Chapter 9 Glossary: Fire Fighter Tools And Equipment

Front 1

Battering ram

Back 1

A tool made of hardened steel with handles on the sides used to force doors and to breach walls. Larger versions may be used by as many as four people; smaller versions are made for one or two people.

Front 2

Bolt cutter

Back 2

A cutting tool used to cut through thick metal objects such as bolts, locks, and wire fences.

Front 3

Box-end wrench

Back 3

A hand tool used to tighten or loosen bolts. The end is enclosed, as opposed to an open-end wrench. Each wrench is a specific size, and most have ratchets for easier use.

Front 4

Carpenter’s handsaw

Back 4

A saw designed for cutting wood.

Front 5

Ceiling hook

Back 5

A tool with a long wooden or fiberglass pole that has a metal point with a spur at right angles at one end. It can be used to probe ceilings and pull down plaster lath material.

Front 6

Chainsaw

Back 6

A power saw that uses the rotating movement of a chain equipped with sharpened cutting edges. It is typically used to cut through wood.

Front 7

Chisel

Back 7

A metal tool with one sharpened end that is used to break apart material in conjunction with a hammer, mallet, or sledgehammer.

Front 8

Claw bar

Back 8

A tool with a pointed claw-hook on one end and a forked- or flat-chisel pry on the other end. It is often used for forcible entry.

Front 9

Clemens hook

Back 9

A multipurpose tool that can be used for several forcible entry and ventilation applications because of its unique head design.

Front 10

Closet hook

Back 10

A type of pike pole intended for use in tight spaces, commonly 2 to 4 feet in length.

Front 11

Come along

Back 11

A hand-operated tool used for dragging or lifting heavy objects that uses pulleys and cables or chains to multiply a pulling or lifting force.

Front 12

Coping saw

Back 12

A saw designed to cut curves in wood.

Front 13

Coupling

Back 13

One set or pair of connection devices attached to a fire hose that allow the hose to be interconnected to additional lengths of hose or adapters and other fire-fighting appliances. (NFPA 1963)

Front 14

Crowbar

Back 14

A straight bar made of steel or iron with a forkedlike chisel on the working end that is suitable for performing forcible entry.

Front 15

Cutting torch

Back 15

A torch that produces a high-temperature flame capable of heating metal to its melting point, thereby cutting through an object. Because of the high temperatures (5700°F) that these torches produce, the operator must be specially trained before using this tool.

Front 16

Drywall hook

Back 16

A specialized version of a pike pole that can remove drywall more effectively because of its hook design.

Front 17

Flat bar

Back 17

A specialized type of prying tool made of flat steel with prying ends suitable for performing forcible entry.

Front 18

Flat-head axe

Back 18

A tool that has a head with an axe on one side and a flat head on the opposite side.

Front 19

Forcible entry

Back 19

Techniques used by fire personnel to gain entry into buildings, vehicles, aircraft, or other areas of confinement when normal means of entry are locked or blocked. (NFPA 402)

Front 20

Gripping pliers

Back 20

A hand tool with a pincer-like working end that can be used to bend wire or hold smaller objects.

Front 21

Hacksaw

Back 21

A cutting tool designed for use on metal. Different blades can be used for cutting different types of metal.

Front 22

Halligan tool

Back 22

A prying tool that incorporates a pick and a fork, specifically designed for use in the fire service.

Front 23

Hammer

Back 23

A striking tool.

Front 24

Hand light

Back 24

A small, portable light carried by fire fighters to improve visibility at emergency scenes. It is often powered by rechargeable batteries.

Front 25

Handsaw

Back 25

A manually powered saw designed to cut different types of materials. Examples include hacksaws, carpenter’s handsaws, keyhole saws, and coping saws.

Front 26

Hux bar

Back 26

A multipurpose tool that can be used for several forcible entry and ventilation applications because of its unique design. It may also be used as a hydrant wrench.

Front 27

Hydrant wrench

Back 27

A hand tool that is used to operate the valves on a hydrant; it may also be used as a spanner wrench. Some models are plain wrenches, whereas others have a ratchet feature.

Front 28

Hydraulic shears

Back 28

A lightweight, hand-operated tool that can produce up to 10,000 pounds of cutting force.

Front 29

Hydraulic spreader

Back 29

A lightweight, hand-operated tool that can produce up to 10,000 pounds of prying and spreading force.

Front 30

Interior attack

Back 30

The assignment of a team of fire fighters to enter a structure and attempt fire suppression.

Front 31

Irons

Back 31

A combination of tools, usually consisting of a Halligan tool and a flat-head axe, that are commonly used for forcible entry.

Front 32

K tool

Back 32

A tool that is used to remove lock cylinders from structural doors so the locking mechanism can be unlocked.

Front 33

Kelly tool

Back 33

A steel bar with two main features: a large pick and a large chisel or fork.

Front 34

Keyhole saw

Back 34

A saw designed to cut circles in wood for keyholes.

Front 35

Life line

Back 35

A rope secured to a fire fighter that enables the fire fighter to retrace his or her steps out of a structure.

Front 36

Mallet

Back 36

A short-handled hammer.

Front 37

Maul

Back 37

A specialized striking tool, weighing 6 pounds or more, with an axe on one end and a sledgehammer on the other end.

Front 38

Mechanical saw

Back 38

A saw that is usually powered by an electric motor or a gasoline engine. The three primary types of mechanical saws are chainsaws, rotary saws, and reciprocating saws.

Front 39

Multipurpose hook

Back 39

A long pole with a wooden or fiberglass handle and a metal hook on one end used for pulling.

Front 40

Open-end wrench

Back 40

A hand tool that is used to tighten or loosen bolts. The end is open, as opposed to a box-end wrench. Each wrench is a specific size.

Front 41

Overhaul

Back 41

The process of final extinguishment after the main body of a fire has been knocked down. All traces of fire must be extinguished at this time. (NFPA 402, 2002)

Front 42

Pick-head axe

Back 42

A tool that has a head with an axe on one side and a pointed end (“pick”) on the opposite side.

Front 43

Pike pole

Back 43

A pole with a sharp point (“pike”) on one end coupled with a hook. It is used to make openings in ceilings and walls. Pike poles are manufactured in different lengths for use in rooms of different heights.

Front 44

Pipe wrench

Back 44

A wrench having one fixed grip and one movable grip that can be adjusted to fit securely around pipes and other tubular objects.

Front 45

Plaster hook

Back 45

A long pole with a pointed head and two retractable cutting blades on the side.

Front 46

Pry bar

Back 46

A specialized prying tool made of a hardened steel rod with a tapered end that can be inserted into a small area.

Front 47

Rabbet tool

Back 47

A hydraulic spreading tool designed to pry open doors that swing inward.

Front 48

Rapid intervention company/crew (RIC)

Back 48

A minimum of two fully equipped personnel on site, in a ready state, who are assigned to immediate rescue of injured or trapped fire fighters. Also called a rapid intervention team (RIT).

Front 49

Reciprocating saw

Back 49

A saw that is powered by an electric motor or a battery motor, and whose blade moves back and forth.

Front 50

Response

Back 50

Immediate and ongoing activities, tasks, programs, and systems to manage the effects of an incident that threatens life, property, operations, or the environment. (NFPA 1600)

Front 51

Roofman’s hook

Back 51

A long pole with a solid metal hook used for pulling.

Front 52

Rotary saw

Back 52

A saw that is powered by an electric motor or a gasoline engine, and that uses a large rotating blade to cut through material. The blades can be changed depending on the material being cut.

Front 53

San Francisco hook

Back 53

A multipurpose tool that can be used for several forcible entry and ventilation applications because of its unique design, which includes a built-in gas shut-off and directional slot.

Front 54

Screwdriver

Back 54

A tool used for turning screws.

Front 55

Search and rescue

Back 55

The process of searching a building for a victim and extricating the victim from the building.

Front 56

Seat belt cutter

Back 56

A specialized cutting device that cuts through seat belts.

Front 57

Size-up

Back 57

The observation and evaluation of existing factors that are used to develop objectives, strategy, and tactics for fire suppression. (NFPA 1051)

Front 58

Sledgehammer

Back 58

A long, heavy hammer that requires the use of both hands.

Front 59

Socket wrench

Back 59

A wrench that fits over a nut or bolt and uses the ratchet action of an attached handle to tighten or loosen the nut or bolt.

Front 60

Spanner wrench

Back 60

A type of tool used to couple or uncouple hoses by turning the rocker lugs on the connections.

Front 61

Spring-loaded center punch

Back 61

A spring-loaded punch used to break automobile glass.

Front 62

Thermal imaging device

Back 62

An electronic device that detects differences in temperature based on infrared energy and then generates images based on those data. It is commonly used in smoke-filled environments to locate victims as well as to search for hidden fire during size-up and overhaul.

Front 63

Ventilation

Back 63

The changing of air within a compartment by natural or mechanical means. Ventilation can be achieved by introduction of fresh air to dilute contaminated air or by local exhaust of contaminated air. (NFPA 302, 2004)