1. M.A.B.A.S. for Telecommunicators
Presented by
Tammy Kleveno, M.A.B.A.S. Coordinator
Tri-Com Central Dispatch

2. Presentation Objectives…
What is M.A.B.A.S.?
Responsibilities of Communications
Emergency Traffic Procedure/ R.I.T. Teams
What is I.F.E.R.N.?
Box Cards and Modifying Your Resources
Initiation & Dispatch Procedures

3. Mutual Aid Box Alarm System
What IS MABAS ?
Mutual Aid Box Alarm System
Pre-determined systematic response of man power & equipment to the scene of any fire department emergency that has potential to exhaust the resources of a stricken community.

4. What Can MABAS Provide?
Immediate assistance of personnel & equipment to the scene of an emergency.
Access to specialized equipment, manpower & antidotes.
Standardized policies, procedures and terminology for mutual aid responses.
A single contractual agreement covering responsibilities and liabilities for all it’s members.

5. M.A.B.A.S.…
is not intended to relieve a community of its responsibility to provide an adequate first line of defense for all local emergencies. This is known as the 80/20 Rule.

6. History of M.A.B.A.S…
1968 Elk Grove Fire Department modified Chicago Fire Department’s Box Card system for suburban areas.
MABAS expanded to include departments of southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.
Currently agencies from Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and Kentucky participate in MABAS.
(750 Illinois and 78 Wisconsin Fire Departments, EMS Departments Fire Protection Districts, and Emergency Management Agencies)
Participating departments are organized into “Divisions”. Currently there are 42 Divisions.

7. Division Communications
Each MABAS division is assigned a primary dispatch center and a back-up dispatch center.
Fire Departments - Know which MABAS Communication Center to contact for a Box Alarm request.
Local Communication Centers – Know which MABAS dispatch center to contact if asked by Incident Command.
MABAS Communication Centers – Know which fire departments your agency or Communication center is responsible for.

8. Incident Communications
Coordinated by MABAS Dispatch Center
Incident Command / On-Scene Communications
Simple Language
NO Codes or Agency Specific Terminology
Remember: Interacting with multiple departments - identify using department name, type of apparatus, and unit number.

9. “Mayday” and Emergency Traffic
The terms EMERGENCY TRAFFIC and/or MAYDAY will be used to clear radio traffic immediately. These terms are used for EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS, FIREFIGHTER DOWN, MISSING or TRAPPED.
The Dispatch Center will clear the air with a distinct tone to allow for the Emergency Traffic.
These terms are currently being defined by the MABAS Executive Committee for future uniform use.

10. Rapid Intervention Teams (R.I.T.)
Teams used to initiate rescue action plans in the event of a Firefighter Emergency.
Minimum of 4 rescuers.
Members assigned to R.I.T. shall remain in a state of readiness for rapid deployment and not engage in routine firefighting activities.
Additional members shall be assigned as a R.I.T. in the event 1st team is used by Incident Command.

11. I.F.E.R.N… Interagency Fire Emergency Radio Network.
Previously known as N.I.F.E.R.N.
Designated for INTER-DEPARTMENTAL use during fire emergencies with the inception of the MABAS program (1968).
Name was changed with expansion of MABAS and the move to make MABAS a State-Wide program.
Purpose – To allow multiple departments access to a common radio channel for communications.
Frequency MHz

12. Box Alarm Flow Chart

13. Fire Department Box Card

14. New Box Card Format for Dispatch
Batavia Fire Department Box Alarm Number: 3910
Incident: SOUTHEAST- Raddant Rd & East – South of Wilson
1st Box
Agency: Equipment/Personnel: Destination: Rd.)
BATAVIA
SQUAD & CASCADE
SCENE
ST. CHARLES
ENGINE
GENEVA
TRUCK & AMBULANCE
South Elgin
Engine
Scene
ELBURN
STATION 1

15. Interdivisional Box Cards
Your MABAS Division should have pre-designated Interdivisional Box Cards.
Each card should be designed to assist in sending the closest equipment needed to surrounding MABAS Divisions.
The dispatcher will need to use common sense in sending the closest departments to the incident. Advise Command which units are responding.

16. How is M.A.B.A.S. initiated Local Fire Department Incident Command
Arrives on scene
Establishes Incident Command
& Staging Location
Assesses situation
Asks for mutual aid
Incident Command
Select MABAS Box
On IFERN, contacts MABAS
Communications Center
MABAS Communications Center
alerts local departments

17. Local Communications Centers
MABAS Response for
Local Communications Centers
LISTEN to MABAS dispatch.
ACKNOWLEDGE request.
DISPATCH local department(s) due.
VERIFY correct response.
ADVISE units to switch to IFERN

18. Be sure to obtain the following information:
Dispatch Procedures…
Be sure to obtain the following information:
Name of Department requesting the Box
Location of Incident
Box Number and Level
Type of Incident
Staging Area/Command Post
“Mr. 911”
Locate the appropriate Box Card and Fill Out Your Dispatch Procedure Form (Mad-Lib)

19. Dispatch Procedure Form a.k.a.(Mad-Lib)
MABAS Dispatch Procedure Form
Info to obtain for box alarm:
Requesting Agency________________________________________
Box Alarm Number_________________________________________
Box Level________________________________________________
(1st, 2nd, etc.)
Type of Incident___________________________________________
(Structure Fire, Chemical Spill, etc.)
Location_________________________________________________
(Address/Business Name, Intersection, etc.)
Staging Area/Command Post________________________________________
“THIS IS MABAS DIVISION 13 TO ALL LOCALS. THE ____________FIRE
(Agency)
DEPARTMENT IS REQUESTING MABAS BOX NUMBER___________TO
THE______________LEVEL, FOR A_________________________________ (1st,2nd,etc.) (Incident Type)
AT_________________________________.
(Location)
THE FOLLOWING DEPARTMENTS ARE DUE TO RESPOND:
(Read List of Departments/Equipment/Personnel and Destinations from Box Card)
STAGING WILL BE AT________________________, ALL DEPARTMENTS
(Staging Area)
DUE TO RESPOND, SWITCH TO AND ACKNOWLEDGE MABAS DIVISION 13 ON
IFERN (Your call sign e.g. KNBG264).”

20. Dispatch Procedures… THE TONES
The MABAS Tones must be activated for each level increase and when the box is struck.

21. Equipment Move Ups…
Local Communications Center should notify you A.S.A.P. if equipment is unavailable.
Equipment that is unavailable to respond on the box will generally be replaced (check local protocol)
Notify Incident Command if equipment cannot respond. Command may reassess and not need replacement.
Replacement equipment must be “moved up” from the next level.

22. MABAS Dispatch Strike-Out Form
Strike Out Procedure
MABAS Dispatch Strike-Out Form
Select on the IFERN Frequency.
      Transmit MABAS tone.
Announce the following:
THIS IS MABAS DIVISION 13 TO ALL LOCALS. THE ______________FIRE
(Agency)
DEPARTMENT HAS STRUCK OUT MABAS BOX NUMBER ____________,
ON THE AUTHORITY OF ______________________.(Repeat Message)
(Name, or ‘Incident Command’)
(Your Call Sign)
Note: Equipment or Personnel who may be en route to the incident at the time of the strike-out are still due to respond and should not be returned.

23. Chief Jay Reardon, Northbrook Fire Department
The most current resources available were used to prepare this program. While every effort was made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this presentation, errors and omissions are possible. Neither the presenters nor the MABAS organization, Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, or State of Illinois offices (IEMA, OFSM, IDPH) are responsible for the accuracy of the material. Because MABAS is continuously expanding, the list of participating agencies and dispatch centers should not be considered all-inclusive.
Special Thanks to:
Chief Jay Reardon, Northbrook Fire Department
MABAS Division 13 Chiefs and participating departments
Illinois Homeland Security – Terrorism Preparedness Report
Rich Carlson –
Tri-Com Central Dispatch Personnel
Pete Collins, City of Geneva
And anyone else we forgot to recognize that helped make this presentation possible…we thank you!