Skip to main content

NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire (PMS 205)

Term Steward Status Definition
Maximum Manageable Area (MMA) FMSC Fuels Management Subcommittee Approved The maximum geographic limits of spread within which a wildland fire is allowed to spread.
maximum performance MFES Mobile Fire Equipment Subcommittee Approved The maximum flow at various pressures of a pump with peak revolutions per minute of the engine or motor.
maximum relative humidity FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved The highest value for relative humidity measured at the observation site during the preceding 24-hour period.
may day SRC Safety/Risk Management Committee Approved International distress signal/call. When repeated three times it indicates imminent and grave danger and that immediate assistance is required.
Mcleod ETSC Equipment/Technology Subcommittee Approved A combination hoe or cutting tool and rake, with or without removable blades.
mean fire return interval FMSC Fuels Management Subcommittee Approved Arithmetic average of all fire intervals in a given area over a given time.
Mean Sea Level (MSL) IWSC Incident Weather Subcommittee Approved Average height of the surface of the sea for all stages of the tide over a 19-year period.
measured woody fuel moisture FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved Moisture content of the small branch wood and foliage of live woody plants, expressed as a percentage of the oven dry weight of the sample, collected monthly and used to supplement NFDRS modeled outputs.
medical director EMSC Emergency Medical Subcommittee Approved A physician responsible for the oversight of the EMS system, EMS agencies and licensed EMS personnel WITHIN A SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHICAL AREA.
Medical Unit QMC Qualifications Management Committee, NISC NIMS Integration Subcommittee Approved Medical Unit staff are responsible to plan for and provide health and medical services for incident personnel.
medium expansion ETSC Equipment/Technology Subcommittee Approved Foam with an expansion between 21:1 and 200:1.
medium-range forecast IWSC Incident Weather Subcommittee Approved A forecast for a period extending from about two days to five days or a week in advance; there are no absolute limits to the period embraced by this definition.
medivac SRC Safety/Risk Management Committee Approved Mobile medical treatment and transportation.
meningitis EMSC Emergency Medical Subcommittee Approved Inflammation of the meninges and especially of the pia mater and the arachnoid , A disease that may be either a mild illness caused by any of numerous viruses (as various coxsackieviruses) or a more severe usually life-threatening illness caused by a bacterium (especially the meningococcus or the serotype designated B of Haemophilus influenzae), that may be associated with fever, headache, vomiting, malaise, and stiff neck, and that if untreated in bacterial forms may progress to confusion, stupor, convulsions, coma, and death.
merge identifier IMC Integration Management Committee Approved Identifies that a merge between multiple fires occurred.
merged wildfires IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved Two or more wildfires that burn together to form a single burned area and which, by management action, may be declared merged and managed as a single incident to improve efficiency and simplify incident management processes.
mesa (topographic) PMC Fire Planning Management Committee, QMC Qualifications Management Committee, QSSC Qualifications Systems Subcommittee, LMC Logistic and Equipment Management Committee Approved A flat-topped mountain with steep sides.
message center QMC Qualifications Management Committee, NISC NIMS Integration Subcommittee Archived The message center is part of the incident communications center and is collocated or placed adjacent to it. It receives, records, and routes information about resources reporting to the incident, resource status, and administrative and tactical traffic.
methodology DPMS Dispatch Position and Curriculum Management Subcommittee Approved A set of standardized procedures and practices that have been peer-reviewed and have received general acceptance by the profession.
Micro-Remote Environmental Monitoring System (Micro-REMS) IWSC Incident Weather Subcommittee Approved Mobile weather monitoring station. Each unit consists of a shipping container, solar panel, battery, temperature/relative humidity sensor, wind mast, wind direction/speed sensor, data logger and radio. A Micro-REMS usually accompanies an incident meteorologist and ATMU to an incident. 
microscale fire pattern indicator FISC Fire Investigation Subcommittee Approved Fire pattern indicators that are generally only visible when viewed within close proximity.
mid-flame windspeed IWSC Incident Weather Subcommittee Approved The speed of the wind measured at the midpoint of the flames, considered to be most representative of the speed of the wind that is affecting fire behavior.
middle name IMC Integration Management Committee, DISC Data Integration Subcommittee Approved The middle name of the resource as it appears on a government issued ID. Applies only to overhead resources.
mildew MFES Mobile Fire Equipment Subcommittee Approved Growth of organic matter produced by fungi. It will discolor and cause deterioration of the woven fabric.
mildew resistant MFES Mobile Fire Equipment Subcommittee Approved Designed to withstand the growth of mildew and mold without any deteriorating effect on the fabric.
Displaying 1601 - 1625 of 2700

NWCG Latest Announcements