Standard Operating Procedures for Structural Fires (General Order 06-01)

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing key terms, roles, benchmarks, and concepts from Prince George’s County Fire/EMS General Order 06-01 on structural firefighting procedures.

Attic

The space immediately below a pitched roof.

Basement

Any building area with its floor partially or entirely below ground level (excluding lowest level of a split-foyer home).

Conditions, Actions, Needs Report (CAN)

Radio progress update that states present conditions, actions taken, and additional needs.

Cockloft

Small void space created when a flat roof is raised above the highest finished living space.

Command

Establishment of a fixed exterior command post for incident control.

Commercial Building

Structure used for industrial, mercantile, worship, storage, or office occupancies.

Command Officer

Career or volunteer chief officer recognized in the Department’s chain of command.

Fire Watch Unit

Unit assigned by the IC to remain after turnover to prevent rekindles.

Flank

To control or extinguish fire from an exterior side (e.g., flanking attack from Side Bravo).

Flow Path

Movement of air, hot gases, and smoke from high-pressure fire area toward lower-pressure openings.

High-Rise Building

Any structure five stories or higher.

Incident Commander (IC)

Individual who has established or assumed command and controls the incident.

Level 1 Staging

Units take assigned positions, stand by outside the structure, awaiting entry orders.

Level 2 Staging

Units report to a designated remote location, remain with apparatus, perform no tasks until assigned.

Multi-Family Dwelling

Residential building containing more than one family unit under one roof.

Obvious Rescue

Visible occupant in immediate danger of injury or death.

Outside-in Fire

Exterior fire that threatens to spread unimpeded into a structure’s interior.

Plenum

Space above a drop ceiling or below a raised floor used for HVAC air supply.

Proceed (response level)

Non-emergency travel to scene obeying all traffic laws, as directed by IC/BC.

Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC)

Single resource designated solely for firefighter rescue per 2-In/2-Out guidelines.

Rapid Intervention Group (RIG)

Multiple companies formed after RIC to expand firefighter rescue capability.

Roof Report

Information given to IC about roof construction, loads, and hazards.

Search Company

Truck, tower, rescue squad, or rescue engine assigned to complete primary searches.

Single-Family Dwelling

Residential building containing one family unit under one roof.

Special Service

Truck company, rescue squad, or rescue engine operating as a rescue squad.

Tactical Benchmark

Planned measurable action applied to a standard to meet a strategic goal.

Tactical Command

Forward position leadership by first unit officer providing direction before fixed command is established.

360 Report

Reconnaissance lap around structure prior to entry or hoseline deployment to relay critical size-up details.

Transitional Attack

Initial exterior fire attack to knock down conditions and prevent spread before interior entry.

Type I Construction

Fire-resistive construction.

Type II Construction

Non-combustible or limited-combustible construction.

Type III Construction

Ordinary (masonry/wood) construction.

Type IV Construction

Heavy-timber construction.

Type V Construction

Wood-frame construction.

Ventilation (coordinated)

Removal of smoke/toxins in sync with fire attack without creating unwanted flow paths.

Water Supply

Continuous municipal, shuttle, or draft source feeding attack or relay engine.

Life Safety Benchmark

Primary/secondary searches complete and no civilians or responders need rescue or medical care.

Incident Stabilization / Fire Control Benchmark

Fire is extinguished or contained; conditions are improving.

Property Conservation Benchmark

Actions taken to protect salvageable property are complete.

Environmental Safety Benchmark

Hazardous environmental conditions (atmospheric, structural, etc.) are mitigated.

Customer Service Benchmark

Occupant needs addressed and recovery process initiated.

Personnel Safety Benchmark

Responders decontaminated, rehabilitated, and cleared for duty.

Return to Service Benchmark

All personnel, apparatus, and equipment restored for next response.

Documentation Benchmark

All required incident reports and after-action paperwork completed.

Community Risk Reduction Benchmark

Post-incident engagement to minimize recurrence (e.g., smoke-alarm checks, public education).

RE-SLICERS

Decision-making acronym: Rescue, Size-up, Locate fire, Identify/Isolate flow path, Cool environment, Extinguish, Rescue, Salvage.

CLAPT

Roof report checklist: Construction, Location of dead loads, Already existing openings, Parapet details, Truss direction.

Division (geographic)

Incident area separated by floor or level for management (e.g., Division 2).

Quadrant

Interior building area labeled Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta starting front left and moving clockwise.

Exposure

Adjacent structure or area threatened by fire (e.g., Exposure Bravo).

Alpha Side

Front or addressed side of building; reference point for other sides.

Bravo Side

Left side when facing Side Alpha.

Charlie Side

Rear side, opposite Alpha.

Delta Side

Right side when facing Side Alpha.

RIC Staging Area

Location near primary entry where RIC/RIG crews and hose stand ready for immediate deployment.

Standpipe

Permanently installed piping delivering water to remote building points for firefighting operations.

Fire Department Connection (FDC)

External inlet where engines pump water into standpipe or sprinkler systems.

2-In, 2-Out Rule

OSHA requirement that two firefighters enter and two remain outside any IDLH atmosphere unless rescue is needed.

PAR (Personnel Accountability Report)

Roll-call confirming location and safety of all crews, typically every 20 minutes or after critical events.

Working Fire Dispatch

Additional resource assignment triggered when active fire is confirmed requiring extended operations.