Engine 17

Up until 1927, almost all fires were reported by way of fire alarm boxes located at many street intersections throughout the city. When the box was activated it would send an electrical signal over wires indicating the box’s number to the Fire Alarm Room in City Hall. From there, the box number would be re-transmitted over wires to bells in all fire stations tapping out the number. In 1927, with the more common use of telephones, a Bell Telephone switchboard and a Keystone switchboard was installed in the newly constructed Fire Headquarters at 1328 Race St. Also housed in the Headquarters was the fire station containing Engine 17, Ladder 23, and Rescue 1. One or two dispatchers operated the switchboards. When a report of a structure fire was phoned in over the Bell Telephone switchboard, the fastest way to notify the closest Engine Co, Ladder Co. and Battalion Chief to the location of fire was to use the Keystone switchboard which contained all the city’s fire stations. Thus, the term “Local Alarm” was born. If someone activated a fire alarm box for the same fire, the Fire Alarm Room would transmit that box bringing usually an additional 3 engines, another ladder, and battalion chief to the fire. I believe the thinking was, if the fire could be seen from the street, then the additional companies would be needed.
At 12:01am on January 8, 1950, the dispatchers in Headquarters and their switchboards were moved to the Fire Alarm Room in City Hall. And all alarms for fires were now broadcast over a Voice Alarm System which went simultaneously to all fire stations. However, rather than transmitting box alarms for all phoned-in structure fires as most of the large cities did, Philly continued the local alarm dispatch assignment up until the mid-1970s.