NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire, PMS 205

In hydraulics, the pressure loss caused by raising water through hose or pipe to a higher elevation (roughly equal to one psi for every two-foot increase in elevation above the pump) (11.3 kPa per meter).

Any incident, whether natural, technological, biological, or human-caused, that necessitates responsive action to protect life or property.

An agreement written at an incident using an EERA, OF-294. The duration is for the length of the incident only.

A person employed as an emergency worker on a forest or wildland fire which threatens damage to property under public management. Emergency firefighters are hired for the duration of the emergency only.

A radio transmitter attached to the aircraft structure which operates from its own power source on 121.5 MHz and 243 MHz. The transmitter transmits a distinctive downward swept audio tone for homing purposes and is designed to function without human action after an accident. 

A congressionally ratified agreement that provides form and structure to interstate mutual aid. Through EMAC, a disaster-affected state can request and receive assistance from other member states quickly and efficiently, resolving two key issues up front: liability and reimbursement.

A plan for responding to a variety of potential hazards.

Any federal, state, or local emergency public safety, law enforcement, emergency responder, emergency medical (including hospital emergency facilities), and related personnel, agencies, and authorities. It is any organization responding to an emergency, or providing mutual aid support to such an organization, whether in the field, at the scene of an incident, or operations center. 

Planned actions to stabilize and prevent unacceptable degradation to natural and cultural resource, to minimize threats to life or property resulting from the effects of a fire, or to repair/replace/construct physical improvements necessary to prevent degradation of land or resources. 

An event dealing with emergency response to stabilize land and structures damaged by wildfire with the objective to protect life and property from damage due to post-fire events and fire. Usually occurring 1-12 months from ignition date. 

The grouping of governmental and certain private sector capabilities into an organizational structure to provide core capabilities and services most likely needed to manage domestic incidents.

A release of combustion gases and aerosols into the atmosphere.

The mass of particulate matter produced per unit mass of fuel consumed (pounds per ton, grams per kilogram).

The amount, or mass of smoke produced per unit of time. For example: Emission Rate = Available Fuel x Burning Rate x Emission Factor.

A strategy for controlling smoke from prescribed fires that minimizes the amount of smoke output per unit area treated.

A general type of standard that limits the mass of a pollutant that may be emitted by a source. The most straightforward emissions standard is a simple limitation on mass of pollutant per unit time (e.g., pounds of pollutant per hour).

The employment appointment or agreement under which a person is hired.

Weight of an aircraft/engine including the structure, power plant, all fixed equipment, all fixed ballast, unusable fuel, undrainable oil, and total quantity of hydraulic fluid.

The computed total heat release per unit area (British thermal units per square foot) within the flaming front at the head of a moving fire.

Any ground vehicle providing specified levels of pumping, water, and hose capacity but with less than the specified level of personnel.

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

Largest engine type that can use the water source.

A situation where personnel are unexpectedly caught in a fire behavior-related, life-threatening position where planned escape routes or safety zones are absent, inadequate, or compromised. An entrapment may or may not include deployment of a fire shelter for its intended purpose. These situations may or may not result in injury. They include "near misses."

A process used to improve the safety of personnel on the fireline, which emphasizes tools and tactics available to prevent being trapped in a burnover situation. This process includes appropriate decision making through risk management, application of LCES, use of pre-established trigger points, and recognition of suitable escape routes and safety zones. 

Direct attack with multiple anchor points, that allows for multiple points of attack. Generally used as an engine tactic in the wildland urban interface.

The complex surroundings of an item or area of interest, such as air, water, natural resources, and their physical conditions (temperature, humidity).

The actual rate of decrease of temperature with elevation.

Person responsible to the planning section chief for collecting and analyzing environmental information about the incident area, determining environmental restrictions and requirements, and providing the information as an input to the incident action and to incident personnel as needed. 

A condition of poor contaminant dispersion which may result in concentrations considered potentially harmful to health or welfare. Episodes may also occur during periods of fairly good dispersion if the source of air contaminants is extremely large.

Moisture content that a fuel particle will attain if exposed for an infinite period in an environment of specified constant temperature and humidity. When a fuel particle reaches equilibrium moisture content, net exchange of moisture between it and its environment is zero. 

Fire caused by mechanical equipment other than railroad operations.

A preplanned and understood route firefighters take to move to a safety zone or other low-risk area. When escape routes deviate from a defined physical path, they should be clearly marked (flagged).

Fire which has exceeded or is expected to exceed initial attack capabilities or prescription.

An entity which oversees the preparedness activities for a particular ESF and coordinates with its primary and support agencies.

A Federal agency with significant authorities, roles, resources, and capabilities for a particular function within an ESF.

An entity with specific capabilities or resources that support the primary agencies in executing the mission of the ESF.

The expected containment or completion date of the incident.

A measurement of horizontal position error for a GPS unit expressed in feet or meters.

Term used in resource planning/following to estimate time spent between points.

Term used in resource planning/following to estimate time of arrival at a point.

Term used in resource planning/following to estimate time of departure from a point.

The organized, phased, and supervised withdrawal, dispersal, or removal of people and/or animals from dangerous or potentially dangerous areas, and their reception and care in safe areas.

To review and compare outcomes with management and incident objectives desired for a wildland fire. One of the six component activities in an adaptive management process that may lead to adjusting future actions.

The individual who is qualified in the position being evaluated, or supervises the position being evaluated, having responsibility for observing task(s) being performed and documenting successful performance for agency certification or re-certification. Evaluator responsibilities must remain separate from the individual assigned as Trainer/Coach. 

The transformation of a liquid to its gaseous state; heat is released by the liquid during this process.

A generic term that relates to both planned and unplanned response activities by the interagency wildland fire community.

An incident that is a scheduled non-emergency activity (e.g., sporting event, concert, parade).