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COMMENTARY

THE NUMBERING SYSTEM

WHO IS IT ? WHAT IS IT ? WHERE IS IT ?
DEPARTMENT TYPE OF UNIT ASSIGNMENT

 

IF YOU COULD START FROM SCRATCH

UNIT IDENTIFICATION

SPECIFIC IDENTITY
MATCHES RADIO ID
VISIBLE FROM ALL SIDES
IMMEDIATE RECOGNITION
MEANINGFUL IDENTIFICATION
UNIQUE SYSTEM WIDE
UNDERSTANDABLE
LOGICAL
SAFE

DEPT
#
TYPE
#
UNIT
#



 

  DEPT #
  WHO IS IT ?
                               
                               
                        20      
                            19  
                               
      REGIONAL  21-23   LOWER CAPE  16-20   18
                               
  UPPER CAPE  1-5                   23  
          BARN DISTS  6-10           17  
    01             MID CAPE  11-15    
    22                       16  
      02     09   10       13      
    03           21   11 12        
        05     07 08       14   15  
    04     06                    
                               
                               
 

  DEPARTMENTS By Number (Dept #)

  Numbered Logically - Upper Cape to Lower Cape
 Grouped Geographically - Upper Cape / Barn Districts / Mid Cape / Lower Cape
 Department Relationships - Neighbors are Nearest Numbers

  RECOMMENDED  OPTION

 Upper Cape
 01 - BO - Bourne
 02 - SA - Sandwich
 03 - JB - Joint Base
 04 - FA - Falmouth
 05 - MA - Mashpee
 Barnstable Fire Districts
 06 - CT - Cotuit
 07 - CO - COMM
 08 - HY - Hyannis
 09 - WB - West Barnstable
 10 - BA - Barnstable
 Mid Cape
 11 - YA - Yarmouth
 12 - DE - Dennis
 13 - BR - Brewster
 14 - HA - Harwich
 15 - CH - Chatham
 Lower Cape
 16 - OR - Orleans
 17 - EA - Eastham
 18 - WE - Wellfleet
 19 - TR - Truro
 20 - PT - Provincetown
 Regional Agencies
 21 - BC - Barnstable County
 22 - ST - State Mass DCR, DFS
 23 - US - USA, CCNS
 

 

 

 

 

  TYPE #
  WHAT IS IT ?
TYPE ABRV UNIT TYPE FUNTION  
# - 0 - # C Car - Admin Fire Chief
Asst Chief
Deputy Chief
 
# - 1 - # C Car - Staff Shift Commander
Officer Vehicles
Fire Prevention
 
# - 2 - # EM
EP
ET
Engine - Mini
Engine - Pumper
Engine - Tender
Mini Pumper - Limited
Full Pumper - Full equipment
Eng Tender - >1000 Gallons
 
# - 3 - # LA
LQ
LT
LR
Ladder - Aerial
Ladder - Quint
Ladder - Tower
Ladder - Rescue
Ladder Co - No Pump
Ladder Co - Quint
Ladder Co - Tower/Quint
Ladder Co - Rescue
 
# - 4 - # SE
SR
SS
Squad - Engine
Squad - Rescue
Squad - Special
Engine - Extrication
Heavy Rescue
Special Rescue
 
# - 5 - # BB
FF
TK
Brush Breaker
Forestry
Tanker - Tender
Brush Breaker
Forestry Unit
Non-Engine Tanker
 
# - 6 - # AA
AB
Ambulance - ALS
Ambulance - Basic
Ambulance ALS
Ambulance Non-ALS
 
# - 7 - # DV
MF
MB
Dive Vehicle
Marine Fireboat
Marine Boat
Marine - Dive Truck
Marine - Fire Boat
Marine - Non-Fireboats
 
# - 8 - # SA
SH
ST
SP
Special - ARFF
Special - Hazards
Special - Tech
Spill - Spill
ARFF Truck
HAZ MAT
TECH Rescue
DEP - Spill
 
# - 9 - # UC
UL
UP
UT
UV
UO
Utility - Car
Utility - Lighting
Utility - Pickup
Utility - Trailer
Utility - ATV
Utility - Other
Misc - Cars
Misc - Gen Lighting
Misc - Pickup
Misc - Trailers
Misc - ATV, UTV
Misc - Other
 
         
         
 
  UNIT TYPE By Type #
  Middle Number - General Category of Unit Types
 Group or Sort Units of Similar Type 
 
 RECOMMENDED  OPTION
 

 

 

 

  ASSIGNMENT #

   WHERE IS IT ?

                               
                               
                      20-1

 

20-4

 

20-5

 

   
                           
19-1
 
 
                               
                           
18-1
 
                               
                            23-1
 
 
                            17-1
 
 
  1-1 1-3                          
  1-4 22-1
 
2-1 2-2                   16-1  
  1-2   2-3     9-1   10-1 11-2   12-2 13-1      
  4-3 3-1       7-3   8-2         14-2    
  4-4 4-6   5-1   7-2 7-1 8-1 11-3 11-1 12-1 14-1   15-1  
  4-2 4-1 4-5 5-2 6-1                 15-2  
                               
                               

 

  ASSIGNMENT By Unit #

  Specific Unit Assignment Unique ID #
 By Station - Some Units Valuable Info is Station Assignment
 By Response - Single Stations, Assignment by Response Order
 By Specifics - Some Units Classified by Specific Description
 System Wide Consistency - To Be Intuitive Across Cape
 More Specific ID - Unique # - Not to be Confused by Any Other
 

 Suggested Examples - Third #



  CARS - ADMINISTRATIVE
  # - 0 - 0     C     Headquarters - Radio ID 
  # - 0 - 1     C     Fire Chief
  # - 0 - 2     C     Assistant Chief
  # - 0 - 3     C     Deputy Chief
  # - 0 - 4     C     Options
  # - 0 - 5     C     Options
  # - 0 - 6     C     Options
  # - 0 - 7     C     Options
  # - 0 - 8     C     Options
  # - 0 - 9     C     Options
 
 
CARS - STAFF
 
# - 1 - 0     C     Shift Commander
  # - 1 - 1     C     Officer
  # - 1 - 2     C     Officer
  # - 1 - 3     C     Officer
  # - 1 - 4     C     Officer
  # - 1 - 5     C     Training Officer
  # - 1 - 6     C     EMS Officer
  # - 1 - 7     C     Fire Prevention
  # - 1 - 8     C     Fire Prevention
  # - 1 - 9     C     Fire Prevention

  ENGINE CO
 
# - 2 - 0     E     Engine - Spare
  # - 2 - 1     E     Engine - Sta 1 / 1st Due
  # - 2 - 2     E     Engine - Sta 2 / 2nd Due
  # - 2 - 3     E     Engine - Sta 3 / 3rd Due
  # - 2 - 4     E     Engine - Sta 4 / 4th Due
  # - 2 - 5     E     Engine - Sta 5
  # - 2 - 6     E     Engine - Sta 6
  # - 2 - 7     E     Engine - Resv
  # - 2 - 8     E     Engine - Resv
  # - 2 - 9     E     Engine - Resv

  LADDER CO
 
# - 3 - 0     LR  Ladder Co - Rescue / Extrication
  # - 3 - 1     LA  Ladder Co - Aerial - No Pump
  # - 3 - 2     LQ  Ladder Co - Aerial - Quint
  # - 3 - 3     L     Ladder Co
  # - 3 - 4     L     Ladder Co
  # - 3 - 5     LT   Ladder Co - Tower - No Pump
  # - 3 - 6     LT   Ladder Co - Tower - Quint
  # - 3 - 7     L     Ladder Co
  # - 3 - 8     L     Ladder Co
  # - 3 - 9     L     Ladder Co

  SQUADS - EXTRICATION UNITS
 
# - 4 - 0     RS   Heavy Rescue - Non-Engine
  # - 4 - 1     ES   Engine - Squad - Sta 1
  # - 4 - 2     ES   Engine - Squad - Sta 2
  # - 4 - 3     ES   Engine - Squad - Sta 3
  # - 4 - 4     ES   Engine - Squad - Sta 4
  # - 4 - 5     ES   Engine - Squad - Sta 5
  # - 4 - 6     ES   Engine - Squad - Sta 6
  # - 4 - 7     S     Ladder Co
  # - 4 - 8     S     Ladder Co
  # - 4 - 9     SS   Special -Squad - Non-Engine

  FORESTRY & TENDERS
 
# - 5 - 0     BB  Brush Breaker - Primary
  # - 5 - 1     F     Brush - Forestry - Sta 1
  # - 5 - 2     F     Brush - Forestry - Sta 2
  # - 5 - 3     F     Brush - Forestry - Sta 3
  # - 5 - 4     F     Brush - Forestry - Sta 4
  # - 5 - 5     F     Brush - Forestry - Sta 5
  # - 5 - 6     F     Brush - Forestry - Sta 6
  # - 5 - 7     T     Tanker
  # - 5 - 8     T     Tanker
  # - 5 - 9     TK  Tanker - Tender- Non-Engine

  AMBULANCES
 
# - 6 - 0     A     Ambulance - Spare
  # - 6 - 1     A     Ambulance - Sta 1 / 1st Due
  # - 6 - 2     A     Ambulance - Sta 2 / 2nd Due
  # - 6 - 3     A     Ambulance - Sta 3 / 3rd Due
  # - 6 - 4     A     Ambulance - Sta 4 / 4th Due
  # - 6 - 5     A     Ambulance - Sta 5
  # - 6 - 6     A     Ambulance - Sta 6
  # - 6 - 7     A     Ambulance
  # - 6 - 8     A     Ambulance
  # - 6 - 9     A     Medic Car

  MARINE UNITS
 
# - 7 - 0     M     Marine - Fireboat in Water
  # - 7 - 1     M     Marine Unit - Sta 1
  # - 7 - 2     M     Marine Unit - Sta 2
  # - 7 - 3     M     Marine Unit - Sta 3
  # - 7 - 4     M     Marine Unit - Sta 4
  # - 7 - 5     M     Marine Unit - Sta 5
  # - 7 - 6     M     Marine Unit - Sta 6
  # - 7 - 7     M     Marine
  # - 7 - 8     M     Marine
  # - 7 - 9     D      Dive Vehicle

  SPECIAL APPARATUS
 
# - 8 - 0     SP    DEP - Spill Trailer
  # - 8 - 1     SA    ARFF
  # - 8 - 2     SA    ARFF
  # - 8 - 3     SA    ARFF
  # - 8 - 4     S      Special
  # - 8 - 5     SH   Special - Haz Mat
  # - 8 - 6     ST   Special - Tech
  # - 8 - 7     S      Special
  # - 8 - 8     S      Special
  # - 8 - 9     S      MDU

  MISCELLANEOUS UNITS
 
# - 9 - 0     UL   Utility - Lighting Trailer
  # - 9 - 1     U      Utility
  # - 9 - 2     U      Utility
  # - 9 - 3     U      Utility
  # - 9 - 4     U      Utility
  # - 9 - 5     U      Utility
  # - 9 - 6     U      Utility
  # - 9 - 7     U      Utility
  # - 9 - 8     U      Utility
  # - 9 - 9     U      Mechanic


 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

  DEPT #  - Considered

  WHO IS IT ?

                               
                               
                        PT      
                            TR  
                               
      REGIONAL  21-23   LOWER CAPE  16-20   WE
                               
  UPPER CAPE  1-5                   US  
          BARN DISTS  6-10           EA  
    BO             MID CAPE  11-15    
    ST                       OR  
      SA     WB   BA       BR      
    JB           BC   YA DE        
        MA     CO HY       HA   CH  
    FA     CT                    
                               

  DEPARTMENTS By Name

  Dept Abbreviations ?  Spelling, Name Changes ?
 Grouped by ?  Alphabetical ?
 Department Relationships ?  Say the Name Each Time ?

  PROS V CONS ?

 

 

 

 

 

 UNIT #  - Past Numbering System

  WHO IS IT ?  WHAT IS IT ?  Where is it ?

                               
                               
                        PT
190-199
590-599
 
     
                            TR
470-499
 
 
                               
                            WE
80-99
 
 
                               
                            US
270-279
 
                            EA
150-165
 
    BO
120-149
                         
    ST
2-9
                      OR
166-179
601-619
 
      SA
439-469
    WB
280-299
  BA
200-329
      BR
230-259
     
    JB
400-429

 
          BC
900-919
  YA
40-59
560-569
DE
100-119

 
       
        MA
350-379


 
    CO
300-329


 
HY
800-839


 
      HA
60-79


 
  CH
180-189
380-399
 
 
    FA
10-
39
 
    CT
260-279
 
                   
                               
 OLD SYSTEM - UNIT IDs -
 Within Assigned Radio Number Blocks
  ARBITRARY - Not by Dept. Not by Geography. Not a Logical System.
 LIMITED - Small Groups of Numbers. Many Out Grown Long Ago.
 NEEDED UPDATING - In use 65+ Years. Modified without a Plan.
 
  CHALLENGING TO LEARN.
 THE REASON CAPECODFD WAS CREATED 25+ YEARS AGO.
 PRECEDED LATEST CHANGES SEPT 2025.

 

 

 CURRENT SYSTEM...

  WHO IS IT ? WHAT IS IT ? WHERE IS IT ?

                               
                               
                        PT
A2
A3
C1
E1
E5
L1
 
     
                            TR
A2
C1
E1
T1
S1
 
 
                               
                            WE
A1
A2
E1
L3
T1
S1
 
 
                               
                            US
270-279

 
 
                            EA
A2
A3
C1
E1
L1
S1
 
 
    BO
A1
C1
E1
E3
T1
T1
 
                         
    ST
2-9
                      OR
A2
A3
C1
E5
T6
S1
M1
 
 
      SA
A1
A4
C1
E1
L3
T2
M1
 
    WB
A1
C1
E1
F1
T2
S1

 
  BA
A2
C2
E2
E3
L1
S1
M1
 
      BR
A2
A3
C1
E2
F1
L1
S1
 
     
    JB
A4
A4
C1
E7
R1
T1
T1

 
          BC
900-919
  YA
A1
A2
C2
E3
F2
T3
S1
M1
 
DE
A1
A2
C2
E3
L1
S1
M1

 
       
        MA
A1
A2
A4
B1
C1
E1
L1
T1
 
    CO
A1
A5
C1
E1
L1
R1
S1
M1
 
HY
A1
A3
C1
E3
T1
R1
S1
M1
 
      HA
A1
A3
C1
E1
L1
F1
M1

 
  CH
A2
A3
C1
E5
E8
T9
M1

 
 
    FA
A1
A3
C1
E1
E7
E1
E1
L1
RB
M1
 
    CT
A1
A5
C1
E1
E2
F1
M1



 
                   
                               
 CURRENT SYSTEM - Single Number System
 Implemented Sept 1, 2026
 
  WHAT IS THE SYSTEM ?  DID IT SOLVE A PROBLEM ?
 DO NUMBERS IDENTIFY DEPT ?
 DO NUMBERS IDENTIFY TYPE ?
 DO NUMBERS IDENTIFY ASSIGNMENT ?
 DO NUMBERS ON RADIO MATCH VEHICLE DISPLAY ?
 DO NUMBERS HAVE MEANINGFUL INFORMATION ?
 ARE NUMBERS EASY TO FIND AND IMMEDIATELY UNDERSTAND ?
 ARE NUMBERS SPECIFIC AND UNIQUE ?
 ARE THERE DUPLICATES ?
 ARE SOME VEHICLES NOT NUMBERED AT ALL ?
 IS THE SYSTEM LOGICAL AND UNDERSTANDABLE ?
 ARE THE POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERNS ?
 WHY IS THIS AN IMPROVEMENT OVER OLD SYSTEM ?
 WOULD A NEW SYSTEM ADDRESS ISSUES ?
 CAN A DISCUSSION TAKE PLACE ?
 
  RADIO NUMBERS and VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION ARE BASIC
 EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE ON SAME PAGE IN COMMUNICATIONS

 

GOALS

SPECIFIC IDENTITY
NUMBER MATCHES RADIO ID
VISIBLE FROM 4 SIDES & ROOF
IMMEDIATE UNIT RECOGNITION
MEANINGFUL INFORMATION
UNIQUE SYSTEM WIDE
UNDERSTANDABLE
LOGICAL
SAFE



 

Respectfully
Britton Crosby

April 2026