A firefighter named Steve in Newport News, Virginia, wonders why in his line of work, and for some police, certain additional kinds of days off after long unbroken shifts are called Kelly days, Kelly shifts, or Kelly time. The term most likely comes...
As we’ve previously discussed, firefighters don and doff their equipment, terms deriving from do on and do off. They are also said to dout a fire, meaning they “extinguish” it, dout being a similar shortening of do out. This is...
coyoteing n.— Note: Related to coyote camp. «The remote location of the fire has spurred crews to set up remote campsites closer to the fire’s edge, Freel said, a process known as “coyoteing.”» —“Despite aggressive firefight...
show me run n.— «“We have what is called a show me run, where our lead plane pilot (in a smaller plane) shows us where he wants us to drop,” Colonel Barkdull said. “He describes the start point and where he wants the line to...
spike out v. phr.— «If travel time to the side (or flank) of the fire where firefighters are assigned, they could be asked to “spike out” which means sleep in place rather than in the camp.» —“Release No. 0303.07: The...
rehab v.— «Topsfield Fire Chief Ronald Giovannacci said firefighting in the summer requires added safeguards. Regardless of temperature, firefighters go through a process known as “rehab.” After a certain amount of time...
