St. Louis County Fire Department

This document is maintained by Anthony W. Haukap

The current version of this FAQ document can always be found on my website at:

http://www.cyberspace.org/~awh/

All items listed here are subject to change at any time. While every attempt is made to present accurate data it should be noted that the author makes no guarantee as to the accuracy of any information provided in this document, and is not responsible for any consequences of its use.

For scanner frequencies used by this agency see the following link:
St. Louis Fire Frequencies

County Fire Department Numbering Scheme

The composition of the unit number is as follows.

                           12 3 4
                            | | |
                            | | |
                            | | +------------ Apparatus Type
Area -----------------------+ |                0 = Pumper
 See District                 |                1 = Pumper
 Identification Numbers       |                2 = Aerial, Pumper/Aerial, or Quint
                              |                3 = Tanker or Pumper/Tanker
Engine House Number-----------+                4 = Rescue Pumper
                                               5 = Pumper/Rescue/Aerial
                                               6 = Rescue Squad
                                               7 = Ambulance (EMS Unit)
                                               8 = Brush Unit
                                               9 = Specialized Equipment

0100 South County Fire Alarm Association

0200 Central County Fire Alarm

East Central Fire Alarm

North-Central Fire Alarm Dispatches
Unit #  Area Served                  Notes:
------  --------------------------   ---------------
 0300   North County Fire Alarm             
 3600   Berkeley Fire Department
        - House 1: 3615, 3616  (North Hanley Road)
        - House 2: 3620, 3611  (Natural Bridge Road)
 3700   Black Jack Fire Protection District
        - House 1: 3710, 3712  (Old Halls Ferry Road)
        - House 2: 3720, 3729  (Old Jamestown Road)
 3800   Community Fire Protection District  (St. John, Missouri)
        - House 1: 3810  (St. Charles Rock Road)
        - House 2: 3822, 3890, 3890, 3897  (Lackland Road)
        - House 3: 3830, 3837  (St. Charles Rock Road)
 4100   Hazelwood Fire Department
        - House 1: 4115, 4117  (North Lindbergh Boulevard)
        - House 2: 4125, 4129, 4190  (Howdershell)
 4200   Jennings Fire Department
        - House 1: 4210, 4211, 4290  (West Florissant Avenue)
 4300   Kinloch Fire Department
        - House 1: 4310   1982 Seagrave Pumper, 4313 1987 KME Tanker, 1250 gal  (Martin Luther King)
 4500   Mid County Fire Protection District
        - House 1: 4510, 4511, 4517, 4590, 4597  (Pennsylvania Avenue)
 4600   Moline Fire Protection District
        - House 1: 4610, 4691  (Chambers Road)
 4700   Normandy Fire Protection District
        - House 1: 4710, 4712, 4717, 4790, 4719  (Pasadena Boulevard)
 4800   Pattonville Fire Protection District (Bridgeton, Missouri)
        - House 1: 4810, 4817  (Fee Fee Road)
        - House 2: 4822, 4827, 4890  (McKelvey Road)
        - House 3: 4833, 4837, 4899  (Earth City Expressway)
 4900   Riverview Fire Protection District
        - House 1: 4910, 4918  (Diamond Drive)
        - House 2: 4920  (Bellefontaine Drive)
 5000   Robertson Fire Protection District (Hazelwood, Missouri)
        - House 1: 5010  (Missouri Bottom Road)
        - House 2: 5022, 5027, 5090  (Gist Road)
 5100   Spanish Lake Fire Protection District
        - House 1: 5110, 5118, 5189  (Bellefontaine Road)
        - House 2: 5120  (Larimore Road)
 5200   West Overland Fire Protection District
        - House 1: 5210, 5217, 5290, 5297  (Midland Boulevard)





Municipal Fire Department Dispatches (self dispatched)
Unit #  Area Served                  Notes:
------  --------------------------   ---------------
 0400   Brentwood Fire Department - 154.37/154.37/153.83
        - House 1: 411, 412, 408 (retired 11/18/04), 407, 497  (South Brentwood Boulevard)
 1400   Glendale Fire Department - 154.37/154.37/153.83
        - House 1: 1400, 1414, 1419, 1490  (North Sappington Road)
 1500   Kirkwood Fire Department - 154.37/154.37/153.83
        - House 1: 1512, 1516, 1517  (West Argonne)
        - House 2: 1524  (Big Bend Boulevard)
        - House 3: 1534, 1590  (West Essex)
 2600   University City Fire Department - 154.37/154.37/153.83
        - House 1: 2612, 2614, 2617  (Harvard)
        - House 2: 2634, 2637, 2690  (North & South Boulevard)
 2700   Olivette Fire Department - 158.94/158.94/153.83
        - House 1: 2710, 2716, 2791  (Olive Boulevard)
 2800   Des Peres Department of Public Safety - 155.43/155.43/153.83
        - House 1: 2810, 2811, 2817  (North Ballas Road)
 2900   Frontenac Fire Department - 154.37/154.37/153.83
        - House 1: 2910  (Clayton Road)
 3000   Ferguson Fire Department - 154.40/154.40/153.83
        - House 1: 3010, 3011, 3016, 3019  (Church Street)
        - House 2: 3020, 3091  (West Florissant Avenue)
 3400   Rock Hill Fire Department - 154.37/154.37/153.83
        - House 1: 4310, 3419, 3490, 3499 (John Boat)  (Manchester Road)
 3900   Ladue Fire Department - 159.18/154.37/153.83
        - House 1: 3910, 3917  (Clayton Road)
        - House 2: 3924  (Clayton Road)
 4000   Florissant Valley Fire Protection District - 154.40/154.40/153.83
        - House 1: 4012, 4017  (St. Catherine)
        - House 2: 4020, 4027  (Washington Avenue)
        - House 3: 4030, 4037, 4090  (Humes)




City of St. Louis Fire Department Dispatches
Unit #  Area Served                  Notes:
------  --------------------------   ---------------
 0900   St. Louis City EMS
 1000   St. Louis City Fire Department
        - Engine House 1  (S. Jefferson at Pestalozzi)
        - Engine House 2  (S. Tucker at Spruce)
        - Engine House 4  (S. Compton at Dakota)
        - Engine House 5  (N. Market at Rauschenbach)
        - Engine House 6  (Manchester at Pierce)
        - Engine House 7  (Lasalle at Jefferson)
        - Engine House 8  (Salisbury at Blair)
        - Engine House 9  (Labeaume at N. Broadway)
        - Engine House 10  (Kennerly at Whittier)
        - Engine House 11  (S. 7th at S. Broadway)
        - Engine House 12  (W. Florissant at Geraldine)
        - Engine House 13  (Shawmut at Ridge)
        - Engine House 14  (Magnolia East of Grand)
        - Engine House 17  (Martin L. King at Leonard)
        - Engine House 19  (Morganford at Haven)
        - Engine House 20  (Prescott at N. Broadway)
        - Engine House 22  (Mccausland S. of Hwy 40)
        - Engine House 23  (Michigan at Soper)
        - Engine House 24  (Natural Bridge E. of Union)
        - Engine House 26  (Margaretta at Taylor)
        - Engine House 27  (Partridge at Riverview)
        - Engine House 28  (Enright at Bayard)
        - Engine House 29  (S. Vandeventer at Forest Park Blvd.)
        - Engine House 30  (Debaliviere S. of Delmar)
        - Engine House 31  (Donovan at Watson)
        - Engine House 32  (S. Grand at Potomac)
        - Engine House 33  (N. Broadway at Mclaren)
        - Engine House 34  (S. Broadway at Hurck)
        - Engine House 35  (Arsenal at Sublette)
        - Engine House 36  (S. Kingshighway at Christy)




Jefferson County 911 Dispatches
Unit #  Area Served                  Notes:
------  --------------------------   ---------------
 0500   Jefferson County Fire Alarm
 5300   Antonia Fire Protection District  (Imperial, Missouri)
        - House 1:  5310, 5311, 5313, 5314, 5318, 5389  (Highway M) 
 5400   Big River Ambulance District
 5800   DeSoto Rural Fire Department
        - House 1: 5810, 5813, 5814, 5818, 5819  (East Miller Street)
        - House 2: 5823, 5824, 5828  (Highway V)
        - House 3: 5833, 5834, 5893  (Ware)
 5900   Dunklin Fire Protection District  (Pevely, Missouri)
        - House 1: 5910, 5911, 5914, 5918, 5919, 5989, 5999  (Highway Z)
 6000   Joachim Plattin Ambulance Dist.
 6200   Hematite Fire Protection District
        - House 1: 6213  (Rice Street)
        - House 2: 6220, 6223, 6224, 6228, 6229  (Meyer Road)
 6300   Herculaneum Fire Department
        - House 1: 6310, 6311, 6312, 6316, 6318, 6319, 6328, 6399  (Broad Street)
 6400   High Ridge Fire Protection District
        - House 1: 6413, 6414, 6416, 6418, 6419  (High Ridge Boulevard)
        - House 2: 6424, 6489, 6499  (Gravois Road)
        - House 3: 6434  (Wild)
 6500   Hillsboro Fire Protection District
        - House 1: 6510, 6513, 6516, 6518  (Fifth Street)
        - House 2: 6528, 6549  (Second Street)
 6700   Mapaville Fire Association
        - House 1: 6710, 6711, 6713, 6714, 6718, 6719, 6723  (Mapaville Fire Department Road)
 6800   N. Jefferson Ambulance Dist.
 7000   Rock Township Ambulance Dist.
 7100   Rock Community Fire Protection District
        - House 1: 7110, 7115  (Jeffco Boulevard)
        - House 2: 7124, 7129  (Main Street - Imperial, MO)
        - House 3: 7134, 7178, 7189  (Londell Road)
        - House 4: 7144, 7190  (Miller Road)
 7200   Jefferson R-7 Fire Protection District
        - House 1: 7210, 7211, 7213, 7214, 7218  (Highway TT - Festus, MO)
        - House 2: 7220, 7223, 7228  (Ozark React Drive - Festus, MO)
 7500   Valle Ambulance District
 7600   Goldman Fire Protection District
        - House 1: 7610, 7611, 7613, 7614, 7616, 7618, 7628 (Old Lemay Ferry Road - Hillsboro, MO)
 7700   Cedar Hill Fire Protection District
        - House 1: 7710, 7713, 7714, 7718, 7719, 7769  (Cedar Hill Road)
        - House 2: 7723, 7724, 7728  (Highway 30 - Dittmer, MO)
        - House 3: 7734, 7749, 7769, 7789  (Byrnesville Road)




Missouri County Fire Departments (Self Dispatched)
Unit #  Area Served                  Notes:
------  --------------------------   ---------------
 0600   New Haven Ambulance
 0800   Sullivan FD
 5500   Beaufort Leslie FD
 5600   Crystal City Fire Department
 0800   St. Charles County Fire Department
 5700   DeSoto City Fire Department
 6600   Festus Fire Department
 6900   Potosi FD
 7800   Boles FD
 7900   Boeing Fire Department
 8000   Washington FD
 8100   Union FD
 8200   St. Clair Ambulance District
 8400   Christian Hospital Ambulance
 8500   Meramec Ambulance District
 8600   Augusta Community Fire Department  (St. Charles County, Missouri)
 8700   Cottleville Fire Protection District
 8800   Orchard Farm Fire Department
 8900   Marthasville FD
 9000   New Melle Fire Department
 9100   O' Fallon Fire Protection District
 9200   Lake St. Louis Fire Department
 9300   Portage Des Sioux Fire Department
 9400   St. Charles City Fire Department
 9500   Central County Fire & Rescue  (St. Charles & St. Peters)
 9600   St. Charles County Ambulance Dist.
 9700   St. Clair Ambulance District (St. Clair, Franklin County, MO)
 9800   Wentzville Fire Department
 9900   West Alton Fire Department

ARCH Air Medical Services
Unit #   Area Served or Based     Tail Number ID
------   ----------------------   ---------------
ARCH-1   Sparta, Illinois         N211SL
ARCH-2   Litchfield, Illinois     N122SL
ARCH-3   Sullivan                 N330SL
ARCH-4   Chesterfield/Warrenton   N440SL
ARCH-5   Joplin, Missouri         N550SL   (MedFlight program)
ARCH-6   Chesterfield             N660SL
ARCH-7   Cape Girardeau           N770SL
ARCH-8   St. Louis City           N880SL
ARCH-9   St. Louis City           N990SL
ARCH-10  Spirit Airport           ?        (Fixed-Wing Aircraft)
ARCH-11  Spirit Airport           ?        (Fixed-Wing Aircraft)



Air Evac Lifeteam
Unit #        Area Served or Based
-----------   ----------------------
AIR EVAC-5    Quincy, IL
AIR EVAC-8    Farmington, MO
AIR EVAC-11   Mt. Vernon, IL
AIR EVAC-13   St. Clair, MO
AIR EVAC-18   Hillsboro, MO 
AIR EVAC-23   Troy, MO 
AIR EVAC-27   Springfield, IL 

20-Minute MARC -- Member Accountability Roll Call, Fire dispatcher checks with on-scene command every 20 minutes to make sure they can account for all crew personnel.
Accidental Injury -- Injury that is NOT a result of an assault, automobile accident or medical condition.
Abbott -- EMS service provided by private company (Lifeforce).
Absorbents -- Substance material used to remove spilled fuel or other liquids from roadways. Informally called "kitty litter" because of the resemblance.
ACLS -- Advanced Cardiac Life Support
Aerial -- Fire truck with a long (75 feet or more) ladder or boom mounted on it.
AFRCC -- Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. Once located at Scott AFB, IL. Now located at Langley AFB, VA.
AirEvac -- Air transportation service (Lifeteam).
ALS -- Advanced Life Support - EMS personnel that can provide advanced life saving procedures and administer cardiac medications, interpert EKG monitors, plus a whole lot more. Compare to BLS.
AMA -- Against Medical Advice
ARCH -- Area Rescue Consortium of Hospitals (Air Medical Services)
Assist To -- Assist Other Department.
Automatic Alarm -- Alarms that are monitored by an alarm company and received by the dispatch center through electronic means, an alarm panel in the dispatch office or by telephone call from a central monitoring company. They can indicate activation of smoke detectors, heat sensors, rate-of-rise detectors, wet or dry sprinkler system flow detectors.
BJC -- Barnes-Jewish Corporation Hospital
BLS -- Basic Life Support - EMS personnel that can splint broken bones, provide bandages, etc. Compare to ALS.
Card Number -- The card system that the fire departments use is a type of map/direction system. Each station house normally has a set for their department and maybe even some surrounding departments. On the card there is specific directions to the street they are dispatched to and usually has closest fire hydrant. The map number is an even more detailed description of the street or building they are going to with the address of every house on the street and any possible hazards or special needs. These cards also contain a pre-planned response level covering 1st thru 5th alarm assignments, which engines, trucks, squads, EMS units, chiefs, etc. are to be sent out on various types of calls and who is to be sent if the alarm escalates (2nd-alarm, 3rd-alarm, etc.). Cards can also set up a response package for a given area; for example, a school will get more companies dispatched during an initial response than a residential area of single-family dwellings. A school would also get more equipment during the school day than on a Sunday night at 1:00 AM. Sometimes called Running Card, Interstate Card or Box Card.
Cascade -- Fire truck with spare air bottles or an oxygen tank to replenish breathing air tanks, usually also has gatorade and extra (dry!) gloves available too.
CDA -- Central District Alarm
Booster -- Apparatus on scene using water on truck instead of outside supply.
Christian Northeast -- Christian NE Hospitals in St. Louis
Christian Northwest -- Christian NW Hospitals in St. Louis
CO -- Carbon Monoxide
Company Still -- Fire reported in person (by a citizen) to a fire station. A still alarm can also occur when a fire company discovers a fire by itself.
Command -- Setup only on major incidents that warrant a commandpost.
Coordinates -- Longitude/Latitude of either current location or landing zone.
DNR -- Department of Natural Resources (Missouri State). Contacted if spilled liquid is over 50-gallons and of a substance that may require additional cleanup efforts.
Downtown Base -- ARCH Base at St. Louis Downtown Airport, also called Parks Airport.
ELT -- Emergency Locator Transmitter - device on aircraft which transmits a signal on 121.5 in case of crash used in conjunction with radio direction finding.
EMS -- Emergency Medical Service
EMT -- Emergency Medical Technician
EPIRB -- Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon. A radio beacon, carried by boats and ships, that is designed to float and transmit a radio distress signal. Most EPIRBS operate on 406.025 MHz. These devices are detectable by COSPAS-SARSAT satellites which are polar orbiting, and also ­by geostationary GOES weather satellites.
ETA -- Estimated Time of Arrival
ETOH -- Ethanol Alcohol (it means that the subject is drunk, intoxicated, inebriated.)
EMSystem -- Internet-based communications system allows EMS dispatchers to quickly find out which hospitals' emergency rooms are accepting patients and which are diverting to other hospitals.
Engine -- Commonly refers to a triple combination pumper having a firefighting capacity pump, a small water tank, ground ladders and hoses. (same as Pumper)
EPTS -- Emergency Patient Tracking System - a barcode system which allows tracking of patients from a disaster site to the hospital.
FD -- Fire Department
Fill-in -- Apparatus from other departments are sent into the station(s) of a department that is working a fire or for some reason does not have enough apparatus/manpower left in the district to cover additional alarms. Sometimes called "Move-Up"
First Alarm -- Refers to an initial standard fire assignment to a call. The size of a standard assignment varies with the type of call. See "Running Card"
FIU -- Fire Investigation Unit
FPD -- Fire Protection District
Full Bladder -- Full gas tank, commonly used by helicopter pilots.
HazMat -- Hazardous Materials
HEAR 340 -- Hospital Emergency Administrative Radio Network - 155.340 MHz, 114.8pl
HEICS -- Hospital Emergency Incident Command System
HIPAA -- The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.
IC -- Incident Commander
In Radio Service -- Available for a call, but not at the station.
IREACH -- Illinois Radio Emergency Access Channel, refers to Illinois frequency 155.0550 MHz.
J-4 -- Dead On Arrival (D.O.A.)
Knox Box -- A secure, locked box on a wall at a building containing keys to the building or other pertinent items for fire crews.
Glennon -- Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis
LC -- Loud and Clear
Level-1 Trauma -- Life threatening injuries. Dispatcher is to notify the hospital that they are to prepare for their arrival. In order for a hospital to be designated a Level-I trauma center neurosurgeons must be available 24-hours a day waiting for patients.
Level-2 Trauma -- Severely injured patient with complex trauma. In order for a hospital to be designated a Level-II trauma center they must have all surgical specialties available essentially as the patient arrives in the operating room.
Level-3 Trauma -- Level III and IV trauma centers provide resuscitation and stabilization of severely injured patients prior to transferring the patient to a higher-level trauma hospital.
LifeBeat -- Name of ARCH service in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
LifeForce -- Abbott EMS agency.
LifeTeam -- Air Evac EMS service.
Line -- Fire hose.
LZ -- Landing Zone for helicopter.
MedStar -- EMS agency that serves St. Clair/Randolph Co in Illinois.
MED 9 -- Refers to ARCH dispatch frequency of 462.9500 MHz, 162.2pl.
MERCI -- Mobile Emergency Radio Communications of Illinois - Refers to hospital frequency, 155.3400 MHz.
MHA -- Missouri Hospital Association
Move Up -- Apparatus from other departments are sent into the station(s) of a department that is working a fire or for some reason does not have enough apparatus/manpower left in the district to cover additional alarms. Sometimes called "Fill-in"
Mutual Aid -- Request for apparatus and/or manpower from another department to assist in managing an incident. Refers to the Fire Mutual Aid frequency of 154.28 MHz, CSQ.
MVA -- Motor Vehicle Accident
OBS -- Organic Brain Syndrome (Dementia/Delirium)
OD -- Drug Overdose
On Diversion -- Hospital is not accepting patients to the emergency room at this time.
Overhaul -- Overhaul activities seek-out and extinguish all remaining fire, firefighters will rip into walls, floors and roofs, seeking hidden flames and smoldering embers that could reignite into a full-scale fire. They will also try to salvage as much personal property as possible, preserve evidence and secure the fire scene.
Ped Patient -- Pediatric Patient
POB -- Persons on Board (Souls) the helicopter.
Pumper -- Commonly refers to a triple combination pumper having a firefighting capacity pump, a small water tank, ground ladders and hoses. (same as Engine)
Quint -- Combination apparatus having a firefighting capacity pump, an aerial ladder, small tank, ground ladders, hose and rescue tools.
Red Team -- Some of the responsibilities of the Code Red Team include assisting with building evacuation (if needed); providing traffic control,; and directing the responding fire department personnel to the fire location.
St. Johns Mercy -- Hospital in St. Louis County.
SARSAT -- Search And Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking A constellation of low and high–earth orbit satellites that listen for radio distress signals on 121.5, 243.0, and 406.025 MHz from ELTs, PLBs, and EPIRBs. System allows rapid triangulation to calculate position of beacon to within a few miles w­ith only 2 passes overhead.
SCBA -- Self Contain Breathing Apparatus
Second Alarm -- Generally refers to the dispatch of a duplicate assignment to the same location.
Ship -- Aircraft/Helicopter
Sick Case -- Illness.
Simmons -- EMS agency that serves St. Clair County Illinois.
Scene is not secure -- Do not enter until police have arrived and secured the scene. Usually when injury is due to suspicious circumstances or subject is OBS.
SLMMRS -- St. Louis Region Metropolitan Medical Response System
SLU -- St. Louis University Hospital
Souls -- People on board aircraft.
Spirit -- Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield Missouri.
Staging -- Waiting for police to secure the scene before entering.
Still Alarm -- Fire reported by a person over the telephone to the 911 dispatch center.
Stringer -- Someone who is a freelance news gatherer; Photographer, Cameraman.
TIC -- Thermal Imaging Camera - Device capable of locating hidden fire and heat in areas that may go undetected, can also be used to detect body heat of a person trapped in a smoke filled room.
Trauma Rotation -- Next hospital on list; attempt to minimize impact on hospital’s emergency staff.
VFR -- Visual Flight Rules (helicopter)
Working Fire -- Fire is consuming the structure; usually flames showing or heavy smoke or both.