Home About the Spring Fire Department Terms

Glossary of Terms and Phrases

|A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M|N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z|

[A]

Apparatus - a fire truck.  There are several types of fire trucks and are all referred to as an apparatus

Automatic Aid - Aid from a surrounding department that is automatically dispatched when an emergency call is received

[B]

Box - Term used to describe a group of trucks that are dispatched together for a specific type of incident. Example: "Give me a box for a residential fire at 123 Main Street"

[C]

CAFs - Acronym for Compressed Air Foam which is an extinguishing agent.  It is comprised of water, foam and has air injected into it and when distributed through a nozzle produces a blanket of foam to suppress a fire.

Chief - A Department Officer.  Spring Volunteer Fire Department has a Fire Chief, (1) Assistant Chief, (1) Deputy Chief, (2) District Chiefs.

[D]

District - used to describe a specific area of territory.  Spring Volunteer Fire Department has (2) Fire Suppression Districts, District 71 and District 72

[E]

Extrication - The act of removing a person from a vehicle or structure.  Most of our extrications are people from vehicles.  Also know as Vehicle Extrication.

[F]

Fog Nozzle - Nozzle used on the end of a fire hose that sprays an adjustable pattern of water either narrow and far or wide and near

[G]

[H]

Halogan Bar - Weird shaped tool that is used to pry, poke and lift

[I]

[J]

[K]

[L]

[M]

Mutual Aid - Aid from a surrounding department that is specifically requested during an emergency call

[N]

[O]

[P]

[Q]

Quint - An apparatus that is a combination truck that accomplishes the tasks of a engine and that of an aerial truck

[R]

[S]

[T]

Tanker - An apparatus that holds a large amount of water.  Spring Volunteer Fire Department has (2) 3300 gallon tankers.

[U]

[V]

[W]

Water Hammer - what occurs if someone shuts off a nozzle too fast

[X]

[Y]

[Z]