NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire (PMS 205)

Station at which minimum weather measurements are taken to compute ratings of burning conditions; provides supplementary information on weather experience.

The ICS organizational level having responsibility for a major functional area of incident management (e.g., Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration).

An area of land one mile square and containing 640 acres, more or less, which is one of 36 parts of a township.

Observers are posted at one or more strategic locations in the proximity of a fire to detect and warn fire personnel of pending critical weather changes that might significantly affect the fire.

A geographical area in which a task force/strike team leader or supervisor of a single resource is assigned authority and responsibility for the coordination of resources and implementation of planned tactics. A segment may be a portion of a division or an area inside or outside the perimeter of an incident. Segments are identified with Arabic numbers, i.e., A-1, etc. and are not to be used as radio designators. 

Indicates the dispatch center inside/outside the current dispatch center for which resources are being requested.

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.

Training (usually online) that is self-directed by the student. Asynchronous learning activities that the learner accesses using a web browser. The learner manages the timing of content delivery. A key characteristic is that in addition to reading or watching content, the learner interacts with the content. For example, knowledge checks may periodically be presented as part of the training delivery to assess the learners understanding of concepts. This type of training is often referred to in other terms, such as Web -Based training, e-learning, on-demand learning, or self-paced learning.

The horizontal and vertical spacing of aircraft working over or near a wildfire or other incident.

Spacing of aircraft while landing and taking off at airports to achieve safe and orderly movement in flight.

Spacing of personnel while performing line construction activities.

A set of numbers that is put on equipment by the manufacturer so that each has a different number and can be recognized.

A formal investigation team that is organized with the purpose of conducting an accident investigation for an occurred serious accident. The team is given full authorization to conduct the investigation from involved agencies through letter of delegation. 

An incident or malfunction that could adversely affect the safety of flight.

Any injury which:

Requires hospitalization for more than 48 hours, commencing within 7 days from the date the injury was received;
Results in a fracture of any bone (except simple fractures of fingers, toes, or nose);
Causes severe hemorrhages, nerve, muscle, or tendon damage;
Involves any internal organ; or
Involves second- or third-degree burns, or any burns affecting more than 5 percent of the body surface.

(See 49 CFR (NTSB) 830/831)

A branch within the logistics section responsible for service activities at the incident. Includes the communications, medical and food units.

The pressure applied to a hose during periodic testing to determine if the hose can remain in service.

An individual incendiary fire.

Individual lightning or railroad fires, especially when several are started within a short time.

Material left to ignite an incendiary fire at a later time.

Burning material at the points deliberately ignited for backfiring, slash burning, prescribed burning, and other purposes.

The point or points of origin of an incendiary fire.

An event dealing with response to severe winter weather such as blizzards, heavy snow, or ice storms.

See fire severity

Suppression funds used to increase the level of presuppression capability and fire preparedness when predicted or actual burning conditions exceed those normally expected, due to severe weather conditions.

A number that indicates the relative net effects of daily fire danger on the fire load for an area during a specified period, such as a fire season.

Fuel breaks built in timbered areas where the trees on the break are thinned and pruned to reduce the fire potential yet retain enough crown canopy to make a less favorable microclimate for surface fires.

Self-contained units of learning. They can be used as building blocks (or legos) to create packages (lessons) of SCOs, but they cannot be broken down into smaller units.

A specification for standardizing the reusability and interoperability of learning content. SCORM has been developed by the Advanced Distributed Learning initiative (ADL). SCORM focuses on two critical pieces of learning content interoperability:

It defines an aggregation model for packaging learning content.
It defines an API for enabling communications between learning content and the system that launches it.

The leading edge of an expanding air mass.

Developed or undeveloped area that has been tested and will accommodate STOL aircraft.

An aircraft which has the capability of operating from a STOL runway in accordance with applicable airworthiness and operating regulations.

To transport one or more persons suspended on a fixed line (150’-250’) beneath a helicopter. The intent is to transport persons a short distance (short-haul), normally from a limited or inaccessible location to a safe landing area.

Firebrands, flaming sparks, or embers are carried by surface winds, starting new fires beyond the zone of direct ignition by the main fire. The range of such spotting is usually less than 1/4 mile.

Persons or work for which employment is less than 12 months (excluding firefighters hired for a particular fire).

Fire retardant that inhibits combustion primarily by the cooling and smothering action of water. Chemicals may be added to the water to alter its viscosity or retard its evaporation, thereby increasing its effectiveness.

Method of carrying hose on the shoulders.

A woody perennial plant differing from a perennial herb by its persistent and woody stem; and from a tree by its low stature and habit of branching from the base.

The two-category (evergreen, deciduous) classification of shrubs vegetation in the 1988 version of NFDRS.

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.

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

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.

In the ICS209, observed fire behavior or significant incident events for the current reporting period.

An event measured by the occurrence of fire(s) that requires mobilization of additional resources from outside the fire event area.

The likelihood a wildland fire event will require mobilization of additional resources from outside the area in which the fire situation originates.

A weather phenomenon resulting in an environment that has a significant impact on fire spread, intensity, or occurrence. Example: strong wind, unstable air mass, etc.

Self-leveling helibucket slung under a helicopter which can be filled by hovering over a water source.

A hose lay consisting of consecutively coupled lengths of hose without laterals. The lay is extended by inserting additional lengths of hose in the line between pumps and nozzle.

An activity that imitates something real, but it is not real itself and it can be altered by users for the specific purpose of providing an experiential learning environment. Examples: Sand Table Exercise or CBT/WBT Forest Service Wildland Fire Simulation Scenario Editor. 

An event dealing with simulation of various situations to provide experience or proficiency.