Glossary

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B

Incident Commander (IC): This is the member, usually a Chief Officer, who has overall command of an incident. The term IC is also used to indicate the Incident Command location.

Jaws: Hydraulically powered rescue tool capable of lifting, spreading or cutting with tremendous force. All truck companies carry jaws.

Radio Watch: When firefighters monitor their radios for messages during a failure of one or more of the in-station incident notification systems.
Rescue: Is another term for ambulance.
Rescue Ambulance: A mobile intensive care unit with advanced life support equipment staffed by paramedics.
RIC: Abbreviation for the Rapid Intervention Crew - assigned to rescue trapped firefighters .
Run: An incident.

Shift Mechanic: A member of the truck that is trained to do repairs on our apparatus.
Staff Assistant (SA): A firefighter assigned as a Chief Officer's administrative aid who usually drives the Division or Battalion command vehicle.
Staging: The location where resources are ‘staged’ and available for immediate assignment to an incident.

T.I.C.: Thermal imaging camera - can detect heat in dark or smoky locations.
T/A: Abbreviation for Traffic Accident.
Tillerperson: The member in charge of steering the rear of the long truck.
Triage: Literally means ‘sorting’. In a multiple casualty incident, patients are sorted into four color-coded groups according to the severity of their injuries: Minor (green), Delayed (yellow), Immediate (red) and Dead (black).
Truck: The longer vehicle with a long 100’ ladder and has ladders.
Turnouts: The protective clothes we wear for fires.