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