Fire Service Acronyms List

Fire service acronyms and abbreviations: how to use this list

Fire service acronyms turn up on the fireground, in incident reports and in administration. They are quick to say and easy to mix up.

Below is an alphabetical list of common fire department abbreviations, each with what it stands for.

A

• AFG: Assistance to Firefighters Grant
• AHJ: Authority having jurisdiction
• ALS: Advanced life support
• ARFF: Aircraft rescue and firefighting

B

• BC: Battalion chief
• BLS: Basic life support

C

• CAD: Computer-aided dispatch
• CAFS: Compressed air foam system
• CFAI: Commission on Fire Accreditation International
• CO: Carbon monoxide / company officer
• CPSE: Center for Public Safety Excellence

D

• D/O: Driver/operator

E

• EMS: Emergency medical services
• EOC: Emergency operations center
• ERG: Emergency Response Guidebook
• EVOC: Emergency vehicle operations course

F

• FAO: Fire apparatus operator
• FD: Fire department
• FDC: Fire department connection
• FF: Firefighter
• FLSA: Fair Labor Standards Act
• FM: Fire marshal
• FO: Fire officer
• FPB: Fire prevention bureau
• FTO: Field training officer

G

• GPM: Gallons per minute

H

• HazMat: Hazardous materials

I

• IAFC: International Association of Fire Chiefs
• IAFF: International Association of Fire Fighters
• IAP: Incident action plan
• IC: Incident commander
• ICS: Incident Command System
• IDLH: Immediately dangerous to life or health
• ISO: Insurance Services Office / incident safety officer

L

• LODD: Line-of-duty death

M

• MAYDAY: Distress call for a firefighter in trouble
• MDT: Mobile data terminal

N

• NFIRS: National Fire Incident Reporting System
• NFPA: National Fire Protection Association
• NIMS: National Incident Management System

O

• OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration

P

• PAR: Personnel accountability report
• PIO: Public information officer
• PPE: Personal protective equipment
• PPV: Positive pressure ventilation
• PSI: Pounds per square inch

R

• RIC / RIT: Rapid intervention crew / team
• RMS: Records management system

S

• SAFER: Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant
• SCBA: Self-contained breathing apparatus
• SOG / SOP: Standard operating guideline / procedure

T

• TIC: Thermal imaging camera

U

• USAR: Urban search and rescue

V

• VES: Vent, enter, search

W

• WUI: Wildland-urban interface