NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire (PMS 205)

Continuing fire suppression action until fire is under control.

A worker on a dozer crew who pulls winch line, helps maintain equipment, etc., to speed suppression work on a fire.

A worker who assists fallers and/or sawyers by clearing away brush, limbs and small trees. Carries fuel, oil and tools and watches for dangerous situations.

Act of clearing brush and other material from around the base of trees and where trees are to be bucked, prior to falling or bucking, as protection against saw kickback and to provide safe footing.

An accessory used between the helicopter cargo hook and sling load to allow free turning of the load.

Training where the students and instructors interact with each other at the same time.

Literally, at one time. Thus, in meteorological usage, the weather conditions over a large area at a given point in time.

In meteorology, any chart or map on which data and analyses are presented that describe the state of the atmosphere over a large area at a given moment in time.

The systematic application of methods, procedures, and techniques common to the field of wildand fire investigation as regularly applied to solve the problems of the investigation within each specifc scene's conditions and needs.

Cards filled out with essential tracking information for each resource they represent. The cards are color-coded to represent different types of resources.

A simple role-play simulation technique that challenges participants to make decisions and communicate those decisions to others. A tactical decision game is an experiential learning method that is tactical in nature and has time and information constraints to put participants under some level of stress.

Direction given by the operations section chief which includes the tactics appropriate for the selected strategy, the selection and assignment of resources, tactics implementation, and performance monitoring for each operational period.

Deploying and directing resources on an incident to accomplish the objectives designated by strategy.

Connecting a (airtanker) drop to the forward part of a previous drop.

The numerical identification of an aircraft, also known as the registration number for an aircraft, as displayed on the aircraft’s tail section.

A small rotor, mounted on the tail of a conventional helicopter, which counteracts torque of the main rotor and provides a measure of directional control.

Back step of a wildland or structural fire engine.

Brief meetings held at the beginning, during, or end of an operational period to discuss new work assignments, new work methods, changes in plans, use of tools and equipment, and recognition and protection against work hazards that may be encountered.

Two or more units of any one type working one in front of the other to accomplish a specific fire suppression job; the term can be used in connection with crews of firefighters, power pumps, bulldozers, etc.

Tanks, doors, and release mechanism installed in aircraft for cascading fire retardants.

Specialized trailer on which is mounted a tank, fire pump, hose, and ancillary equipment.

Specific portion of the fire on which fire retardant or water is to be dropped by airtankers or helitankers.

Facilities in which there is great likelihood of loss of life or property.

A unit of work activity that is a logical and necessary action in the performance of a behavior; how the behavior is demonstrated or performed in a particular context.

Any combination of single resources assembled for a particular tactical need, with common communications and a leader. A task force may be pre-established and sent to an incident, or formed at an incident.

The relative change of some measurable quantity with change of temperature, like burning time per unit length, mostly expressed as mean change per degree in percentage of mean temperature within a certain range.

An appointment/agreement that meets the following conditions:

Employing office is a government entity
Term of appointment is not to exceed one year
Employee receives compensation for work

The moisture content of the l0-hour timelag roundwood fuels.

Dead fuels consisting of roundwood 1/4 to l-inch (0.6 to 2.5 cm) in diameter and, very roughly, the layer of litter extending from immediately below the surface to 3/4 inch (1.9 cm) below the surface.

Largest tender type that can use the water source.

A resource may be tentatively released from At Incident so that a dispatcher can have a view of where resources are and their availability to be assigned to an incident.

Device for throwing a stream of flaming liquid, used to facilitate rapid ignition during burn out operations on a wildfire or during a prescribed fire operation.

Any premeditated, unlawful act dangerous to human life or public welfare that is intended to intimidate or coerce civilian populations or governments.

A prescribed fire set to evaluate such things as fire behavior, fire effects, detection performance, or control measures.

An area of mountainous slope (characteristically the middle third), where the top of the radiation inversion intersects the slope. It typically experiences the least variation in diurnal temperatures and has the highest average temperatures and, thus, the lowest relative humidity. Its presence is most evident during clear weather with light wind. 

The display or printout of an infrared scanner operating over a fire.

Layer of clouds whose ratio of dense sky cover to total sky cover is 1/2 or less.

Sky cover through which higher clouds or the sky can be detected.

A flesh burn in which charring occurs.

An injury or illness/disease caused by a person or object under circumstances that indicate there may be a legal liability on a party other than the federal or state government.

An incident likely to cause damage or danger to protected lands.

Any uncontrolled fire near to or heading toward an area under organized fire protection.

Soil pushed over the edge of a fireline by a tractor plow or dozer.

Localized storm characterized by one or more electrical discharge(s).

An event dealing with response to a severe storm such as thunderstorms, tornado, or high winds.

Act of connecting a control line to another fireline or an intended firebreak.

A device employed to allow a firesetter the opportunity to leave the scene prior to the ignition of the fire.

With respect to maintenance time records, the time from the moment an aircraft leaves the surface of the earth until it touches at the next point of landing.

A point in time during a 24-hour Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) day.