Fire Terminology

Question 1

Size up

Answer 1

Initial assessment of fireground conditions and any structures that may be involved in the incident

Question 2

All clear

Answer 2

Indicates that a primary search of the building has been conducted and no one was found in the building

Question 3

Situation contained

Answer 3

Indicates that the emergency or fire has been brought under control. Another term during firefighting is “loss stopped”

Question 4

Secondary search completed

Answer 4

Indicates that a second search is completed. This is usually done later in the incident when conditions are safer to conduct a search.

Question 5

Command terminated

Answer 5

This denotes the end of a formal command system at an incident because all units are clear of the scene or there is only a single company on the scene.

Question 6

Exposure

Answer 6

Any building or part of a building or property that is exposed to a fire or hazardous material.

Question 7

Division

Answer 7

Term used to designate a person who has control over a geographical rea such as an exposure side or a specific floor of a building

Question 8

Group

Answer 8

Designate a specific part of the incident command system associated with a specific function. Examples of this would be search and rescue, fire attack, or ventilation

Question 9

First due

Answer 9

Indicates the piece of equipment that is expected to be first on the scene.
I.e. Engine 1 is the first at Peerless

Question 10

Working fire

Answer 10

Indicates to all personnel that there is an actual fire and that all personnel will be committed to the incident

Question 11

Full arrest

Answer 11

Patient is in cardiac and respiratory arrest, usually indicates CPR is in progress