Glossary Flashcards
Sliding and loss of control caused by applying a vehicle gas pedal too quickly.
Acceleration Skids
Preservice tests on fire apparatus or equipment, performed at the factory or after delivery, to assure the purchaser that the apparatus or equipment meets bid specifications.
Acceptance Testing
Sharpor severe; having a rapid onset and short duration.
Acute
Introduction of air into a foam solution to create bubbles that result in finished foam.
Aeration
Fire fighting vehicle equipped with a hydraulically operated ladder, elevating platform, or other similar device for the purpose of placing personnel and or water streams in elevated positions.
Aerial Apparatus
General term used to describe the hydraulically operated ladder or elevating platform attached to a specially designed fire apparatus.
Aerial Device
Power operated ladder, usually employing hydraulics, that is mounted on a special truck.
Aerial Ladder
Assembly of bracing bars or rods in triangular shapes that form a rigid framework for the aerial device.
Aerial Ladder Truss
Braking system that uses compressed air to hold off a spring brake ( parking brake) and applies air pressure to a service brake for vehicle stopping.
Air-Actuated Braking Systems
Series of tests used to ensure the serviceablilty of an air braking system. Tests include air loss, air compressor buildup, air warning, and emergency parking brake activation.
Air Brake Test
Process of dropping water, short-term fire retardant, or long term fire retardant from an air tanker or helicopter onto a wildland fire.
Air Drop
Aqueous film forming foam that isdesigned for use with polar solvent fuels.
Alcohol-Resistant Aqueous Film Forming Foam Concentrate (AR-AFFF)
A coordinated approach to a wide variety of incidents; all responders use a similar, coordinated approach with a common set of authorities, protections, and resources.
All-Hazard Concept
Geographic position of a location or object in relation to sea level. The location may be either above, below, or at sea level.
Altitude
Guage that indicates both the amount of electrical current being drawn from and provided to the vehicles battery.
Ammeter
Point from which a fire line is begun; usually a natural or man-made barrier that prevents fire spread and the possi ilit of the crew being “flanked” while constructing the fire line.
Anchor Point
An electronic system that monitors wheel spin. When braking and a wheel are sensed to begin locking up, the brake on that wheel is temporarily released to prevent skidding.
Anti-Lock Braking Systems
Categorization and description of apparatus commonly exchanged in disasters via mutual aid by capacity and/or capability.
Apparatus Typing
Minimum amount of foam soloution that must be applied to an unignited fire, spill, or spill fire to eithercontrol bapor emission or extinguish the fire; measured per minute per square foot of area to be covered.
Application Rate
Synthetic foam concentrate that, when combined with water, can form a complete vapor barrier over fuel spills and fires and is a highly effective extinguishing and blanketing agent on hydrocarbon fuels. Also known as _____.
Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF)
AKA: Light Water
Apparatus-mounted foam proportioner in which a small quantity of water is diverted from the apparatus pump through an inine proportioner; there it picks up the foam concentrate and carries it to the intake side of the pump. It is most common apparatus-mounted foam proportioner in service.
Around the Pump Proportioner
Aerial device that consists of two or more booms that are attached with hinges and operte in a folding manner. A passenger-carrying platform is attached to teh working end of the device.
Articulating Aerial Platform
term used in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards to describe incidents that have a likelihood of causing critical incident stress.
Atypicallly Stressful Event
Tool for boring (drilling) holes in floors and other soild barriers including ice.
Auger
Cleaning a fire pump or piping by flowing water through it in the opposite direction of normal flow.
Back Flushing
Pressure loss or gain created by changes in elevation between the nozzle and pump.
Back Pressure
Intermediate partial bulkhead that reduces the surge effect in a partially loaded liquid tank.
Baffle
Location at which the primary Incident Management Logistics functions are coordinated and administered; the Incident Command Post may be colocated with the base. there is only one ___ per incident.
Base
****Fire department organizational subdivision consisting of several fire service companies oin a designated geographic area. A ___ is usually the first organizational level above individual companies or stations.
Battalion
Production of foam solution by adding an appropriate amount of foam concentrate to a water tank before application; the resulting solution must be used or discarded following the incident.
Batch Mixing
Nontelescoping section of pipe, usually 3 or 3.5 inches in diameter attached to teh underside fo teh bed section of the aerial ladder for the purpose of deploying an elevated master stream.
Bed Ladder Pipe
Capable of being broken down into innocuous roducts by teh actions of living things, such as microorganisms.
Biodegradable
Process of releasing a liquid or gas under pressure, such as releasing air from the regulator or cylinder of a self-contained brteathing apparatus; or allowing air to escape from a hoseline before or during operations.
Bleed
Attack a fire aggressively from the exterior with a large diameter 2.5 or larger fire stream
Blitz attack
***
Body Substance Isolation
Two piece aerial apparatus stablization device consisting of an extension arm that extends directly out from the vehicle and a lifting jack that extends from the end of the extension arm to the ground. Also known as ___ or __
Box stabilizer, H-Jack, or H-Stabilizers
Loss of braking function that occurs due to excessive use of the brakes.
Brake Fade
Distance the vehicle travels from the time the brakes are applied until it comes to a complete stop.
Braking Distance
Ability of foam blanket to resist direct flame impingement such as in a partially extinguished petroleum fire.
Burnback Resistance
Cancer-producing substance
Carcinogen
Condition in which vacuum pockets form, due to localized regions of low pressure at the vanes in the impeller of a centrigugal pump causing vibrations, loss of efficiency, and possibly damage to the impeller.
Cavitation
Pump with one or more impellers that rotate and utilize centrifugal force to move the water. Most modern fire pumps are of this type.
Centrifugal Pump
Order of rank and authority in the fire and emergecy services
Chain of Command
Applying grease and other lubricants to specific parts of a chassis to reduce wear, noise, and binding
Chassis Lubrication
Automatic valve that permits liquid flow in only one direction.
Check Valve
Long-term and reoccurring
Chronic
***
COPD
Inspection method in which the driver or inspector starts at one point of the apparatus and continues in either a clockwise direction inspecting the entire apparatus.
Circle or Walk-Around Method
Water storage receptacle that usually underground and may be supplied by a well or raineater runoff.
Cistern
Hinged valve that permits the flow of water in one direction only
Clapper Valves
Foam specially designed for use on Class A combustibles. Class A foams, hydrocarbon-based surfactants are essentially wetting agents tht reducethe surface tension of water and allow it to soak into combustible materials more easily than plain water. Class S foams are becoming increasingly popular for use in wildland and structural fire fighting.
Class A Foam Concentrate
Foam fire suppression agent designed for use on ignited or unignited Class B flammable or combustible liquids.
Class B Foam Concentrate
Safe area outside of the warm zone where equipmet and personnel are not expected to become contaminated and special protective clothing is not required; the Incident Command Post and other support functions are typicaly locatede in this zone.
Cold Zone
Area beneath a wall in which the wall is likely to land if it loses structural integrity.
Collapse Zone
A drivers license that is issued to individuals who demonstrate competence inspecting and driving vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Rating of 26,001 pounds or more.
Commercial Drivers’ License (CDL)
Basic fire fighting organizational unit consisting of firefighters and apparatus; headed by a company officer.
Company
Generic term used to describe a high-energy foam-generation system consisting of a water pump, a foam proportioning system, and an air compressor that injects air into the foam solution before it enters a hoseline.
Compressed Air Foam Systems (CAFS)
the shared assumptions, beliefs, and values of a group or organization.
Culture
Operating a hydraulic pump without allowing flow through the system, which generates tremendous heat and pressure and can damage components.
Deadheading
Chemical change in which a substance breaks down into two or more simpler substances. Result of xygen acting on a material that result in a change in the material’s composition; oxidation occurs slowly, sometimes resulting in the rusting of metals.
decomposition
Exterior fire attack that is limited to controlling the spread of a fire, with an emphasis on exposure protection.
Defensive Attack
Height of column of water may be lifted n sufficient quantity to provide a reliable fire flow. Lift may be raised through a hard suction hose to a pump, taking into consideration the atmospheric pressure and friction loss within the hard suction hose; _____ is usually considered to be 14.7 feet.
Dependable Lift
Device designed to remove diesel particulate matter or soot from the exhaust gas of a diesel engine.
Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)
Part of an overall water supply system that receives the water from the pumping station and delivers it throughout the area to be served.
Distribution Systems
Process of acquiring water from a static source and trtansferring it into a pump that is above the source’s level; atmospheric pressure on the water surface forces the water into the pump where a partial vacuum was created.
Drafting
Fire hydrant that has its operating valve at the water main rather than in the barrel of teh hydrant. When operating properly, there is no water in the barrel of the hydrant when it is not in use. These hydrants are used in areas where freezing may occur.
Dry-Barrel Hydrant
Permanetly installed pipe that has pumper suction connections installed at static water sources to speed drafting operations.
Dry Hydrant
Operation where a strong hydrant is used to supply two pumpers by connecting the pumpers intake to intake. The second pumper receives the excess water not being pumped by the first pumper, which is directly connected to teh water supply source.
Dual Pumping
Driver/Operators drive with ___ for the safety of others using the highways. State vehicle codes provide and give special privileges to teh operatrs of emergency vehicles; however, this does not relieve the opeator from the duty and responsibility to drive with ___ for the safety of others.
Due Regard
Secured hoseline that is used to handle excess water during a relay operation.
Dump line
Locatiuon approved for water shuttle apparatus to discharge their water for other apparatus to draw during incident operations.
Dump Site
Loads that involve motion. They include the forces arising from wind, moving vehicles, earthquiakes, vibration, or falling objects, as well as teh addition of a moving load force to an aerial device or structure. Also Known as ___.
Dynamic Load
AKA - Shock Loading
Process used to mix foam concentrate with water in a nozzle or proportioner; concentrate is drawn into the water stream by the Venturi method.
Eduction
Portable proportioning device that injects a liquid, such as foam concentrate, into the water flowing through a hoseline or pipe
Eductor
Venturi device that uses water pressure to draw foam concentrate into a water stream for mixing; also enables a pump to draw water from an auxillary source.
Eductor
Work platform attached to the end of an articulating or telescoping aerial device.
Elevating Platform
Height of a point above sea level or some other reference point
Elevation
Gain or loss of pressure in a hoseline due to a change in elevation. Also known as ____
Elevation Pressure
or
Elevation Loss
Any device that uses the engine and transmission to impede the forward motion of the motor vehicle by compression of the engine
Engine Compression Brake
Location at which tankers/tenders will be loaded during a water shuttle operation
Fill Site
Foam concentrate that combines teh qualities of fluoroprotein foam with those of aqueous film forming foam.
Film Forming Fluoroprotein Foam (FFFP)
Vessel or watercraft designed and constructed for the purpose of fighting fires; provides a specified level of pumping capacity and personnel for the extinguishment of fires in teh marine envirnoment. also known as ___
Fireboat
AKA marine Unit
Point at which the fire department can connect into a sprinkler or standpipe system. This connection consist of a clappered siamese with two or more 2.5 inch intakes or one large diameter 4 inch or larger intake.
Fire Department Connection (FDC)
Procedure used to determine the rate of water flow available for fire fighting at various points within the distribution system
Fire Flow Testing
Mechanical device installed in a discharge line that senses the amount of water flowing and provides a readout in units of gallons per minute
Flowmeter
Extendable section of ground extension or aerial ladder
Fly Section
Extinguishing agent formed by mixing a foam concentrate with water and aerating the solution for expansion; for se on Class A and Class B fires. Foam may be protein, fluoroprotein, film forming fluoroprotein, synthetic, aqueous film forming, high expansion, alcohol type, or alcohol resistant type
Foam
Raw chemical compound solution that is mixed with water and air to produce finished foam; may be protein, synthetic, aqueous film forming, high expansion, or alcohol types
Foam Concentrate
Raw foam liquid as it rests in its storage container before the introduction of water and air
Foam Concentrate
Result of adding air to a foam solution consisting of water and foam concentrate. Expansion creates the foam bubbles that result in finished foam or foam blanket.
Foam Expansion
Device that injects the correct amount of foam concentrate into the water stream to make the foam solution.
Foam Proportioner
The result of mixing the appropriate amount of foam concentrate with water; foam solution exists between the proportioner and the nozzle or aerating device that adds air to create finished foam.
Foam Solution
The mixture of foam concentrate and water before the intoduction of air
Foam Solution
Water stream of finely divided particles used for fire control
Fog Stream
Simple measure of weight, usually expressed in pounds
Force
Device that permits a pumper to boost the pressure in a supply line connected to a hydrant without interrupting the water flow
Four-Way Hydrant Valve
Amount of travel the clutch has before it begins to disengage the engine from the transmission
Free Play
Loss of pressure created by teh turbulence of water moving afainst the interior walls of the hose or pipe
Friction Loss
Fire pump mounted in front of the radiator of a vehicle and powered off the crankshaft
Font-Mount Pump
Stabilizing device that extends at an angle down and away from the chassis of an aerial fire apparatus. Also known as __, __, or ___
Fulcrum-Type Stabilizer
A-Frame
Scissor
X-Style Stabilizer
An inspection where a certain system or component of an apparatus is operated to ensure that it is functioning properly
Functional Check
Superabsorbent liquid polymers capable of absorbing hundreds of times their own weight in water. These gels can be used as fire suppressants and fire retardants. Gels function by entrapping water in their structure rather than air, as is the case with fire fighting foams. Also known as ___
Gelling Agents
AKA - Durable Agents
Theoretical safety zone that surrounds the center of gravity on an aerial apparatus.
Gravity Circle
Water supply system that utilizes lateral feeders for improved distribution
Grid System
Maximum amount of weight that an axle system can safely carry
Gross Axle Weight Rating
Willful and wanton disregard
Gross Negligence
Device designed to protect against electrical shock; when grounding occurs, the device opens a circuit to shut off the flow of electricity. also known as ____
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)
AKA Fround Fault indicator (GFI) receptiacle
Electrical field that radiates outward from where the current enters the ground; its intensity dissipates rapidly as distance increases from the point of entry
Fround Gradient
Condition, substance, or device that can directly cause injury or loss; the source of a risk
Hazard
System of barriers surrounding designated areas at emergency scenes, intended to limit the nunmber of persons exposed to a hazard and to facilitate its mitigation. A major incident has three zones; Restricted (Hot) Zone, Limited Access (Warm) Zone, and Support (Cold) Zone
Hazard-Control Zones
Alternate term for pressure, especially pressure due to elevation. For every 1 - foot increase in elevation, 0.434 psi is gained.
Head
or
Head Pressure
Device that limits noise-induced hearing loss when firefighters are exposed to extremely loud environments, such as apparatus engine noise, audible warning devices, and the use of power tools and equipment
Hearing Protection
Hydraulic cylinders used to lift the aerial device from its bed to a working position. AKA ____ or ___
Hoisting Cylinder
AKA Elevation Cylinder or Lift Cylinder
Potentially hazardous area immediately surrounding the incident site; requires appropriate protective clothing and equipment and other safety precautions for entry. Typically limited to technician-level personnel
Hot Zone
Mechanically applied rivet used in the construction of some aerial devices; ___ bolts can only be removed by drilling
Huck Bolt
Specially designed tool used to open or close a hydrant and to remove hydrant caps.
Hydrant Wrench
Braking system that uses a fluid in a closed system to pressurize wheel cylinders when acivated
Hydraulic Braking Systems
Petroleum-based organic compound that contains only hydrogen and carbon
Hydrocarbon fuel
To cause or undergo a chemical process of decomposition involving the splitting of a bond and the addition of the element of water
Hydrolyze
Testing method that uses water under pressure to check the integrity of pressure vessels
Hydrostatic test
Slowly extending and retracting the aerial device to remove accumulated ice
Ice Shrugging
Description of any atmosphere that poses an immediate hazard to life or produces immediate irreversible, debilitating effects on health.
Immediately Dangeroius to Life and Health
(IDLH)
Vaned, circulating member of the centrigugal pump that transmits motion to the water
Impeller
Intake orifice at teh center of a centrifugal pump impellar
Impeller Eye
Person in charge of the Incident Command System and responsible for the management of all incident operations during an emergency
Incident Commander (IC)
System described in NFPA 1561 Standard on Emergency Services Incident Management System, that defines the roles, responsibilities, and standard operating procedures used to manage emergency operations. Such systemsw may also be referred to as the Incident Command Systems (ICS)
Incident Management System
Fire apparatus whose primary purpose is to initiate a fire attack on structural and wildland fires and support associated fire department actions. Also known as ____ or ___
Initial Attack Fire Apparatus
AKA Midi-Pumper or Mini-Pumper
Method of proportioning foam that uses an external pump or head pressure to force foam concentrate into the fire strewam at the correct ratio for the flow desired
Injection
Eductor that is placed along the length of a hoseline
In-Line Eductor
Type of foam delivery device that is located in the water supply line near the nozzle. The foam concentrate is drawn into the water line using the venturi method.
In-Line Proportioner
Private national insurance organization tht evaluates and rates fire defense for all communities through the fire-suppression rating schedule. Also serves as an advisory organization to other property-liability insurance companies. Also known as ___
Insurance Services Office (ISO)
AKA Rating Bureau
Hose used to connect a fire department pumper or a portable pump to a nearby water source; may be soft sleeve or hard suction hose
Intake Hose
Safety device that prevents a component from functioning when another component is functioning
Interlock
Step-up transformer that converts a vehicle’s 12- or 24-volt DC current into 110- or 220-volt AC current
Inverter
Condition of truck tractor/semitrailer combination when their relative positions to each other form an angle of 90 degrees or less about the trailer kingpin, such as turning the tractor portion of a tractor-tiller aerial apparatus at an angle from the trailer to increase stability when the aerial device is being used
Jackknifing
Type of foam eductor that is used to supply self-educting master stream nozzles; may be located at distance up to 3,000 feet from the nozzle
Jet Ratio Controller (JRC)
Four-inch metal plate that runs around the bottom edge of an elevating platform to prevent a firefighter’s foot from slipping off the edge of the platform. Also known as ___
Kickplate
AKA Footplate
Joint between two sections of boom in an articulating aerial device.
Knuckle
Relay-supply hose of 3.5 to 6 inches in diameter; used to move large volumes of water quickly with a minimum number of pumpers and personnel
Large Diameter Hose (LDH)
Used on all multiple-company emergency responses. The first-arriving vehicles of each type proceed directly to the scene, and the others stand by a block or two from the scene and await orders. Units usually stage at the last intersection on their route of travel before reaching the reported incident location
Level 1 Staging
Used on Large-scale incidents where a larger number of fire and emergency services companies are responding; these companies are sent to a specified remote location to await assignment
Level II Staging
Theoretical, scientific height that a column of water may be lifted by atmospheric pressure in a true vacuum, At sea level, this height is 33.8 feet. The height will decrease as elevation increases.
Lift
Personnel who provide emergency services to external customers (the public)
Line Personnel
Graphical or tabular desciption of the load that can be distributed on an aerial device based on factors such as extension, elevation, stabilizer setup, wind, waterflow, and ice-load.
Load Chart
Electrical monitoring system that will shed electrical load in a predetermined order if the chassis voltage begins to drop below a predetermined level
Load Management System
Device that “watches” an electrical system for added loads that may threaten to overload the system
Load Monitor
Device in an electrical system that turns on lights at specified intervals so that the start-up load for all the devices does not occur at the same time
Load Sequencer
Whenan overload condition occurs, the load monitor shuts down less important electrical equipment to prevent the overload
Load Shedding
Skid usually caused by braking too hard at a high rate of speed and locking the wheels. The vehicle will skid no matter which way the steering wheel is turned
Locked Wheel Skid
Keeping equipment or apparatus in a state of usefulness or readiness
Maintenance
Hole through which a person may go to gain access to an underground or encloed structure
Manhole
Opening usually equiped with a removable, lockable cover, that is large enough to admit a person into a tank trailer or dry bulk trailer. Also known as ___
Manhole
AKA Manway
Component of the power train that receives torque from the engine and converts it to rotation to the wheels. A clutch is used to disengage the transmission from the engine to allow the appartatus to start, stop, or change gears to maximize engine performance.
Manual Shift Transmission
Maximum height to which any amount of water may be raised through a hard suction hose to a pump; determined by the ability of the pump to create a vacuum
Maximum Lift
High-expansion foam generator that uses a fan to inject the air into the foam solution as it passes through the unit
Mechanical Blower
Foam produced by a physical agitation of a mixture of foam concentrate, water, and air
Mechanical Foam
Apparatus sized between a mini-pumper and a full-sized fire department pumper, usually with a gross vehicle weight of 12,000 pounds or greater. THe ___ has a fire pump with a rated capacity generally not greater than 1,000 gpm
Midi-pumper
Specifications developed by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) for the purchase of materials and equipment
Military Specifications (Mil-Specs)
Small fire apparatus mounted on a pickup-truck sized chassis usually with a pump having a rated capacity less than 500 gpm. Its primary advantage is speed and mobility, which enables it to respond to fires more rapidly than larger apparatus.
Mini-Pumper
Materials that are capable of being mixed in all proportions
Miscible
To cause to become less harsh or hostile; to make less severe, intense or painful; to alleviate
Mitigate
Overhaul of a fire or hazardous material scene
Mop-up
In wiland fire fighting, the act of making a fire safe after it is controlled by extinguishing or removing burning material along or near the control line, falling dead trees, and trenching logs to prevent rollong
Mop-up
U.S. mandated Incident Management System that defines the roles, responsibilities, and standard operating procedures used to manage emergency operations; creates a Unified Incident Response Structure for federal, state, and local governments
National incident Management System - Incident Command System (NIMS-ICS)
Breach of duty in which a person or organization fails to perform at the standard required by law or that would be expected by a reasonable person under similar circumstances
Negligence
Sctual amount of pressure being produced by the pump; diffference between the intake pressure and the discharge pressure. Also known as ___ or ___
Net Pump Discharge Pressure
AKA - Engine Pressure or Net Pressure
Method of testing metal objects that does not subject them to stress related damage.
nondestructive Testing
Water that has not been examined, properly treated, or approved by approriate authorities as being safe for consumption
nonpotable water
Counterforce directed against a person holding a nozzle or a device holding a nozzle by the velocity of water being discharged
Nozzle reaction
Very large water tanker (generally 4,000 gallons or larger) that is stationed at teh fire scene and serves as a portable reservoir rather than as a shuttle tanker.
also known as ___
Nurse Tanker
AKA Nurse Tender
End of a charged hoseline that is flowing water without a nozzle or valve to control the flow
open butt
Inspecting an apparatus and equipment on teh apparatus to ensure that all equipment on teh apparatus to ensure that all equipment is in place, clean, and ready for service
Operational Readiness Inspection
a type of control valve for a sprinkler system in which the position of the center screw indicates whether the valve is open or closed
Outside Screw and Yoke (OS&Y)
Operation of equipment or a conductor in excess of its rated ampacity; continuous overload may result in overheating thaat damages the equipment
Overload
Process of injecting or supplying the diesel engine with more fuel than can be burned
Overthrottling
Vertical extension of an exterior of an exterior wall, and sometimes an interior fire wall, above the roofline of a building
Parapet wall
Written list of expected capabilities for new apparatus. The list is produced by the purchaser and presented to the manufacturer as a guide for what is expected.
Performance Requirements
Electronic lack of motion sensor that sounds a loud alarm when a firefighter becomes motionless; can also be manually activated
personal alert safety System (PASS)
General term for the equipment worn by fire and emergency services responders; includes helmetsm coats,m trousers, boots, eye protection hearing protection ECT…
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Solid or flexible tube used to transfer foam concentrate from a storage container to the in-line eductor or proportioner
Pickup Tube
Mechanical means to secure the master stream monitor to the ladder; anchoring mechanisms may include pins, levers, or clamps
Pin
Positive displacement pump using one or more reciprocating pistons to force water from teh pump chambers
Piston Pumps
Liquid having a molecule in which the positive aND NEGATIVE CHARGES ARE PERMANENTLY SEPARATED, resulting in their ability to ionize in solution and create electrical conductivity.
Polar Solvents
Organizational principle that is developed and adopted as a basis for decision-making
Policy
Collapsible storage tank used during a relay or shuttle operation to hold water from water tanks or hydrants; this water can then be used to supply attack appartatus. also known as ___, ___, ___, or ___.
Portable Tank
AKA Catch Basin
fold a tank
porta tank
portable basin
Self priming pump that utilizes a piston or interlocking rotors to move a given amount of fluid through the pump chamber with each stroke of the piston or rotationof the rotors, Used for hydraulic pumps on aerial devices’ hydraulic systems and for priming pumps on centrifuugal fire pumps
Positive Displacement Pumps
Type of valve used to control underground water mains that probides a visual means for indicating “open” or “shut” positions; found on the supply main of installed fire protection systems. The operating stem of the valve extends aboveground through a “post,” and a visual means is provided at the tip of the post for indicating “open” or “shut”
Post Indicator Valve (PIV)
Specific inspection to an area of a chassis or apparatus to ensure that the unit is operating properly in accordance with the manufacturer’s initial design
Post-Maintenance / Repair Inspection
Overview and critique of an incident by members of all responding agencies, including dispatchers. Typically takes place within two weeks of the incident. In the training environment it may be used to evaluate student and instructor performance during a training evolution
Postincident Analysis
Disorder caused when persons have been exposed to a traumatic event in which they have experienced witnessed, or been confronted with an event or events that involve actual death, threatened death, serious injury, or the threat of physical injury to self or others
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Mechanism that allows a vehicle engine to power wquipment such as a pump, winch, or portable tool, it is tpically attached to the transmission
Power Take Off System (PTO)
Act of preparing to manage an incident at a particular location or a partucular type of incident before an incident occurs
Preincident Planning
Mixing premeasured portions of water and foam concentrate in a container.
Premixing
Force per unit area exerted by a liquid or gas measured in pounds per square inch (psi) or kilopascals (kPa)
Pressure
Effect of altering the atmospheric pressure within a confined space by mechanical means. When air is exhausted from within the space, a low pressure environment is created and replacement air will be drawn in; when air is blown into the space, a high pressure environment is created and air within will move to the outside
Pressure Differential
Pressure control device that controls engine speed, eliminating hazardous conditions that result from excessive pressures
Pressure Governor
Visual inspection of an apparatus to ensure the major components of the chassis are present and in proper working condition
Pretrip Road Worthiness Inspection
Any device, usually a positive-displacement pump, used to exhaust the air from inside a centrifugal pump and the attached hard suction this creates a partial vacuum, allowing atmospheric pressure to force water from a static source through the suction hose into the centrifugal pump
Priming device
Outline of the steps that must be performed in order to properly follow an organizational policy. Procedures help an organization to ensure that it consistently approaches a task in teh correct way, in order to accomplish a specific objective
Procedure
Mixing of water with an appropriate amount of foam concentrate in order to form a foam solution
Proportioning
Coat worn during fire fighting, rescue, and extrication operations
protective Coat
Protective clothing designed to protect the hands
Protective Gloves
Hood designed to protect the fire fighter’s ears, neck, and face from heat and debris; typically made of Nomex, Kevlar, or PBI
Protective Hood
Trousers worn to protect the lower torso and legs during emergency operations
Protective Trousers
Foam concentrate that consists of a protein hydrolysate plus additives to prevent the concentrate from freezing, prevents corrosion of equipment and containers, prevents bacterial decomposition of the concentrate during storage, and controls viscosity.
Protein Foam Concentrate
Activities required for rescue, Fire suppression, and property conservation at fires that produce high radiant, conductive, or convective heat; includes aircraft, hazardous materials transport, and storage tank fires.
Proximity Fire Fighting
Ability of an apparatus to pump water while the vehicle is in motion
Pump and Roll
Charts carried on a fire apparatus to aid the pump operator in the determining the proper pump discharge pressure when supplying hoselines
Pump Charts
Actual pressure of the water as it leaves the pump and enters the hoseline; total amount of pressure being discharged by a pump. In mathematical terms, it is the pump intake pressure plus the net pump discharge pressure, Measured in pounds per square inch.
Pump Dishcharge Pressure (PDP)
Fire hydrant oulet that is 4 inches in diameter or larger
Pumper Outlet Nozzle
Mobile water supply apparatus equipped with a fire pump. In some jurisdictions, this term is used to differentiate a fire pump equipped mobile water supply apparatus whose main purpose is to attack the fire
Pumper / Tanker
Apparatus that serves as an engine and as a ladder truck; equipped with a fire pump, water tank, ground ladders, hose bed, and aerial device
Quint
Distance a vehicle travels while a driver transfers a foot from the accelerator to the brake pedal after perceiving the need for stopping
reaction Distance
Act of proceeding to do something with a conscious awareness of danger, while ignoring any potential consequences of so doing, Reckless disregard, while not necessarily suggesting an intent to cause harm, is a harsher condition than ordinary negligence
Reckless Disregard
Device used to measure the amount of foam concentrate in the solution; operates on teh principle of measuring the velocit of light that travels through the foam solution
Refractometer
Allowing firefighters or rescuers to rest, rehyudrate, and recover during an incident; also refers to a station at an incident where personnel can rest, rehydrate, and recover
Rehabilitation
To shuttle water between a source and an emergency scene using mobile water supply apparatus
Relay
Using two or more pumpers to move water ober a long distance by operating them in series; water discharged from one pumper flows through hoses to the inlet of the next pumper, and so on
relay operations
To restore or put together something that has become inoperable or out of place
Repair
Specially designed apparatus that combines the functions of both a rescue vehicle and a fire department pumper
Rescue Pumper
Pressure at the test hydrant while water is flowing; represents the pressure remaining in the water supply system while the test water is flowing and is the part of the total pressure that is not used to obercome friction or gravity while forcing water through fire hose, pipe, fittings, and adapters
Residual Pressure
Geograpical area to whch a particular apparatus is assigned to be first diw on a fire or other emergency incident
Response District
Surfaces such as tose used on road signs, emergency vehicle markings, protectice clothing, or safety vest which are designed to reflect light along multiple planes at once, giving the surface the appearance of illumination
Retroreflective trim
Likelihood of suffering harm from a hazard; exposure to a hazard. The potential for failure or loss
Risk
Written plan that identifies and analyzes the exposure to hazards, selects appropriate risk management techniques to handle exposures, implements those techniques, and monitors the results
Risk-Management plan
Preservice apparatus maneuverability test designed to determine the road worthiness of a new vehicle
Road Test
Method of foam application in which the foam stream is directed at the ground at the front edge of the unignited or ignited liquid fuel spill; foam then spreads across the surface of the liquid. also known as ___
Roll on Application Method
AKA Bounce
Type of positive displacement pump commonly used in hydraulic systems. A rotor with attached vanes is mounted off-center inside the pump housing; pressure is imparted on the water as the space between the rotor and the pump housing wall decreases
Rotary Vane Pumps
Form provided by the manufacturer and blender of chemicals that contains information about chemical composition, physical and chemical properties, health and safety hazards, emergency response procedures, and waste disposal procedures of a specified material Formerly known as ____
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
AKA Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
Three way valve on a fire department aerial apparatus that directs oil to either stabilizer control valves or the aerial device control valves, Also known as Diverter Valve
Selector Valve
Large capacity nozzle with built in foam eductor
Self educting master Stream Foam Nozzle
Handline Nozzle that has the foam eductor built into it
Self educting nozzle
Loads that involve motion; includes the forces arising from wind, moving vehicles, earthquiakes, vibration, falling objects, or the addition of a moving lad force to an aerial device or structure, Also known as _____
Shock loading
aka dynamic load
Setting the stabilizers on one side of an apparatus shorter than the stabilizers on teh other side; usually done when access for full stabilization is restricted
Short-Jacking
Hose appliance that has two or more female inlets and a single male outlet. It is equipped with hinged gates (clapper valves) that prevent water from being discharged through an open inlet
Siamese Appliance
Perception of one’s surrounding environment and the ability to anticipate future events.
Situational Awareness
Ongoing evaluation of influential factors at the scene of an incident
size-up
Uncontrolled slide across a surface in a wheeled vehicle
Skid
Devices used in an air brake system that connect between the activation pads and the brake pads that compensate for brake pad wear
slack adjusters
Hose stream that stayus together as a solid mass, as opposed to a fog or spray stream; a solid stream is produced by a smooth bore nozzle and should not be confused with a straight stream
Solid fire stream
Maximum number of subordinates that one individual can effectibely supervise; ranges from three to seven individuals or functions; with five being established as optimum
Span of Control
Positioning the apparatus in a location that provides the utmost effciency for operating on the fireground
Spotting
Positioning a ladder to reach an object or person
Spotting
Device that transfers the center of gravity of an apparatus and prevents it from tipping as the aerial device, hydraulic lifting boom, gin pole, or A-frame is extended away from the centerline of the chassis. Also known as __ or __
Stabilizer
AKA outrigger or Stabilizing Jack
Unattached flat metal plate that is larger in area than the stabilizer foot; placed on the fround beneath the intended resting point of the stabilizer foot, in order to provide better weight distribution. also known as ___ or __
Stabilizer pad
AKA jack pad or jack plate
Flat metal plate attached to the bottom of the aerial apparatus stabilizer to provide firm footing on the stabilizing surface, Also known as ___ or __
Stabilizer Shoe
AKA Stabilizer Boot or Stabilizer Foot
Personnel who provide administrative and logistical support to line units
Staff Personnel
Standardized process or procedure by which available resources responding to a fire or other emergency incident are held in reserve at a location away from the incident while awaiting assignment
Staging
Company officer of teh first arriving company at the staging who takes command of the area and is responsible for communicating available resources and resource needs to the operations section chief
Staging Area Manager
Formal methods or rules to guide the performance of routine functions or emergency operations. Procedures are typically written in a handbook, so that all firefighters can consult and become familiar with them
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
Supply of water at rest that does not provide a pressure head for fire suppression but ma be employed as a suction source for fire pumps
Static water supply
Large diameter outlet usually 4.5 inches at a hydrant or at the base of an elevated water storage container
Steamer Connection
In a steering ststem the amount of travel between turning the wheel and the steering system moves
Steering Wheel Play
Wire or plaastic basket-type litter suitable for transporting patients from locations where a standard litter would not be easily secured, such as a pile of rubble, a structural collapse, or the upper floor of a building; may be used with a harness for lifting
Stokes Basket
Activities required for rescue, fire suppression, and property conservation in structures, vehicles, vessels, and similar types of properties
Structural Fire Fighting
General term for the equipment worn by fire and emergency services responders;
Structural Firefighters Protective Clothing
Chemical that lowers the surface tension of a liquid; allows water to spread more rapidly over the surface of class S fuels and penetrate organic fuels
surfactant
Instrument that indicates the rotational speed of a shaft in revolutions per minute (rpm); usually indicates engine speed
Tachometer
Short relay operation in which the pumper taking water from the supply source pumps into the intake of the second pumper; the second pumper then boosts the pressure of the water even higher, This method is used when pressures higher than the capability of a single pump are required
Tandem Pumping
Elevating platform equipped with piping systems and nozzles for elevated master stream operations. telescoping aerial devices are not meant to be climbed and are wquipped with a small ladder that is to be used only for escape from the platform in emergency situations
Telescoping Aerial Platform
Term Used within the incident command system for a mobile piece of apparatus that has the primary function of supporting another operation;
Tender
Theoretical, scientific height that a column of water may be lifted by atmospheric pressure in a true vacuum; at sea level, this height is 33.8 feet the height willdecrease as elevation increases
Theoretical Lift
Component used to push on the internal clutch fingers connected to the clutch pedal and when activated, disengages the clutch from the engine
Throw out bearing
Trailer equipped with steerable rear wheels
Tillered Trailer
Driver Operator of the trailer section of a tractor tiller aerial ladder apparatus. Also known as ___
Tiller Operator
AKA Tillerman
Truck that uses a cab that lowers over the power train
Tilt Cab
Twisting action or an applied force resulting in a rotational twist
Torsional Stress
Force that trends to create a rotational or twisting motion
Torque
Measurement of engine shaft output
Torque
Force that produces or tends to produce a twisting or rotational action
Torque
Sum of the driver reaction distance and the vehicle braking distance
Total Stopping Distance
Operational zone established on or near a roadwa for the rerouting of traffic and protection of civilians and responders; may include a hot warm and cold zone depending on the incident
Traffic Control Zone
Operation of fire and emergency services training covering one or several aspects of fire fighting
Training Evolution
In a hydraulic cylinder, the pivoting end of the piston rod that is connected to the anchor ear by the heel pin
Trunnion
Rotaional structural component of the aerial device. Its primary function is to provide continuous rotation on a horizontal plane
Turntable
Organizational principle in which workers report to only one supervisor in order to eliminate conflicting orders
Unity of Command
In the fire and emergency services, a pressure that is somewhat less than atmospheric pressure; a ___ is needed to facilitate drafting of water from a static source
Vacuum
Foam proportioning syustem that is used in both fixed and mobile applicatons; a variable speed mechanism dribes the foam pump and automatically monitors the flow of foam to produce an effective foam solution
Variable flow demand type balanced pressure proportioner
Apparatus mounted foam system that injects th ecorrect amount of foam into the pump piping, thereby supplying all discharges with foam. the system automatically monitors the operation of the hoelines and maintains a consisten quiality of foam solution
Variable flow baariable rate direct ingecton system
Ground above underground vaults such as underground parking structures utility chases drainage culbers adn basements that extends under sidewalks or underground transporatation systems
Vaulted Surfaces
Physical law stating that when a fluid, such as water or air is forced under pressure through a restricted orifice, there is an increase in the belocity of the fluid passing through the orifice and a corresponding decrease in teh pressure exerted against the sides of the constriction. Because the surrounding fluid is under greater (atmospheric) pressure, it is forced into the area of lower pressure,
Venturi Effect
Device used for measuring existing voltage in an electrical system
Voltmeter
Spiral, divergent chamber of a centrifugal pump, in which the velocity energy given to water by the impeller blades is converted into pressure
Volute
Area between the hot and cold zones that usually contains the decontamination corridor; typically requires a lesser degree of personal protective equipment than the hot zone
Warm Zone
Force created by the rapid deceleration of water; causes a violent increase in pressure that can be powerful enough to rupture piping or damage fixtures. Generally results from closing a valve or nozzle too quickly
Water Hammer
Pumper that takes water from a source and sends it to attack pumpers operating at the fire scene
Water Supply Pumper
Aerial device primarily inteded for deploying an elevated master stream; not generally intended for climbing operations; also known as ____
Water tower
aka Elevating Master stream device
Replaceable rings that are attached to the impeller and or the pump casing to allow a small running clearance between the impeller and pump casing without causing wear of the actual impeller or pump casing material
Wear rings
Fire hydrant that has water all teh way p to the discharge outlets; may have separate valves for each discharge or one valve for all teh discharges. This type of hydrant is only used in areas where there is no danger of freezing weather conditions
Wet-barrel hydrant
Line, area, or zone where an undeveloped wildland area meets a human development area
Wildland/Urban Interface
Hose appliance with one female inlet and two or more male outlets; the outlets are usually smaller than tne inlet and are usually gated
Wye
