NEWARK FIRE DEPARTMENT HISTORY

Working Fire Radio Transcript
September 4, 1981

The following is a transcript of actual radio transmissions that occurred on September 4, 1981, for a fire at 429-431 South 15th Street, between South Orange and 14th Avenues. The fire went to a Signal 11, with an additional Signal 9. Tour 1 was on duty.

NOTE: The entries highlighted in yellow are field transmissions.

(3 Tones) Attention Engines 11, 6, 18, and 7, Trucks 11 and 9, Battalion 1, Deputy 1; Telephone alarm, Box 1443; Fire reported at 431 South 15th Street, between South Orange and 14th Avenues. Attention Engines 11, 6, 18, and 7, Trucks 11 and 9, Battalion 1, Deputy 1; Telephone alarm, Box 1443; Fire reported at 4-3-1 South 15th Street, between South Orange and 14th Avenues; 5-1 at 1-6-4-1 hours.

Battalion 1 responding to Station 1-4-4-3.

Received

(Tone)

Engine 11 to Headquarters, we have a smoke condition!

Okay, Engine 11, reports a smoke condition 1-4-4-3. We’re getting numerous reports of fire at that location.

Truck 11, we got a job!

Truck 11 reports a job, 1-4-4-3.

Rescue 1 is responding.

Okay, Rescue 1

Engine 11 to Headquarters, working fire!

Okay, Engine 11, a working fire.

Battalion 1 to Engine 7.

Engine 7.

You got a hydrant right in the middle of the block where these, these people are standing by the apartment house!

Engine 7…

Bring in water!

Deputy…

Battalion 1 to Headquarters!

…we’ve got a fire…

Battalion 1 to Headquarters!

… goin’ good on top. Make it a Signal 11!

Okay, Deputy 1, a Signal 11. Battalion 1 come in.

You got my message for a Signal 11.

Okay; a Signal 11, Box 1-4-4-3, 1-6-4-5 hours.

Headquarters to Headquarters 20.

Headquarters calling Headquarters 20, Headquarters 20, come in.

PR1 to quarters.

PR1.

We need radio police here, We got traffic all over the place.

We notified them.

Deputy 1 to Headquarters! Give me a Signal 9 on this!

Signal 9, Box 1-4-4-3.

Headquarters 20…

(3 Tones) Attention Engines 17 and 12, Truck 5, and Battalion 4; a radio alarm, Signal 9, Box 1-4-4-3; 431 South 15th Street, between South Orange and 14th Avenues. Attention Engines 17 and 12, Truck 5, and Battalion 4; a radio alarm, a Signal 9, Box 1-4-4-3; 4-3-1 South 15th Street, between South Orange and 14th Avenues. 5-1 at 1-6-4-9 hours.

Headquarters 20 to Headquarters.

Headquarters 20.

Responding to 15th Street.

Received.

Battalion 4 is responding.

Okay, Battalion 4.

Deputy 1 to Headquarters! Have one of those engines on the Signal 9 come in from South Orange Avenue.

(Tone) Headquarters calling Engine 17.

Engine 17 received. Responding via South Orange Avenue.

Correct.

Deputy 1 to Battalion 1.

Deputy 1 to Headquarters. Have that engine come in from South Orange Avenue and pump… supply Engine 11.

Engine 17, did you receive?

His transmission was garbled.

He wants you to come in from South Orange and pump into Engine 11.

Engine 17 received.

Deputy 1 to Headquartersl We’ve got a fire in a three-family house, abandoned; also, a three-family frame, occupied.

Received Deputy 1 at 1-6-5-1 hours.

Deputy 1 to the truck that’s responding here! Come into the abandoned building.

Deputy 1 to Headquarters! All companies still workin’.

Received Deputy 1; all companies working, Box 1-4-4-3 at 1-6-5-8 hours.

Headquarters 20 to Headquarters.

Headquarters 20.

On the fire scene.

1-6-5-9 hours.

(Tone) The time 1s 17:00 hours, KEC-989, Dispatcher 5-1.

Deputy 1 to Headquarters.

Deputy 1.

Fire is under control. Fire is at 429 and 431. Make this a Signal 100.

Received. The fire under control, a Signal 100, for Box 1-4-4-3 at 1-7-0-2 hours.

Headquarters to Deputy 1.

Deputy 1.

Chief, which building was the original fire building, and was it occupied or vacant?

The original fire building was 4-3-1 15th... South 15th. The fire started in the back. The occupied building is the building to the north.

Received.

(Tone) Headquarters calling Headquarters 5.

Headquarters calling Deputy 1.

Deputy 1 to Headquarters.

Chief, can you advise us if you’ll need any reliefs there?

Eh, there’s gonna be, eh, reliefs, eh, for 6 Engine… wait… let me check this out.

Received.

They think they should be able to, eh, be outta here before 6 o’clock.

Received.

Battalion 4 to ‘quarters; Battalion 4 available.

Battalion 1, Deputy 1, out.

Deputy 1 to ‘quarters.

Deputy 1.

Deputy 1 is available.

Received.