aerial ladder
A mechanically-extendable ladder mounted to a fire engine.
Industrial safety
80 entries in this trade.
angel fingers
Tongues of flame that are a sign of impending rollover.
apparatus
A vehicle used for emergency response.
autoextension
The spread of a fire from one floor of a building to another by means of the windows.
backdraft
Sudden, dangerous recombustion that occurs when there is a rapid reintroduction of oxygen to an enclosed space containing a fire.
backstretch
The laying of a supply line from the region of the fire backwards toward the water source.
bailout
The situation where a firefighter uses equipment to escape a structure where fire has proven uncontrollable.
blackline
A line of deliberately burned material created to stop the advance of a larger fire.
boneyard
An area scraped down to the mineral soil, so that smouldering material can be placed there without starting another fire.
Bresnan nozzle
A rotating nozzle with multiple outlets, capable of spraying jets of water in a circular pattern when lowered through the floor above.
brush blade
An attachment to a rake, for tearing brush and roots out of a fireline.
bunker out
To suit up in firefighting gear.
catline
A fireline constructed with the front blade of a bulldozer or similar tracked vehicle.
chemical engine
A large cart-mounted fire extinguisher using caustic chemical-extinguishing chemicals.
closet hook
A firefighter's tool similar to a pike pole.
containment line
A linear area which has been cleared of inflammable material in order to prevent a fire from spreading across it.
crash tender
A water tender designed to put out fires from aircraft crashes.
cross lay
An arrangement of the fire hose on a fire engine for rapid deployment, involving storage of the hose perpendicularly across the fire apparatus, usually above or adjacent to the pump panel, so it can be pulled toward the fire without making a turn.
deluge gun
An aimable high-capacity water jet used in firefighting and fire protection systems.
Denver drill
A training exercise involving the rescue of a person from a confined space through a window.
door opener
Any of various devices designed to make opening a door easier.
drafting
The act or process of drawing water out of a source.
drafting site
A designated location for a firefighter to draw or pump water out of a natural source, such as a lake or river.
drop tank
A portable tank used at the scene of a fire to hold water from the fire engine.
duckbill
A device used to force padlocks.
engine house
A building housing one or more engines.
fill site
A designated location for a firefighter to draw or pump water out of a natural source, such as a lake or river.
filling site
A designated location for a firefighter to draw or pump water out of a natural source, such as a lake or river.
fire alarm
An emergency response to a fire by the fire department with manpower and equipment.
fire brigade
An organization, often part of a local government, whose purpose is preventing and putting out fires.
fire bucket
A bucket holding water or sand, etc., used to extinguish fires.
fire cabinet
a cabinet filled with firefighting equipment
fire company
An organization whose purpose is to extinguish fires.
fire department
An organization, often part of a local government, whose purpose is preventing and putting out fires. May provide other emergency services as well, such as first aid and search and rescue.
fire engine
A vehicle used by firefighters to pump water to fight a fire. Typically, a fire engine carries a supply of water and has the ability to connect to an external water supply.
fire hydrant
A device used by firefighters to obtain water from the main supply, consisting of a barrel, connections for hose and a valve assembly.
fire service
Service in a fire department or other firefighting organization, whether as a chosen career, or as a result of volunteering or a form of prison labor.
fire site
A designated location for a firefighter to draw or pump water out of a natural source, such as a lake or river.
fire truck
A motor truck that serves as firefighting apparatus (a fire appliance).
firebreak
An area cleared of all flammable material to prevent a fire from spreading across it.
firestream
The stream of water or foam used to extinguish a fire.
flash fuel
Any natural forest material, such as grass or pine needles, that ignites easily and burns quickly.
fog out
To ventilate a space by breaking open a window to let smoke out.
goer
A fire incident in progress.
grab
The rescue of a person from a burning structure.
helitorch
An ignition device operated from a helicopter, used to start controlled fires etc.
hose bridge
A device laid over a hose so that vehicles can pass over it without pinching or damaging it.
hose jacket
A device that clamps around a burst or leaking portion of hose.
hot spot
A location which has a higher temperature or amount of radiation than surrounding areas.
hot zone
An area to which access is restricted because it is contaminated with radiation or a chemical or biological biohazard.
jaws of life
Emergency rescue equipment used to open a severely damaged passenger vehicle with a strong mechanical jaw function that forcibly pushes or pulls metal components apart, to quickly and somewhat safely extricate the trapped occupants.
jet siphon
A venturi tube appliance for moving large amounts of water from one reservoir tank to another by pumping a small amount of pressurized water into the jet to create a vacuum.
knock down
To reduce the burning of (a fire), as by cooling it with water or dirt.
LACES
Acronym of lookouts, anchor points, communications, escape routes, safety zones.
LAT
Acronym of large air tanker, a class of waterbomber.
longline
A long cable used to raise or lower loads from a helicopter when landing is not possible.
mop-up
The cleanup of an area by removing burning material, felling dead trees, securing logs from moving, etc.
one-hour fuel
Vegetation with a high surface-to-mass ratio, able to dry out and become flammable within an hour of having been moist.
OS&Y
Initialism of outside stem and yoke valve.
overhaul
The process after the fire appears extinguished in which the firefighters search the structure for signs of hot spots that may cause the structure to reignite.