History of Multi-Alarm Incidents

Prior to 1969, formal box cards were not in use. Instead of transmitting additional alarms through a pre-planned response system, the officer in charge of the incident requested specific companies or individual units as conditions required.

This meant that additional fire apparatus, rescue units, or support companies were called to the scene one at a time based on the needs observed by the incident commander. As incidents grew in size or complexity, the officer would continue requesting the resources needed to control the emergency.

The later introduction of box cards created a more organized and standardized method for dispatching additional alarms. These cards allowed predetermined groups of units to be assigned to specific areas or types of incidents, improving response coordination, reducing delays, and giving incident commanders a more efficient way to build an alarm assignment during large-scale emergencies.