Providence Fire Department - Codes

Codes

The officer in charge of the first arriving fire company is responsible for giving an initial situation report to Fire Alarm, and relaying whether or not additional resources are needed. The codes used by the Providence Fire Department are:

• Code Red - Confirmed structure fire. Unless otherwise specified, a Code Red report automatically triggers the dispatch of additional companies (see Still Box). If companies responding to a Box Alarm or Still Alarm find a fire-related condition, you might hear the officer ask Fire Alarm to "fill in the box" which means to dispatch additional companies to make the response equal to a Still Box response.
• Code Yellow - The situation can be handled by the companies specified by the reporting officer. For example, if the first engine of a Box Alarm assignment encounters a condition other than fire, the officer might report a Code Yellow for the first engine and first ladder, and possibly the responding chief.
• Code Blue - Malicious false alarm.
• Code "C" - Proceed without the use of emergency lights and sirens; on a non-emergency basis. An officer already at the scene of an emergency can request a company or companies not already on the scene to continue their response Code "C".
• Code 99 - Cardiac Arrest, CPR in progress.