| A | B |
|---|
| Engine | AKA pumper, has a self-contained water pump |
| Engine company | primary role is fire suppression |
| Truck | aka ladder truck, carries ground ladders, may have an aerial ladder |
| Truck company | primary role is search and rescue, ventilation, salvage and overhaul |
| Brush truck | Tank and pump on (usually) four-wheel drive vehicle |
| Brush truck | Usually used for wildland fires |
| Tender | Apparatus used to supply water where other water supply is not accessible |
| Tanker | Provides water and slurry drops - air support |
| Strike team | Group of like apparatus or like-skilled personnel sent as mutual aid |
| Attack | Actual physical firefighting operation |
| Backdraft | Explosion or rapid burning of heated gases from introduction of oxygen to a smoldering fire |
| Move-up/change of quarters | Apparatus assigned and physically moved to stand by in another station |
| Charged line | Hose line is filled with water, ready for use |
| Confinement | Fire is prevented from extending to uninvolved areas or exposures |
| Controlled burn | Burn permitted for purpose of abating hazards or removing growth; also, "backfire" set to remove wildland fuel |
| Drafting | Drawing water from lakes, pools, etc. when hydrants are not available |
| Extension | Spread of fire to areas not previously involved |
| Exposure | Property that may be endangered by fire in another structure or outside fire. |
| Fireground | The operations area at a fire scene, where firefighting is underway |
| Fire showingIn the red | Report from first arriving units to inform incoming units and dispatch that an actual fire is in progress |
| Fully involved | Entire area of a building/vehicle is involved with flame/fire |
| Knock down | Reduce flame and heat so as to prevent extension |
| Laying lines | Positioning hoselines (ex. from engine to fire) |
| Lock box | Secured box with master keys allowing crew access to a building |
| Nothing showing/in the black | No flames/smoke visible to first arriving unit |
| Overhaul | Searching for hot spots or fire hidden from view, and removal of materials that may re-ignite |
| Rekindle (oooh! bad word!) | FD is called back to a fire scene that has re-ignited |
| Salvage | Protecting or removing non-damaged belongings from a fire scene to prevent further fire/water/smoke damage |
| Sectoring | Dividing the fire scene into areas by duty (ex. ventilation, interior) |
| Size-up | Assessment of the fire/disaster scene by first arriving company. Continuous process. |
| S-T-O-P-A-N-D-C | Acronym for size-up components |
| Staging area | Location near the incident where equipment/personnel await assignment |
| Under control | Fire is no longer spreading, but is not yet out. |
| Ventilation | Opening a burning building to allow heated smoke and gases to escape. Cools building for interior attack, helps prevent explosions. |
| Working fire | Fire that requires FF activity by most or all of the personnel assigned to the incident. |
| Attack line | hose used for primary suppression |
| Mutual aid | a request for emergency assistance from one fire department to another |
| AFA | automatic fire alarm |
| SWFA | sprinkler water flow alarm |
| Tapped fire | fire has been extinguished |
