Dispatch Glossary
Reference guide to the terminology, codes, and classifications used in Martin County Fire Rescue dispatch data displayed on MCFRLive.
Unit Status Codes
As units respond to an incident, their status updates in real time through these stages. Each code represents a phase in the dispatch workflow.
Available
Unit is available and ready for dispatch at its assigned station.
Dispatched
Unit has been assigned to an incident and notified to respond.
Enroute
Unit is traveling to the incident location.
Arrived
Unit has arrived at the incident scene.
Transporting
Unit is transporting a patient to a medical facility.
Transport Arrive
Unit has arrived at the destination hospital or medical facility.
Out of Service
Unit is temporarily unavailable for dispatch due to maintenance, training, or other reasons.
Move Up
Unit is relocating to cover a different station area while that station's units are on a call.
Apparatus Types
Unit identifiers on MCFRLive combine a prefix (apparatus type) and a number (station assignment). For example, E33 is Engine 33 from Station 33, and R15 is Rescue 15 from Station 15.
Engine
Pumper truck staffed with firefighters. Primary response unit for fire and medical calls. Carries water, hose, and basic life support equipment.
Rescue
Advanced life support (ALS) ambulance staffed with paramedics. Responds to medical emergencies and transports patients to hospitals.
Ladder / Tower
Aerial apparatus with an extendable ladder or platform. Used for structure fires, high-rise rescues, and elevated operations.
Battalion Chief
Command officer who oversees multiple stations and responds to significant incidents to manage operations on scene.
Squad
Specialized rescue unit equipped for technical rescue, water rescue, or hazmat operations.
Brush
Smaller, off-road capable unit designed for wildland and brush fire response in areas inaccessible to standard engines.
Tanker
Water supply unit carrying a large volume of water to areas without hydrant access.
Call Type Categories
MCFRLive classifies every incident into one of six categories based on the dispatch call type. Each category has a distinct color used throughout the site.
Medical
Calls involving illness, injury, or medical distress. Includes breathing problems, chest pain, falls, sick persons, cardiac arrest, and other medical emergencies.
Examples: Breathing Problem, Chest Pain, Sick Person, Falls, Cardiac Arrest, Overdose
Fire
Calls involving active fire or fire hazards. Includes structure fires, vehicle fires, brush fires, and fire alarms.
Examples: Structure Fire, Vehicle Fire, Brush Fire, Fire Alarm, Smoke Investigation
MVC
Motor vehicle collisions including car accidents, motorcycle crashes, and pedestrian-involved incidents.
Examples: Motor Vehicle Collision, MVC with Injuries, MVC Entrapment, Hit and Run
Rescue
Calls requiring specialized rescue operations such as water rescue, confined space rescue, or technical rescue.
Examples: Water Rescue, Elevator Rescue, Lock-In/Out, Animal Rescue
Hazmat
Calls involving hazardous materials, gas leaks, chemical spills, or carbon monoxide exposure.
Examples: Gas Leak, Carbon Monoxide, Fuel Spill, Hazmat Response
Other
Service calls, mutual aid, public assists, and other dispatch activity that doesn't fall into the above categories.
Examples: Mutual Aid, Public Assist, Cancelled, Lift Assist, Welfare Check
How Dispatch Works
When someone calls 911 or a non-emergency line in Martin County, the call is routed to the Martin County Public Safety dispatch center. Dispatchers assess the situation, classify the call type, and assign appropriate units based on the incident type, severity, and location.
- 1.
Call received — Dispatcher logs the incident with a call type and location in the computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system.
- 2.
Units dispatched (DP) — One or more units are assigned and alerted. MCFRLive shows the incident as soon as it appears in the public CAD feed.
- 3.
Units enroute (ER) — Responding units mark themselves as traveling to the scene.
- 4.
Units arrive (AR) — Units reach the incident location and begin their operation.
- 5.
Transport (TR → TA) — If a patient needs hospital care, a rescue unit transports them and marks arrival at the facility.
- 6.
Incident closed — All units clear the scene and return to available status. MCFRLive archives the incident with its full timeline.