NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire (PMS 205)

A textile yarn spun and twisted from staple-length fiber, either natural or synthetic.

A small ridge which extends finger-like from a main ridge.

Sudden increase in wind speed to at least 17 mph (15 knots) that is sustained for at least 1 minute but not more than 5 minutes.

Any nonfrontal line or narrow band of active thunderstorms extending across the horizon. It is of importance to fire behavior due to accompanying strong gusty winds and the possibility of such a line passing between regular weather observation stations without being reported.

Condition of the atmosphere in which the temperature decrease with increasing altitude is less than the dry adiabatic lapse rate. In this condition, the atmosphere tends to suppress large-scale vertical motion.

A layer of air having a temperature change (lapse rate) of less than dry adiabatic (approximately -5.4 degrees F per 1,000 feet) thereby retarding either upward or downward mixing of smoke.

Aircraft orbiting the rendezvous area; usually refers to vertical deployment at 500-foot (150 m) altitudinal separation between aircraft.

A case study of a previous incident that is conducted on the actual physical site where the incident occurred. A staff ride is an experiential learning method that involves three distinct parts: a preliminary study, a site visit, and a post-visit integration session. 

A NFDRS component, index or related indicator (ignition component, spread component, energy release component, burning index, Keetch-Byram drought index) whose outputs are correlated to the local fire problem, used to determine staffing levels.

The basis for decision support for daily staffing of initial attack resources and other activities. A level of readiness and an indicator or daily preparedness.

A temporary location for available resources in which personnel, supplies, and equipment await operational assignment.

Atmospheric conditions under which pollutants build up faster than the atmosphere can disperse them.

Fire which kills all or most of the living overstory trees in a forest and initiates forest succession or regrowth. Also explicitly describes the nature of fire in grasslands and some shrublands.

A group of trained firefighters stationed at a dispatch point for quick, rapid deployment.

Fire hose coupling with American National Standard (NH) threads.

Day which produces the same net drying as experienced during a 24-hour period under laboratory conditions in which dry-bulb temperature is maintained at 80º F and relative humidity is maintained at and relative humidity is maintained at 20%.

A two-character code to describe each measurement taken at a weather station.

Conduct exercising the degree of care, skill, and judgment that would be expected under like or similar circumstances by a similarly educated, reasonable EMS professional.

Specific instructions clearly spelling out what is expected of an individual every time they perform a given task. A standard operating procedure can be used as a performance standard for tasks that are routinely done in the operational environment.

Specific instructions clearly spelling out what is expected of an individual every time they perform a given task. A standard operational procedure can be used as a performance standard for tasks that are routinely done in the operational environment.

State in which initial attack frequency zone sits.

The Country and State alpha code identifying the state or equivalent entity at point of origin.

Number of acres measured by each Landowner Kind and Category within a State Code associated with the land within the final fire perimeter of a specific, individual incident. The area measured within the perimeter includes unburned and unburnable islands or portions of such.

A code for the identification of the states, the District of Columbia and the outlying areas of the United States, and associated areas.

The State Code identifying the state or equivalent entity at point of origin.

A state agency specific accounting identifier.

Forests owned and administered by a state, and not by a federal government.

A code which expresses the amount of cloud cover, kind of precipitation, and/or restrictions to visibility being observed at the fire danger station at basic observation time.

An area established by the government of a state primarily for public recreation or for the preservation of unique natural or historic resources, administrative details varying widely. NOTE: Such parks may also be established by lesser administrative units, e.g. counties, municipalities, and also by large private owners. 

Water pressure head available at a specific location when no water is being used so that no friction loss is being encountered. Static pressure is that pressure observed on the engine inlet gauge before any water is taken from the hydrant.

Supply of water at rest which does not provide a pressure head for fire suppression but which may be employed as a suction source for fire pumps (e.g., water in a reservoir, pond, or cistern).

A WIMS file that contains all the information defined for a weather station.

A six-digit number assigned to a specific weather station by the servicing National Weather Service Fire Weather Office.

Pressure of the atmosphere at an assigned station location and elevation.

The number that results from manipulating raw data according to a specified procedure; associated with samples.

In general, an actionable fire, on which any fire agency reports and maintains specified information (e.g., cause, date and point of origin, size, fire damage).

A branch of mathematics dealing with the collection, analysis, and interpretation of numerical data.

Five-minute test used to predict a person's ability to take in, transport, and use oxygen (aerobic capacity), the most important factor limiting the ability to perform arduous work.

The central point or area of a weather system associated with increased winds, clouds or precipitation (or any combination thereof).

Water or fire retardant projected directly from the nozzle (as contrasted with a fog or spray cone), provided by a solid stream orifice or by adjusting a fog jet into a straight stream pattern.

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

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.

A broad statement, specified in a land/resource management or fire management plan that identifies change in water, soil, air, or vegetation from the present to proposed conditions, or describes an existing resource condition that should be maintained. Strategic objectives deal with large areas over long time periods and project intended outcomes of management activities that contribute to the maintenance or achievement of desired conditions. 

The general plan or direction selected to accomplish incident objectives.

Number of resources used to attack a fire.

Total firefighting resources available, during a specified period, to conduct and support firefighting operations.

A set number of resources of the same kind and type that have an established minimum number of personnel, common communications, and a leader.

A narrow finger or band of fuel that connects two or more patches or areas of wildland fuel.

Burning by means of strip firing.