Updated Friday March 26, 2010

Firefighter Dictionary: S

The following is common terminology to structural fire firefighters. There are additional definitions for emergency medical terminology, building construction, arson investigation and hazardous materials and more. Please note that some definitions have more than one meaning but are spelled the same. Click on a letter to take you to that index.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 

S
SABA	Supplied air-breathing apparatus.
Sack mix	The amount of Portland cement in a cubic yard of concrete mix. Generally, 5 or 6 sack is required in a foundation wall.
Saddle	A small second roof built behind the back side of a fireplace chimney to divert water around the chimney. Also, the plate at the bottom of some—usually exterior—door openings. Sometimes called a threshold.
Safe Zone	A geographical region beyond the warm zone where there is no suspected product contamination; often referred to as the cold zone or the outermost zone.
Safety	The proper handling of a substance or carrying out of a task to eliminate its capacity to cause injury or do harm.
Safety belt	Device worn around the waist or as a harness for securing a person to a structure or within a vehicle.
Safety can	An approved container of not more than 5 gallons capacity, having a spring-closing lid and spout cover, and so designed that it will safely relieve pressure when subjected to fire exposure.
Safety Officer	A member of the Command Staff responsible for monitoring and assessing safety hazards or unsafe situations, and for developing measures for ensuring personnel safety. The Safety Officer may have Assistants.
Safety relief valve	A valve fitted on a pressure vessel or other containment under pressure to relieve overpressure.
Salamander	Portable type of furnace without grates that is used as a space heater in some work locations.
Salvage	The process of protecting the contents of a building from fire, smoke and water damage. Tools used include salvage covers (water proof tarps) that are placed over furniture, preventing damage from water and debris.
Salvage cover	A waterproof cover made of cotton duck, plastic, or other material and used by fire departments to protect unaffected furniture and building areas from heat, smoke, and water damage; a tarpaulin.
Salvage kit	An assortment of tools and appliances used for a specific purpose during salvage.
Sanitary sewer	A sewer system designed for the collection of waste water from the bathroom, kitchen and laundry drains, and is usually not designed to handle storm water.
SAR	Search and rescue
SARA	See Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act.
Sash	A single light frame containing one or more lights of glass. The frame that holds the glass in a window, often the movable part of the window.
Sash balance	A device, usually operated by a spring and designed to hold a single hung window vent up and in place
Saturated air	Air containing saturated water vapor with both the air and water vapor at the same dey-bulb temperature.
Saturated felt	A felt which is impregnated with tar or asphalt.
Saturated hydrocarbons	A hydrocarbon possessing only single covalent bonds. All of the carbon atoms are saturated with hydrogen. Examples include methane (CH4), propane (C3H8), and butane (C4H10)
Saturated steam	Steam at the boiling temperature corresponding to the pressure at which it exists.
SCBA	Self-contained breathing apparatus. It is a device consisting of an air filled cylinder, facemask and regulator and worn by rescue workers, firefighters, and others to provide breathable air in a hostile environment. It is often referred to as an air pack.
Scientific Method	The systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing of a hypothesis.
Scratch coat	The first coat of plaster, which is scratched to form a bond for a second coat
Screed, concrete	To level off concrete to the correct elevation during a concrete pour.
Screed, plaster	A small strip of wood, usually the thickness of the plaster coat, used as a guide for plastering.
SCUBA	Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.
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Scupper	(1) An opening for drainage in a wall, curb or parapet. (2) The drain in a downspout or flat roof, usually connected to the downspout.
SDO	Standards Development Organizations
Sealer	A finishing material, either clear or pigmented, that is usually applied directly over raw wood for the purpose of sealing the wood surface.
Seasoning	Drying and removing moisture from green wood in order to improve its usability.
Seat of Explosion	A crater-like indentation created at the point of origin of an explosion.
Seat of the fire	Area center where the main body of fire is located as determined by the outward movement of heat and gases and where the fire is most deep seated. Frequently, when the seat of the fire is extinguished, much of the heat is eliminated; and the mop-up stage follows.
Seated Explosion	An explosion with a high localized point of origin, such as a crater.
Secondary contamination	Contamination by emergency response personnel of medical or related personnel outside of the hot zone.
Secondary decontamination	Decontamination between the primary (gross) and tertiary stages. Used after gross decontamination removes the major portion of the product. Depending on the incident it may be the final stage prior to doffing outer clothing.
Secondary Explosion	Any subsequent explosion resulting from an initial explosion.
Secondary Search	Once the fire is under control a second search of the structure will be conducted. The searching companies should report, "Secondary Search, All Clear."
Section	The organizational level having responsibility for a major functional area of incident management, e.g., Operations, Planning, Logistics, Finance/Administration, and Intelligence (if established). The section is organizationally situated between the Branch and the Incident Command.
Sector	Is either a geographic or functional assignment. Sector may take the place of either the Division or Group or both.
Segment	A geographical area in which a Task Force/Strike Team Leader or Supervisor of a single resource is assigned authority and responsibility for the coordination of resources and implementation of planned tactics. A segment may be a portion of a division or an area inside or outside the perimeter of an incident. Segments are identified with Arabic numbers.
Seizure	Convulsion; fit; attack of violent muscle contractions.
Self contained respirator	One of three types of respiratory protective devices that is designed to provide breathing air to the wearer, independent of the surrounding atmosphere: open-circuit system, closed-circuit system with oxygen self-generating capability, and compressed air or oxygen closed-circuit device. Also classified as demand and pressure-demand units,
Self-heating	The result of exothermic reactions, occurring spontaneously in some materials under certain conditions, whereby heat is liberated at a rate sufficient to raise the temperature of the material.
Self-ignition	Ignition resulting from self-heating. Synonymous with spontaneous ignition.
Self-ignition temperature	The minimum temperature at which the self-heating properties of a material lead to ignition.
Self-sealing shingles	Shingles containing factory-applied strips or spots of self-sealing adhesive.
Sepsis	Infection of a wound or body tissues with bacteria, which leads to the formation of pus or to the multiplication of the bacteria in the blood.
Septic system	An on site waste water treatment system. It usually has a septic tank which promotes the biological digestion of the waste, and a drain field which is designed to let the left over liquid soak into the ground. Septic systems and permits are usually sized by the number of bedrooms in a house.
Series operation	An operation of a multistage centrifugal pump in which the first impeller provides its water volume and pressure to the second impeller, thus building pressure until the final impeller delivers the same volume of water at increased pressure to the discharge. See Pressure Operation.
Service branch	A Branch within the Logistics Section responsible for service activities at the incident. Includes the Communication, Medical, and Food Units.
Service Conductors	The supply conductors that extend from the street main or from the transformer to the service equipment.
Service drop	The overhead service conductors from the last pole or other aerial support to and including the splices, if any, connecting to the service entrance conductors at the building. The minimum size is #8 copper in cable.
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Service entrance panel	Main power cabinet where electricity enters a home wiring system.
Service equipment	Main control gear at the service entrance, such as circuit breakers, switches, and fuses.
Service lateral	Underground power supply line.
Service test	Series of tests performed on apparatus and equipment in order to ensure operational readiness of the unit; should be performed at least yearly or whenever a piece of apparatus or equipment has undergone extensive repair.
Service Vehicle	A general purpose vehicle used to carry everything from medical equipment to used hose and transporting fire personnel wherever they might need to go.
Setback thermostat	A thermostat with a clock which can be programmed to come on or go off at various temperatures and at different times of the day/week. Usually used as the heating or cooling system thermostat.
Sewage ejector	A pump used to 'lift' waste water to a gravity sanitary sewer line. Usually used in basements and other locations which are situated bellow the level of the side sewer.
Sewer lateral	The portion of the sanitary sewer which connects the interior waste water lines to the main sewer lines. The side sewer is usually buried in several feet of soil and runs from the house to the sewer line. It is usually 'owned' by the sewer utility, must be maintained by the owner and may only be serviced by utility approved contractors. Sometimes called side sewer.
Sexless couplings	Coupling with no distinct male or female components. Normally found on Large Diameter Hose (LDH). Also called Uni-sex or Storz Coupling.
Shake	A wood roofing material, normally cedar or redwood. Produced by splitting a block of the wood along the grain line. Modern shakes are sometimes machine sawn on one side. See shingle.
Shear block	Plywood that is face nailed to short (2 X 4's or 2 X 6's) wall studs (above a door or window, for example). This is done to prevent the wall from sliding and collapsing.
Sheathing, sheeting	The structural wood panel covering, usually OSB or plywood, used over studs, floor joists or rafters/trusses of a structure.
Sheaves	Grooved pulleys.
Shed roof	A roof containing only one sloping plane.
Sheet metal duct work	The heating system. Usually round or rectangular metal pipes and sheet metal (for Return Air) and installed for distributing warm (or cold) air from the furnace to rooms in the home.
Sheet metal work	All components of a house employing sheet metal, such as flashing, gutters, and downspouts.
Sheet rock- Drywall-Wall board or gypsum	A manufactured panel made out of gypsum plaster and encased in a thin cardboard. Usually 1/2" thick and 4' x 8' or 4' x 12' in size. The 'joint compound'. 'Green board' type drywall has a greater resistance to moisture than regular (white) plasterboard and is used in bathrooms and other "wet areas".
Shelter in place	To direct people to quickly go inside a building and remain inside until the danger passes.
Shim	A small piece of scrap lumber or shingle, usually wedge shaped, which when forced behind a furring strip or framing member forces it into position. Also used when installing doors and placed between the door jamb legs and 2 X 4 door trimmers. Metal shims are wafer  1 1/2" X 2" sheet metal of various thickness' used to fill gaps in wood framing members, especially at bearing point locations.
Shingles	Roof covering of asphalt. asbestos, wood, tile, slate, or other material cut to stock lengths, widths, and thickness'.
Shingles, siding	Various kinds of shingles, used over sheathing for exterior wall covering of a structure.
Shipper	A person, company, or agency offering material for transportation.
Shipping name	The proper shipping name or other common name for the material; also any synonyms for the material.
Shipping papers	A shipping order, bill of lading, manifest, or other shipping document issued by the carrier.
S-hooks	Metal hooks placed through the grommet holes of a salvage cover to secure the cover.
Shop	The fire department maintenance or repair area.
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Short circuit	A situation that occurs when hot and neutral wires come in contact with each other. Fuses and circuit breakers protect against fire that could result from a short. An abnormal connection of low resistance between normal circuit conductors where the resistance is normally much greater. This is an overcurrent situation but it is not an overload.
Short Section	A section of hose that is used when a normal 50 foot length would be too much and when the hose lay is less than 25 feet from a water source. A short section is much easier to handle and requires much less area than 50 feet of charged hose would need.
Short Term Exposure Limit [STEL]	A 15-minute, time-weighted average exposure to a substance that should not be exceeded at any time during a workday, even if the 8-hour exposure is within the TLV-TWA. Exposures up to the STEL value should not be for longer than I5 minutes, nor occur more than 4 times per day, and there should be at least 60 minutes between successive exposures in this range.
Shoulder carry	A procedure of carrying fire hose on the shoulder.
Shut off nozzle	A type of nozzle, the water supply to which can be controlled at the nozzle, rather than at the source of supply; type of nozzle that has a valve or other device for controlling the water supply, firefighters use it to control water supply at the nozzle rather than at the source of supply.
Siamese	A hose appliance that has two or more female inlets and one male outlet, two or more inlets for one outlet; connects two lines into one.
Sick Building Syndrome [SBS]	Situation in which building occupants experience acute health and/or discomfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in the building, but in which no specific illness or cause can be identified.
Side sewer	The portion of the sanitary sewer which connects the interior waste water lines to the main sewer lines. The side sewer is usually buried in several feet of soil and runs from the house to the sewer line. It is usually 'owned' by the sewer utility, must be maintained by the owner and may only be serviced by utility approved contractors. Sometimes called sewer lateral.
Sidelap	The distance asphalt shingles overlap horizontally. Also known as endlap.
Siding	The finished exterior covering of the outside walls of a frame building.
Siding, (lap siding)	Slightly wedge-shaped boards used as horizontal siding in a lapped pattern over the exterior sheathing. Varies in butt thickness from ½ to ¾ inch and in widths up to 12".
Sill	(1) The 2 X 4 or 2 X 6 wood plate framing member that lays flat against and bolted to the foundation wall (with anchor bolts) and upon which the floor joists are installed. Normally the sill plate is treated lumber. (2) The member forming the lower side of an opening, as a door sill or window sill.
Sill cock	An exterior water faucet (hose bib).
Sill plate (mudsill)	Bottom horizontal member of an exterior wall frame which rests on top a foundation, sometimes called mudsill. Also sole plate, bottom member of an interior wall frame.
Sill seal	Fiberglass or foam insulation installed between the foundation wall and sill (wood) plate. Designed to seal any cracks or gaps.
Simple asphyxiant	A material that replaces the amount of oxygen admitted into the body without further damage to tissues or poisoning. Examples are nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
Simulcasting	Any time the dispatch center simultaneously dispatches an alarm on more than one radio frequency.
Single hung window	A window with one vertically sliding sash or window vent.
Single phase	Single phase 120/240 volts is used primarily in residential structures. It is operated by 3 wires, consisting of two hot wires each carrying 120 volts and a neutral wire having no voltage. Items requiring 240 Volts are connected between the two hot wires, and loads requiring 120 Volts can be connected between either hot wire and the neutral.
Single Resource	An individual, a piece of equipment and its personnel complement, or a crew or team of individuals with an identified work Supervisor that can be used on an incident.
Single stage centrifugal pump	A centrifugal pump with only one impeller.
Siphon	Section of hard suction hose or piece of pipe used to maintain an equal level of water in two or more portable tanks.
Siren	A warning device that provides a high-pitched or an alternating high-pitched and low-pitched wailing sound, used by emergency vehicles.
Site safety plan	Written site-specific safety criteria that establish requirements for protecting the health and safety of responders during all activities conducted at an incident.
SITREP	Situation Report
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Situation Unit	Functional Unit within the Planning Section responsible for the collection, organization, and analysis of incident status information, and for analysis of the situation as it progresses. Reports to the Planning Section Chief.
Size-Up	A mental process of evaluating all of the influencing factors at a fire scene before committing personnel and equipment to a course of action. This usually includes hazards, life safety, fire involvement and plan of attack. The verbal appraisal via radio of conditions at the scene of an incident by the first-in company or officer. May be updated as command officers arrive on the scene. This is the procedure and the report of the situation. The first arriving officer on the scene will "give a size-up" over the radio. This will include a description of the structure and the initial plan of attack. It's been said that size-up starts even before you leave the station. The time of day, the weather conditions, the availability of water and what you may already know about this structure are examples of factors that go into size-up. Once you arrive you don't just look at the fire. Are there cars in the driveway? Are there toys in the yard? Are the newspapers piled up? Many things go into size-up.
Skid load	A system of loading fire hose such that the top layer can be pulled off at the fire.
Skilled support personnel	Personnel who are skilled in the operation of certain equipment, such as cranes and hoisting equipment, and who are needed temporarily to perform immediate emergency support work that cannot reasonably be performed in a timely fashion by emergency response personnel.
Skin dosage	This is equal to the time of exposure in minutes of an individual's unprotected skin multiplied by the concentration of the agent cloud.
Skylight	A more or less horizontal window located on the roof of a building.
Slab on grade	A type of foundation with a concrete floor which is placed directly on the soil. The edge of the slab is usually thicker and acts as the footing for the walls.
Slab, concrete	Concrete pavement, i.e. driveways, garages, and basement floors.
Slab, door	A rectangular door without hinges or frame.
Sleeper	Usually, a wood member embedded in concrete, as in a floor, that serves to support and to fasten the subfloor or flooring.
Sleeve(s)	Pipe installed under the concrete driveway or sidewalk, and that will be used later to run sprinkler pipe or low voltage wire.
Sliding rope	A system used by firefighters for lowering themselves from the upper stories of a building to the ground or into a below ground area.
Slope	The incline angle of a roof surface, given as a ratio of the rise (in inches) to the run (in feet).  It is expressed sometimes as a fraction but typically as "X" in 12. For example, a roof that rises at the rate of 4 inches for each foot (12 inches) of run, is designated as having a 4 in 12 slope. See also pitch.
Slump	The "wetness" of concrete. A 3 inch slump is dryer and stiffer than a 5 inch slump.
Small Diameter Hoses (SDH)	Hose of 3/4 to 2 inches in diameter; used for fire fighting purposes.
Small line	Any fire hose from 1 1/2 or 1 3/4-inch and smaller. See Handline and Booster Line.
Smoke	A combination of airborne gases, carbon particles, vapors, or solid and liquid aerosols and other products of incomplete combustion hindering respiration and obscuring visibility and access to the seat of a fire. Coping with smoke is one of the tasks for which firefighters require special training and experience.
Smoke Condensate	The condensed residue of suspended vapors and liquid products of incomplete combustion.
Smoke Detector	An alarm device that automatically detects the presence of smoke. Also called a smoke alarm.
Smoke ejector	A mechanical device to force smoke from a building or to blow fresh air into a building; sometimes equipped with a flexible tube.
Smoke Explosion	An explosion of heated smoke and gases, which have been pent-up in a burning building, when air is admitted, completing the fire triangle of fuel-heat-oxygen. As the self-ignition temperature of many solids is in the 450 degrees F. to 800 degrees F. range and such temperatures may be present in buildings in which a fire has gained headway, all that is needed is introduction of air containing more oxygen to produce combustion so rapidly as to have the appearance of an explosion. Also called a "backdraft."
Smolder	Bum with little smoke and no flame.
Smoldering phase	The third stage of burning in which flames cease to exist because the area of confinement is air tight and lacks enough oxygen.
Smothering	The act of excluding the oxidizer from a fuel.
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Soffit	The area below the eaves and overhangs. The underside where the roof overhangs the walls. Usually the underside of an overhanging cornice.
Soft sleeve hose	Large diameter, collapsible piece of intake hose used to connect a fire pump to a pressurized water supply source; sometimes incorrectly referred to as "soft suction hose."
Soil pipe	A large pipe that carries liquid and solid wastes to a sewer or septic tank.
Soil stack	A plumbing vent pipe that penetrates the roof.
Sole plate	The bottom, horizontal framing member of a wall that's attached to the floor sheeting and vertical wall studs.
Solid bridging	A solid member placed between adjacent floor joists near the center of the span to prevent joists or rafters from twisting.
Solid stream	A hose stream that stays together as a solid mass as opposed to a fog or spray; a water stream produced from a smooth bore nozzle.
Solubility	The ability or tendency of one substance to blend uniformly with or dissolve into another; the ability of a material to dissolve in water or another liquid. The ability of a substance to form a solution with another substance.
Solution	Mixture of one or more substances in another in which all ingredients are completely dissolved.
Solvent	A liquid that will dissolve a substance to form a solution. Some examples of solvents are water, petroleum distillate, xylene, or methanol. A substance, usually a liquid, capable of absorbing another liquid, gas, or solid to form a homogeneous mixture.
Soot	Black particles of carbon produced in a flame.
SOP	Standard Operating Procedure
Space heat	Heat supplied to the living space, for example, to a room or the living area of a building.
Spacing	The distance between individual members or shingles in building construction.
Spalling	Chipping or pitting of concrete or masonry surfaces. Destruction of a surface by frost, heat, corrosion or mechanical causes. In concrete, may be caused by the expansion and contraction of moisture contained within the concrete.
Span	The clear distance that a framing member carries a load without support between structural supports. The horizontal distance from eaves to eaves.
Span of Control	The number of individuals a supervisor is responsible for, usually expressed as the ratio of supervisors to individuals. (Under the NIMS, an appropriate span of control is between 1:3 and 1:7.)
Spanner wrench	A tool used to tighten or loosen hose couplings, pry with, or use as a gas key. Some designs can also be used to remove fire hydrant caps.
Spark	A small, incandescent particle.
Spill	The scattering or dispersion of a liquid or any matter in loose pieces from the; original container and into the environment.
Splash protective suit	A one or multi-piece garment that is constructed of protective clothing materials, designed and configured to protect the wearer's torso, head, arms and legs against liquid splashes of hazardous chemicals.
Spontaneous heating	Heating resulting from chemical or bacterial action in combustible materials which may lead to spontaneous ignition.
Spontaneous Heating	Process whereby a material increases in temperature without drawing heat from its surroundings. The process results from oxidation often aided by bacterial action where agricultural products are involved.
Spontaneous Ignition	An exothermic chemical or bacterial action in an atmosphere, which prevents the dissipation of created heat until the ignition temperature of the material involved is reached and flame propagation begins. Ignition which can occur when certain materials such as tung oil are stored in bulk, resulting from the generation of heat, which cannot be readily dissipated; often heat is generated by microbial action.
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Spotter	Firefighter who walks behind a backing apparatus to provide guidance for the driver/operator.
Spotting	Positioning the apparatus in a location that provides the utmost efficiency for operating on the foreground.
Spread of fire	See Extension of fire.
Spring loaded pressure relief valve	A spring-held safety device that releases to the atmosphere when the internal pressure in the tank exceeds the tank's design. Upon release of the pressure the spring pulls the valve closed.
Sprinkler connection	A Siamese connection used by the fire department to increase the water supply and pressure to a sprinkler system. See Fire Department Connection.
Sprinkler tongs	A tool used to stop the flow of water from a sprinkler head.
Sprinkler wedge or block	Devices used to temporarily shut off the flow of water from a sprinkler head. These can be mechanical devices with expandable fittings that expand to close the flow of water from the sprinkler head. They can also be made of wood in the shape of a wedge that accomplishes the same results.
Squad	A piece of apparatus especially equipped for rescue and extrication.
Square	A unit of measure-100 square feet-usually applied to roofing and siding material. Also, a situation that exists when two elements are at right angles to each other. Also a tool for checking this.
Square-tab shingles	Shingles on which tabs are all the same size and exposure.
Squeegee	A rubber-edged device for moving water from flat horizontal and vertical surfaces.
Stabilizer	An additive in foam liquid used to hold air in suspension for an extended time.
Stack	The device at the end of a ventilation system or furnace through which exhaust from the operation or ventilation system is released to the atmosphere.
Stack (trusses)	To position trusses on the walls in their correct location.
Stack effect	Pressure-driven airflow produced by convection as heated air rises, creating a positive pressure in the top of a building and a negative pressure at the bottom. In houses and buildings it is the tendency toward the displacement of internal heated air by unheated outside air due to the difference in density of the outside and inside air.
Stage of the incident	One of the five definite and identifiable phases through which an emergency passes from onset (interruption of normal conditions) or stabilization.
Staging	Process by which non-committed units responding to a fire or other emergency incident are stopped at a location away from the fire scene to await their assignment. The moving of personnel or equipment forward in several stages, or the assembling of resources or materials in transit in a particular place prior to a new operation or mission. One or more persons maybe assigned to control the resources in the staging area. That person is known as the Staging Officer.
Staging Area	Location established where resources can be placed while awaiting a tactical assignment. location on the emergency scene where tools and personnel are assembled before being used or assigned. The Operations Section manages Staging Areas with the aid of a Staging Officer.
Stair carriage or stringer	Supporting member for stair treads. Usually a 2 X 12 inch plank notched to receive the treads; sometimes called a "rough horse."
Stair landing	A platform between flights of stairs or at the termination of a flight of stairs. Often used when stairs change direction. Normally no less than 3 ft. X 3 ft. square.
Stair rise	The vertical distance from stair tread to stair tread (and not to exceed 7 ½").
Stand by	To remain immediately available.
Standard	a) an official, detailed statement of specifications and requirements such as for equipment or testing   b) an object that serves as a basis for comparison or acceptance.
Standard apparatus	Apparatus that conforms to the standards set forth by the National Fire Protection Association standards on fire apparatus design.
Standard thread	National Standard Hose Threads; NST, NH, or NSHT.
Standard time-temperature curve	A graph that shows the rise and fall in temperature at a given time of a test fire.
Standpipe	A fire protection system consisting of a piping arrangement (either wet or dry) to take water to upper floors or remote areas of buildings where fire department outlets and private hose lines are provided. The system is used to provide for quick deployment of hose lines during fire fighting operations.
Starboard	The right side of a ship or airplane looking forward. Opposite of port.
Starter strip	Asphalt roofing applied at the eaves that provides protection by filling in the spaces under the cutouts and joints of the first course of shingles.
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States of matter	The physical forms of matter including solid, liquid, gas, super critical fluids and plasmas.
Static electricity	The creation of an accumulation of electrical charges on opposing surfaces either by the separation of unlike materials or by the movement of surfaces.
Static pressure	Water pressure head available when no flow is being permitted; does not include pressure losses. Fluid at rest but with pressure applied.
Static source	A body of water that is not under pressure or in a supply piping system and must be drafted from in order to be used. Static sources include ponds, lakes, rivers, wells, and so on.
STCC number	The Standard Transportation Commodity Code number used in the rail industry; a seven-digit number assigned to a specific article or group of articles and used in the determination of rates. For hazardous materials shipments, the number will begin with the digits "49" indicating reference to Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (which deals with regulation of hazardous materials transport).
Steam conversion	Water applied to areas of high heat concentration (above 1,0000 F) turns to steam rapidly. This water absorbs a tremendous amount of BTUs, and the generated steam forces smoke and fire gases from the confined fire area
Steamer cap or cover	The cover of a steamer connection on a hydrant or pumper. Usually 4 1/2 inches or larger
Steamer connection	A large diameter outlet at a hydrant or at the base of an elevated water storage, usually 4 1/2-inches in diameter; referred to as the drafting connection on a pumper.
Steamer hydrant	Triple hydrant; having one 4 1/2 inch outlet and two 2 1/2 inch outlets.
Steel inspection	A municipal and/or engineers inspection of the concrete foundation wall, conducted before concrete is poured into the foundation panels. Done to insure that the rebar (reinforcing bar), rebar nets, void material, beam pocket plates, and basement window bucks are installed and wrapped with rebar and complies with the foundation plan.
STEL (Short-Term Exposure Limit)	Refers to an exposure that may be tolerated for a brief time.
Step flashing	Flashing application method used where a vertical surface meets a sloping roof plane. 6" X 6" galvanized metal bent at a 90 degree angle, and installed beneath siding and over the top of shingles. Each piece overlaps the one beneath it the entire length of the sloping roof (step by step).
Stick	The aerial of a ladder truck. Aerials vary in length depending on the needs and finances of a department. Some are as short as 65 feet, while others reach lengths greater than 100 feet
Stick built	A house built without prefabricated parts. Also called conventional building.
Stile	An upright framing member in a panel door.
Still Alarm	A still alarm is a call requiring only one company. Examples of a still alarm include a small fire or a medical call.
Stool	The flat molding fitted over the window sill between jambs and contacting the bottom rail of the lower sash.  Also another name for toilet.
Stop box	Normally a cast iron pipe with a lid ( 5" in diameter) that is placed vertically into the ground, situated near the water tap in the yard, and where a water cut-off valve to the home is located (underground). A long pole with a special end is inserted into the curb stop to turn off/on the water.
Stop valve	A device installed in a water supply line, usually near a fixture, that permits an individual to shut off the water supply to one fixture without interrupting service to the rest of the system.
Stops	Moldings along the inner edges of a door or window frame. Also valves used to shut off water to a fixture.
Storm sash or storm window	An extra window usually placed outside of an existing one, as additional protection against cold weather.
Storm sewer	A sewer system designed to collect storm water and is separated from the waste water system.
Story	That part of a building between any floor or between the floor and roof.
Storz coupling	Sexless coupling commonly found on large diameter hose.
Straight ladder	A one-section ladder.
Straight lay	Hose laid from the hydrant or water source to the fire. Also called a forward lay
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Strainers	Wire or other metal guards used to prevent debris from clogging the intake hose of fire pumps.
Strategic	Strategic elements of incident management are characterized by continuous long-term, high-level planning by organizations headed by elected or other senior officials. These elements involve the adoption of long-range goals and objectives, the setting of priorities, the establishment of budgets and other fiscal decisions, policy development, and the application of measures of performance or effectiveness.
Strategy	The overall plan for fire control and attack. The general direction selected to accomplish incident objectives set by the Incident Commander
Stretch hose	To lay out hose as a line, or advance it into a building.
Strike	The plate on a door frame that engages a latch or dead bolt.
Strike team	A group formed of five similar units meeting established manpower and equipment requirements with a strike team leader. A specified combination of the same kind and type of resources that have an established minimum number of personnel with common communications and a Leader.
Strike the Box	To transmit or strike an alarm over the radio for a full first alarm assignment.
String, stringer	A timber or other support for cross members in floors or ceilings. In stairs, the supporting member for stair treads. Usually a 2 X 12 inch plank notched to receive the treads
Strip flooring	Wood flooring consisting of narrow, matched strips.
Structural firefighting protective clothing	Protective clothing normally worn by firefighters during structural firefighting operations. It includes a helmet, coat, pants, boots, gloves, PASS device, and a hood to cover parts of the head not protected by the helmet. Structural firefighting clothing provides limited protection from heat but may not provide adequate protection from harmful liquids, gases, vapors, or dusts encountered during hazmat incidents. May also be referred to as turnout or bunker clothing.
Structural floor	A framed lumber floor that is installed as a basement floor instead of concrete. This is done on very expansive soils.
Structural stability	A quality of resistance or firmness of character of a container or structure to withstand the chemical or physical forces exerted upon it.
Stucco	Refers to an outside plaster finish made with Portland cement as its base.
Stud	A vertical wood framing member, also referred to as a wall stud, attached to the horizontal sole plate below and the top plate above. Normally 2 X 4's or 2 X 6's, 8' long (sometimes 92 5/8"). One of a series of wood or metal vertical structural members placed as supporting elements in walls and partitions.
Stud framing	A building method that distributes structural loads to each of a series of relatively lightweight studs. Contrasts with post-and-beam.
Stud shoe	A metal, structural bracket that reinforces a vertical stud. Used on an outside bearing wall where holes are drilled to accommodate a plumbing waste line.
Subbasement	A basement below the level of a first basement.
Subfloor	The framing components of a floor to include the sill plate, floor joists, and deck sheeting over which a finish floor is to be laid.
Sublimination	Going from the solid to gaseous to solid state. The direct change of state from solid to vapor.
Subrogation	Simply put, it means that the fire insurance company pays for the fire loss damage to its insured under the terms of the fire insurance policy and then assumes his right to sue the negligent person who caused the fire or explosion and the resultant damage and loss for which they paid the insured.
Suction	A misnomer used to describe the drafting process; large hose used for drafting; the inlet side of the pump that is better referred to as the intake.
Sump	Pit or large plastic bucket/barrel inside the home designed to collect ground water from a perimeter drain system.
Sump pump	A submersible pump in a sump pit that pumps any excess ground water to the outside of the home.
Super cooled	The condition of a liquid cooled below its usual freezing point without solidifying, usually under pressure.
Super heated	The condition of a substance heated to a very high temperature; excessively or abnormally hot. Being heated (a liquid) above its normal boiling point without causing vaporization. Being heated (steam) apart from its own liquid until it resembles and will remain a dry or perfect gas at the specified pressure.
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA)	Created for the purpose of establishing Federal statutes for right-to-know standards and emergency response to hazardous materials incidents, reauthorized the Federal Superfund program and mandated states to implement equivalent regulations/requirements.
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Supervisor	The ICS title for individuals responsible for a Division or Group.
Supine	Lying face up.
Supply Hose	Hose line used to supply water from a hydrant to fire apparatus. Many departments use large diameter hose for this purpose. LDH is sometimes referred to as a water main above ground and is usually 4-5 inches in diameter. However, some departments use smaller 3-inch hose to supply water at a fire.
Supply Unit	Functional Unit within the Support Branch of the Logistics Section responsible for ordering equipment and supplies required for incident operations.
Support Branch	A Branch within the Logistics Section responsible for providing personnel, equipment, and supplies to support incident operations. Includes the Supply, Facilities, and Ground Support Units.
Support Resources	Non-tactical resources under the supervision of the Logistics, Planning, Finance/Administration Sections, or the Command Staff.
Support zone	See Cold Zone.
Supporting Materials	Refers to the several attachments that may be included with an Incident Action Plan, e.g., communications plan, map, safety plan, traffic plan, and medical plan.
Suppression	Another meaning of the word control; however, suppression also implies overcoming; another name for the operational section of the department. The sum of all the work done to extinguish a fire from the time of its discovery. Fire extinguishment.
Suspended ceiling	A ceiling system supported by hanging it from the overhead structural framing.
Sway brace	Metal straps or wood blocks installed diagonally on the inside of a wall from bottom to top plate, to prevent the wall from twisting, racking, or falling over "domino" fashion.
Switch	A device that completes or disconnects an electrical circuit.
Synergistic effect	The combined effect of two parts that is greater than the sum of the effect of each alone.
Synthesis	The process of combining elements to make a compound.
Systemic	Pertaining to the internal organs and structures of the body.
Systemic effect	Pertaining to or affecting the body as a whole.