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NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire (PMS 205)

Term Steward Status Definition
accident (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event, usually managed by organizations external to the fire community, for which the primary focus is for dealing with an accident and assistance to potential victims. This category includes accidents such as: automobile, aircraft, train, watercraft, and industrial.
agency program support (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event, managed by one of the fire agency's other (non-fire) program areas, for accomplishing activities deemed necessary by agency management. 
air accident (event) Approved An event dealing with an accident or mishap involving aircraft.
arson Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC In Development At common law, the malicious and willful burning of another's dwelling, outhouse, or parcel; by most modern statutes, the intentional or wrongful burin gof someone else's, orone's own property. Frequently requires proof of malicious or wrongful intent.
classroom training (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with a scheduled activity in a classroom setting or other controlled environment that provides instruction so as to make attendees fit or qualified for incident support activities.
community event (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event initiated by local private or government organizations that require non-emergency services for a general gathering such as a concert, convention, or parade.
Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)/Peer Support (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with a critical incident event. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)/Peer Support is the selection and implementation of the most appropriate crisis intervention tactics to best respond to the needs of the situation. CISM has multiple components other than responding after a critical incident occurs. These components can be used before, during, and after a crisis. They include a wide range of various activities, including PreIncident Education (PIE), which provides for resiliency, planning and preparedness, acute crisis management, and post-incident follow up.
debris and open burning Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC In Development A fire spreading from any fire originally set for the purpose of clearing land or for rubbish, garbage, range, stubble, or meadow burning.
debris/product fire (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with a fire spreading from any fire originally ignited to clear land or burn rubbish, garbage, crop stubble, or meadows (excluding incendiary fires).
earthquake (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with response to an earthquake.
emergency stabilization (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved 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.
equipment and vehicle use Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC In Development
False Alarm (FA) (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event where a wildfire was initially suspected, but ultimately an ignition could not be located; or the basis for the initial report was subsequently attributed to a non-fire source, such as water vapor or vented industrial emissions. The key point here is No FIRE, an incident cannot be a false alarm if an ignition is located.
fire (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event, managed by the wildland fire community, where an ignition resulting in sustained combustion occurred.
fire management action (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event, responded to and/or managed by the wildland fire management community, which addresses certain activities and responses undertaken by the wildland fire management community in conjunction with existing or potential fire event(s).
fire rehabilitation (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with objectives to repair damage or disturbance caused by wildfire. Efforts occurring 1-5 years from ignition date.
firearms and explosives use Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC In Development
fireworks Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC In Development Any composition or device designed to produce a visible or audible effect by  combustion, deflagration, or detonation, and which meets the defintion of "consumer fireworks"  or "display fireworks" as defined in 27 CFR 555.11.
flammable gas, oil, and other liquids conditions (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with the various situations that arise as a result of the presence of flammable gas and liquids such as gasoline, oil, etc.
flooding (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with response to a major flood.
foreign incident (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with a wildland fire originating from a country outside of the U.S., which has burned onto U.S. soil.
hazardous conditions (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event, usually managed by organizations external to the fire community, for which the primary focus is for dealing with a hazardous situation that poses an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property.
hurricane/typhoon (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with response to a hurricane or typhoon.
incident complex (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved Two or more distinct incidents in the same general area that, by management action, are managed under a single incident commander or unified command in order to improve efficiency and simplify incident management processes.
incident/event support (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with effective and timely support by the wildland fire community of an Event Host's dispatch unit, in order to relieve the dispatch unit of increased business volume due to anticipated or existing wildland fire or event activity. This category includes activities such as expansion of the existing Incident Support Organizations (ISO), such as initiating Expanded Dispatch operations, expanding Technical Support (such as establishment of contract-resource inspection stations), Multiagency Coordinating Group (MAC Group) support, and expanding Administrative support (such as support of bill-payment centers).
infrastructure event (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with public infrastructure such as water, electricity, transportation, or communication networks.
international mobilization (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with effective and timely support to the wildland fire community by mobilizing resources internationally. This category includes importing and exporting resources.
landslide/mass earth movement/avalanche/sinkhole (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with response to mass movement of the earth's surface, including landslide, mudslide, slumping, sinkhole etc.
marine accident (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with an accident or mishap involving watercraft.
marine search/rescue/recovery (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with a search, and/or rescue, and/or recovery in a marine setting.
medical assist (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with a rescue, and/or recovery, and/or service for a non-accident medical emergency (e.g., heart attack, illness, etc.).
misuse of fire by a minor Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC In Development Any unauthorized use of fire or incendiary devices by an individual under the ae of 18, including incidents caused by curiosity and exploration with fire.
motor vehicle accident (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with an accident or mishap involving on- or off-highway vehicles.
natural disasters and severe weather (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event, usually managed by organizations external to the fire community, for which the primary focus is managing emergency situations created by severe weather or natural disaster.
non-statistical/other (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with any fire which could pose a threat to ignite adjacent wildland fuels but ultimately did not result in a wildfire and thus cannot be accurately classified as any of the other Fire (FI) categories.
on-the-job training (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with a person's experience and proficiency while performing assigned duties while performing a job.
other causes Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC In Development Refers to wildfire ignitions not classified under common cause categories. 
out of area response (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event where resources are mobilized to a Wildfire (WF) Event within their corresponding dispatch center's response area (boundary). When resources arrive on scene, it is determined the ignition is not within their area of response, but in fact plots within an adjacent dispatch center's response area (boundary).
power generation/transmission/distribution Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC In Development Systems designed to produce, transport and distribute energy. (summary of information found in PMS 412 and FI-210)
preparedness/preposition (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with effective and efficient response by the wildland fire community to planned, anticipated or event activity. This category includes activities such as move-up and cover, fire menace standby, and severity activities.
prescribed fire (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event, where a wildland fire originating from a planned ignition in accordance with applicable laws, policies, and regulations to meet specific objectives.
proficiency and currency event (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with maintenance of licenses, currencies, or proficiencies, including recurring proficiencies.
public assistance (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved A community or public service event, managed by an organization external to the fire community, which requires resource support from the fire community. This category includes VIP visits, law enforcement activities, concerts, conventions, parades, road/bridge closures, etc.
public service organization event (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event managed by local public service organizations (police, fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services, or military).
radioactive/nuclear conditions (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with the various situations that arise as a result of the presence of radioactive materials.
rail accident (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with an accident or mishap involving railway vehicles.
railroad operations and maintenance Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC In Development
recreation and ceremony Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC In Development
search/rescue/recovery (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event, usually managed by organizatons external to the fire community, for which the primary focus is the search, rescue and/or recovery of people or things. This category includes missing persons, entrapments, etc.
severe winter weather (event) Approved An event dealing with response to severe winter weather such as blizzards, heavy snow, or ice storms.
simulation (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with simulation of various situations to provide experience or proficiency.
smoking Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC In Development Discarded or improperly managed cigarette butts or other smoking paraphanalia that leads to a wildfire ignition.
structure accident (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with a major accident or mishap such as collapse of a building or other man-made structure.
structure fire (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with a fire originating in and burning any part or an entire building, shelter, or other structure.
thunderstorm/tornado/high winds (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with response to a severe storm such as thunderstorms, tornado, or high winds.
training and proficiency (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved A scheduled activity that provides instruction to make attendees fit, qualified, or proficient in a particular area. This is a planned event.
tsunami (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with response to a tsunami.
undetermined Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC In Development Refers to wildfire incidents where an investigation did not identify a clear or definitive cause of origin.
urban search/rescue/recovery (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with a search, and/or rescue, and/or recovery in an urban setting.
vehicle fire (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with a fire originating in or on a vehicle or mobile equipment.
volcano (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with response to volcanic activity.
wildfire (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with a wildland fire originating from an unplanned ignition, such as lightning, volcanos, unauthorized and accidental human caused fires, and prescribed fires that are declared wildfires.
wildland search/rescue/recovery (event) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved An event dealing with a search, and/or rescue, and/or recovery in a wildland setting.
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