 7th Street, nothin’ showin’.
(3 Tones) Attention Engines 10, 5, and 14, Truck 7, respond on a third alarm Box 1-4-5-4; Dassing Avenue and Whitney Street. Attention Engines 10, 5, and 14, Truck 7; third alarm sounded for Box 1-4-5-4; Dassing Avenue and Whitney Street; 5-1 at 1-1-5-9 hours.
Truck 5 to Headquarters.
Truck 5.
14th Avenue and 7th Street, Signal 300.
(Tone) Attention on Signal 9, Box 1-3-4-8, Truck 5 reports a Signal 300. Battalions 1 and 4, Deputy 1 out.
Engine 10 to Headquarters.
Engine 10, go into the fire by way of Whitney Street.
Engine 10 received.
Headquarters to Engine 5.
Engine 5.
Go in by way of Grove Street to the fire.
Engine 5 received.
Headquarters to Engine 14.
14.
Go in by way of Grove Street.
Received.
(Tone) 12:00 hours, KEC-9-8-9, Dispatcher 5-1.
Battalion 1 to Deputy 1.
Deputy 1.
We gotta abandon the second and third floors. We have a lot of fire comin’ through on the first floor of the large building.
Awright. I’m takin’ care of this side on Whitney Street!
Deputy 1 to Battalion 1.
Engine 12 to Headquarters!
Engine 12.
Have 26 increase the pressure!
(Tone) Headquarters calling Engine 26.
Telegraph 1 to Headquarters.
Telegraph 1.
This fire involves a total of five wooden structures; three, three-story and two, two story.
Received.
(Tone) Headquarters calling Engine 15.
Engine 15.
Relocate to Engine 26.
Engine 15 received and responding.
(Tone) Signal 5 for Engine 32, Signal 5 for Engine 15, Signal 5 for Engine 27, Signal 5 for Engine 9, Signal 5 for Truck 2, and a Signal 5 for Truck 4. 1-2-0-9 hours.
(Tone) Headquarters to Engine 27.
Engine 27.
We’re putting you in service as Engine 14.
Engine 27 as 14 received.
Telegraph 1 to Headquarters.
Telegraph 1.
The addresses: 40-42-44 Gladstone; 25-27 Dassing.
Received.
Headquarters to Engine 15.
Engine 15.
We’re putting you in service as Engine 26.
Received.
(Tone) Headquarters calling Headquarters 1-A.
Headquarters 1-A.
Are you aware of the second al… third alarm at Dassing and Whitney?
We’re on the scene.
Received.
Headquarters to Engine 9.
Engine 9.
We’re putting you in service as Engine 6.
By your authority from, uh, Clifton Avenue and Sussex.
Affirmative.
Headquarters to Truck 2.
Truck 2.
We’re putting you in service as Truck 12.
Received.
Deputy 1 to Headquarters.
Deputy 1.
Have a coupla more truck companies respond here and have ‘em come in offa Grove Street, down Dassing.
Two additional trucks?
That’s correct.
Received.
Headquarters to Truck 2.
Truck 2.
Go into the third alarm. Go in by way of Grove Street.
Received.
Headquarters to Truck 4.
Truck 4.
Go into the fire. Go in by way of Grove Street.
Truck 4 received. Truck 4 on Raymond Boulevard responding to the fire via Grove.
Headquarters to Truck 4.
Truck Company 4.
Continue in to Truck 11’s quarters.
Continuing in to Truck 11’s quarters.
You’re now in service as Truck 11.
At Raymond Boulevard and Warren.
Received.
Available as Truck 11.
Received.
(Tone) Signal 5 for Truck 12, Signal 5 for Truck 5.
Truck 2 to Headquarters.
Truck 2.
We’ve been involved in an accident at South Orange Avenue and Grove Street. Will advise if there’s any injuries. We’re unable to respond to the fire, I guess.
(Tone) Headquarters to Deputy 1.
Deputy 1.
Awright, Truck 2 is unable to respond into the fire; they’ve been involved in an accident at South Orange and Grove. We have Truck 5 coming up. You requesting an additional truck?
We need one more truck company. There’s a lot of roof here.
Received.
Headquarters to Truck 4.
Truck Company 4.
You hafta go into the fire; go in by way of Grove Street. Report with hooks.
Responding into the fire by way of Grove.
Received.
Engine 32 to Headquarters.
Engine 32.
Engine 32 available as Engine 17.
Received.
(Tone) Signal 5 for Truck 11.
Truck 2 to Headquarters.
Truck 2.
We can respond to the fire now. Do want us in there?
Affirmative.
Truck 2 received.
Headquarters to Truck 4.
Truck Company 4.
We’re putting you back in service as Truck 11.
Back in service as Truck 11.
EMERGENCY! Engine 4 to Headquarters! We got a fire in a two-story frame. Signal 10!
We’re givin’ ya the box.
Battalion 1 to Deputy 1.
Deputy 1.
Disregard my last report. I didn’t realize I wasn’t to the end of the building.
(3 Tones) Attention Engines 4, 13, 28, Engine 9, Trucks 6 and 4, Battalion 3: Deputy 2, a radio alarm, Box 3-2-2-8, Broadway and Oriental Street. Attention Engines 4, 13, 28, and 9, Trucks 6 and 4, Battalion 3: Deputy 2, a radio alarm, Box 3-2-2-8, Broadway and Oriental Street. 5-1 at 1-2-2-3 hours. Truck 4 acknowledge.
Truck Company 4 responding to Broadway and Oriental.
Received.
Battalion 3’s on the scene.
Received.
Headquarters to Deputy 1.
Deputy 1.
We have seven engine companies, two truck companies in service.
Uh, Deputy 1 received.
Battalion 3 to Headquarters.
Battalion 3.
Broadway and Oriental; make this a Signal 308, holding Engine 4 and the first-due truck. Battalion 3 is available.
Received.
(Tone) Attention on Box 3-2-2-8, Battalion 3 reports a Signal 308, holding Engine 4; Truck 6. Battalions 1 and 4; Deputy 1 outta service.
Headquarters 17 to ‘quarters.
Headquarters 17.
Responding to the three-bagger on South Orange Avenue and Whitney Street.
Received.
Deputy 1 to Headquarters.
Deputy 1.
Have another battalion chief respond to this fire.
Received.
(Tone) Signal 5 for Battalion 2.
(3 Tones) Attention Engine 15 as 26, Engine 9 as 6, Truck 1 as 12, and Battalion 3; telephone alarm, Signal 9, Box 1-5-4-2; number 29 Mead Street, between 18th Avenue and Silver Street. Attention Engine 15 as 26, Engine 9 as 6, Truck 1 as 12, and Battalion 3; telephone alarm, Signal 9, Box 1-5-4-2; number 2-9, 29 Mead Street, between 18th Avenue and Silver Street. 5-1 at 1-2-4-2 hours. We have Battalions 1, 2, 3, 4, Deputy 1 outta service.
Deputy 1 to Headquarters.
Deputy 1.
Who’s my, uh, new battalion chief comin’?
Battalion 2.
Ya have Battalion 2 report to me on Dassing Street.
(Tone) Headquarters to Battalion 2.
Battalion 2.
Report to Deputy 1 on Dassing Avenue.
Battalion 2 received.
Battalion 3 is responding to 29 Mead Street.
Okay, Battalion 3.
Engine 15 on the scene, nothin’ showin’.
1-2-4-4 hours.
Engine 15 as 26 to Headquarters.
Engine 15 as 26.
29 Mead Street, Signal 300.
(Tone) Attention on Signal 9, Box 1-5-4-2, Engine 15 as 26 reports a Signal 300. Battalions 1, 2, 4, Deputy 1 outta service.
Deputy 1 to Headquarters.
Deputy 1.
This fire is under control.
Fire under control, Box 1-4-5-4, at 1-2-4-7 hours.
Deputy 1 to Headquarters.
Deputy 1.
Can I have a rundown?
Stand by.
Uh, Deputy 1, Box 1-4-5-4 at 11:44, Signal 9; Engines 11 and 6; Truck 11, Battalion 1. Signal 10 at 11:46; Engines 21, 18; Truck 12; Deputy 1, Rescue 1. At 11:51, second alarm; Engines 26, 7, 17, 12; Truck 9; Battalion 4. At 11:57, third alarm; Engines 20, 5, 14; Truck 7. Special-call for Truck 5; Special-call for Truck 2; Special call for Battalion 2. Relocations: Engine 9 to 6; 15 to 26; 27 to 14; 32 to 17; 29 to 7; Truck 4 to 11; Truck 1 to 12.