So what's the big deal with all of the 17's?  Well, all of the fire departments in our MABAS division (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) have numbers assigned to their departments.  Our assigned number is '17' (which, if you have watched the movie "Backdraft", happens to be the same number as the featured Chicago Fire Department company).  It makes it easier to identify the units on the air (radio) and lets us know what equipment is enroute to a particular emergency.  For example, all engines have assigned numbers from 01 to 09.  Our engines are 1701 and 1702.  Truck companies are assigned the 50's.  Our ladder truck is 1751.  Grass trucks are assigned 60's, tankers are assigned 70's, etc.  Our officers are also assigned numbers with a '17' prefix.  Our Chief is 1790; Assistant Chiefs are 1791 and 1792; Captains are 1793, 1794, 1795; Lieutenants are 1781, 1782 and 1783.

The only units not assigned the MABAS numbers are our ambulances.  All ambulances in Ogle county have an "F" (Frank) designation. Winnebago County ambulances have a "C" (Charlie) designation.  Our ambulances are 1-F-29 and 1-F-17 (got lucky on the '17' designation on that one!).  On the radio, these units are referred to as "One Frank Twenty Nine" and "One Frank Seventeen".