Top 50 fire service acronyms

If you’re new to the fire service, or even just contemplating a career in the greatest profession, you might not realize just how much firefighters love acronyms – and you certainly don’t want to walk in the door that first day not having a clue what everyone else is talking about.

Here’s a look at some of the most common fire service acronyms. Hopefully you’re already familiar with a few! [Fill out the form at the end of this article to dowload a digital copy to share with your newest members.]

1. AAR: After-action review
2. AFFF: Aqueous film forming foam
3. ALS: Advanced life support
4. ASE: Active shooter event
5. BC: Battalion chief
6. BLEVE: Boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion
7. BLS: Basic life support
8. CAD: Computer aided dispatch
9. CAFS: Compressed air foam system
10. CAN: Conditions-Actions-Needs
11. CBRNE: Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, high-yield explosives
12. COAL WAS WEALTH: Construction, occupancy, area, life hazard – water, auxiliary systems, street conditions – weather, exposures, apparatus and personnel, location, time, hazards
13. DCD: Descent-control device
14. EMS: Emergency medical services
15. FAST: Firefighter assist and search team
16. FDNY: Fire Department City of New York
17. FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency
18. GPS: Global positioning system
19. HOT: Hands-on Training
20. IAFC: International Association of Fire Chiefs
21. IAP: Incident action plan
22. ICS: Incident Command System
23. IDLH: Immediately dangerous to life and health
24. IMT: Incident management team
25. LCES: Lookouts, communications, escape routes, safety zones
26. LDH: Large-diameter hose
27. LODD: Line-of-duty death
28. LUNAR: Location, unit number, name, assignment (or air supply status), resources needed
29. MCI: Mass-casualty incident
30. MIH: Mobile integrated healthcare
31. MVC: Motor vehicle collision/crash
32. NFPA: National Fire Protection Association
33. NIMS: National Incident Management System
34. NIOSH: National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health
35. PAR: Personnel accountability report
36. PASS: Personal alert safety system
37. PPA: Positive pressure attack
38. PPE: Personal protective equipment
39. PPV: Positive pressure ventilation
40. PTSD: Post-traumatic stress disorder
41. RECEO-VS: Rescue, exposures, containment, extinguish, overhaul – ventilation, salvage
42. RIC/RIT/RAT: Rapid-intervention crew; rapid-intervention team; rapid-assessment team
43. SAR: Search and rescue
44. SCBA: Self-contained breathing apparatus
45. SOP/SOG: Standard operating procedures; standard operating guidelines
46. TIC: Thermal imaging camera
47. UAS/UAV: Unmanned aircraft systems; unmanned aerial vehicle (drone)
48. USAR/US&R: Urban Search and Rescue; Urban Search & Rescue
49. VES/VEIS: Vent-enter-search; vent-enter-isolate-search
50. WUI: Wildland-urban interface

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