When it comes to firefighting, there are some firefighting acronyms that you should familiarize yourself with. Although the use of acronyms in firefighting may no longer be recommended, it is still important to understand the different abbreviations in case someone on your crew still uses them. Below are commonly used fire service acronyms that you should know when entering the line of duty.
AAR - After Action Review
ABC’s - Airway, Breathing, Circulation
AC - Assistant Chief, Area Command, Alternate Current
ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support
AED - Automated External Defibrillator
AFFF - Aqueous Film Forming Foam
AFG - Assistance to Firefighters Grant
A-Fib - Atrial Fibrillation
AHJ - Authority Having Jurisdiction
ALOC - Altered Level of Consciousness
ALS - Advanced Life Support
AMS - Altered Mental Status
APR - Air Purifying Respirators
ARFF - Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting
BA - Breathing Apparatus
BC - Battalion Chief
BI - Burn Index
BLEVE - Boiling Liquid Expansion Vapor Explosion
BLS - Basic Life Support
BS - Breathing Support
BVM - Bag Valve Mask
CAD - Computer Aided Dispatch
CAFS - Compressed Air Foam System
CAMEO - Computer Aided Management for Emergency Operations
CERT - Community Emergency Response Team
CFAI - Commission on Fire Accreditation Information
CFO - Chief Fire Officer
CISD - Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
CISM - Critical Incident Stress Management
CO - Carbon Monoxide
CO2 - Carbon Dioxide
CPR - Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
CVA - Cerebrovascular Accident
DC - Deputy Chief, Division Chief, District Chief, Direct Current
Decon - Decontamination
DNR - Do Not Resuscitate
DOA - Dead on Arrival
ED - Emergency Department
EDITH - Exit Drills in the Home
EFO - Executive Fire Officer
EMS - Emergency Medical Services
EMT - Emergency Medical Technician
EOC - Emergency Operations Center
EOP - Emergency Operations Plan
ER - Emergency Room
ERG - Emergency Response Guide
ERT - Emergency Response to Terrorism
ETA - Estimated Time of Arrival
ETD - Estimated Time of Departure
ETE - Estimated Time En Route
EVOC - Emergency Vehicle Operator Course
FADO - Fire Apparatus Driver Operator
FAMA - Fire Apparatus Manufacturer’s Association
FAST - Firefighter Assist and Search Team
FC - Fire Chief or Fire Captain
FD - Fire Department or Fire District
FDC - Fire Department Connection
FDIC - Fire Department Instructors Conference
FDSOA - Fire Department Safety Officers Association
FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency
FF - Firefighter
FFFP - Film Forming Fluoroprotein Foam
FPD - Fire Protection District
FPE - Fire Protection Engineer
FRI - Fire Rescue International
FTO - Field Training Officer
GPM - Gallons per Minute
GSW - Gunshot Wound
HAZMAT - Hazardous Materials
HAZWOPER - Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response
HELP - Heat Escape Lessening Position
HEPA - High Efficiency Particulate Filter
HM - Hazardous Materials
HMMP - Hazardous Materials Management Plan
HMRU - Hazardous Materials Response Unit
HOT - Hands-on Training
HR - Heart Rate
HSO - Health and Safety Officer
IAAI - International Association of Arson Investigators
IABFF - International Association of Black Professional Firefighters
IAFC - International Association of Fire Chiefs
IAFF - International Association of Firefighters
IAP - Incident Action Plan
IC - Incident Commander or Ignition Component
ICP Incident Command Post
ICS - Incident Command System
ICU - Intensive Care Unit
IDLH - Immediate Danger to Life or Health
IFBA - International Fire Buffs Association
IFSAC - International Fire Service Accreditation Congress
IFSTA - International Fire Service Training Association
IRP - Incident Response Plan
ISFSI - International Society of Fire Service Instructors
ISO - Incident Safety Officer
JFA - Joint Fire Academy
LCES - Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, Safety Zones
LDH - Large Diameter Hose
LAL -Lightning Activity Level
LFL - Lower Flammable Level
LOC - Level of Consciousness or Loss of Consciousness
LODD - Line of Duty Death
LPG - Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Lt. - Lieutenant
LUNAR - Location, Unit Number, Name, Assignment, Resources Needed
LZ - Landing Zone
MA - Mutual Aid or Mechanical Advantage
MAC - Multi-Agency Coordination
MAU - Mobile Air Unit
MCI - Mass Casualty Incident
MCIP - Mass Casualty Incident Plan
MICU - Mobile Intensive Care Unit
MOI - Mechanism of Injury
MVA - Motor Vehicle Accident
MVC - Motor Vehicle Collision
NAERG - North American Emergency Response Guide
NBFSPQ - National Board of Fire Service Professional Qualifications
NEC - National Electric Code
NERT - Neighborhood Emergency Response Team
NETC - National Emergency Training Center
NFA - National Fire Academy
NFC - National Fire Codes
NFDRS - National Fire Danger Rating System
NFFF - National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
NFIRS - National Fire Incident Reporting System
NFPA - National Fire Protection Association
NHTSA - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
NICU - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
NIFC - National Interagency Fire Center
NIMS - National Incident Management System
NIOSH - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NKA - No Known Allergies
NP - Nozzle Pressure
NPS - National Park Service
NRB - Non-Rebreather Mask
NRC - National Response Center
NREMT - National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician
NVFC - National Volunteer Fire Council
NWCG - National Wildfire Coordinating Group
O2 - Oxygen
OD - Overdose
OEM - Office of Emergency Management
OES - Office of Emergency Services
OJT - On-the-Job Training
OOS - Out of Service
OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OR - Operating Room
PALS - Pediatric Advanced Life Support
PAR - Personnel Accountability Report
PASS - Personal Alert Safety System
PCF - Paid Call Firefighter
PCR - Patient Care Report
PD - Police Department
PFD - Personal Flotation Device
PHTLS - Prehospital Trauma Life Support
PIA - Post Incident Analysis
PIV - Post Indicator Valve
PPE - Personal Protective Equipment
PPV - Positive Pressure Ventilation
PSA - Public Service Announcement
PSI - Pounds per Square Inch
PTA - Prior to Arrival
PTSD - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
RECEOVS - Rescue, Exposures, Confinement, Extinguishment, Overhaul, Ventilation, Salvage
RFA - Ready for Action
RH - Relative Humidity
RIC - Rapid Intervention Crew or Rapid Intervention Company
RIT - Rapid Intervention Team
ROS - Rate of Speed
RR - Respiratory Rate
RRT - Regional Response Team
SAFER - Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response
SAR - Search and Rescue or Supplied Air Respirator
SCBA - Self Contained Breathing Apparatus
SFM - State Fire Marshal
SFMO - State Fire Marshal Office
SO - Safety Officer
SOB - Shortness of Breath
SOG - Standard Operating Guidelines
SOP - Standard Operating Procedure
SPAAMFAA - Society for the Preservation And Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America
TBSA - Total Body Surface Area
TC - Traffic Collision
TIC - Thermal Imaging Camera
TO - Training Officer
UFC - Uniform Fire Code
UFL - Upper Flammable Limit
US&R - Urban Search and Rescue
USFA - United States Fire Academy
USFS - United States Forest Service
UTL - Unable to Locate
VES - Vent-Enter Search
VFD - Volunteer Fire Department
VS - Vital Signs
WEL - Within Expected Limits
WFCA - Western Fire Chiefs Association
WFS - Women in the Fire Service
WMD - Weapons of Mass Destruction
WNL - Within Normal Limits
WUI - Wildland Urban Interface
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