Long before there were telephones and radios, fire
departments utilized the telegraph to receive fire alarms from those
once-familiar red fire alarm boxes which stood on the corner of our Nation's
cities.
When a firefighter fell in the line of duty, the
Fire Alarm Office would tap out a special signal over the telegraph fire alarm
circuits which went to all station houses. This was done for the purpose of
notification and as a sign of honor and respect and is a long-honored
tradition which continues today. Although some cities may differ in the number
of times this signal is tapped out, the most common sequence is 5-5-5.
