a frantic period of work generally triggered unexpectedly and requiring immediate resolution, taking precedence over other activities which may be dropped midstream; can be used more deviously to obtain periods of unaccountability while remaining mum on specifics, as in, “I’ll be out all morning, we’re dealing with a bunch of fire drills”; as with much jargon this phrase is no longer congruent with its real-world origin, which refers to a mere simulation of an actual emergency and is usually planned in advance
