Two-Alarm, Three-Alarm Incident. The more alarms, the greater number of units and firefighters. 7-1 tap out, fire is under control and emergency no longer exists.
AC or AFC
Assistant Fire Chief, command staff directly under EACs
ALS
Advance Life Support, EMS unit with paramedics
APPARATUS
Any Type of Fire Truck
BLS
Basic Life Support Ambulance, EMS transport unit with EMTs
BOX
Ambulance
BOX ALARM
Structure fire for such structures as a house (also see heavy box)
CHIEF HOUSE
Fire Station w/ a District Chief
DC
District Chief or Deputy Chief. Deputy Chief is a shift commander, next level up from a District Chief.
DOUBLE HOUSE
Fire Station, 2 fire apparatus, usually an engine and ladder
DTO
District Training Officer, officers who document and conduct training for members within the district
EAC
Executive Assistant Fire Chief, Command Staff directly under Fire Chief.
EAS
Emergency Alerting System, alerts fire stations and announces the dispatch
E/O
Engineer Operator (Driver)
EMS
Emergency Medical Service
EQUIPMENT
Tools
FFT
Firefighter Trainee or a Cadet, civilian being trained at the HFD training academy to be a firefighter.
FOUR INCH
4 inch hose located in the back of the fire engine. 100 foot sections, used to connect to a plug.
FTA
Fire Training Academy or VJTF (Val Jahnke Training Facility)
FTO
Field Training Officer, captain or senior captain who documents and conducts training for probationary firefighters
GEAR
What they wear / safety gear / bunker gear
HEAVY BOX
Box fire for buildings and apartments, etc.
HFD
Houston Fire Department
HOT ZONE
Hazardous area around the incident, distances varies and is established by the IC
IC
Incident Commander, usually a district chief
INCH & THREE QUARTER
1 3/4 inch hose usually pre-connected in 150 ft or 200ft to make a rapid fire attack.
LADDER
Ladder Truck
MVA
Motor Vehicle Accident
MVI
Motor Vehicle Incident
OEC
Office of Emergency Communications (formally Dispatch)
PAR
Personal Accountability Report, conducted every 30 minutes and whenever a sudden hazardous event occurs
PLAN A
EMS code for CPR protocol
PLUG
Fire Hydrant
PM
Preventive Maintenance
PROB FF
Probationary Firefighter
PUBLIC SERVICE
Call on phone
PUMPER
Fire Truck
REDLINE
1 inch hose, reeled on an engine, used for small fires (car, trash, dumpster...)
RIT
Rapid Intervention Team, to deploy when a firefighter is lost or trapped
SINGLE HOUSE
Fire Station, 1 Bay
STAGE
Units on location about 1 or 2 blocks away, uncommitted, standing by for an assignment
SYNCOPE
EMS term, passing out, fainting, etc.
TIC
Thermal Imaging Camera, tool to aid in rescue and to locate hidden fire
