Glossary of Firefighting - C

C

• Call Firefighter: In the U.S., call firefighters respond as needed on a part-time basis to all types of emergencies. Call firefighters train with their local engine companies in their districts. Call firefighters are utilized in three different ways. “First Responder" call firefighter units, are those units that are staffed entirely by paid call firefighters. These firefighters respond to all emergency incidents within their jurisdictional areas and are supported by full-time companies from adjoining jurisdictions. "Supplemental" call firefighter units are those units that staff a second engine company from a station that is also staffed by a full-time company. These units respond to all multi-unit responses in their district, and cover the station when the career companies are committed. "Augmentation" call firefighters are assigned to an existing career company and respond directly to the scene to augment that company's staffing. See also Retained firefighter (U.K.)
• Can: Slang for a fire extinguisher.
• Career Firefighter: (U.S.) A person whose primary employment is as a firefighter for a municipality or other agency or company and who derives the majority of his earned income working in the fire service. See also Wholetime firefighter (U.K.)
• Charge a hose: To make water pressure available on a hose in final preparation for its use. This is done on the scene after the hose is deployed, but prior to entering the fire danger area. (Also known as "Charge the line")
• Charged hose: A hose that is filled with water and pressurized; ready to use. The charged line is much more difficult to move than one not yet charged.
• Chauffeur: See Engineer.
• Chief officer: An executive officer of the fire department, as contrasted with a tactical Company officer. Typical Chief officers include the Fire chief, Assistant and Deputy Fire Chief, Battalion or Division or District Chiefs (who may each supervise Fire Captains), Watch Commanders and the Scottish Fire Master.
• Chimney fire: Fast and intense fire in a chimney flue in which accumulated creosote and other combustion byproducts ignite. These often extend fire into the roof or attic, especially with defective chimneys or when the mortar becomes hot enough to melt.
• Class A: A fire involving combustibles such as wood, paper, and other natural materials. See Fire Classes.
• Class B: A fire involving hydrocarbons and polar solvents. See Fire Classes.
• Class C: An electrical fire. See Fire Classes.
• Class D: A fire involving metals, such as sodium, titanium, magnesium, potassium, uranium, lithium, plutonium and calcium. See Fire Classes.
• Class E (Europe/Australia): A composite Class A/Class B fire that is not also a Class C fire.
• Class F (Europe/Australia): See Class K.
• Class K: A fire involving cooking oils. Technically, this is a subclass of Class B. See Fire Classes.
• Cockloft: structural space above ceiling and below rafters, often connecting adjacent occupancies and permitting fire to spread laterally, often unseen.
• Collapse zone: The area around a structure that would contain debris if the building were to collapse. This is generally 1.5x the height of the structure.
• Combustion: When materials smolder or burn. See main article for technical details.
• Commissioner: Civilian administrator of the fire services, appointed or elected in some cities, such as the New York City Fire Commissioner.
• Company: Two or more firefighters organized as a team, led by a fire officer, and equipped to perform certain operational functions. Compare with platoon and unit.
• Company officer : A fire officer, typically a lieutenant or captain, who leads a team of two or more firefighters in a tactical company.
• Compartment Fire: An "Isolated" fire, or a fire which is "boxed in" or "closed off" from the rest of the structure. An example of this is a fire in a room where all the windows and doors are closed preventing the fire from spreading to other rooms.
• Confined space: Usually refers to a "confined space rescue." This involves a space that may have very limited access, little or no room to maneuver, poor air or light, and very likely other hazards. A trench cave-in, a collapsed building, a sewer or utility vault rescue, or a problem in and around industrial equipment are some examples.
• Conflagration: A large, typically urban, fire involving numerous structures; loosely defined as enveloping an area equivalent to one or more square blocks. Compare with firestorm.
• Crash Tender: A pump capable of spraying foam used at airports.
• Crew Resource Management (CRM): Training developed by NASA based on the concept that the primary cause of the majority of aviation accidents is human error and problems with interpersonal communication in particular. The training has been adapted for the fire service and teaches firefighters the correct way to question orders on an emergency scene. It also helps supervisors understand that the questioning of an order should not be interpreted as a threat to their authority.
• Cross lay: Arrangement of hose on a pumper such that it can be quickly unloaded from either side of the apparatus; often pre-connected to a pump outlet and equipped with a suitable nozzle. Also known as Mattydale Lay.