5) Tip
The nozzle. I haven’t heard this used much in Detroit, but we used it at my old department. When you had the nozzle, you had the tip. That was always the question asked by the oncoming crew. “Who had the tip?” Especially when something went wrong, or really good for that matter.
6) Jake
Now this one is kind of odd. I have no idea where it actually comes from. I have read several things on it and they’re all different. But I do know what it means. What it means (here in Detroit) is that you are a terrible firefighter. You do not want to be called “a Jake” here. But on the east coast, it means you are a good firefighter. Again, in a cool accent “that’s a good jake right there”. I don’t have any clue why they are complete opposite depending on your location.
7) Deckie
In Detroit we call the guys on the back of the engine a “deckie”. I have not learned why yet because I am just a…
8) Trialman
In Detroit, that’s the term used for the new guy. Your first year on the job is your trial period. Starts with a twenty-two week academy and then you finish it out as a trialman in the firehouse. Some departments call these guys “probies.” In Detroit, we also use the term “Sub” or “Subbie,” referring to the fact that we are subbing in for the good deckie who had to take the detail…because trialmen don’t take details.
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