It turns out it’s a big fire in Boston…

  • nilloc@discuss.tchncs.de
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    9 days ago

    Close! A 3 alarm fire could be shortened to “a 3 alarmer”. Which in Boston would be pronounced without the Rs for: “a 3 alamah”.

    • Jason@feddit.uk
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      9 days ago

      So do people in the US rank the size of your fires in “alarms”??! Like a bin fire is a 1 alarm fire? But a house fire is a 3 alarm?

      Do you say, “quick, evacuate the neighbourhood, there’s an 8 alarm fire heading our way”

      I’ve never heard of this before today.

      • nilloc@discuss.tchncs.de
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        9 days ago

        The number of alarms is (I think) how many different departments, or possibly fire engines, are needed to fight the fire. So yes pretty much. It’s often how they are described in news articles.

          • nilloc@discuss.tchncs.de
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            8 days ago

            Hey thanks, I’m in the 10,000 today. Unit count does make sense. I wasn’t aware of the terminology for firefighting teams/groups/trucks.

    • davidgro@lemmy.world
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      9 days ago

      I’ve never heard anyone say it as “alarmer”, but that could be an East Coast thing I guess.

      • nilloc@discuss.tchncs.de
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        8 days ago

        Maybe, but alarmer isn’t something you’d say alone.

        A 4 alarmer implies 4 alarm fire, in shorthand.

        Sort or like instead of saying “make a left hand turn” someone might also say “take a left hander”.

        Also if it matters I’m a midwesterner. I just know bunch a bastahds from Boston.