Top 50 fire service acronyms

If you’re new to the fire service or considering a career as a firefighter, you might not yet realize just how much firefighters rely on acronyms in their daily operations, training, and communications. From fireground tactics to equipment terminology, these abbreviations are used constantly in fire academy training, emergency response protocols, and station conversations. Walking into the firehouse on your first day without understanding common firefighter acronyms can leave you feeling lost and unprepared. Whether you’re a rookie firefighter, an aspiring recruit, or just exploring what it takes to join the fire service, learning these essential terms early on will help you fit in, communicate effectively, and build confidence in your new role.

50 firefighter acronyms

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 on this page 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

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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

Fire acronyms: RACE and PASS

Two additional fire acronyms firefighters should know and teach to the public are RACE and PASS. These acronyms help people remember what to do if there is a fire in their workplace, home, business or house of worship.

RACE: Rescue, Alarm, Confine, Extinguish

RACE stands for Rescue, Alarm, Confine, and Extinguish or Evacuate. The RACE acronym is a fundamental fire safety procedure used in hospitals, workplaces, and public buildings to guide initial response actions during a fire. RACE prioritizes life safety and containment before attempting fire suppression.

• Rescue anyone in immediate danger if it is safe to do so.
• Alarm others by activating the fire alarm or calling 911.
• Confine the fire by closing doors to slow the spread of smoke and flames.
• Extinguish the fire if it is small and safe to do so using a fire extinguisher. If you are unable to safely extinguish the fire or if it is too large immediately evacuate.

PASS: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep

PASS stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep, describing the proper technique for using a fire extinguisher.

• Pull the pin to break the tamper seal.
• Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire to target the fuel source.
• Squeeze the handle to discharge the extinguishing agent.
• Sweep the nozzle from side to side to cover the fire evenly and prevent re-ignition.

Understanding and applying the PASS method increases the likelihood of successfully extinguishing small fires with a fire extinguisher before they grow out of control, improving safety for firefighters and the public.

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This article, originally published on October 26, 2022, has been updated with a video, information about PASS and RACE and additional resources.