10-Codes

10-1 A unit is to call its quarters or other unit by telephone.

10-2 A unit is to Return to quarters

10-3 A unit is to telephone the dispatcher.

10-4 Acknowledgment

10-5 Repeat Message

10-6 Stand by

10-7 Verify address

10-8 In-Service by radio

  • CODE 1: Used by battalion or Division to indicate it is in-service by radio when leaving a quarters other than its own at which it had been of the air and to which it's alarms had been routed.
  • CODE 2: Used by any unit to indicate it is on the air outside it's response area. When the unit returns to it's response area, the dispatcher must be notified again using 10-8

10-9 Off the air

10-10 Current location

10-11 Radio test count

10-12 Preliminary report requested

10-14 Roster staffed engine

10-18 Return all units except 1 engine AND 1 ladder

10-19 Return all units except 1 engine OR 1 ladder

10-20 Proceed to box at reduced speed

10-21 Brush fire

10-22 Outside rubbish

10-23 Abandoned derelict vehicle fire

10-24 Auto fire

10-25 Manhole or transformer vault fire

  • CODE 1 - Fire extended from a manhole, conduit or transformer into a building.
  • CODE 2 - Cover blown or smoke issuing from manhole under pressure
  • CODE 3 - Smoke seeping from a manhole.
  • CODE 4 - Transformer fire (manhole or pole mounted)

10-26 Food on stove

10-27 Compactor or Incinerator Fire - Fire has not extended from compactor or shaft

10-28 Subway or railroad fire, emergency or smoke condition

  • CODE 1 - Structural fire
  • CODE 2 - Non-structural fire (e.g. train fire, rubbish on the tracks, etc.)
  • CODE 3 - Non-medical emergency

10-31 Assist Civilian - All calls for assistance, other than medical assignments, including good intention calls, calls handled by other agencies, any type of investigation, searches and complaints, elevator emergencies, and lockouts.

10-32 Defective oil burner

10-33 Odor Condition

  • CODE 1 - Caused by nearby working fire, BBQ's, salamanders, Etc.
  • CODE 2 - Any other type odor

10-34 Sprinkler system emergency

  • CODE 1 - Defective sprinkler device or system(defective alarm valve, broken pipe, ect)
  • CODE 2 - Unwarranted sprinkler alarm- not defective(Surge in pressure, people working on system)
  • CODE 3 - Sprinkler activated by heat source not associated with an accidental fire.

10-35 Unwarranted or Unnecessary Alarm System Activation

  • No Code - Unwaranted Alarm(defective condition of alarm device, equipment or system(low battery, alarm activ with no known cause or when no condition is found warranting an emergency response.
  • CODE 1 - Unnecessary alarm caused by alarm system testing or servicing
  • CODE 2 - Unnecessary alarm caused by construction activities
  • CODE 3 - Unnecessary alarm caused by ordinary household activities(toast, steam, aerosol spray)
  • Code 4 - Unnecessary alarm cause by other known cause.(smoking in unauthorized area)

10-36 Automobile accident or emergency

  • CODE 1 - Washdown
  • CODE 2 - Accident - no injuries or washdown
  • CODE 3 - Accident with injuries
  • CODE 4 - Accident requiring extrication
  • NO CODE - All others

10-37 Medical Assignment Not Associated with Fire Operations

  • CODE 1 - Victim deceased
  • CODE 2 - Victim/Patient is NOT breathing - requires resuscitation or may be suffering from a serious, apparently life threatening injury or illness.
  • CODE 3 - Victim/Patient IS breathing with apparently not life threatening illness or injury.
  • CODE 4 - Medical assignment where unit is 10-84, has no patient contact, and EMS is on-scene.

Note: Signal 10-45 with appropriate sub-code shall be transmitted in lieu of signal 10-37 for thermal burn injuries which occur as a direct result of heat from a flame. The officer transmitting signal 10-45 for this type of burn injury shall request the response of a Battalion Chief to the scene. Where doubt exists as to which signal to transmit, a Battalion Chief shall be requested to respond to the scene.

10-38 Carbon monoxide response

  • CODE 1 - Detector activation (defective, low-battery, unwarranted)
  • CODE 2 - Detector activation - CO incident - Readings 1-9 PPM
  • CODE 3 - Detector activation - CO emergency - Readings greater than 9 PPM
  • CODE 4 - No detector activation during incident or emergency (No detector present or did not activate)

10-39 FD units standing by at interagency incident, e.g., standing by at a suspicious package

10-40 Utility emergency

  • CODE 1 - Gas
  • CODE 2 - Electric
  • CODE 3 - Water condition
  • CODE 4 - Steam leak

10-41 Fire Marshal Investigation Required

  • CODE 1 - Occupied structure or vehicle
  • CODE 2 - Unoccupied structure
  • CODE 3 - Unoccupied vehicle
  • CODE 4 - Vacant structure or structures not intended for dwelling purposes.

10-42 Any down tree incidents or emergencies

10-43 Any non-fire related rescue; any person(s) rescued/removed from a dangerous situation.

Note: 10-43 is a disposition code, not a request for resources & shall not be transmitted in lieu of 10-60, 10-75 or any other signal.

10-44 Request for public ambulance

10-45 Civilian DOA or Serious Injury-Fire related ONLY

At the scene of fire operations, including vehicle fires, the signal 10-45 shall be transmitted upon the discovery of any fatality or injured civilians as a result of the fire operation. The Incident Commander shall then have this information transmitted over the Department radio as soon as possible. After the initial transmission(s) of signal 10-45, the Incident Commander shall, as conditions allow, consult with the Medical Group Supervisor or Branch Director as to the condition of the injured civilians removed from the fire area. The IC shall also confirm that the number of patients and/or fatalities match the number of 10-45s transmitted. Once the status and number of fatalities and patients has been confirmed, the IC shall transmit the appropriate codes for each 10-45 transmitted, based on the triage color tags given to him/her by the Medical Group Supervisor or Branch Director.

  • CODE 1 - Black tag(Deceased)
  • CODE 2 - Red tag(Life Threatening Injury)
  • CODE 3 - Orange/Yellow tag(Non-Life Threatening Injury)
  • CODE 4 - Green tag(Non-serious Injury/Ambulatory)

10-46 Maritime Fire or Emergency

Code 1 - Any fire in maritime environment (example: vessel, dock, pier)

Code 2- Emergency in maritime environment

10-47 Request police

10-48 Request police forthwith for harassment

10-51 Suspension of outside activities

10-60 Major emergency Response

Major Emergency Incident with the potential for multiple casualties, e.g. collapse of a private dwelling, derailment of a subway car.
The total response will be:
5 - Engine Companies
4 - Ladder Companies (3rd Ladder is FAST)
4 - Battalion Chiefs (1 Resource Unit Leader & 1 Safety Officer)
1 - Deputy Chief
1 - Rescue Task Force (which includes 1 Rescue Co., 1 Collapse Rescue, 1 Squad
Co. w 2nd Piece, 1 SOC Support Ladder (When Rescue Collapse being transported by SSL, no additional is required), 1 Haz Tac Officer and 1 Rescue
Paramedic Unit

1 - Additional Rescue Company
1 - Rescue Battalion
1 - Safety Battalion
1 - Tactical Support Unit

1 - SOC Logistics Support Unit

1 - SOC Compressor Unit

1 - ConEd Vacuum Truck

1 - HazMat Battalion

1 - HazMat Company 1

1 - HazMat Tech Engine Company
1 - Communication Unit
1 - Field Communications Unit
1 - Recuperation and Care (RAC) Unit
1 - Public Information Officer
Note: Requests from the IC for additional resources above a 10-60 will require the establishment of a Staging Area. An additional Battalion Chief will be assigned and designated as the Staging Area Manager.

10-60 Code 1 Major Emergency Response - Enhanced 2nd Alarm
Large scale Major Emergency Response - Additional Technical Rescue Resources Required

The dispatcher shall transmit 2nd Alarm if not transmitted prior to the 10-60 code 1.The total response will be:
10-60 assignment plus:

5 - additional Engine Companies

3 - Additional Ladder Companies

2 Additional Battalion Chiefs ( 1 chief designated as needed, 1 chief Staging Area Manager)

1 - Additional Deputy Chief

1 - Add’l Rescue Task Force (2nd Rescue not needed, already assigned on the initial 10-60)
1 - Air Recon Chief

1 - Satellite Unit

1 - SOC Dewatering Unit

1 - Mobile Command Center

10-66 Missing, Lost, Trapped, or Seriously Injured Member and Additional Resources are Required

Transmission of signal 10-66 will automatically cause the response of the following:
The next higher full alarm assignment, and response of all of its associated resources 2 Battalion Chiefs in addition to those assigned as part of the extra alarm:

  • The first Battalion Chief shall be designated as the FAST Group Supervisor
  • The second Battalion Chief shall be designated as the Firefighter Locator Officer

Note: These positions may already be filled by on-scene Chief Officers, in which case the IC may re-designate these additional BCs. Acting Battalion Chiefs shall not be assigned to respond as a FAST Group Supervisor or FF Locator Officer.
1- Rescue Task Force (which includes 1 Rescue Co., 1 Collapse Rescue Unit,
1 Squad Co. w/2nd Piece, 1 SOC Support Ladder, 1 Haz Tac Officer and 1 Rescue Paramedic Unit)
1 Additional FAST Unit
1 CFR Engine Company (additional, if one was previously assigned, i.e., 10-76 or 10-77)
1 Communications Unit
Public Information Officer, if not previously assigned
Additional EMS resources assigned on signal 10-66 include:
1- EMS Division Chief
2- EMS Deputy Chiefs
1- EMS Haz-Tac Officer
1- BLS Ambulance
1- ALS Ambulance
1- OMA Response Physician
If the next higher alarm transmitted is a 2nd alarm, a third additional Battalion Chief shall be assigned and designated as the Staging Area Manager and a Staging Area shall be established.
Note: If there are indications that members are missing/lost/trapped/or seriously injured as a result of a collapse, signal 10-60 must also be transmitted in addition to signal 10-66.

10-70 Water supply required - A notification that the first arriving engine has no positive water source.

10-75 Notification of a Fire or Emergency
A notification signal transmitted when, in the judgment of the Incident Commander, conditions indicate a fire or emergency that requires a total response of the following units:
4 - Engine companies 1 - FAST unit
2 - Ladder companies 1 - Squad company (if available)
2 - Battalion Chiefs 1 - Rescue company (if available)

10-76 Notification of a Fire in a High-Rise Building
A High-Rise Building includes all buildings 75 feet or more in height. A notification signal transmitted when, in the judgment of the Incident Commander, conditions indicate a fire in a high-rise commercial building requires a total response of the following units:
4 - Engine companies

5 - Ladder Companies (3rd Ladder assigned as FAST Unit)

4 - Battalion Chiefs

1 -Deputy Chief

1 - Rescue Company

1 - Squad Company

1 - CFR-D Engine

1 - RAC

1 - Communications Unit

1 - Field Communicaitons Unit

1 - Lobby/Systems Control Unit

1 - Mask Service Unit

1 - Safety Operating Battalion

1 - Rescue Operations Battalion

1 - Safety Officer (5th Due Battalion Chief)

1 - High Rise Support Unit

1 - Tactical Support Unit

1 - Public Information Officer

10-76 / 2nd Alarm Notification of a Fire in a High-Rise Building
A High-Rise Building includes all buildings 75 feet or more in height.
A notification signal transmitted when, in the judgment of the Incident Commander,
conditions indicate a fire in a high-rise commercial building requires, in addition to the
units assigned on a 10-76, a total response of the following units:
4 - Engine companies 1 - Deputy Chief
2 - Ladder companies 1 - Rescue company
3 - Battalion Chiefs 1 - Satellite Unit
3rd Battalion Chief assigned on the second alarm is designated Resource Unit
Leader
Additional EMS resources assigned on a 10-76/Second Alarm include:
1 - Deputy Chief 3 - BLS ambulances
1 - Division Captain 1 - ALS ambulance
1 - Conditions Officer 1 - Haz-Tac Officer
1 - Major Emergency Response Vehicle 1 - Logistical Support Unit
Mobile Respiratory Treatment Unit
Upon transmission of a 10-76 / Second Alarm, the

10-77 Notification of a Fire in a High-Rise Multiple Dwelling
High-Rise Building includes all buildings 75 feet or more in height.
A notification signal transmitted when, in the judgment of the Incident Commander,
conditions indicate a fire in a High-Rise Multiple Dwelling requires a total response of
the following units:
4 - Engine companies 1 - FAST Unit
4 - Ladder companies 1 - CFR-D Engine company
3 - Battalion Chiefs Field Communications Unit
1 - Deputy Chief Safety Operating Battalion
1 - Rescue company Rescue Operations Battalion
1 - Squad company 1 - Safety Officer (4th due Battalion Chief)
1 - High Rise Nozzle Engine Company IF none of the initial 4 Engine companies
have a HRN.
1 - Ventilation Support Unit
A Second alarm after the 10-77 signal will cause response of the following units:
4 - Engine companies Mask Service Unit
2 - Ladder companies 1 - RAC Unit
2 - Battalion Chief 1 – High Rise Unit
1st Battalion Chief assigned on the second alarm is designated Resource Unit Leader
1 - Communications Unit 1 - Satellite Unit
1 - Tactical Support Unit (TSU) Photo Unit

10-80 Hazardous Material Incidents
The initial notification by field units of a hazardous materials incident.
Transmission of the signal 10-80 will serve to warn responders to proceed with caution to avoid entering a restricted area. The FDNY Incident Commander will transmit the appropriate code after size up and evaluation of the incident.

10-80 No Code
An incident that can be controlled by the on-scene unit(s) and requires no additional resources. The Haz-Mat Battalion (HB01) and Haz-Mat Co. 1 (HM01) can be contacted via the dispatcher, 800 MHz radio, or cell phone for technical information if necessary. HB01 and HM01 may be requested to respond to the incident if necessary.
Guidelines for transmitting Signal 10-80 No Code include:

  •  Release is of a small quantity (e.g., gas leak in a stove).
  • The material and its hazards have been identified.
  • Firefighters’ PPE provides adequate protection against the identified hazards.
  • Special equipment and specialized training are not needed.

10-80 Code 1
An incident requiring additional resources and/or specialized equipment not
carried by regular field units to assist the IC in assessing the hazards and
identifying the resources necessary to manage the spill or release.
Units dispatched on a 10-80 Code 1 include:
Haz-Mat Battalion (HB01) Haz-Mat Company 1 (HM01)
Haz-Tac Conditions Officer
Nearest available Haz-Mat Technician Unit (HMTU)
Nearest available ALS/BLS Haz-Tac Ambulance
In addition to the units assigned above, the dispatcher shall ensure a total
response of the following units:
3 - Engine companies 1 - Battalion Chief
2 - Ladder companies
If people are contaminated, exposed or injured, or the incident involves other
hazards, additional resources should be special called by the IC as needed. HB01
can be contacted for guidance as needed, or may recommend resource
assignments to the IC based on preliminary and progress reports.

10-84 Announce arrival at box

10-85 Fire Marshal requires emergency police assistance

10-86 Alcohol Resistant Foam Operation
Transmitted for a fire or emergency requiring Alcohol Resistant foam concentrate in
addition to that carried by units on the scene. The following units are to respond:
3- Foam Carriers and associated engine companies
2- Foam Coordinators (Battalion Chiefs)
1- Satellite Unit and associated engine company

1- Foam Manager
2- Purple K Units and associated engine companies
1- Hazardous Materials Co. 1
1- Hazardous Materials Battalion
1- Hazardous Materials Technician Unit

10-87 High Expansion Foam Operations

Transmitted for a fire or emergency requiring High Expansion foam. The following Units are to respond:

3- Foam tankers & associated Engines

2- Foam Coordinators (Battalion Chiefs)

1- Foam Manager

1- Satellite Unit & associated Engine

10-91 Medical Emergency EMS - Fire unit not required

To be transmitted through borough dispatcher by the responding unit for the following reasons:

Fire Unit is canceled enroute due to EMS on scene.

EMS downgrades the incident to a segment that does not require a Fire Unit response.

Note: This signal shall be used only for medical emergency incidents.

10-92 Malicious false alarm

10-99 Units will operate over 30 minutes