General
overhaul
What does overhaul mean?
The phase after the main knockdown where crews pull ceilings, open walls, flip mattresses and chase smouldering pockets to make sure the fire is genuinely out. Sweaty, filthy, and where most of the carcinogen exposure happens — full SCBA still on.
"Knocked the bedroom fire in ten minutes; spent the next two hours on overhaul pulling the lath and plaster."
Origin
Fire-service term going back to the steam-era fire brigades; the unglamorous after-work that stops a 'knockdown' becoming a rekindle.
Frequently asked questions
What does "overhaul" mean for firefighters?
It's tearing the burnt building apart to find hidden hot spots once the main fire is out.
How do you use "overhaul" in a sentence?
"The fire's knocked down, now we start overhaul to check for hot spots."
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