Warwick Fire Department Operations Manual

Vocabulary terms and formal definitions derived from the Warwick Fire Department Operations Manual, covering administrative policies, emergency scene operations, and equipment specifications.

Board of Public Safety

The governing body established by law that establishes the Rules and Regulations for the Warwick Fire Department.

Firefighter Grades

The professional hierarchy for new members, consisting of Grade 3, Grade 2, and Grade 1 (the highest).

Probationary Period

A standard period of one year of active service that every person selected for the Department must serve before receiving a permanent appointment.

IDLH

Acronym for Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health; any condition that poses an immediate threat to life or causes irreversible adverse health effects.

Mayday

A radio designator used to identify that a member is in a life-threatening situation or in need of immediate assistance.

Personnel Accountability Tag (PAT)

A red plastic tag engraved with a member's name and roll call number used to track personnel on the Personnel Accountability Board (PAB).

Firefighter Accountability and Tracking (FAT) System

A software-based electronic tracking system that integrates radio and SCBA information for enhanced situational awareness on the fireground.

LIP

The mnemonic for communicating a Mayday: Location, Identification, and Problem.

Priority Message

A designator used to communicate vital information to prevent death or injury to members/civilians or damage to apparatus, ranked below a Mayday.

Rapid Intervention Team (RIT)

A dedicated crew of at least four members whose primary duty is to search for, locate, and remove distressed firefighters.

Offensive Mode

A fireground strategy utilizing an aggressive interior attack as the initial means of fire suppression.

Defensive Mode

Operations taken when fire intensity precludes an interior attack; exposures are protected and no companies operate inside the building.

Marginal Mode

The transitional timeframe between offensive and defensive operations.

NFA Fire Flow Formula

\text{Length} \times \text{Width} / 3; used to determine the minimum gallons per minute required for fire involvement.

Skip Breathing

An emergency technique where a firefighter inhales normally, holds it, inhales again, and then exhales to extend air supply.

Storz Coupling

A sexless, lightweight aluminum, quarter-turn quick connection used primarily on 5-inch supply hose.

Hydrant Assist Valve

A four-port valve that connects to a hydrant's steamer port practiced for continuous water supply or boosting hydrant pressure.

Class A Dress Uniform

Formal uniform consisting of a white shirt, blue serge jacket and trousers, black tie, and white gloves, worn for ceremonies.

Class B Station Uniform

Standard daily attire consisting of a medium blue Nomex shirt (white for senior officers) and navy blue Nomex pants.

Rehab Sector

An area established on-scene to provide medical evaluation, hydration, and relief from environmental stress for responders.

Multi-Company Dispatch (MCD)

An incident involving five or more assets operating, which requires the assignment of a specific fireground channel (Channel 3 or 4).

Primary Staging

The rapid assemblies of companies (typically one Engine and one Ladder) near a working fire to be quickly assigned by the Incident Commander.

Task Force

A specific mutual aid response group consisting of two Engines, one Ladder, one Rescue, and one District Battalion Chief.

SCBA Criteria for Use

Required when oxygen is below 19.5\%, CO exceeds 35\,\text{ppm}, or in any unknown/suspected hazardous atmosphere.