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NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire (PMS 205)

Term Steward Status Definition
lightning fire occurrence index FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved Numerical rating of the potential occurrence of lightning-caused fires.
Lightning Risk (LR) FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved A number related to the expected number of cloud-to-ground lightning strokes to which a protection unit is expected to be exposed during the rating period. The LR value used in the occurrence index includes an adjustment for lightning activity experienced during the previous day to account for possible holdover fires. 
lightning risk scaling factor FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved Factor derived from local thunderstorm and lightning-caused fire records that adjusts predictions of the basic lightning fire occurrence model to local experience, accounting for factors not addressed directly by the model (e.g., susceptibility of local fuels to ignition by lightning, fuel continuity, topography, regional characteristics of thunderstorms). 
lightning stroke counter IWSC Incident Weather Subcommittee Approved Electronic sensor used to record the number of lightning strokes within a predetermined range over a specified period of time.
lightweight debris FISC Fire Investigation Subcommittee Approved Ash and other materials found on other remains at a fire scene which have a tendency to settle on top of the other objects.
limbing TFSC Tree Felling Subcommittee Approved Removing branches from a felled or standing tree, or from brush.
limitations (water source) Approved Limitation of the water source like duration of use, seasonality, slow refill, must have specific size screen on draft hose, etc.
limited containment IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved Halting of fire spread at the head, or that portion of the flanks of a prescribed fire that is threatening to exceed prescription criteria, and ensuring that this spread rate will not be encountered again; does not indicate mopup.
line cutter IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved Fire crew member in the progressive method of line construction who cuts and clears away brush, small saplings, vines, and other obstructions in the path of the fireline; usually equipped with ax or brush hook, or pulaski.
line date time IRSC Incident Reporting Subcommittee Approved The date and time that the fire perimeter was collected in the field.
line officer wfnwcgorg:ICSC Approved Managing officer, or designee, of the agency, division thereof, or jurisdiction having statutory responsibility for incident mitigation and management.
line scout IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved A firefighter who determines the location of a fire line.
lined fire hose ETSC Equipment/Technology Subcommittee Approved Fire hose with a smooth inner coating of rubber or plastic to reduce friction loss.
lined hose MFES Mobile Fire Equipment Subcommittee Approved A hose that is lined with a tube of petroleum-based thermoplastic or polyester elastomer.
liner MFES Mobile Fire Equipment Subcommittee Approved The innermost continuous petroleum base, thermoplastic, polyester elastomer element of fire hose.
Liquid Concentrate (LC) ETSC Equipment/Technology Subcommittee Approved Liquid phosphate fertilizers used as fire retardants, usually diluted three to five times prior to application.
litter FMSC Fuels Management Subcommittee Approved The top layer of forest floor, composed of loose debris of dead sticks, branches, twigs, and recently fallen leaves or needles; little altered in structure by decomposition.
little change IWSC Incident Weather Subcommittee Approved Insignificant change in wind speed, direction, and temperature (less than 5 degrees) and relative humidity (less than five percent), respectively. When used as a general statement in a long-range forecast, all four criteria apply.
live fuel moisture content FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved Ratio of the amount of water to the amount of dry plant material in living plants.
live fuels FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved Living plants, such as trees, grasses, and shrubs, in which the seasonal moisture content cycle is controlled largely by internal physiological mechanisms, rather than by external weather influences.
live herbaceous moisture content FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved Ratio of the amount of water to the amount of dry plant material in herbaceous plants (i.e., grasses and forbs).
live line ETSC Equipment/Technology Subcommittee Approved Hose line filled with water under pressure and ready to use.
live reel ETSC Equipment/Technology Subcommittee Approved Hose line or reel on a fire engine, carried preconnected to the pump, ready for use without making connections to pump or attaching nozzle.
live run ASSC Aerial Supervision Subcommittee Approved Indicates that the airtanker has the target in sight and will make a retardant drop on this run over the target.
live woody moisture content FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved Ratio of the amount of water to the amount of dry plant material in shrubs.
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