Which incident type is used for private or telephone alarms?

• A. Private / Telephone Alarm
• B. Other Fire
• C. Out of County Investigation K-9 Response
• D. Remove Water

Answer: (A)

Understanding how dispatch codes work, this specific label is used for alarms that come from a private alarm system or are reported by telephone. It flags the call as an alarm originating from a private source rather than a confirmed fire scene or another type of incident. Using this exact designation helps ensure the right response protocol and clear record-keeping, since private/telephone alarms are often monitored and may require verification or investigation rather than an immediate fire suppression response. The other options describe different situations—an unspecified fire event, canine investigation for out-of-area incidents, or a water removal task—so they don’t match the source and purpose of a private or telephone alarm.