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NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire (PMS 205)

Term Steward Status Definition
Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC) IMC Integration Management Committee, DCSC Dispatch Coordination Subcommittee Approved The physical location of an interagency, regional operation center for the effective coordination, mobilization and demobilization of emergency management resources. A coordination center serves federal, state and local wildland fire agencies through logistical coordination of resources throughout the geographic area, and with other geographic areas, as well. Listings of geographic coordination centers and their respective geographic coordinating areas can be found within the National Interagency Mobilization Guide.
Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC) code IMC Integration Management Committee, DCSC Dispatch Coordination Subcommittee Approved Shortened form of Geographic Area Coordination Center name.
Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC) name IMC Integration Management Committee, DCSC Dispatch Coordination Subcommittee Approved The name of an interagency operations center that provides coordination, mobilization, and demobilization of emergency management resources within a specific geographic coordinating area.
Geographic Area Coordination Center boundary polygon DCSC Dispatch Coordination Subcommittee, GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Requested A polygon depicting geographic area boundaries.
Geographic Area Coordination Center unit identifier DCSC Dispatch Coordination Subcommittee, GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Approved NWCG Unit Identifier for GACC Boundary
geographic coordinating area IMC Integration Management Committee, DCSC Dispatch Coordination Subcommittee Approved A boundary designated by governmental agencies (wildland fire protection agencies), that may coincide with a geographic area boundary or may be a subdivision of a geographic area within which they work together coordinating, for the effective, mobilization and demobilization of emergency management resources within their area. Listings of geographic coordinating areas and geographic coordination centers can be found in the National Interagency Mobilization Guide, Chapter 20, Section 21.1.
Geographic Coordinating Area (GCA) code IMC Integration Management Committee, DCSC Dispatch Coordination Subcommittee Approved A code representing a wildland fire geographic coordinating area.
Geographic Coordinating Area (GCA) name IMC Integration Management Committee, DCSC Dispatch Coordination Subcommittee Approved The name of the wildland fire geographic coordinating area.
Geographic Information System Acres GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Approved GIS calculated acres within the fire perimeter, not adjusted for unburned areas
geometry identifier GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Approved Primary key for linking geospatial objects with other database systems.
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved The satellite used for data relay from NFDRS weather stations to ASCADS.
getaway time IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved Elapsed time from receipt of notification by the personnel charged with initiating suppression action to the departure of the first attack unit.
glaucoma EMSC Emergency Medical Subcommittee Approved A disease of the eye marked by increased pressure within the eyeball that can result in damage to the optic disk and gradual loss of vision.
Global Positioning System (GPS) IMC Integration Management Committee, DCSC Dispatch Coordination Subcommittee Approved A system of navigational satellites operated by the U.S. Department of Defense and available for civilian use. The system can track objects anywhere in the world with an accuracy of approximately 40 feet.
glowing combustion FMSC Fuels Management Subcommittee Approved The process of oxidation of solid fuel accompanied by incandesence. All volatiles have already been driven off, oxygen reaches the combustion surfaces, and there is no visible smoke. This phase follows the smoldering combustion phase and continues until the temperature drops below the combustion threshold value, or until only non-combustible ash remains. 
glowing combustion phase FMSC Fuels Management Subcommittee Approved The final phase of combustion following flaming and smoldering phases.
going fire IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved Any wildfire on which suppression action has not reached an extensive mop up stage.
government vehicle FBC Finance/Business Management Committee Approved A vehicle owned by, on loan to, leased or rented by the government.
gradient wind (flow) IWSC Incident Weather Subcommittee Approved Wind flowing parallel to pressure isobars or contours with low pressure on the left of the observer in the Northern Hemisphere; velocity such that the pressure gradient, Coriolis, and centrifugal force acting in the area are in balance.
gradient wind (weather system) IWSC Incident Weather Subcommittee Approved Wind created by differing barometric pressures between high- and low-pressure systems. Velocity is generally five to 30 miles per hour, and wind shifts are usually gradual as systems move and shift.
Graphic Scale (GS) PMC Fire Planning Management Committee, QMC Qualifications Management Committee, QSSC Qualifications Systems Subcommittee, LMC Logistic and Equipment Management Committee Approved A graphic scale is a line marked off on a map which compares map distances to the ground distance in 'different' units of measurements.
grass fire FASC Fire Analysis Subcommittee Approved Any fire in which the predominant fuel is grass or grasslike.
grass type FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved In NFDRS, the two grass types (annual, perennial) determine how seasonal drying of live herbaceous fuels is modeled.
gravimetric IWSC Incident Weather Subcommittee Approved Of, or pertaining to, measurement by weight.
gravity tank ETSC Equipment/Technology Subcommittee Approved Water storage tank for fire protection and sometimes community water service that supplies water by gravity pressure.
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