We dispatched from the "TUB".
The county was broken into grids:
1.Same access.
2.Same terrain.
3.Same fuel type.
4.No more than 6 miles wide/tall.
5.This was put on a map with adhesive lines.
6.Each district (Battalion now)started top right like a6 a5 a4 a3 a2 a1.
Then.................................................................a7 a8 a9 a10 etc.
7.Indexed cards roughly 10" x 10" filled the tub. Cards listed first available aircraft, helicopter, engine,dozer unit,fire crew.
8.Dispatch by weather. High dispatch was 1 Battalion Chief,1 Airco, 2 Airtankers,5 engines,1 or 2 dozers,2 fire crews oh yeah the helicopter when we got modern.
9.Mr. Index Card listed closest available unit on out with travel times. Bearing and distance from several air bases.
A lot of research and actually doing response simulations was done to each Response Area. Card had access instructions, maybe combination lock info,cross streets yada yada.
The big map had all the look-outs with a azimuth circle and a retractable string...magnet on the end. Map was overlay-ed on sheet metal and hinged to the wall for maintenance. Break a string, pull a pin and swing the map out.
So two look-outs call in a fire.....and you can pull two strings and have the fire with-in 40 acres we figured. Check the response area, wheel around pull the card and set up the dispatch.
GROUP QUICK CALL
THE FOLLOWING UNITS RESPOND TO ALPHA 6 SECTION 10 24N 12W......
1117
AIR ATTACK 110
TANKER 92
TANKER 94
LAYTONVILLE BOTH ENGINES
LEGGETT BOTH ENGINES
ROCKPORT (CLOSED NOW AND SHEEP LIVE IN IT) TRADED FOR A HELICOPTER
DOZER 1142
PARLIN FORK CREW 1 AND 2
The air attack base had a list in the tower and would give pilots bearing and distance as they scurried out the door. In fact most/all stations had maps of there areas.
Seems like a lot of stuff moving but radios can call it off.
An expert would say I am using a mix of new and old and they would be right. BUT the tub never broke.
Next time I'll tell you about magnets.