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Major Disaster |
As
defined under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122), a major disaster is any natural
catastrophe (including any hurricane, tornado, storm, high water,
wind-driven water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption,
landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, or drought), or, regardless of cause,
any fire, flood, or explosion, in any part of the United States, which
in the determination of the President causes damage of sufficient
severity and magnitude to warrant major disaster assistance to
supplement the efforts and available resources of States, tribes, local
governments, and disaster relief organizations in alleviating the
damage, loss, hardship, or suffering caused thereby. |
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Make the alarm |
A call for
additional personnel, an additional piece of apparatus or a second
alarm. |
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Make up air |
The
air brought into a building to compensate for air exhausted from the
building |
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Malaise
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a sense of
physical ill-being such as that experienced at the onset of an illness
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Male
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Any part,
such as a bolt or hose coupling, designed to fit into another (female)
part. External threads are male. |
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Male Coupling |
Hose nipple
with protruding threads that fits into the thread of a female coupling
of the same pitch and appropriate diameter and thread count. |
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Maltese cross |
The symbol
of the firefighters worn on the uniform or on the cap; the popular
variety of the Maltese cross is actually a modification of the cross
pattern rather than the actual eight-point cross. The eight-point
Maltese Cross is the international symbol of the fire service's
willingness to make great sacrifices in order to protect others from the
ravages of fire. The cross, which is considered sacred, represents the
principles of charity, loyalty, chivalry, gallantry, generosity to
friend and foe, protection of the weak and dexterity in service. Today,
firefighters wear the Maltese Cross to symbolize their willingness to
risk their lives to save others. |
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Management by Objective |
A management approach that
involves a four-step process for achieving the incident goal. The Management
by Objectives approach includes the following: establishing overarching
objectives; developing and issuing assignments, plans, procedures, and
protocols; establishing specific, measurable objectives for various incident
management functional activities and directing efforts to fulfill them, in
support of defined strategic objectives; and documenting results to measure
performance and facilitate corrective action. |
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Managers |
Individuals within ICS
organizational Units that are assigned specific managerial responsibilities,
e.g., Staging Area Manager or Camp Manager |
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Manifold |
Used to join a number of discharge pipelines
to a common outlet. Hose appliance that divides one larger hose line into
three or more small hose lines; also called Portable Hydrant; hose appliance
that combines three or more smaller hose lines into one large hose line; top
portion of the pump casing. |
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Mansard roof |
A roof with two slopes on each side, with the
lower slope being nearly vertical and the upper nearly horizontal. |
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Mantel |
The shelf above a fireplace opening. Also
used in referring to the decorative trim around a fireplace opening. |
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Manufactured wood |
A wood product such as a truss, beam,
gluelam, microlam or joist which is manufactured out of smaller wood pieces
and glued or mechanically fastened to form a larger piece. Often used to
create a stronger member which may use less wood. See also Oriented Strand
Board. |
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Mars light |
Single-beam, oscillating warning light. |
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Masonry |
General term for brickwork, stonework,
concrete blockwork, or similar materials. |
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Mass Transfer |
The movement of heat by burning firebrands,
as used in the fire literature. |
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Master Stream |
A master stream is a large and
fixed stream of water. Master streams are used on the end of aerial ladders
on ladder trucks and on top of pumper trucks. Master streams can deliver
larger amounts of water than hand-held hose. |
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Master stream nozzle |
Nozzle capable of flowing in excess of 350
gpm. |
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Mastic |
A pasty material used as a cement (as for
setting tile) or a protective coating (as for thermal insulation or
waterproofing) |
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Material first ignited |
The fuel that is first set on fire by the
heat of ignition. To be meaningful, both a type of material and a form of
material should be identified. |
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Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) |
OSHA-required
documents supplied by manufacturers of potentially hazardous products, which
contain information regarding potentially significant airborne contaminants,
precautions for inspection, health effects, odor description, volatility,
expected contaminants from combustion, reactivity, and procedures for spill
cleanup. MSDSs may not always be useful in the context of indoor air
evaluations, as some product components may be proprietary and unlisted,
secondary byproducts formed by emissions will not necessarily be listed, and
the effects and controls listed may not be applicable to the conditions and
low concentrations encountered indoors |
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Mechanical foam |
Foam that
requires the blending of water, foam concentrate and air to be
developed. :A substance introduced into the water line by various means
at a 6% concentration. Air is then introduced to yield a foam consisting
generally of 90 volumes air, 9.4 volumes water, and 0.6 volumes foam
liquid. It uses hydrolyzed soybean, fish scale, hoof and horn meal,
peanut or corn protein as a base. |
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Medical Unit |
Functional Unit within the Service Branch of the Logistics Section
responsible for the development of the Medical Emergency Plan, and for
providing emergency medical treatment of incident personnel.
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Medium diameter hose (MDH) |
2 1/2 or
3-inch hose that is used for both fire fighting attack and for
relay-supply purposes. |
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Medium rescue vehicle |
Rescue vehicle somewhat larger and better
equipped than a light rescue vehicle. This vehicle may carry powered
hydraulic spreading tools and cutters, air bag lifting systems, power saws,
oxyacetylene cutting equipment, ropes and rigging equipment, as well as
basic hand equipment. |
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Melting point |
The temperature in degrees F or degrees C at
which a solid becomes a liquid. The degree of temperature at which a solid
substance becomes a liquid, especially under a pressure of one atmosphere.
This may also be referred to as the freezing point. |
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Mercaptans |
A group of organosulfur compounds that are
derivatives of hydrogen sulfide in the same way that alcohols are
derivatives of water. They have a characteristically disagreeable odor, and
are found with other sulfur compounds in crude petroleum. An example is
methyl mercaptan. Also known as thiols. An odorant injected into natural gas
used to detect the presence of a leak |
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Message Center |
The Message Center is part of the Incident Communications Center
and is collocated or placed adjacent to it. It receives, records, and
routes information about resources reporting to the incident, resource
status, and administrative and tactical traffic. |
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Metal lath |
Sheets of
metal that are slit to form openings within the lath. Used as a plaster
base for walls and ceilings and as reinforcing over other forms of
plaster base. |
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Metal tie |
A strip of metal used to fasten construction
members together. |
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Metal wall ties |
Strips of corrugated metal used to tie a
brick veneer wall to framework. |
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Microlam |
A manufactured structural wood beam. It is
constructed of pressure and adhesive bonded wood strands of wood. They have
a higher strength rating than solid sawn lumber. Normally comes in l ½"
thickness' and 9 ½", 11 ½" and 14" widths |
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Midi pumper |
See Initial Attack Apparatus |
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Midship pump |
Fire pumps mounted at the center of the fire
apparatus, behind the driver's seat and between the front and rear wheels of
the apparatus. Fire pumps mounted at the center of the fire apparatus. |
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Mildew
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A superficial covering of organic surfaces
with fungi under damp conditions |
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Millwork |
Generally all building materials made of
finished wood and manufactured in millwork plants. Includes all doors,
window and door frames, blinds, mantels, panelwork, stairway components
(balusters, rail, etc.), moldings, and interior trim. Does not include
flooring, ceiling, or siding. |
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Mineral wool |
An insulating material made into a fibrous
form from mineral slag. |
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Mini pumper |
See Initial Attack Apparatus. |
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Miter joint |
The
joint of two pieces at an angle that bisects the joining angle. For example,
the miter joint at the side and head casing at a door opening is made at a
45° angle. |
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Mitigation |
The activities designed to reduce
or eliminate risks to persons or property or to lessen the actual or
potential effects or consequences of an incident. Mitigation measures may be
implemented prior to, during, or after an incident. Mitigation measures are
often informed by lessons learned from prior incidents. Mitigation involves
ongoing actions to reduce exposure to, probability of, or potential loss
from hazards. Measures may include zoning and building codes, floodplain
buyouts, and analysis of hazard- related data to determine where it is safe
to build or locate temporary facilities. Mitigation can include efforts to
educate governments, businesses, and the public on measures they can take to
reduce loss and injury. |
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Mobile water supply apparatus |
Fire apparatus with a water tank of 1000
gallons or larger whose primary purpose is transporting water. The truck may
also carry a pump, some hose, and other equipment. Also referred to as
tenders or tankers. |
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Mobilization |
The process and procedures used by all organizations (Federal, State, and
local) for activating, assembling, and transporting all resources that have
been requested to respond to or support an incident. |
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Mobilization Center |
An off-incident location at which
emergency service personnel and equipment are temporarily located pending
assignment, release, or reassignment. |
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Modular construction
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Construction in which the size of the
building and the building materials are based on a common unit of measure.
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Moisture barrier
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A material such as specially treated paper
that retards the passage of vapor or moisture into walls and prevents
condensation within the walls. |
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Molding |
A wood strip having an engraved, decorative
surface. |
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Monitor |
A type of master stream similar
to a deck gun, but removable from the apparatus. Hose can be laid into it,
making it mobile. Master stream appliance whose stream direction can be
changed while water is being discharged. They can be fixed, portable, or a
combination. |
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Monitor vents |
Rectangular projections through roofs, with
metal, glass, or louvered sides. The sides are counterweighted, hinged, and
designed to stay in place when held shut with a fusible link. Monitors are
designed to ventilate an area when the heat from a fire fuses the link. |
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Monopost |
Adjustable metal column used to support a
beam or bearing point. Normally 11 gauge or Schedule 40 metal, and
determined by the structural engineer |
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Mortar |
A mixture of cement (or lime) with sand and
water used in masonry work. |
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Mortise |
A slot cut into a board, plank, or timber,
usually edgewise, to receive the tenon (or tongue) of another board, plank,
or timber to form a joint. |
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Mouth to mouth breathing |
A form of resuscitation by placing one's
mouth over the victim's mouth and breathing into the victim. |
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Move up |
Signal for a station to move apparatus to
another fire station in the district when the first station has exhausted
its personnel and apparatus on an incident. This occurs primarily when more
than one emergency is occurring in adjoining geographical areas. |
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MSDS |
Material Safety Data Sheet. |
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Mudsill |
Bottom horizontal member of an exterior wall
frame which rests on top a foundation, sometimes called sill plate. Also
sole plate, bottom member of interior wall frame. |
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Mullion |
A vertical divider in the frame between
windows, doors, or other openings. |
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Multi-agency Coordination
(MAC) |
The coordination of assisting
agency resources and support to emergency operations. |
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Multi-agency Coordination
Entity |
A multi-agency coordination entity functions within a broader
multi-agency coordination system. It may establish the priorities among
incidents and associated resource allocations, de-conflict agency policies,
and provide strategic guidance and direction to support incident management
activities. |
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Multi-agency Coordination Systems (MACs)
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Multi-agency coordination systems provide the architecture
to support coordination for incident prioritization, critical resource
allocation, communications systems integration, and information
coordination. The components of multi-agency coordination systems include
facilities, equipment, emergency operation centers (EOCs), specific
multi-agency coordination entities, personnel, procedures, and
communications. These systems assist agencies and organizations to fully
integrate the subsystems of the NIMS. |
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Multi-agency Incident |
An incident where one or more agencies assist a jurisdictional
agency or agencies. May be single or unified command. |
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Multiple alarm |
An additional alarm, such, as second or
third, that is a call for additional assistance or response. |
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Multiple stage pump |
A pump with more than one impeller. |
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Muntin |
A small member which divides the glass or
openings of sash or doors. |
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Muscle cramp |
A painful spasmodic muscular contraction; a
form of heat exhaustion in which muscle spasm is attended by pains, dilated
pupils, and weak pulse. Seen in those who labor in intense heat and lose
much water and salt such as from intense work performed in a Level A suit. |
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Mushroom |
a) Extension of
fire on upper floors due to pent-up heat which reaches the upper parts of
the building through unprotected openings and is denied efficient means of
escape unless ventilation is speedily and properly conducted by
firefighters. b) The unacceptable occurrence when the top of a caisson
concrete pier spreads out and hardens to become wider than the foundation
wall thickness |
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Mushrooming |
A condition in
which fire and heated gases rise to the uppermost point inside a building
and begin to spread laterally to other areas. |
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Mutual aid |
Two-way assistance by fire departments of two
or more communities freely given under pre-arranged plans or contracts on
the basis that each will aid the other in time of emergency; also providing
for joint or cooperative response to alarms near municipal boundaries. |
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Mutual aid agreement
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Written agreement between agencies and/or jurisdictions that they
will assist one another on request, by furnishing personnel, equipment,
and/or expertise in a specified manner. |
