FTECH - 301 Terminology
Urban intermix
Buildings interspersed in wildland areas; homes built in the woods.
Miscible
Capable of mixing without separation
delta (triangle)
Change in factors affecting the incident including personnel fatigue, time of day, structural weakening, and so forth
Quality Assurance (QA)
Checking work to establish a consistent standard of care provided to patients at incidents by trained medical personnel
Contaminated
Coated with a harmful substance
Harassment
Coercive or repeated, unsolicited, and unwelcome verbal comments, gestures, or physical contacts, including, retaliation for confrontation or reporting harassment
upper division
College-level courses that are applicable to a degree program for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Evolutions
Combination of skills to perform a task. Example: performing all the skills required to don structural PPE and advance a 1 3/4 inch hose line from an engine up a ladder and into a second - story window
Molecules
Combined groups of atoms. Molecules composed of two or more different kinds of atoms are called compounds
Perjury
False statements in a sworn document or testimony
Fiscal
Financial
Halogenated agents
Fire-extinguishing agents containing the elements from Group 7 on the periodic table of the elements (halogens)
Crown Fires
Fires in the tops of trees. These fires move very rapidly and defy control efforts.
backfires
Fires lit in front of an advancing fire to remove fuel & widen control lines
Fire Department Connection
Fittings connected to the fire protection system used by the fire department to boost the pressure and/or add water to the system.
Class A foam
Foam designed for use on ordinary combustible materials
Mucous membranes
Inside of the nose, mouth, and covering the eye
Nonmiscible
Not capable of mixing; will separate
Interoperability
The ability of different departments to communicate on common radio frequencies at incidents. This includes assisting fire departments and other departments such as public works and law enforcement
Mechanical Aptitude
The ability to figure out the operation and construction of equipment from drawings.
civil liability
The accountability of an individual under civil law.
Inventory
The act of accounting for all of the equipment and tools assigned to a piece of apparatus
Freelance
The act of performing operations without a coordinated effort or the knowledge of one's superior officer
Extrication
The act of removing trapped victims. Term usually in reference to vehicle accidents
Delegation Of Authority
The action by which a commander assigns part of his or her authority commensurate with the assigned task to a subordinate commander. While ultimate responsibility cannot be relinquished, delegation of authority carries with it the imposition of a measure of responsibility
Average daily consumption
The amount of water used daily by water used daily by water system customers; computed by dividing the total water used by the number of customers over a period of a year by 365. Expressed in gallons or liters
Division Of Labor
The assignment of work to those most qualified to carry it out or the division of a complex task into several less complex tasks.
Energy
The capacity for doing work
Risk
The chance that humans take in relationship to the hazard(s)
Evaporation
The changing of liquid to a vapor
Oxidation
The chemical combination of any substance with an oxidizer
Pyrolysis
The chemical decomposition of matter through the action of heat
Scope of Employment
The complete range of activities an employee might reasonably be expected to perform while carrying out the business of the employer
Forest Litter
The components of duff including tree limbs.
First - Alarm Complement
The equipment normally dispatched when a fire is first reported
Foam
The finished product of water combined with certain agents that aid in the water's ability to extinguish fires
Company officer
The first-line supervisor in the fire department. Depending on the the jurisdiction involved, this position may be identified by various titles, such as captain, lieutenant, sergeant, station manager, module leader, or unit manager.
Fire Stream
The flow of water projected from a fire nozzle ( may also be called a hose stream as it is coming from the nozzle attached to the end of a fire hose)
chain of command
The formal path of communication through an organization. Individual members take orders from only one superior and give orders to a defined group of people immediately below them.
Wildland
Open land in its natural state
Veterans points
Points added to a person's final score on a competitive examination process; given to persons who have satisfactorily performed military service.
Static Water Source
Pond, Lake, or tank used to supply fire engines.
Endothermic Reaction
Reaction that absorbs heat
exothermic reaction
Reaction that results in the release of energy in the form of heat
Mitigation
Reducing the hazard, making less severe
High Angle Rescue
Rescue utilizing ropes and other equipment. Examples are removing persons from smokestacks, wind turbines, or water towers.
Fusees
Road Flares
turret nozzles
Roof or bumper mounted nozzles remotely controlled from inside the cab
Light bar
Roof-mounted unit containing emergency warning lights
Regulations
Rules designed to implement a statute based on an agency's interpretation of that statute
Positive Pressure Mode
SCBA regulator function that keeps positive pressure in the mask face piece at all times
Rehab
Short for rehabilitation. A time in which fire fighters rest, cool off, and rehydrate
Placcards
Signs or notices for display in a public place
Delegation Of Authority
The provision of authority to an outside entity to manage an incident within another's jurisdiction
Training
The pursuit of a particular skill
Specific Heat
The ratio between the amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of a substance compared to the amount of heat required to raise the same weight of water the same number of degrees. Water has a specific heat value of 1
Logging slash
The remnants of logging operations including limbs trimmed from downed trees and broken trees trunks
Vacuum Trucks
Tank trucks equipped with a pump that evacuates the air from inside the tank, causing it to draw a vacuum. Used for picking up liquids from spills or tanks, commonly used at crude oil production facilities
Salvage Covers
Tarps carried on fire apparatus used to cover building contents to prevent damage used to cover building contents to prevent damage from water and falling debris. They may also be used to create water chutes to remove water from a building or to build a temporary sump when combined with ladders
Toxicology
The science of materials that are poisonous to living things, especially humans and animals
All clear
The short descriptive phrase indicating that a primary search of the structure for victims has been completed
Flanks
The sides of an advancing wildland fire
Demographics
The statistical characteristics (e.g. age, race, gender, income) of the population of an area
ambient temperature
The temperature surrounding an object; air temperature
On duty
The time fire fighters spend performing their jobs
Transfer of command
The transfer of the role of incident commander from one person to another
Water Table
The underground depth at which the ground is totally saturated by water
Aquifer
The underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials (sand, gravel, etc.).
Combustible Construction
The use of unprotected wood and wood by-products in building construction
Ambulance Gurney
The wheeled cot that patients are placed on prior to transport in an ambulance.
Validate
To make sure that the items included in the testing process are actual requirements of the job
rekindle
To reignite after a fire was thought to be extinguished. This commonly happens in the attics, logs on wildland fires. This is usually due to incomplete overhaul/mop-up
Manipulative Training
Training in the operation of tools and equipment
Hazard Trees
Trees that have burned out at the base or are liable to drop large limbs
Retard Chamber
a small tank attached to sprinkler systems that allows pressure surges to dissipate their energy before they enter the system and set off the water flow alarm
credibility
a state established between persons based on expertise (subject matter knowledge) and relationship (the ability to get along with others). It is especially important between instructors and students
Mixture
a substance made up of two or more substances physically mixed together
Inert
a substance that will not react with other substances
Fully encapsulated suit
a suit that includes total body protection. when worn with gloves, it gives head-to-toe protection from certain chemicals. The interior is sealed from the outside air
Local Area Network
a system linking the computer terminals of a department on a local scale - for example, at the different desks at headquarters. A wide area network links the computers of several different geographic locations, such as between headquarters and the fire stations
Pump and Roll
a tactic used in grass fires utilizing pumpers that can drive while the pump is operating. Hose lines are connected to the apparatus, and water is sprayed to extinguish the fire edge
Buddy Breathing
a technique in which two people share the same SCBA air supply to avoid breathing smoke or toxic fumes.
Cone Roof
a type of petroleum product storage tank construction with a vapor space over the product. The lid is connected to the tank with a weak seam that will rupture before the tank wall seams
Post Indicator Valve (PI)
a valve with an indicator body that sticks up out of the ground. The body has a small window that says either "shut" or "open" depending on the position of the valve.
corrosive
able to destroy and damage other substances with which it comes into contact
confined space
an area a person can enter to do work, but which has limited means or exit and is not designed for continues occupancy by a person
Incident
an occurrence, either caused by humans or natural phenomena, that requires response actions to prevent or minimize loss of life or damage to property and/or the environment
Drafting Pit
an open-topped underground tank that is used for drafting operations and pump testing
chain of command (a)
an orderly line of authority within the ranks of the organization, with lower levels subordinate to, and connected to, higher levels. The organization of management at the incident, it starts with the IC and develops downward
Crime
an unlawful act as defined in the criminal codes
Fuel
anything that will burn
Unburned Islands
areas of unburned fuel within a fire perimeter
Hydrant Hookups
attaching the suction hose from the pumper to the hydrant
Perimeters
boundaries for controlled access (hazardous materials). The fire's edge (wildland)
Spot fires
in heavier fuels. flying fire brands can land outside the fire perimeter and start new fires.
PCB oil
oil containing polychlorinated biphenyl, a compound that can cause cancer
Decontaminated
physically removed of contaminants from people or equipment
Subsurface foam injection
plumbing installed on a tank to allow for the introduction of foam under the surface of the contained liquid
Standpipe System
plumbing system installed in multistory buildings for fire department use with outlets on each floor for attaching fire hose.
Structure Protection
protecting structures in danger of being consumed by and advancing wildland fire
Petrochemical
related to oil refining and production facilities
Tasks
specific things that must be done to bring a job to completion
Mutual aid
system in which departments draw up an agreement that they will assist each other upon request
cost recovery
system to recover expenditures on the part of the public agencies incurred in mitigating an incident
Composition roofing
tar paper and shingles or tar paper covered with roofing asphalt
Command presence
the ability to maintain composure in situations that are stressful
latent heat of vaporization
the amount of heat a material must absorb when it changes from a liquid to a vapor or gas
Absolute Zero
the coldest possible temperature at which all molecular motion ceases. Absolute zero is expressed as -459.67° Fahrenheit, -273.15° Celsius, 0 Kelvin, and 0° Rankine
Maximum daily consumption
the highest amount of water used in a one-day period by the customers of a water system; computed by finding the highest amount of water used in one day out of 365 days. expressed in gallons or liters.
Peak hourly consumption
the highest amount of water used in one hour of one day; determined by finding the highest use per hour in a 24-hour period, and expressed in gallons or liters
Vertical arrangement
the manner in which a fuel is arranged vertically above ground, divided into ground fuels surface fuels and aerial fuels
Continuity
the manner in which a fuel is spread across an area. Horizontal continuity os expressed as uniform or patchy
Ignition Temperature
the minimum temperature to which a substance must be raised before it will ignite. The piloted ignition temperature is usually much lower than the autoignition temperature. Piloted ignition may be provided by a spark or flame or by raising the general temperature
Burst Pressure
the pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure at which a container will fail.
Fire Flow
the quantity of water available for fire protection and extinguishment purposes
hydraulics
the required pressure to be applied to water to overcome the effects of pressure loss because of friction in piping and fire hose
Cause and Origin
the source of heat that started the fire and exactly where it started
Bonnet
the top of a hydrant
2 and 7 tool
the two errors and seven barriers common to poor decision making
Occupancy
the use or intended use of a building
Hazards
things within the environment that can cause harm to people or equipment
Drills
Tasks and jobs being practiced to improve performance.
Staging area
Temporary locations at an incident where personnel and equipment are kept while waiting for tactical assignments
Voice Over
A presentation technique where the audience sees video and hears the voice of the narrator but does not see the narrator; often used in television
Water Hammer
A pressure surge or wave caused by water in motion when it is stopped suddenly.
Explorers
A program of the Boy Scouts of America for persons 15 to 21 years of age. The Explorers work in conjunction with a professional organization such as the fire or police department to learn the operation and job requirements
Fuels Management
A program where naturally growing fuels, such as brush, are reduced to lessen fire intensity or to open up areas for wildlife and cattle.
Call - Back
A recall of personnel to on-duty status, usually because of an emergency situation
Acceptable Risk
A risk that is considered to be of low enough severity or frequency that it is considered acceptable
Water Curtain
A screen of water spray set up to protect exposures
Model Curriculum
A series of courses meeting standardized criteria including titles, descriptions, outcomes, and outlines.
Felony
A serious crime such as a murder, arson, or rape for which the punishment is either imprisonment in a state prison for more than 1 year, or death
Black Fire
A situation where heavy, dense, black smoke is being forcefully emitted by a fire.
Confined space (1)
A space that is not designed to be occupied on a regular basis that is lacking in natural ventilation.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
A specified level of medical training that usually consists of approximately 100 hours of classroom and practical training and the completion of a national registry examination
Oxidizer
A substance that gains electrons in a chemical reaction
Toxic
A substance that is poisonous and possibly lethal
Retroreflective
A surface, material, or device (retroreflector) that reflects light or other radiation back to its source: reflective
Emergency Medical Dispatch
A system in which dispatchers are trained to give medical advice to the persons at the incident, such as CPR instructions, until emergency help arrives
Pulaski
A tool for fighting wildland fires with an axe on one side of the head and a grub hoe on the other.
McLeod
A tool with a scraping blade on one side of the head and a rake on the other, used for fighting wildland fires
performance based certification
A training program in which the student must meet prerequisites of education and experience to take a training course. Once the course is completed, the student then completes a task book for the position, requiring classroom and/or incident experience. once the task book is completed, the person receives certification for the new position
Backdraft
A type of explosion caused by the sudden influx of air into a mixture of gases, which have been heated above the ignition temperature of at least one of them.
Open screw and yoke (OS and Y) valve
A valve with a hand wheel that exposes a threaded rod when in the open position. The hand wheel looks much like a steering wheel and can be locked with a chain and padlock so it cannot turn
Tactical Support
A vehicle equipped to provide the needs of firefighters at emergency scene.
Tactics
Actions taken to achieve strategies
Cavitate
to form small vapor bubbles in the interior of a pump.
cover
to move resources into a fire station when the regular crew is assigned to an incident. In some departments this is called a move up
Automatic aid
under this system, departments assist each other without regard to jurisdictional boundaries. It is often used in areas where there are county islands within city limits or in interagency areas where a fire starting in one agency's area is a direct threat to another's jurisdiction.
Tail Rotor
vertical propeller used for steering control that is installed on the tail of the helicopter
Administrative Procedures
written procedures for performing staff-related functions such as reports and other paperwork
Plume
(1) the path of the material released from a container in a hazardous materials incident (2) the smoke column from a fire
Rehabilitate
(1) to rehabilitate personnel means that they rest, cool off, and replenish body fluids. (2) To rehabilitate a fire line means to construct water bars to direct water runoff and prevent erosion. Under the federal "Minimum impact suppression tactics policy, rehabilitation maybe mean the erasure of fire lines as much as possible. In other words, to cause as little damage as possible controlling the fire as fire is a part of the natural environment
Escape Route
A preplanned and understood route to a safety zone
Safety Section
A body of law that sets the retirement benefit rate for certain professions, primarily those that are high hazard and deal with public safety, namely fire and police.
Eligible List
A certified list of persons who have successfully completed the testing process
Lateral transfer
A change of jobs from one fire department to another without moving up or down in rank.
Banding
A civil service selection process tool in which candidates who score between certain points on the scale (such as between 90 and 100 percent) are grouped, and the employer may choose candidates for employment from within the group.
Tort
A civil wrong leading to a legal claim for damages
Mobile Data Computer (MDC)
A computer mounted in the apparatus and connected to an antenna to provide and receive CAD information
Misdemeanor
A crime punishable by up to 1 year in a county jail or by a fine usually not to exceed $1000, or both
moisture content
A description of the amounts of moisture contained in a natural fuel, such as brush, grass, other natural fiber. It is usually expressed as a percentage by weight
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD)
A discussion in which personnel are encouraged to express their feelings after responding to and operating at particularly stressful incidents that result in high loss of life, loss of life by a coworker, or other significant conditions. These are conducted after an incident to assist personnel to better deal with their emotions.
Certification
A document that specifies that a student has successfully completed the prerequisite education, and training to perform a job function, such as Fire Fighter 1 or emergency medical technician
Standard
A document the main text of which contains only mandatory provisions and is in a form suitable for mandatory reference by another standard or code or adoption into law
Nonfeasance
A failure to act when action is required
one-hour fire-rated separation
A fire-rated assembly that should resist breakthrough for a period of 1 hour. An example of this type of construction is the use of 5/8 inch-thick fire-rated gypsum wallboard or a combination of wallboard and plaster. All of the electrical boxes must be metal and not plastic. Any penetrations through the assembly must be properly protected to prevent the spread of fire
Code
A law that can be established by legislative action, but is most commonly created by an administrative agency or a local entity
Resume
A listing of a person's areas of experience and education
Thrust block
A mass of concrete poured on the outside of an angle fitting and extending back to native soil. The purpose is to prevent surges in flow through a pipe from flexing the fitting and wiggling it in the ground, which would over time, form a larger and larger underground space. Possibly allowing the pipe fitting to pull apart
Retardant
A material spread on fuels that inhibits their burning.
Automatic vehicle location (AVL)
A means for automatically determining and transmitting the geographic location of a vehicle
Helispot
A natural or improved take-off and landing area intended for temporary or occasional helicopter
Curriculum
A particular course of study
Procedure
A particular way of accomplishing something or acting in a specified situation
Probationary Fire Fighter
A person hired by the fire department who has not been granted permanent status.
Mentor
A person who guides and directs another person toward a goal
Paramedic
A person with an advanced level of medical training. Paramedics can perform invasive procedures on the patient, such as starting intravenous lines
Control lines
An area where fuel has been removed, water or other extinguishing agent has been applied, or natural barriers exist to stop a wild land fire from spreading
Free radicals
An atom or group of atoms that is unstable and must combine with other atoms to achieve stability
Inverter
An electrical device that converts 12-volt current to 110 volt. Used to operate lights and tools from a vehicle's charging system
Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE)
An explosion that occurs when a tank containing a volatile liquid at the bottom of the tank and a flammable gas at the top of the tank is heated to the point where the tank ruptures.
Resource designer
An identification system using numbers and letters to identify resources by agency and type
Foam Eductor
An in - line device that draws foam concentrate from a container into the hose stream
Oral interview panel
An interview technique in which the interviewers ask questions and evaluate the answers given by job candidates. They assign a score to the candidate's responses for ranking purposes during the selection process.
Wildland Fire
An unplanned fire burning in vegetation
Risk Management
Any activity that involves the evaluation or comparison of risks and the development of approaches that change the probability or the consequences of a harmful action
Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH)
Atmosphere that is capable of causing death, irreversible adverse health effects, or the impairment of an individual's ability to escape.
Jake Brake
Common name for the Jacobs Engine Brake & other brakes of that type. Used on diesel motors
Watersheds
Complex geographic, geologic, and vegetative components that control runoff of rainwater and support varied ecosystems
Fire-Resistive Construction
Construction that has been designed to resist the effects of heat from fire
Perimeter control
Controlling the edges of a wildland fire
Power Shears
Cutting attachment for a rescue tool
incendiary
Deliberately set
Rappel
Descend by means of a rope
malfeasance
Dishonest, intentionally illegal, or immoral action
Motor block heaters
Electrical devices that keep oil in the motor warm, make for easier starting, and help prevent damage when the motor is started in cold weather
Articulated Boom
Elevating device consisting of a boom that is hinged in the middle.
Policies
General guidelines of how things will be done
Smoke Jumper
Highly trained personnel who parachute in to suppress fires in remote areas.
Main rotor
Horizontal blades that create lift for a helicopter
Master Stream Appliances
Large-bone nozzle equipped with a base. Not designed for hand-held use
Unprotected vertical shafts
Laundry chutes, elevator shafts. When not enclosed in fire-resistive construction, these openings act as chimneys, allowing rapid fire spread in multilevel buildings.
Statutory Laws
Laws adopted by Congress (federal statutes) and those that have been passed by state legislature (state statutes)
Good Samaritan Law
Laws stating that a person who voluntarily assists an injured person is not chargeable with responsibility for any errors or omissions in the care provided
Duff
Leaves, pine needles, and other dead forest material.
Burning Out
Lighting a fire to remove fuel along the flanks of a fire; also used to remove unburned islands that remain as the fire advances
Alley lights
Lights mounted in a light bar that shine to the side of the vehicle; commonly used for spotting addresses on structures at night
Polar Solvents
Liquids that will mix readily with water because water is a polar substance. The common polar solvents are alcohols, aldehydes, esters, ketones, and organic acids
Sling Load
Material transported by being placed in a net suspended underneath a helicopter.
Education
Memorization of specific pieces of information and development of an understanding of concepts or philosophies
Misfeasance
Mistaken, careless or inadvertent action that results in a violation of law
Workers Compensation
Money paid to persons who have been injured on the course of their employment and are unable to work either temporarily or permanently
Reserve/Cadet Programs
Organized programs sponsored by paid fire departments that provide training in return for personnel volunteering their time.
Baffles
Partitions placed in tanks that prevent the water from sloshing and making the vehicle unstable when turning corners.
Specialists
People with extensive training in one or more areas of operations or information
Volunteer firefighting
Performing firefighting services without pay. In some areas a variation of this is the Paid Call Fire Fighter program. Under this program, fire fighters are paid a specified sum when they respond to incidents or attend training
Helitack
Personnel whose primary means of transportation to fires is by helicopter. They also assist in helicopter operations when the helicopter is being used for water drops or for crew and equipment transportation.
Prescribed Burning
Planned application of fire under specified conditions in a predetermined area to achieve management objectives. Includes removal or modification of fuels, clearing paths through brush, and killing unwanted plant growth
Arcing
Spark created when electrical contact is made
Consensus standards
Standards that are developed through the consensus process. Usually representatives from government and industry meet to determine the language of the standard. Input is sought and then meetings are held to determine the final language used in the standard. This process is often used in the creation of codes, such as the NFPA's National Fire Codes
Objectives
Steps to be taken to achieve goals
Cascade Systems
Systems of large compressed gas cylinders connected to a manifold
Helibase
The location from which helicopter centered air operations are conducted
Base
The location from which primary logistics and administrative functions are coordinated and administered. The ICP may be colocated with the base.
Camp
The location where resources may be kept to support incident operations if a base is not accessible to all resources or the incident is of a large enough scale as to require extended transportation times from the base to the tactical work assignments
Skid
The long tubular shaped feet that helicopters sit on when on the ground
Hose lays
The method of laying out hose at a fire scene.
Strategy
The method used to coordinate the tactical operations of units to achieve the desired incident objectives
span of control
The number of subordinates a manager can directly control. The number varies with the complexity of the operation and the skill of the subordinates
Overhaul
The operation performed to ensure that all embers are extinguished after a fire is controlled
Unity Of Command
The organizational principle in which every individual is accountable to only one designated supervisor to whom he or she reports at the scene of an incident
Operational Period
The period of time scheduled for execution of a given given set of tactical actions as specified in the IAP. It may be as long as 24 hours for a wildland incident or as short as an hour for a hazardous materials incident.
Accountability officer
The person at an incident scene responsible for tracking the location of personnel operating at the incident. This may be the incident commander or a designee
Bury
The piping that extends from the water main to the hydrant
National Response Plan
The plan that delineates the all-discipline, all-hazards response and responsibilities of all federal agencies for the management of domestic incidents in the United States
Reforestation
The planting of seeding trees in areas destroyed by fire or logging
Driver operator
The position responsible for operating the pumping or aerial apparatus assigned to the fire department. Depending on the jurisdiction involved, this position may be identified by various titles, such as engineer, chauffeur, or truck operator
Working Pressure
The pounds per square inch of pressure that a tank is designed to contain
atmospheric pressure
The pressure of the atmosphere exerted on any point, which is 14.7 psi at sea level.
Critical Thinking
The process of examining, analyzing, questioning, and challenging situations, issues, and information of all kinds
conflagration
Very large fire that defies control efforts and causes extensive damage over a large area
Parapet Walls
Walls on a flat roof that extend above the roofline
Dead-End Mains
Water mains that are not gridded into the system. Water flows into them from only one way
Good Strikes
When lighting bolts reach objects on the ground, often starting fires in trees when there is no rain received with the storm
Operational procedures
Written procedures for performing operational functions
Crew Resource Management (CRM)
a behavioral modification training system developed by the aviation industry to reduce its accident rate. It is based on the assumption that human error is the primary cause of fire-ground fatalities and injuries, and by using this training the fire service can reduce the number of negative outcomes
Fugitive pigment
a coloring agent added to fire retardant that is dropped from aircraft
liaison officer
a contact person for outside agencies
Combustible Gas Indicator
a device that measures the percentage of lower explosive limit concentration of gas in the atmosphere. This device must be used by trained personnel for proper interpretation of the readings
Repeater
a device that receives radio transmissions, boosts the signal, and retransmits the signal. It is used in area where topography or tall buildings interrupt clear communications
incendiary device
a device used to light a fire. This can be as simple as a lit cigarette folded into a matchbook or more complicated, involving chemical mixtures and a timer or cell phone to activate.
salvage
a firefighting procedure for protecting building contents from damage due to water or falling debris
Sky Lobby
a lobby on a high floor level in a high-rise building. Elevators leave from this area to service the upper floors
Exception Principle
a method or plan of supervision (as of a business) under which only significant deviations from normally expected results or conditions are brought to the attention of a supervisor for consideration and decision
high-rise building
a multi-storied building that is over 75 feet in height; commonly encountered as an office building, hotel, or condominiums.
Generalist
a person with general knowledge of no great depth in many subject areas
Water Main
a pipe that carries water in a water system
Safety Zone
a place where fire fighters can be safe from the incident's hazards
Scratch Line
a quickly created wildland fire control line, constructed using hand tools
Primary Search
a rapid search of all involved and exposed areas affected by the fire that can be entered to verify a removal and/or safety of all occupants. Should this not be possible, a secondary search is conducted as soon as it is safe to do so.
Relief Valve
device used to release unwanted pressure
Infrared sensing devices
devices that can detect heat energy through smoke and clouds. Used for aerial mapping of fire edges and locating hot spots
Pathogens
disease causing agents
Stress Drills
drills conducted under realistic conditions to develop and test the fire fighters' ability to perform in stressful situations
Dry Chemical Extinguisher
fire extinguisher using a chemically active powder
Task Book
log used to verify competency in particular skills. A trainer must certify that the skill was performed in a satisfactory manner in a field and/or classroom environment
Ground Sweep Nozzles
nozzles mounted underneath apparatus to sweep fire from under the vehicle