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

Citations in the Category Firefighting

Firemen, fire-fighters, fire departments, sappers, hooks and ladders, fire-jumpers, helitack, wildfires, etc. You can also see entries assigned to this category.

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helitack n. They are the fire service’s shock troops, and they soon might be a year-round fixture in San Diego County. Officially, they are known simply as “helitack.” [English United States Firefighting Jargon] [full cite] (Nov. 16, 2004)

helitack n. The helitack was advised by the regional control centre about the fire being bombed by the Canso. The initial attack crew squeezed into the helicopter and were off within three minutes. [English Aviation Firefighting Jargon] [full cite] (Nov. 16, 2004)

helitack n. First of a series of tests—tabbed the Helitack Program—on the use of helicopters in firefighting will start next week in the San Bernardino National Forest. [English Aviation Firefighting Jargon] [full cite] (Nov. 16, 2004)

hell night n. It was all about alleged hazing at the Memphis fire department during a training event commonly called “hell night."…Memphis City leaders promise their firefighter training has changed since some controversial October 2004 video was recorded. On the video, you can see a supervisor telling recruits, “You swing that axe like a little girl” and “I don’t think you’re going to make it you better hurry your butts up!” Firefighters called it hell night and it was at this same event that firefighter James Coleman suffered heat stroke and—his attorney explains—slipped into a two-month coma. [English Firefighting] [full cite] (Jun. 14, 2006)

hose dragger n. Butler, a former Coast Guard captain, conceded he had limited experience as what’s known as a “hose dragger” but noted he has had years of planning and preparatory experience. [English Firefighting Slang] [full cite] (Sep. 29, 2007)

householding n. Another area of growth in the financial/banking sector is in what’s known as “householding.” The term refers to the concept of offering different product lines to an existing customer. Rather than going through the expense of prospecting new customers, this is a cost effective way of increasing business through extending offerings to existing clientele. [English Firefighting Money & Finance Jargon] [full cite] (Jun. 9, 2007)

human door chock n. I have been around a while now, and in the past have seen some members attempt to operate without their mask. I usually find them right at the door to the fire area or, if they are really aggressive, about 2 feet inside the door, which is hardly effective. We used to have a name for these brothers—the “human door chock.” [English Firefighting Slang] [full cite] (Feb. 1, 2007)

jackpot n. The fire kept trying to creep past them. A few sparks jumped into a nest of wood chips in an old log—"a jackpot,” firefighter lingo for a flammable spot. [English Firefighting Slang] [full cite] (Oct. 29, 2007)

Kelly day n. Also, anyone paying 15 percent of their health insurance will get an additional “Kelly Day,” the term for an extra day off a firefighter has the option to take or work for time and a half. [English Employment Firefighting] [full cite] (Jul. 31, 2007)

Kelly day n. Kelly days: This term refers to one shift off with pay every 14th shift for all employees who work 24-hour shifts. Northwest firefighters work a 24-hour shift, followed by 48 hours off. [English Employment Firefighting] [full cite] (Jul. 31, 2007)

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