What "Firehouse Jargon" do you use?

[BC 307]

I need to start on my research paper and a section of it has to deal with jargon only used by the fire service. The following is what I have come up with, what have I missed? Please include the meanings of the jargon if it may not be obvious to those with more that one bugle.

Probie, DRT, crispy critter, nozelhead, paragod, paramaniac, airhead (Truckie), Canary, TOA, DOA, TC, TA, humping hose, toned out, "a working fire," tapped, MCI, wannabe, vollie, nubie, etc.

Political correctness is not a consideration and it is implied that even though you made the post, you do not necessarily agree with the terminology. Thanks everyone.

[W Evad]

Hey BC 307
How about leading by example, for the benefit of the gringo’s that read these forums, giving us an interpretation of your list of jargon. Although most of them can be guessed at.

[bfpd36]

a few from our dept.

hard dick = hard suction hose
bac = big @ss crowbar
ctd = circling the drain (almost doa)
cot jockey = medic /emt
meat wagon / band aid box = ambulance
tool box = heavy rescue truck
master key = bolt cutters
pixie = clueless citizens

Hope this helps you. There are a bunch more, I just can't think of them right now.

[BC 307]

Thanks for the jargon, bfpd36, good stuff there. As for Dave, I gave the folowing examples:

Probie, DRT, crispy critter, nozelhead, paragod, paramaniac, airhead (Truckie), Canary, TOA, DOA, TC, TA, humping hose, toned out, "a working fire," tapped, MCI, wannabe, vollie, nubie, etc.

Look at bfpd36's, that's the stuff I need.

[BC 307]

My heads too involved in the thesis Dave, not in understanding your question, sorry. Here's my definitions:

Probie: probationary FF
DRT: Dead Right There
crispy critter: Dead person who has been burned
nozelhead: Line firefighter
paragod & paramaniac: Paramedics
airhead (Truckie): Member of a truck company
Canary: Expendable First Responder
TOA: Toast on Arrival (usually a burned, deceased casualty
DOA: Dead on arrival
TC & TA: Traffic Collision or Accident
humping hose: Packing a hoseline
toned out & tapped: What happens when 911 sends you an alarm
"a working fire,": Usually a fully involved fire
MCI: Multicasualty Incident
wannabe: What I was 18 years ago (insert sarcasm here)
vollie: volunteer
nubie: New person

null

[fyrmnbrian]

I hope some of these will be helpful. I learned some of them here at Fishers Fire adn some working in downtown Indianapolis on the box. Here they let me know what you what you think

R.A.R.T = Rapidly Approaching Room Temperature(for the recently deceased)

CCFCCP = Coo Coo For Co Co Puffs (for an extreme mental pt.)

knuckle Dragger = Truckie

Band Aid Boy/Girl = Ambulance jockey

Frequent Flyer = Regular pt. with numerous calls

All State PI Accident = Going to the hospital for check out from MVA because it looks better in court

Hope none of these are offensive but they do get used. Can't think of anymore right now I will send more when I think of them.

[squirrel721]

You missed the best one of them all. A "JOB" (working fire).

[hazmat112]

"Pin Job".........auto Accident with Entrapment

"raisin"..........Old Person

"S.B.T.C.P."......... to describe a dying Pt.
Send Back The Christmas Presents

"God's Waiting Room"...... Nursing Home

"Troll".............. to describe the dregs of humanity

"Dr. Death"........... Medical Examiner

[trumpeter75]

Uhhh let's see...

paramagic....self-explanatory
band-aid buggy....ambulance
taxi run....hospital transfer
nob....nozzle
FNG....f**king new guy
donut-eater...police officer

[FFWALT]

FLB = Funny Little Beats
CHAOS = Chief Has Arrived On Scene
LOL NAD = Little Old Lady, No Acute Distress
BFH = Big Freakin' Hammer
Blue Canary's = Police Dept.
Rule of Thumb = Applies to Hazmat size up
Vapor Lock = Momentary Mental Failure
SOB = Shortness of Breath

[BC 307]

Thought of a couple more:

BRT: Big Red Truck
Slumper: Possible patient slumped over the steering wheel
Lookie Lou: Clueless observing citizen
Touron: A tourist that does someting moronically stupid
Tire Checker: A baseball bat used for adjusting confrontational citizens' attitudes

[Michelle Latham]

I hear some of these at my station:

"Catch the plug" - get hooked up to the fire hydrant
"Jack hose" - help the attack team drag the hose around.
"Pack up" - get the SCBA air tank on your back.
"Go on air" - put the regulator on your SCBA mask and breathe from the tank.
"Tender" - what we call tankers in the summer so we don't call in a wildland air-tanker.(Big airplane full of water)
"Black Helmet" - entery firefighter
"White Shirt" - Chief officer

[Adze39]

master key = bolt cutters

Actually...when we talk about a "master key", we refer to the haligan bar.

One of our chiefs from decades back was at a call once. Someone asked him about if he would be able to unlock a door. He told them that we have a master key. The person replied 'you do?'. The Chief said 'yeah, it's 36" of solid steel'

[Adze39]

Can't believe no one has mentioned "the irons" yet.

"The Irons" = axe & haligan bar paired together

"The Tool" = usually the hydraulic spreaders

[WISWIZARD]

TRY THESE FROM THE SOUTHWEST.
AMF- ADIOS MY FRIENDS--WHEN A FF LEAVES THE JOB FOR WHATEVER REASON.
YELLOW HELMET-- PROBATIONARY FF.
STICK WAGON--LADDER TRUCK
AOB--ALCOHOL ON BREATH
GRANNIE--OLD FF WHO NEEDS TO RETIRE
BOOT-- NEW FF