Do You Know Your Firefighter Slang?

Firefighters often find themselves responding to terrible traffic accidents, and in some cases, it's impossible to extract people from mangled vehicles. When this happens, firefighters turn to a hydraulic machine known as a Hurst tool, aka the Jaws of Life, to pry the pieces of the wreckage apart.

A firefighter who got sent on three calls last night might tell his friends he went on three stretches, or that he stretched three times. This term comes from the fact that firefighters must stretch out the hose at each job to put out the blaze.

Firefighters can speed through traffic thanks to powerful lights and sirens. When heading back to the station, they may choose to go for a Code One, and leave the lights and sirens off during the trip.

Old-school firefighters relied on rudimentary plugs to allow them to connect to the water supply when it was time to fight a fire. Today, modern firefighting professionals use modern hydrants to access a steady stream of water on demand.

Non-firefighters might call that tool that sprays water on a fire a hose, but pros use a different term. They are more likely to call this critical tool a pipe or line.

The air inside a burning building can quickly bring even a trained firefighter to his knees. That's why these professionals use a SCBA, or self-contained breathing apparatus, to keep them supplied with fresh air. Some also simply call it an air pack.

A Code 3 means that a fire truck is traveling with lights on and sirens blaring. A Code 1 is the opposite, and involves traveling with no lights or sirens,

An engineer, or driver/engineer, is a critical part of any firefighting crew. This individual not only drives the truck, but also operates and maintains major equipment like ladders and pumps.

Named for an NYC firefighter from the 1940s, the Halligan is a powerful tool used in the firefighting industry. It resembles a giant pry bar, but is versatile enough to smash through a locked door or knock down a wall.

It might sound like a transit route, but the red line is actually a tool used by firefighters. This small hose generally has a one-inch diameter, and is used for smaller fires, such as a car blaze.

Some firefighting vehicles are simple ladder trucks, while others serve more than one function. A quint is a five-function truck, which can carry a hose, transport water, pump water, hoist an aerial ladder and incorporate a water tower.

You can't fire a fire if you can't get to it. Firefighters use a K-tool to pop cylinders out of locks and easily open doors. This allows them to access a fire and put it out without bothering with keys.

Calling a fireman a Jake is a long tradition -- one that is rumored to date back to 19th century Boston, when firemen used a device called a J-key to activate fire alarms. Since then, J-key has become Jake, and the name can be either a compliment or an insult depending on where you live.

Some long firetrucks require not only an engineer in the driver's seat, but also someone to sit at the back and steer the back wheels around curves and corners. This is the job of the Tillerman, also known as the Tiller.

Backdrafting is a scary phenomenon that firefighters sometimes encounter, but drafting is something else entirely. It is the practice of pulling water from alternate sources likes cisterns or ponds when a standard hydrant isn't available.

Sometimes the standard firetrucks just aren't practical for accessing the scene of a fire. In some wild fires for instance, firefighters use a specialty pickup known as a grass wagon. Equipped with a hose and water pump, it's ideal for tackling small blazes.

Firefighters are often called to the scene of a medical emergency, even if no fire is involved. A Signal 13 is fireman speak for an incident involving a psychiatric patient, one who who requires mental healthcare.

A new firetruck is the perfect occasion for a wet down ceremony. That means pushing the old truck out, spraying the new one with water, then parking it in its new home.

Pride in your work is one thing, but those who live or die by their firefighter rep are known derisively as woo woos. These individuals never fail to wear their official gear out in public, and may even put lights or sirens on their personal vehicle so they can rush to the scene of a blaze even when they are off the clock.

Firefighters have nicknamed water-spraying boom trucks snorkels. These trucks allow fire professionals to aim water directly into a blaze, even if it's high above the ground.

Firefighters, paramedics and EMTs work closely together to help out during an emergency. Some firefighters use the terms bus or box when referring to an ambulance.

ETA stands for estimated time of arrival. This is critical information for firefighters, as every second counts when a fire is blazing.

Firefighters use specialized techniques to fight fires. A reverse lay involves starting at the fire itself, then rolling out the hose to connect to a nearby hydrant.

An interior attack means fighting the fire from inside the structure. To maximize safety, it always requires at least four people -- two to go in, and two to stay back for backup or rescue.

GPM stands for gallons per minute. This information is critical to firefighters as they calculate the best way to battle a blaze.

Every second counts when it comes to fighting a fire, so firefighters can't exactly take the time to stop at every red light on their way to the scene. An Opticom is a special device that automatically changes traffic lights to green to give the fire engine the right of way.

Believe it or not, around 70 percent of all U.S. firefighters are volunteers. These Vollies work alongside paid forces to keep their communities safe.

A forward lay is an effective firefighting technique to quickly put out a blaze. It involves starting at the hydrant or other water source, then laying the hose out toward the fire.

Firefighters love to come up with their own slang, and that includes coming up with creative names for other members of the squad. A Truckie, for instance, is any firefighter who works on a ladder truck.

A hose won't be very effective at firefighting unless it has some water pressure behind it. Hoses under pressure from a water pump are known as live lines.

A standpipe is a must-have system within a building, especially a high-rise. It allows firefighters to quickly connect their hoses and access pre-piped water, or even to pump additional water into the building's sprinkler system.

Firefighters are sometimes forced to improvise when the right tools or conditions aren't available to fight a blaze, This might even mean grabbing onto the green line, aka the garden hose, if nothing else is around.

The heat and smoke from a fire poses serious risk to the brave men and women who fight these blazes. Turnout gear, which consists of heavy clothing, helmets, boots and other gear, can help reduce injury risk.

Firefighters know that the work isn't done when the flames die down. Before they leave the scene, they search for any remaining dangers or hotspots in a process known as mopping up.

When you start your firefighting career, you will likely spend some time on a period of probation while you learn the industry, Don't be surprised to find yourself referred to a probie during that time.