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Glossary WAGON Water supply piece of apparatus in a two-piece engine company; a special piece of fire apparatus that carries a large quantity of hose. WALL HYDRANT Wall hydrants protrude through the wall of a building or pump house. WALL LADDER A straight, single-section ladder used for placement against walls. WALL SPRINKLER An automatic sprinkler system designed to protect a wall or an exposure area. WARM ZONE The area where personnel and equipment decontamination and hot-zone support takes place; includes control points for the access corridor and thus assists in reducing the spread of contamination; referrers to as the "decontamination," "contamination reduction," "yellow zone," "support zone" or "limited access zone" in other documents. WARNING DEVICES Any audible or visual devices, such as flashing lights, sirens, horns, or bells, added to an emergency vehicle to gain the attention of drivers of other vehicles. WARNING LIGHTS Lights on the apparatus designed to attract the attention of other motorists. WASH DOWN Flushing spilled combustible materials such as flammable liquids. WASTE LINE Hoseline that is tied off or otherwise secured and is used to handle water in excess of that being used during a relay operation. Also known as a Dump Line. WATCH A period of time during which a firefighter is assigned to the communications center desk or to other duties. WATCH DESK The central communications center desk or a fire station patrol desk. WATCH LINE A charged line or hose remaining at the scene of a fire with a detail of firefighters to guard against possible rekindling after the fire has apparently been extinguished. WATCHMAN An employee assigned to patrol and guards a property against fire. WATER CURTAIN A row of outside sprinklers protecting a building from exposure to fires; may also be achieved by placing hose streams to protect exposures; a fan-shaped stream of water applied between a fire and an exposed surface to prevent the surface from igniting from radiated heat. See Wall Sprinkler. WATER DEPARTMENT Municipal authority responsible for the water supplies system in a given community. WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM System designed to supply water for residential, commercial, industrial, and/ or fire protection purposes; delivered through a network of piping and pressure-developing equipment. WATER HAMMER The damaging water pressure in the hoseline or pumps resulting from sudden stopping of the flow of water through fire hose or pipe; force created by the rapid deceleration of water; results from closing a valve or nozzle too quickly. WATER REACTIVE A material that reacts with water to release gas, which is either flammable and/or toxic. WATER REACTIVE MATERIALS Substances, generally flammable solids, that will react in varying degrees when mixed with water or when they come in contact with humid air. WATER SHUTTLE OPERATION Method of water supply by which tenders/tankers continuously transport water between a fill site and the dumpsite located near the emergency scene. WATER SOLUBILITY The ability of a liquid or solid to mix with or dissolve in water. WATER SUPPLY Any source of water available for use in firefighting operations. WATER SUPPLY PUMPER Pumper that takes water from a source and sends it to attack pumpers operating at the fire scene. WATER TANK Water storage receptacle carried directly on the apparatus. NFPA 1901 specifies that Class A pumpers must carry at least 500 gallons (2000 L). Also called Booster Tank. WATER THIEF Any of a variety of gated valves or connections that permits supplying several smaller hoselines from a larger line; variation of a wye adapter has three gated outlets, usually two 1 1/2-inch (38 mm) outlets and one 2 1/2-inch (65 mm) outlet; a single inlet for 2 1/2-inch (65 mm) or larger hose. WATER TOWER An apparatus-mounted portable standpipe with one or more nozzles that can be elevated to variable heights; primarily intended for deploying an elevated master stream; not generally intended for climbing operations. Also known as an Elevating Master Stream Device. WATER VACUUM An appliance similar to a household vacuum cleaner, designed to pick up water after the fire is out; a piece of equipment used in overhaul. WATERWAY Path through which water flows within a hose or pipe. WAYBILL The shipping paper prepared by the railroad from a bill of landing. Waybills generally accompany a shipment and are carried by the conductor in the caboose of the train. A railroad document describing a shipment for materials being transported by rail showing the shipper, consignee, routing, and weights, used by the carrier for internal record and control, especially when the shipment is in transit. WELDED SEAM A union made by welding; the joining of two or more pieces of material by applying heat, pressure, or both, with or without filler material, to produce a localized union through fusion or recrystallization across the interface. WELDING ROD Filler material in rod or wire form used in welding. WELLHEAD The top of a structure built over a well. In hazardous materials it usually occurs over the top of an oil well. WET BULB GLOBE TEMPERATURE (WBGT) This is the OSHA-recommended method for assessing heat-stress potential. WET DOWN Wetting down or dampening down debris after fire has been controlled but not completely extinguished. WET PIPE SPRINKLER SYSTEM An automatic sprinkler system in which the pipes are constantly filled with water under pressure. WET STANDPIPE SYSTEM A building standpipe system constantly filled with water; sections of small diameter fire hose are connected to the standpipe system on each floor for use of occupants. WET WATER Water to which a wetting agent has been introduced to reduce the surface tension of the water and to improve its penetration qualities. Trade name for a 3-M wetting agent product. WET-BARREL HYDRANT Fire hydrant that has water all the way up to the discharge outlets; may have separate valves for each discharge or one valve for all the discharges; used in areas where there is no danger of freezing weather conditions. WETTING AGENT Chemical solution added to water to reduce its surface tension and improve its penetrating ability; detergent is a mild form of wetting agent; Class A foams have strong wetting properties and can be used as wetting agents at 0.1 to 0.3 percent. WHEAL An acute swelling of the skin; condition is common to a bee sting. WHEEL BLOCKS Wedge shaped wooden or metal blocks placed against the wheels of an apparatus to prevent its movement. See Chocks. WHEEL BURN A wheel burn (spot burn) is a reduction in the thickness of the tank shell. It is similar to a score but is caused by prolonged contact with a turning wheel. Also called a spot burn. WILD LINE A charged hoseline with water flowing and that is not under control. WILDLAND FIRE APPARATUS A fire apparatus that is de- signed especially for use in fighting wildland fires. See Initial Fire Attack Apparatus and Brush Pumper. WINCH Pulling tool that consists of a length of steel chain or cable wrapped around a motor-driven drum; most commonly attached to the front or rear of a vehicle. WIND-BOUND Status of a sailing vessel, which is prevented from leaving because the wind is unfavorable. WIRE CUTTERS A tool with approved, insulated handles, used to cut wire. WIRED GLASS Glass with a mesh-wire pattern in it, used to resist heat or to protect openings against the spread of fire. See Skylight. WORK PLAN Written directives that specifically describe all work activities that are to take place at a work site. WORKING FIRE A term used by firefighters to describe a fire at which considerable fire fighting activity is being conducted. WOVEN JACKET HOSE Fire hose constructed with one or two outer jackets woven on looms from cotton or synthetic fibers. WYE A hose appliance for the purpose of dividing one line into two or more working lines; normally has two male and one female couplings and is usually gated; older style wye's can be found non-gated. |
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