Firefighting Tools Vocab

Pick Head Axe

special type of axe used by firefighters, typically featuring a pick-shaped pointed poll

Flat Head Axe

The Flathead Axe has three essential parts. the blade of the axe, the striking face, the back of the axe is flattened

Halligan Tool

contains a claw/fork, blade, or tapered pick

Fog Nozzle

firefighting hose spray nozzle that breaks its stream into small droplets

Hydrant Wrench

Adjustable wrench placed on the nut at the top of a fire hydrant to open or close said fire hydran

Spanner Wrench

Used to tighten and loosen hose couplings on small-diameter hoses.

Pike Pole

long metal-topped wood, aluminum, or fiberglass poles used for reaching, holding, or pulling

Ceiling hook

Firefighting tool used to pull ceilings

K-tool

Used to pull lock cylinders.

Set of Irons

forcible entry tools, consists of an ax and a halligan bar

Pry Bar

a small, flattish iron bar used in the same way as a crowbar.

Hydraulic Spreaders

designed with two arms that come together in a narrow tip, and that uses hydraulic pressure to separate or spread the arms.

Spring Loaded Center Punch

Used to make a mark in wood or metal to start a twist drill. can shatter glass; A rescuer can gain access to a victim.

Bolt Cutters

a tool used for cutting chains, padlocks, bolts and wire mesh.

Reciprocating Saw

type of machine-powered saw in which the cutting action is achieved through a push-and-pull

Seatbelt Cutter

Tool used by emergency personnel to cut seatbelts and remove injured party

Pulaski Tool

combines an axe and an adze in one head, similar to that of the cutter mattock, with a rigid handle of wood, plastic, or fiberglass

Cribbing

temporary wooden structure used to support heavy objects

Come A Long

a hand operated winch with a ratchet used to pull objects

Air Bags

Slow you down gradually and prevent passengers hitting hard surfaces in the car

Air Cushion

inflatable cushion used for rescuing those trapped in a fire from a high place

Roof Ladder

Straight ladder with folding hooks at the top end. The hooks anchor the ladder over the roof ridge.

Cellar/Bresnan Distributor Nozzle

designed to be used under the surface the operator is standing on

Straight Bore Nozzle

tool that produces a high flowing, hard-hitting stream that improves your ability to fight fires.

Combination Nozzle

designed to provide either a solid stream or a fixed spray pattern suitable for applying water

Attic Ladder

retractable ladder that is installed into the floor of an attic and ceiling of the floor below the attic.

Pole Ladder

a ladder made with half-round stiles (sides) comprising the two halves of a single straight pole sawn down the middle

A-Frame Ladder

A ladder in the shape of an A with a part that goes up the middle

Sledge Hammer

Is used to move platforms and destroy things

Water Key

a valve or tap used to allow the drainage of accumulated fluid

Elevator Key

control panel override key to take elevator car to desired floor

Knox Box Key

a small, wall-mounted safe that holds building keys for fire departments

Generator

a machine which produces electricity

Ventilation Fan

Fan that is used by firefighters to ventilate an area usually affected by smoke

Gated Wye

Hose appliance with one female inlet and two or more male outlets with a gate valve on each outlet

Siamese Valve

a pipe fitting that allows two or more fire hoses to be connected to a single standpipe riser at the same general location

Hose Clamp

A device used to compress a fire hose so as to stop water flow.

Hose Jacket

a high-pressure hose that carries water or other fire retardant

Deck Gun

A master stream device mounted to top deck of pumper.

Deluge Gun

master stream or deck gun is an aimable controllable high-capacity water jet used for manual firefighting or automatic fire protection systems

Scoop Shovel

a power shovel to remove material in order to allow for safe transportation into a scene

Double Male Coupling

A hose-coupling device having two male thread nipples for connecting hose and for connecting two female couplings of the same diameter.

Double Female Coupling

A hose-coupling device having two female swivel couplings to permit joining two male hose nipples of the same size and thread type when lines are laid with couplings in opposite or reverse directions.

Water Can

water fire extinguishers penetrate burning materials, creating a cooling effect and prevent re-ignition

CO2 Extinguisher

extinguish fire by taking away the oxygen element of the fire triangle and also be removing the heat with a very cold discharge

Dry Chemical Extingusher

tanks of foam or dry powder with compressed nitrogen as the propellant