CPFR Communications Glossary

Question 1

Communications Glossary

1. Area outside the Warm Zone which is safe for personnel not wearing any PPE or an SCBA.

Answer 1

1. Cold Zone

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 2

Communications Glossary

The incident (1.) — are the basic items an IC must consider when evaluating tactical situations.

Answer 2

1. Critical Factors

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 3

Communications Glossary

1. A supervisory level established to divide an incident into geographic areas of operation.

Answer 3

1. Division

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 4

Communications Glossary

1. A very loud warble tone that is generated over the tactical channel is meant to communicate (1.) —. This tone is sounded by request of (2.) —, and is used to communicate a change in (3.) —, to announce an (4.) -(location)-, or to announce that a (5.) -(event)- has been called.

Answer 4

1. Emergency Traffic
2. The Incident Commander (IC)
3. Strategy
4. Exclusionary Zone
5. Mayday

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 5

Communications Glossary

1. Area of an incident scene designated by the Incident Commander to be off-limits to all persons (personnel or civilians) due to a significant safety concern.

Answer 5

1. Exclusionary Zone

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 6

Communications Glossary

When IC1 enters the Hazard Zone in the Offensive Strategy, wearing full PPE, with a portable radio, supervising and assisting their crew with fire attack while commanding the front end of the incident deployment, they can be referred to as a (1.) —.

Answer 6

1. Fast Attacking IC

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 7

Communications Glossary

1. (1.) “—“ should be transmitted when the main body of fire has been extinguished on all seven [7] sides) in an assigned unit’s geographic / operational area.

Answer 7

1. Fire Control

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 8

Communications Glossary

(1.) “—“ should be announced when all geographic / operational areas exposed to the products of combustion report Fire Control, Primary and Secondary All-Clears, and no other resources are required to complete the remaining Tactical Priorities.

Answer 8

1. Fire Under Control

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 9

Communications Glossary

(1.) — are identified by stories above and below ground level.

Answer 9

1. Floors

When using Divisions, the individual floor will take on the same floor number as the Division (floor 2 becomes “Division 2”).

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 10

Communications Glossary

1. A report that follows the IRR and includes the results of the 360 Survey as well as the initial Accountability Location.

Answer 10

1. Follow-Up Report

A Fast Attacking IC will deliver their follow-up report prior to making entry into the Hot Zone.

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 11

Communications Glossary

The IDLH area of an incident may also be referred to as the (1.) — or (2.) —.

Answer 11

1. Hazard Zone
2. Hot Zone

All personnel working in the Hazard Zone must be wearing full PPE while breathing from an SCBA.

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 12

Communications Glossary

1. Represents the Tactical Priorities (based on the chosen strategy) that the IC must accomplish to bring the incident under control.

Answer 12

1. Initial Action Plan (IAP)

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 13

Communications Glossary

1. The person with the overall responsibility of managing an incident scene.

Answer 13

1. Incident Commander (IC)

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 14

Communications Glossary

1. Any condition that poses an immediate or delayed threat to life or that would cause irreversible adverse health effects or that would interfere with an individual’s ability to escape unaided from a permit space.

Answer 14

1. Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH)

OSHA’s definition of IDLH

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 15

Communications Glossary

(1.) “—“ may be announced when an entire incident is deescalated and ready to be demobilized.

Answer 15

1. Incident Under Control

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 16

Communications Glossary

1. The initial IC begins the command, control and communication process with the communication of a(n) (1.) —.

Answer 16

1. Initial Radio Report (IRR)

This report provides dispatch, as well as everyone else responding to the scene, with a standard size-up of the conditions seen from the initial command position.

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 17

Communications Glossary

The term (1.) — indicates that the main body of fire has been controlled in a unit’s assigned geographic work area, but the seven (7) sides of the fire have not yet been validated for any fire extension.

Answer 17

1. Knockdown

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 18

Communications Glossary

(1.) — is automatically activated when the officer of the initial arriving unit clears dispatch to give their Initial Radio Report and assumes Command.

Answer 18

1. Level 1 Staging

All other 1st alarm units (with the exception of BCs) will Level 1 stage (stop) in their direction of travel one (1) block from the scene without having passed their last tactical option.

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 19

Communications Glossary

(1.) — is used for greater alarm assignments and is defined as a centralized staging location adjacent to the incident scene where later arriving resources will assemble prior to being assigned.

Answer 19

1. Level 2 Staging

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 20

Communications Glossary

1. A pumper that is located in one of the primary, forward attack positions on the fire ground and from which equipment, hose and water are deployed directly into or around the Hazard Zone.

Answer 20

1. Manifold Engine

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 21

Communications Glossary

(1.) — must be declared anytime a firefighter cannot safely exit an IDLH Hazard Zone, as well as when any unit operating inside of an IDLH Hazard Zone does not answer their portable radio after three (3) attempts.

Answer 21

1. Mayday

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 22

Communications Glossary

1. A forward staging position located immediately outside the Hot Zone, safely distanced from the tactical entrance in a division with the primary responsibility of functioning as a Rapid Intervention Crew / Team (RIC / RIT).

Answer 22

1. On-Deck

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 23

Communications Glossary

1. Involves a roll call with the confirmation that all personnel assigned to a crew, or multiple crews assigned to one (1) geographic area of the Hazard Zone are accounted for and have an adequate air supply to safely exit the Hazard Zone.

Answer 23

1. Personnel Accountability Report (PAR)

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 24

Communications Glossary

1. Radio traffic to the IC that contains critical information that most likely will require a significant adjustment to the IAP or the incident’s overall strategy.

Answer 24

1. Priority Traffic

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 25

Communications Glossary

(1.) — is evidenced by assigned units only reporting Status Changes, Priority Traffic, and / or Mayday Traffic messages when assigned to working positions.

Answer 25

1. Radio Discipline

Radio discipline exemplifies the “no good news” reporting system.

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 26

Communications Glossary

1. A timely and efficient means of air replacement and re-hydration for companies maintaining their division assignment.

Answer 26

1. Recycling

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 27

Communications Glossary

The Blue Card (1.) — is expressed by the following:
* We will risk our lives a lot, to save savable lives.
* We will risk our lives a little, to save savable property.
* We will NOT risk our lives, at all, for lives or property that are already lost.

Answer 27

1. Risk Management Plan (RMP)

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 28

Communications Glossary

1. Radio traffic to the IC informing them that a Unit is moving from an assigned work location to a different geographic work location or exiting the structure to Recycle or Rehab.

Answer 28

1. Status Change

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 29

Communications Glossary

1. An IC located inside of a stationary Command Post, with the windows rolled-up, wearing a headset while managing a tactical worksheet.

Answer 29

1. Strategic Command Position

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 30

Communications Glossary

1. This model arranges the decision-making process into a standard sequence: First we identify the incident’s Critical Fireground Factors, plug the most significant factors into a Risk Management Plan, develop the incident’s overall Strategy, develop the IAP, and complete the incident’s Tactical Priorities.

Answer 30

1. Strategic Decision Making Model

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 31

Communications Glossary

The IC manages the (1.) — Level by strict Command & Control; deploying resources to specific tasks, locations and objectives; maintaining the whereabouts of all resources in the Hazard Zone; maintaining an accurate Tactical Worksheet, and ensuring that frequent CAN and situational awareness reports are delivered from the key tactical areas of the operation.

Answer 31

1. Strategic

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 32

Communications Glossary

1. The overall operational “mode” of an incident.

Answer 32

1. Strategy

There are only 2 strategies: Offensive – Inside, or Defensive – Outside. The IC determines the incident’s strategy.

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 33

Communications Glossary

1. Assignment to assist in the advancement of working hose to the fire.

Answer 33

1. Support (the Push)

Crews should assist with manipulating hose at “pinch points” and bring tools to assist in checking for extension. This is a tactical assignment that is independent of the fire control assignment.

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 34

Communications Glossary

1. Assignment to assist in the deployment of travel hose (usually dry) from a manifold engine outside a structure.

Answer 34

1. Support the Stretch

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 35

Communications Glossary

1. This level of the incident organization is managed by Division Supervisors.

Answer 35

1. Tactical Level

When the IC assigns companies to an operational area, the Officer in Charge of that area is responsible for managing the companies assigned to the Division and completing the Division’s Tactical Priorities.

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 36

Communications Glossary

1. The following benchmarks represent (1.) —.
   * Fire Control (F/C) – “Under Control”
   * Life Safety – Primary and Secondary “All Clear(s)” (A/C)
   * Loss Control / Property Conservation – “Loss Stopped” (L/S)
   * Customer Stabilization – Short term

Answer 36

1. Tactical Priorities - Offensive

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 37

Communications Glossary

1. The following benchmarks represent (1.) —.
   * Define the Hazard Zone
   * Establish Cut-offs – Forward progress stopped
   * Search exposures - Primary and Secondary “All Clear(s)” (A/C)
   * Protect exposures - “Fire Control” (F/C) - Loss Stopped (L/S)

Answer 37

1. Tactical Priorities - Defensive

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 38

Communications Glossary

1. A standard worksheet or white board that the IC uses to perform the on-scene “bookkeeping” activities required to keep track of all the responders assigned to the incident and their ongoing operational status.

Answer 38

1. Tactical Worksheet

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 39

Communications Glossary

1. This level of the incident organization performs the actual work that solves the incident’s problems. At a structure fire, this work is typically performed in an IDLH environment.

Answer 39

1. Task Level

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 40

Communications Glossary

1. Whenever an IC assigns a Unit inside of a Hazard Zone, they must give the Unit their assignment in the (1.) — format.

Answer 40

1. Task, Location, Objective (TLO)

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 41

Communications Glossary

1. Area just outside of the Hot Zone that may become contaminated or is in a collapse area.

Answer 41

1. Warm Zone

Personnel working in a Warm Zone must be in full PPE with their SCBA face-piece readily available to quickly don.

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024

Question 42

Communications Glossary

(1.) “—“ indicates a situation that will at least require the commitment of all initially responding companies.

Answer 42

1. Working Fire

This report advises the Dispatch Center that the companies will be engaged in tactical activities and will be held at the scene for an extended time period.

CPFR Communications Glossary, 2024