NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire, PMS 205

An administrative division of a government with a specific function, or a non-governmental organization (e.g., private contractor, business, etc.) that offers a particular kind of assistance. A federal, tribal, state or local agency that has direct fire management or land management responsibilities or that has programs and activities that support fire management activities.

The official position responsible for the management of a geographic unit or functional area. The managing officer of an agency, division thereof, or jurisdiction having statutory responsibility for incident mitigation and management. Examples: Federal Line Officer, State Forest Officer/Delegate or Fire Manager, Tribal Chairperson, Fire Chief, Police Chief, Sheriff, Mayor or County Representative.

The process whereby the employing agency or contractor documents that the individual is fully qualified to perform duties and responsibilities for a specified position.

The agency or jurisdictional facility from which resources are allocated to incidents.

A person working within an agency organization who processes resources to and from incidents.

A federal employee pilot or pilot contracted by a federal agency to fly agency, contracted or leased aircraft. This does not include pilots employed by an aircraft vendor as part of an aircraft services contract, such as airtanker contracts, helicopter contracts or other aircraft contracts.

An event, managed by one of the fire agency's other (non-fire) program areas, for accomplishing activities deemed necessary by agency management. 

Costs incurred by an agency that address the sole concern of only the agency or are not incurred with mutual benefit. Agency specific costs are not shared.

An event dealing with an accident or mishap involving aircraft.

A rotary wing aircraft configured, staffed and equipped to respond, care for and transport a patient(s) and approved/licensed by a state to do so. An air ambulance is sometimes referred to as a medevac.

The deployment of fixed-wing or rotary aircraft on a wildland fire, to drop retardant or extinguishing agents, shuttle and deploy crews and supplies, or perform aerial reconnaissance of the overall fire situation.

Permanent facility at which aircraft are stationed for use in air attack operations.

All items for transport and delivery by aircraft.

An airborne dust, fume, gas, mist, odor, smoke, vapor, soot, pollen, carbon, acid or particulate matter or any combination thereof.

Additional crew member required for accomplishment of the mission such as flight attendant, smokejumper/rappel spotter, cargo loadmaster, helicopter manager, etc. These positions usually do not require any Airman Certificate(s) or a flight physical. Referred to as a Qualified Non-Crew Member in the CFR.

A common VHF-FM frequency used by natural resource agency aircraft for emergency radio transmissions.

According to the American Meteorological Society, a widespread body of air that is approximately homogeneous in its horizontal extent, particularly with reference to temperature and moisture distribution; in addition, the vertical temperature and moisture variations are approximately the same over its horizontal extent.  The properties of the air mass are established while that air was situated over a particular region of the earth's surface.

Portable air (not oxygen) tanks with regulators which allow firefighters to breathe while in toxic smoke conditions. Usually rated for 30 minutes of service. Used primarily on fires involving structures or hazardous materials.

The general term referring to the undesirable addition of substances (gases, liquids, or solid particles) to the atmosphere that are foreign to the natural atmosphere or are present in quantities exceeding natural concentrations.

A statement issued by an Air Quality Regulatory Agency due to high measured concentrations of pollutants. The alert remains in effect until monitoring shows a decrease in pollutant levels. Should conditions worsen, air pollution warnings and emergencies may be issued. At each stage (alert, warning and emergency) additional emission restrictions are put into effect so as to not intensify the situation. Essentially, at the emergency level all industrial activities and auto usage stop. 

The composition of air with respect to quantities of pollution therein; used most frequently in connection with "standards" of maximum acceptable pollutant concentrations. Used instead of "air pollution" when referring to programs.

Mathematical or quantitative representation or simulation of air quality processes; e.g., emission models, receptor models, or air quality dispersion models.

A statement issued by a National Weather Service forecast office when atmospheric conditions are stable enough such that the potential exists for air pollutants to accumulate in a given area. The statement is initially issued when conditions are expected to last for at least 36 hours. 

An unplanned event that does substantial damage or causes serious injuries when associated with the operation of applicable aircraft. Event occurs between the time engine(s) is (are) started or rotors turning for the purpose of commencing flight, until the aircraft comes to rest with engines and propellers or rotors stopped, the brakes set or wheel chocks in place, and all persons have disembarked. 

Card or documentation required to be on board the aircraft which approves use and indicates specific types of use.

That area on the surface of the earth, runway, or ramp that is covered by the tread of the aircraft tire while the aircraft is motionless.

An aircraft mishap in which there is no intent to fly. However, the power plants and/or rotors are in operation and damage is incurred requiring replacement or repair of rotors, propellers, wheels, tires, wing tips, flaps, etc., or injury is incurred requiring first-aid or medical attention.

An unplanned event that results in damage which is less than serious aircraft incident criteria, or injuries not requiring medical attention.

Applies to radio frequencies primarily used for air operations.

Fixed-wing aircraft certified by FAA as being capable of transport and delivery of fire retardant solutions.

A method used to distribute various types of general or time-sensitive information from an NWCG committee to the wildland fire community. Information may include bulletins, advisories, or safety warnings, each with an associated color hash-marked bordered stationary.

A sighting device used by lookouts to determine the horizontal bearing and sometimes the vertical angle of a fire from a lookout.

A threat or an incident, natural or manmade, that warrants action to protect life, property, the environment, and public health or safety, and to minimize disruptions of government, social, or economic activities. It includes natural disasters, cyber incidents, industrial accidents, pandemics, acts of terrorism, sabotage, and destructive criminal activity targeting critical infrastructure. This also includes the effects climate change has on the threats and hazards.

A mobile weather data collection and forecasting system consisting of a communications module, weather observing module, and data interigation module. Used by incident meteorologists on an incident.

Any motorized vehicle designed for or capable of cross-country travel on or immediately over land, water, sand, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or other terrain.

Char patterns formed on paint or burned wood remains, usually in the shape of blisters.

Resources dispatched to an incident, that have not yet checked in.

The amount of weight that is available for passengers and/or cargo. On the load calculation form it is the operating weight subtracted from the selected weight.

The barometric pressure reading used to adjust a pressure altimeter for variations in existing atmospheric pressure or to the standard altimeter setting (29.92) inches.

According to the American Meteorological Society, background, environmental, or surrounding air.

A ground transport vehicle configured, equipped and staffed to respond, care for and transport a patient(s) and approved by a state to do.

An advantageous location, usually a barrier to fire spread, from which to start constructing a fireline. The anchor point is used to minimize the chance of being flanked by the fire while the line is being constructed.

According to the American Meteorological Society, the general name for instruments designed to measure total wind speed.

Angle of point symbol displayed in mapping application

Annual review by an employing agency of an individual's position qualifications and documentation certifying that the individual is fully qualified to perform duties and responsibilities for a specified position. Annual certification is based on established performance standards and agency specific requirements. 

A procedural guide which describes fire meteorological services provided within the Geographic Area of responsibility, including the National Interagency Fire Center. The guide is based on the National Interagency Agreement and applicable Geographic Area Memorandum of Agreement. 

A plant that lives for one growing season, starting from a seed each year.

According to the American Meteorological Society, an atmospheric anticyclonic circulation, a closed circulation. The wind in an anticyclone is in the clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere.

A motor-driven vehicle, or group of vehicles, designed and constructed for the purpose of fighting fires. May be of different types such as engines, water tenders, ladder trucks, etc.