NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire, PMS 205

Process of extinguishing fire by the use of an agent that interrupts the chemical reactions in the combustion process.

A hose coupling with one or more cylindrical studs on its outside rim. The studs allow the use of a spanner wrench to tighten the coupling.

A control mechanism that allows a regulated quantity of foam concentrate to be introduced into the main hose line.

Procedure by which the flow from two fire pumps is combined into a third pump.

Fireline constructed by a tractor plow.

Rapid increase in water flow which may result in a corresponding pressure rise.

Hose fitting (preferably gated) for combining flow from two or more lines of hose into a single stream; one male coupling to two female couplings.

Nozzle tips used to change orifice size of a hose stream.

A tank, usually collapsible, used as a reservoir in the relay of water from one fire pump to another.

A turret-type nozzle usually mounted on an engine.

Substance used to put out a fire by cooling the burning material, blocking the supply of oxygen, or chemically inhibiting combustion.

Chemical that, when applied to a living plant, causes or accelerates drying of its aerial parts; used to facilitate burning of living vegetation by substantially lowering fuel moisture content within a few hours.

A device that adds a predetermined amount of foam concentrate to water to form foam solution.

The effective life span of foam bubbles.

A hose tip spout designed to provide the maximum reach of water without feathering.

Flow characteristics of liquid fire retardants, especially their cohesiveness or ability to hold together while falling through the air.

Positive displacement pump which uses closely meshed gears to propel water when high pressures and low volumes are desired; can be used safely only with clear water-- suspended particles of soil or rocks can quickly wear the gears and reduce pressure and volume of water. 

Approved protection suit worn for smokejumping.

A fire tool that consists of a thick, flat piece of rubber on a long handle used to drag over or smother out flames of grass fires.

A fitting that may be installed between lengths of hose to provide an independently controlled outlet for a branch line.

Maximum pressure a centrifugal pump will attain when water flow is clamped or shut off.

Load of hose specially arranged on top of a standard hose load to permit dropping the working line at the fire.

Creating a seal with foam which prevents a release of flammable vapors from fuels.

Hose fitting that performs the functions of a Siamese or a wye (i.e., to combine the flow from two lines into a single line or to permit two lines to be taken from a single line).

Wheels powered by all of the vehicle's drive axles. Dual tires are considered as single wheels. The number of wheels is commonly referenced by the terms "4x2", "4x4", etc. where the first figure indicates the total number of wheels on the ground and the second figure, the number of drive wheels.

Liquid phosphate fertilizers used as fire retardants, usually diluted three to five times prior to application.

A pre-determined complement of tools, equipment and/or supplies stored in a designated location, available for incident use.

Any excess personal property not required for the needs and the discharge of the responsibilities of all federal agencies as determined by the General Services Administration (GSA).

The vehicle’s license plate number for purposes of identifying equipment.

Hose commonly of cotton, linen, or synthetic fiber construction without rubber tube or lining, often used for wildfires because of its light weight and self protecting (weeping) characteristics; such hose is attached to first-aid standpipes in buildings. At a specified flow, friction loss in unlined hose of a stated diameter is about twice that of lined fire hose. 

Recommended amount of aerially applied retardant keyed to the NFDRS fuel models and/or fire behavior models. Coverage level 2 represents 2 gallons of retardant per hundred square feet. Levels range from 1 to 6 for most fuel models. A coverage level of greater than 6 is for heavy fuels. The levels can be adjusted for fire behavior. 

A resource that includes an engine of a specific type. The type specifies tank capacity, pump rating, hose capacity and number of personnel.

Device for throwing a stream of flaming liquid, used to facilitate rapid ignition during burn out operations on a wildfire or during a prescribed fire operation.

Common type of fire hose nozzle permitting stream flow to be controlled by the firefighter at the nozzle rather than only at the source of supply.

Hand-held device for igniting fires by dripping flaming liquid fuel on the materials to be burned; consists of a fuel fount, burner arm, and igniter. Fuel used is generally a mixture of diesel and gasoline.

Pressure loss caused by the movement of water or solution against the interior surface of fire hose, pipe, or fittings; normally measured in pressure loss per length of hose or pipe.

Device for throwing a stream of flaming liquid, used to facilitate rapid ignition during burn out operations on a wildfire or during a prescribed fire operation.

Specially developed coils containing explosive powder that are detonated to create a fireline through ground fuels.

The concentrated foaming agent as received from the manufacturer which, when added to water, creates a foam solution; use only those approved for use in wildland fire situations by the authority having jurisdiction.

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.

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.

Long-handled combination rake and cutting tool, the blade of which is constructed of a single row of three or four sharpened teeth.

Uniformity and size of bubbles.

Hard suction hose or discharge hose carried connected to pump, eliminating delay occasioned when hose and nozzles must be connected and attached at fire.

A long-handled combination rake and cutting tool, the blade of which is constructed of a single row of mowing machine cutter teeth fastened to a piece of angle iron.

A wire or metal guard used to keep debris from clogging pipe or other openings made for removing water; used in pumps and on suction hose to keep foreign material from clogging or damaging pumps.

The value specified by the manufacturer as the maximum allowable weight of a vehicle fully equipped, including payload, fluids and occupants.

Apparatus used to detect heat.

A portable, collapsible water tank with a tubular frame. Tank capacities vary in size from 500-1500 gallons.

Any ground vehicle capable of transporting specified quantities of water.