Firefighting Slang, Jargon, and New Words from Double-Tongued Dictionary

Citations in the Category Firefighting

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Collyer n. A veteran firefighter called the job a “Collyer mansion"—packed and crowded with junk and debris like the old upper Fifth Avenue spread. [New York City English Firefighting] [full cite] (Apr. 28, 2004)

Collyer n. When firemen are called out to jobs at rundown, junk-filled houses, they call it “doing a Collyer.” [New York City English Firefighting] [full cite] (Apr. 28, 2004)

Collyer n. Still today, New York City firefighters call junk-jammed apartments “Collyers.” [New York City English Firefighting] [full cite] (Apr. 28, 2004)

Collyer n. Engine 402 arrived on scene at 1:21 PM and crews entered the home with a 1 3/4 inch attack line. Crews were severely hampered by extreme “Collyers Mansion” conditions throughout the home. [New York City English United States Firefighting Slang Eponym] [full cite] (Jun. 3, 2004)

Collyer’s Mansion n. In New York City, and along much of the East Coast, a dwelling jammed rafter-high with junk is referred to by rescue personnel, with dismay and no small degree of respect, as a “Collyers’ Mansion.” As in, primary searches delayed because of Collyers’ Mansion conditions. [English Firefighting Houses & Housing Slang] [full cite] (Jul. 5, 2006)

coptometer n. “This is a different kind of training, because usually an officer rushes right in. Here, we get them to approach slowly and size up the situation."…"Identify. Isolate. Notify. Stay uphill, upwind, upstream and at least 300 feet away.…Don’t be a blue canary. Don’t be a coptometer.” [English Firefighting Police Slang] [full cite] (Jun. 3, 2006)

coyote camp n. If travel time to the side (or flank) of the fire where firefighters are assigned, they could be asked to “spike out” which means sleep in place rather than in the camp. These are called “coyote camps” and the firefighters either eat Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) already collected in fire camp before they travel to their fireline or helicopters may shuttle in food and water. [English Firefighting Slang] [full cite] (Oct. 29, 2007)

crackerjack fire n. The June 23 blaze consumed a mere five acres and burned for just more than an hour—a small-scale spark and burn that California Department of Forestry (CDF) officials often refer to as a “crackerjack” or “pinner” fire. [English Firefighting] [full cite] (Jul. 10, 2006)

double-hatter n. Ontario’s fire marshal has launched an investigation into whether public safety is at risk as a result of the resignations of “double-hatters."…Rural forces are being compromised by the union’s bid to stop professional firefighters from volunteering outside the city on their own time, a practice known as “double-hatting.” [ Language English Subject Employment Firefighting] [full cite] (Nov. 4, 2005)

double-hatting n. Ontario’s fire marshal has launched an investigation into whether public safety is at risk as a result of the resignations of “double-hatters."…Rural forces are being compromised by the union’s bid to stop professional firefighters from volunteering outside the city on their own time, a practice known as “double-hatting.” [ Language English Subject Employment Firefighting] [full cite] (Nov. 4, 2005)

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