Fire Service Terms

This is a non-exhaustive list of abbreviations, acronyms, and terms used in the fire service and EMS. Some are in wide use, some may be more local.

For approved Skagit County EMS abbreviations, see: Skagit_County_BLS_Protocols#Approved_Abbreviations

A

• AFA - Automatic fire alarm
• Alpha side - the front (or established by convention to be the front for an incident) side of a structure. See Building side labeling

B

• Bravo side - See Building side labeling

C

• Charlie side - See Building side labeling

D

• Delta side - See Building side labeling

F

• FIB - Fire in a building; structure fire
• FIBR - Fire in a building, residential; house fire

H

• HBD - Has been drinking

J

• JEO - Just east of; often used when describing a location: JEO landmark
• JNO - Just north of
• JSO - Just south of
• JWO - Just west of

L

• LDH - Large diameter hose (usually considered 3" or larger)

M

• MCI - Mass casualty incident; an event with multiple patients that overwhelms your current resources
• MCO - Multi-company operation; an event that involves multiple units possibly from different departments
• MDT - Mobile data terminal; computer in apparatus providing dispatch information and mapping
• MVA - Motor vehicle accident

N

• NWCG - National Wildfire Coordinating Group

O

• OVES - Oriented vent, enter, & search

P

• PCR - Patient care report

R

• RP - Reporting party
• RIT - Rapid intervention team, sometimes also RIC

S

• SCSO - Skagit County Sheriff's Office
• Status 4 - in a condition where no aid from law enforcement is required (e.g. "Cascade, 11-24, all Mount Erie units are status four"). Note: this isn't exactly clear text (that is, receivers need to know in advance what status four means), so avoid using where possible.

T

• TIC - Thermal Imaging Camera

V

• VES - Vent, enter, & search
• VUCSA - Violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act; under the influence of illegal drugs