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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spike out v. phr. 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. [English Firefighting Slang] [full cite] (Oct. 29, 2007)

spotter n. Cal Fire blamed the delay on a shortage of military helicopter managers, better known as spotters—trained wild-land firefighters who help military pilots position water drops and communicate with firefighters in the air and on the ground. [English Firefighting Jargon] [full cite] (Nov. 7, 2007)

stairs-chair n. The sheriff’s office has a list of handicapped individuals who work in the courthouse and deputies made sure all of those folks were safety evacuated. Firefighters used what’s called a “stairs-chair,” similar to a wheelchair to carry handicapped people down the six flights of stairs. [English Firefighting] [full cite] (May. 2, 2007)

syringe n. Syringe—water tower. [English Firefighting] [full cite] (May. 13, 2005)

trash line n. “There is an option available to install an extended front bumper with provisions to hold 100 to 150 feet of one and three-quarter inch hose connected and ready to use,” explained McGirr in his submission to Council. Affectionately known as a “trash line,” the major feature is that the hose would already be connected while stored in the bumper. [English Firefighting Jargon] [full cite] (Jan. 25, 2007)

turnout gear n. There’s a picture in the Jefferson County Leader newspaper identifying Cronin as wearing a heavy firefighter’s coat and helping set up a temporary hazardous materials bath. Cronin denies he was in the picture, but others in the photo say he was there dressed in what’s known as “turnout gear.” [English Firefighting] [full cite] (Mar. 16, 2007)

vamp n. Vamps—Volunteer firemen in suburban areas. [English Firefighting] [full cite] (May. 13, 2005)

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