Firefighting Definitions & Abbreviations

Firefighter = FF = a person who is employed by a fire department to fight fires and/or provide prompt, basic emergency care.
Emergency First Responder = EFR = a certified medical first responder.
First Responder = FR = a police or fire personnel who arrives first to an emergency.
Fire Department = FD = where firefighters are employed.
Emergency Medical Services = EMS = division, department, group trained in offering medical assistance.
Emergency Medical Technician = EMT = A certified individual trained in giving specialized medical attention until a more competent medical service is at disposal.
Emergency Medical Technician-Basic = EMT-B = A certified individual trained in appropriate lifesaving skills necessary to stabilize a victim while en route to a hospital. An EMT-Basic usually works on a BLS ambulance.
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic = EMT-P = the most advanced level of EMT that an individual can receive. EMT-Paramedics, commonly referred to as just "Paramedic" or "Medics" have the same capabilities as an EMT-B and EMT-I (Intermediate) only Paramedics can inject intravenous (IV) drugs if need be.
Basic Life Support = BLS = categorizes care for minor injuries/illnesses.
Advanced Life Support = ALS = categorizes care for major, life threatening injuries/illnesses.
Personal Alert Safety System Device = P.A.S.S. Device = a small device that sets off an alarm after 15 seconds of inactivity to alert other firefighters that there is a firefighter down. All firefighters wear one on the scene of a fire.
Rapid Intervention Crew = RIC = a rescue crew sent in to located and evacuate injured firefighters.
Rescue = the process of locating and evacuating people who are trapped in dangerous situations such as a structual fire, motor vehicle accident, etc.
Motor Vehicle Accident = MVA = a collision between either 1.) a vehicle and a stationary object, 2.) a vehicle and a pedestrian, 3.) two or more vehicles, 4.) a vehicle and an animal such as a deer or a moose.
Squad = a light rescue vehicle normally used for responding to medical emergencies but can be able to respond to fires only as a mode of transportation rather than being used to extinguish the fire like a fire engine can. A mini-pumper is normally used as the squad truck.
Tanker = a vehicle used for carrying large amounts of water that can re-fill a fire truck.
Turnout Gear = fire retardant clothing. consists of a coat which is usually made out of kevlar, bunker pants which is also usually made out of kevlar, fire retardant boots which are usually steel toed, and a fire retardant helmet.
Self Contained Breathing Apparatus = SCBA = a fire retardant breathing device used when entering a smoke-filled building. Consists of an air tank, a regulator, and a mask.
Lieutenant = Lt. = a rank just below Captain but above a Firefighter.
Captain = Capt. = a rank just below Division Chief and just above a Lieutenant.

wikipedia.org