What does a “Tone Out” alarm mean?

A tone out alert in Boardman Fire Department means that the emergency being responded to requires more manpower than is on duty. A routine house fire in Boardman may require all off- duty and part-paid firefighters be called to assist the on-duty firefighters. There is no guarantee, however, that enough firefighters will be available to quickly extinguish a serious fire, even though off-duty personnel and part-paid firefighters have been “Toned Out.” In these circumstances, the Officer in Charge may request one or more nearby fire departments to also respond as part of a “Mutual Aid” agreement.

Posted in: Fire Department Procedures