Firefighting
Glossary |
Firefighting
is certainly a unique profession and it carries with it a very unique vocabulary,
as well. For that reason, we provide this glossary to give you a glimpse
at many of the terms and phrases used by firefighters in Maumelle and around
the country. This glossary was originally compiled in 1999 by Maumelle Engineer
Michael Cossey and was featured for several years by the now-defunct "Internet
Engine & Hose" Web site.
A
| B | C | D |
E | F | G |
H | I | J |
K | L | M
N | O | P |
Q | R | S |
T | U | V |
W | X | Y |
Z |
|
-
B - |
Backdraft
A backdraft occurs when an oxygen-starved fire
suddenly receives oxygen. The sudden rush of oxygen causes all of the
super-heated gases to ignite at the same time, which causes an explosion.
While the risk of such an occurance is low, a backdraft is almost always
fatal to anyone caught in it.
Basic
Life Support
Basic life support (BLS) refers to a level of medical care
that does not involve any advanced medical procedures or intravenous (IV)
access. Maumelle's career firefighters are trained Emergency Medical Technicians
and provide BLS service. Their certification allows them to provide basic
life-saving and life-sustaining interventions until paramedics arrive on
scene.
Booster
Line
Booster line is a hose that is usually one
inch in diameter and rubber jacketed. They are used on small
fires using the water carried in an apparatus' booster tank and
are usually stored on reels. Also referred to as
a red line.
Booster
Tank
The built-in tank on a pumper or quint that supplies booster lines
and hand lines at a fire until a connection with a water source (such
as a hydrant) can be made. The booster tank on Maumelle's Engine 1 holds
500 gallons -- nearly a dozen bathtubs worth of water.
Box
Alarm
A box alarm describes a fire department's response to a report
of fire or smoke inside a structure. In many departments, multiple companies
are dispatched at the same time on a box alarm. Some departments have Haz-Mat
and Rescue Boxes for hazardous materials and rescue calls. The
term box alarm originates from the original pull boxes located on the street
in many communities. In Maumelle, the term box alarm is not used. However,
Engine Company 1, Engine Company 2 and volunteer firefighters are all initially
dispatched for such an incident. In a larger city, the typical
structure box alarm would include two or more
engine companies, one or more
ladder companies, a
rescue company and a
chief officer. |
[
RETURN TO TOP ] |
|
-
D - |
Deck
Gun
A large and fixed water nozzle attached to an engine. Deck guns
deliver larger amounts of water than hand-held hose. (See also
Master Stream).
Department
of Public Safety
A method some communities use to provide fire and law enforcement
services. A department of public safety either relies on all or most members
being trained as both police officers and firefighters. The City of Maumelle
utilized this method until December 2004, when seperate police and fire
departments were created.
Drafting
Drafting is the pulling of water from a source other than
accepting pressurized water from a hydrant or another fire apparatus. Cisterns,
lakes, ponds and swimming pools are often used in drafting operations.
Many departments in rural areas without fire hydrants use drafting. Although
Maumelle firefighters are fortunate to have a strong water system with reliable
hydrants, they must use drafting techniques when training at the department's
burn bunker. The bunker is located in Lake Willastein Regional Park, which
has no fire hydrants. |
[
RETURN TO TOP ] |
|
-
E - |
Engine
The engine is also referred to as
a pumper because of its ability to
pump water. In most cases, an engine carries small ground
ladders, supply line to connect it with a hydrant, hand
lines to fight the fire with and a tank holding
between 500 and 1,000 gallons of water.
Engine
Company
An engine company is a combination of a fire engine and the
manpower used to staff it. Maumelle currently has two staffed engine
companies that include -- at minimum -- an officer and an engineer. One or
two firefighters also included in the company when staffing
allows.
Exposures
Exposures are buildings or structures that are near
the structure on fire and that are placed at risk
by the fire. A primary focus of the responding fire
department will be to protect the exposures, thus reducing the risk
of the
fire spreading and causing additional damage to
life & property. |
[
RETURN TO TOP ] |
|
-
F - |
FAST
(Firefighter Assist and Safety Team) Truck
A FAST truck is a company of firefighters (usually from a truck
or rescue company) whose sole function at a fire is to stand by in case
a firefighter becomes injured or trapped and needs assistance. The company
assigned to the FAST truck is usually a highly trained group and reports
only to the incident commander. In some departments, this group is call
a RIT (Rapid Intervention Team).
Fast
Attack
Fast attack is when the first arriving engine company attacks
the fire using water carried in the booster tank, relying on the second
company to secure a water supply.
Flashover
The sudden ignition of all flammable material in a room or
structure. As the fire burns and heat is generated
and stored in the room on fire, it is possible for
the heat to accumulate faster than it can use
fuel. Once this reaches critical mass, the heat then turns all
the flammables in a room into fuel at one time. The danger is
that this causes an inversion of the thermal layers because the
new fuel is almost always near the floor. Despite superb
protective gear, a firefighter has less than two seconds
to evacuate a room that has a flashover.
Foam
Foam is a concentrate mixed with water or air
and applied to any material that is on fire or could
potentially catch fire. The foam creates a barrier between the
material and the heat, preventing ignition of flammable gases.
Foam is commonly used on flammable liquid fires (gas or oil), but
is also being used in some areas
for automobile & structure fire applications.
Maumelle has the capability to use foam on all four rigs in its
fleet.
Forcible
Entry
The act of gaining access to a structure through means
other than an open window or door.
Frequently, firefighters must force open doors that are locked
or remove security doors and bars in order
to enter a structure to search for victims
& extinguish a fire. A variety of hand, power
& hydraulic tools can be used for forcible
entry.
Forestry
Line
A forestry line is a small-diameter, cotton-jacketed handline
used to fight brush and forest fires. Its construction reduces the weight
a firefighter has to pull and therefore reduces fatigue. Maumelle's
Brush 1 carries three pre-connected forestry hoselines of various
lengths.
Forward
Lay
A forward lay is when fire hose is laid from
the hydrant to the fire. (See also reverse
lay). |
[
RETURN TO TOP ] |
|
-
H - |
Handline
A handline is a small diameter hose usually used inside
a burning structure to directly apply water on to the fire. Handlines are
usually 1.5 or 1.75 inches in diameter. Lines as large as
2.5 inches in diameter (also called the "deuce and a half") can be used
for heavy fire conditions.
Hose
Hose is used to deliver water onto a fire and to provide
water from hydrants to firefighting apparatus. The types of
hose used include handlines, booster lines and large diameter
hose.
Hydrant
An upright metal casting connected to a water supply system and
equipped with one or more valved outlets to which a pumper or hoseline can
be connected. Maumelle Water Management hydrants are painted red and should
be marked with a blue reflector. Central Arkansas Water hydrants are painted
silver and are marked with reflective bands. The International Fire Code,
as adopted by the City of Maumelle, requires citizens to maintain a 36-inch
radius around hydrants to be clear of brush, high grass and other
obstructions. |
[
RETURN TO TOP ] |
|
-
I - |
Incident
Command System (ICS)
A management system of procedures for controlling personnel,
facilities, equipment and communications from different agencies to work
together towards a common goal in an effective and efficient manner.
ICS is the chain of leadership and command at the scene of an
emergency. |
[
RETURN TO TOP ] |
|
-
J - |
Jake
A term often used in the New England states to refer to
a good firefighter. One story has the term originating from the corruption
of the phrase, "J-key." Years ago, the bed was the most expensive piece of
furniture in a dwelling. Since firefighters weren't as good at stopping
fire as they are today, they would attempt to remove as many
belongings as possible. The bed was too large to carry out in one piece
and had to be disassembled using a bed key. The key was shaped like the letter
J and called a J-key.
Jaws
A generic term applied to a type of rescue tool that can cut,
push or pull material (most often pieces of an automobile). Jaws of Life
is a synonym, but is the copyrighted product name of Hurst. Holmatro and
Amkus are also major manufacturers of jaws.
Jump
Line
A jump line is a handline stored in an extended bumper (also
called a jump bumper) and preconnected to the engine to allow for a
quicker attack. |
[
RETURN TO TOP ] |
|
-
L - |
Ladder
Company
See Truck Company.
Large
Diameter Hose
The biggest hose used by firefighters, large diameter hose (LDH)
is sometimes referred to as a water main above ground. LDH is usually 4-5
inches in diameter and is used to supply water from the hydrant to pumper
trucks. See also supply hose. Maumelle Engines
1 & 2 and Truck 1 are all equipped with 5" large diameter
hose.
Leader
Line
A leader line is a line usually having a gated wye on
the end. Leader lines are usually 3 or 2.5 inches in diameter and the
wye usually feeds two or three 1.5 or 1.75 inch attack lines. |
[
RETURN TO TOP ] |
|
-
M - |
Master
Stream
A master stream is a large and fixed stream of water.
Master streams are used on the end of aerial ladders on ladder trucks and
on top of pumper trucks. Master streams can deliver larger amounts
of water than hand-held hose.
Minimum
Staffing
The minimum number of firefighters that must be on duty at one
time. Currently, the Maumelle Fire Department operates with a minimum of
four firefighters on duty with two firefighters assigned to each of the two
engine companies. Although six or seven firefighters are assigned to each
of the department's three shifts (or platoons), the department sometimes
operates at minimum staffing due to sick leave or vacation
time.
MEMS
Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services (MEMS) provides advanced
life support ambulance service to the City of Maumelle. They maintain a station
with one ambulance staffed by a paramedic and an EMT on Hyman Drive near
the city's Public Works facility. When the Maumelle ambulance responds to
a call, MEMS normally sends an ambulance from Little Rock or North Little
Rock to provide coverage for our city.
Monitor
A type of master stream similar to a deck gun, but removable from
the apparatus. Hose can be laid into it, making it
mobile. |
[
RETURN TO TOP ] |
|
-
O - |
Overhaul
Commonly viewed as "cleaning up" after a fire, overhaul is
the process of putting a structure in the safest condition following
a fire. Additionally, it is during the overhaul phase of an incident
that firefighters verify that the fire has not extended into unknown areas
and that hidden "hot spots" are extinguished. |
[
RETURN TO TOP ] |
|
-
P - |
Pumper
In most cases, a pumper carries small ground
ladders, supply line to connect it with a hydrant, hand
lines to fight the fire with and a tank holding
between 500 and 1,000 gallons of water. Same as
an Engine. |
[
RETURN TO TOP ] |
|
-
R - |
Red
Line
Red line is a hose that is usually one inch
in diameter and rubber jacketed. This type of hose is used on small
fires using the water carried in an apparatus' booster tank and
are usually stored on reels. Same as booster
line.
Rescue
Company
A rescue company is a term used to describe a rescue truck
and the firefighters used to staff it. A rescue company is
equipped and trained to handle a variety of duties including search
and rescue, medical treatment of victims, suppression at the scene of a fire
and the extrication of victims in motor vehicle accidents. The actual duties
of a rescue company can vary in different parts of the country as does the
term to describe one. A Rescue Company is called a Squad in some areas while
other areas use the term when referring to their ambulances. The
Maumelle Fire Department does not staff a rescue company.
Reverse
Lay
When supply hose is laid from the fire to
the water source, placing the pump at the source
of water. (See also forward
lay)
RIT
(Rapid Intervention Team)
Same as FAST Truck. |
[
RETURN TO TOP ] |
|
-
S - |
Salvage
The process of protecting the contents of a building from fire,
smoke and water damage. Tools used include salvage covers that are placed
over furniture, preventing damage from water and debris.
Size-Up
A mental process of evaluating all of the influencing factors
at a fire scene before committing personnel and equipment to a course of
action. This usually includes hazards, life safety, fire involvement and
plan of attack.
Stick
The aerial of a ladder truck. Aerials vary in
length depending on the needs and finances of a department. Some
are as short as 65 feet, while others reach lengths greater than 100
feet.
Still Alarm
A still alarm is a call requiring only one
company. Examples of a still alarm include a small fire or a medical
call.
Strike the Box
To transmit or strike an alarm over the radio for a full
first alarm assignment.
Supply
Hose
Hose line used to supply water from a hydrant to fire apparatus.
Many departments use large diameter hose (see above) for this
purpose. LDH is sometimes referred to as a water
main above ground and is usually 4-5 inches in diameter. However, some
departments use smaller 3-inch hose to supply water at a
fire. |
[
RETURN TO TOP ] |
|
-
T - |
Tiller
A type of ladder truck with a second cab at the rear of the truck where a
firefighter will steer the rear wheels. Because tiller trucks can steer in
the front and the back, they are able to navigate turns that other ladder
trucks could not. Our neighbors in Little Rock currently have two companies
using tillered apparatus -- Truck Company 1 downtown and Truck Company 7
near University Medical Center.
Trash Line
Same as jump line, although not necessarily carried on the
front bumper.
Truck
Company
A truck company is a combination of a fire truck with
an aerial ladder, an assortment of ground ladders and forced entry
tools and the manpower used to staff it. Trucks can have straight aerial
ladders as short as 65 feet or longer ladders with platforms (buckets) on
the end. In many department's truck companies are responsible for
ventilation and forcible entry duties. Although
Maumelle has a ladder truck, it is only used as a reserve or on an as-needed
basis. A standard truck company would include full-time staffing of an officer,
driver/operator and two firefighters on a ladder truck. |
[
RETURN TO TOP ] |
|
-
V - |
Ventilation
Ventilation is the systematic removal of smoke from a
building. The most common technique used by Maumelle firefighters is called
positive pressure ventilation (PPV). Using PPV, a powerful fan is placed
at the front door of a structure and blows air inside. The air increases
the atmospheric pressure inside the building until it is greater than the
pressure outside the building and forces smoke out. |
[
RETURN TO TOP ] |
|
|
|
|