Houston Fire Department Apparatus

[Roto-Ray]

Fire-Alarm-box4.jpg

 

Firepost,

 

I would "guess" that the "tap" may go back to the time period prior to two-way radios when the Fire Alarm (Gamewell) System was the way to communicate.

 

I have seen some Gamewell fire alarm boxes with the "codes" on the inside of the box so the Chief or Company on scene could request different types of help or send different signals to communications. i.e. second alarm, false alarm, extra engine or truck, & etc.

 

Imagine before radio communications you had to respond to the "Box" just to find out what or where the emergency was. No canceling companies enroute because you had to get there to find out the scoop.

 

If you look at the attached photo (credit to original photographer) you can see the black button which would be used to "tap" a signal back to communications from the box itself.

 

I can remember hearing one of the Richmond (VA) BC's advise communications to "back-tap the box" when the fire was under control and companies were preparing to clear.  It was always cool to hear because no one else in the department did it.