"Three Alarm Fire"

Posted by Smokey Stover on August 14, 2005

In Reply to: "Three Alarm Fire" posted by R. Berg on August 14, 2005

: : "Three Alarm Fire" - literally. In the US media fires are often designated as "[2, 3, ...] Alarm Fire". I know that the higher the number the more serious the fire but who and what determines that a fire is literally a "two alarm fire" or a "three alarm fire"?

: Presumably the local fire department sets standards for how big a fire must be to warrant ringing the alarm three times. I have no direct knowledge of this, however.

Let me make a guess, worth every penny it's costing you. If a blaze is worth two alarms a second fire station is called in besides the one in the district of which the blaze is located. One fire station is not enough to handle the blaze. Three alarms, same principle. If the fire is in a town with only one firehouse, no such thing as two-alarm fires. But firefighters and equipment is often called in from neighboring towns. As I said, just a guess. SS

• "Three Alarm Fire" Bob 14/August/05
  • "Three Alarm Fire" ESC 14/August/05