The official dispatch of firefighting resources to an emergency. The term also refers to the classification system used to scale a response, such as a first alarm for an initial dispatch or a second alarm when the incident commander requests additional units. Each alarm level corresponds to a pre-planned package of engines, trucks, and command staff.
Heard on the job
Dispatch just upgraded this to a second fire alarm, so we've three more engines en route.
Also heard as
- alarm