Fire Run Card
Fire Run Cards have replaced the former Mutual Aid Response Plans (MARP). All agencies, regardless of dispatch center, must complete a fire run card. To maintain compliance with the State of New Jersey Fire Service Deployment Act, every run card must be updated every two years on the odd years, even if no changes were made.
Plan Header
- Select Box Area (this number corresponds with your Station and the current list in the Flex CAD).
- Agencies not dispatched by County Communications that have more than one zone may reach out to the Monmouth County Fire Marshals office to have their additional zones added.
- Special Circumstances is an open text field for listing special circumstances such as days of the week, times of the day, or high-hazard locations.
Structure Fire Alarm Levels
- First Alarm: The initial dispatch level to a reported structure fire as outlined in the Communications Guidelines. County Communications now defines a Structure Fire as any visible smoke or fire within a structure, or any fire immediately threatening a structure. A stovetop fire is considered a Structure Fire; a contained oven fire is not.
- Box Alarm: An intermediate alarm level after the First Alarm and before a full Second Alarm, used when a working fire is confirmed.
- Second and Third Alarms: Additional full-level responses.
Resource Recommendations
Fire Chiefs are strongly recommended to front-load the First Alarm assignment to the following standards:
- Three (3) Engines
- Two (2) Ladders
- One (1) Rapid Intervention
Departments that can supply multiple resources from their station or district may list their station numbers on the First Alarm. If additional resources are needed to fulfill the recommendations, list those resources as well.
Rural Water Supply First Alarm Recommendation
- Five (5) Engines
- Two (2) Ladders
- One (1) Rapid Intervention
- Three (3) Tenders
Box Alarm
- Use the Box Alarm level to add additional resources that are not responding on the First Alarm.
- Utilities and the Fire Coordinator are automatically added on the Box Alarm.
- Add cover assignments on this level and select the cover assignment location. Regional coverage is recommended with two (2) Engines and one (1) Ladder assigned to cover.
- Additional Tenders and Fill Engines should be added for Rural Water Supply areas, or you may select the entire Tender Task Force.
Second Alarm
- The Second Alarm consists of an additional full-level response, recommended as three (3) Engines and two (2) Ladders.
- Cover assignments from the Box Alarm level are moved to the scene, with an additional Engine and Ladder assigned to complete the recommended three (3) Engines and two (2) Ladders.
- Additional cover assignments should be assigned for regional coverage.
- EMS Coordinators are automatically assigned on a Second Alarm.
Third Alarm
- Cover assignments from the Second Alarm level are moved to the scene.
- A Structure Fire Task Force will be requested by the County Fire Coordinator to fill the additional on-scene resource needs, with the remainder of the Task Force utilized for regional cover.
Additional Incident Types
- Like the Structure Fire plan, Water Rescue and Brush Fire incident types also have different alarm levels: First, Box, and Second Alarm.
- Fire Chiefs can enter their desired First Alarm responses for these specific incident types.
- Additional fields are available for Fire Chiefs to list additional special resources as needed.
Need help?
Contact the Monmouth County Fire Marshal's Office for assistance with plan requirements or submission questions.
Step 1
Enter plan details
Department, station number, box area, and contact information.
Step 2
Build alarm assignments
First, box, second, and third alarm resources and special circumstances.
Step 3
Preview and submit
Review the plan, then submit it to the Marshal's Office for approval.