Roanoke Fire Department 10 Codes

Back in the day, the Roanoke Fire Department, now the Roanoke Fire-EMS Department, used 10 codes to communicate on the radio. This all changed in 2000, when the Department decided to change to plain talk. You can still hear remnant of the old way on the radio, dispatch and companies often still use terminology such as 10-4 (acknowledgement), 10-8 ( In service), 10-9 (repeat), and Codes such as Code 34 (DOA).

10 Codes/Signals vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, although certain ones always hold true. Many are universal across the nation. Many are used on the Citizen Band radio (CB).

So here is a list of the 10 codes, and other Codes from the Roanoke Fire Department. If you have any to add, let me know. This list is what is in one of the old engines in the City.

10-0 Caution
10-1 Unable to Copy
10-2 Signals good
10-3 Stop Transmitting
10-4 Acknowledgement
10-5 Relay
10-6 Busy - Standby unless urgent
10-7 Out of Service
10-8 In Service
10-9 Repeat
10-12 Standby (stop)
10-13 Weather and road report
10-19 Return to___________.
10-20 Location
10-21 Call ____________ by telephone
10-22 Disregard
10-23 Arrived at scene * First company to arrive on scene, give exact location.
10-24 Assignment completed
10-25 Report in person to ___________
10-30 Illegal use of radio
10-33 Emergency
10-34 Riot
10-36 Correct time
10-39 Urgent - Use light and siren
10-40 Silent Run - No light or siren
10-51 Need _________________
10-53 Road Blocked
10-70 Fire alarm
10-71 Working fire
10-72 Can handle alone
10-73 False alarm
10-74 Negative
10-76 Enroute or transfer to
10-79 Notify Coroner
10-84 If meeting ________, advise ETA
10-87 Pick up checks for distribution
10-88 Advise present telephone number of ______
10-89 Bomb Threat
10-97 Check (Test) Signal

Code 3 Flat tire
Code 6 Garage repair or service
Code 7 Radio repair
Code 10 Vehicle breakdown
Code 16 At office or station
Code 17 Follow up investigation
Code 18 Building inspection
Code 19 Other
Code 29 Airport alert
Code 30 Notify Hospital Emergency Room
Code 31 Disaster
Code 34 DOA (dead on arrival)
Code 51 Unnecessary use of radio
Code 53 Civil Defense siren not working
Code 54 Radiation involved
Code 56 Any traffic for __________