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NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire (PMS 205)

Term Steward Status Definition
pre-green FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved In the 1978 version of NFDRS, the herbaceous stage approximately 30 days prior to green-up.
pre-selection assessment QMC Qualifications Management Committee, TDSC Training Delivery Subcommittee Approved An assessment that must be passed before admittance into the course.
preattack FMSC Fuels Management Subcommittee Approved A planned, systematic procedure for collecting, recording, and evaluating prefire and fire management intelligence data for a given planning unit or preattack block. The planning phase is usually followed by a construction and development program integrated with other resources and activities. 
preattack block IMC Integration Management Committee, DISC Data Integration Subcommittee Approved Unit of wildland delineated by logical and strategic topographic features for preattack planning.
preattack planning FMSC Fuels Management Subcommittee Approved Within designated blocks of land, planning the locations of firelines, fire camps, water sources, and helispots; planning transportation systems, probable rates of travel, and constraints of travel on various types of attack units; and determining what types of attack units likely would be needed to construct particular firelines, their probable rate of fireline construction, and topographic constraints on fireline construction. 
precautionary landing AMC Aviation Management Committee Approved A landing necessitated by apparent impending failure of engines, systems, or components which makes continued flight unadvisable.
precipitation IWSC Incident Weather Subcommittee Approved Any or all forms of water particles, liquid or solid, that fall from the atmosphere and reach the ground.
precipitation amount FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved The total amount of precipitation that occurred within the preceding 24-hour period.
precipitation duration IWSC Incident Weather Subcommittee Approved Time, in hours and fraction of hours, that a precipitation event lasts. More precisely, for fire danger rating purposes, the length of time that fuels are subjected to liquid water.
precipitation gauge IWSC Incident Weather Subcommittee Approved Device commonly used to collect and permit measurement of any form of rain and snow sufficiently heavy to have fallen to the earth's surface.
precision approach procedure AMC Aviation Management Committee Approved A standard instrument approach procedure for fixed-wing aircraft in which an electronic glide slope is provided, such as ILS and PAR.
Precision Approach Radar (PAR) AMC Aviation Management Committee Approved Blind landing in which the aircraft is observed from the ground by means of radar and directed along a suitable glide path by instructions radioed to the pilot.
preconnected ETSC Equipment/Technology Subcommittee Approved Hard suction hose or discharge hose carried connected to pump, eliminating delay occasioned when hose and nozzles must be connected and attached at fire.
predictive services IWSC Incident Weather Subcommittee Approved Those Geographic Area and National-level fire weather or fire danger services and products produced by wildland fire agency meteorologists and intelligence staffs in support of resource allocation and prioritization.
Predictive Services Area boundary polygon GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Requested A polygon depicting the extent of the Predictive Services Area boundary.
Predictive Services Area Name IWSC Incident Weather Subcommittee Approved Unique name of the Predictive Services Area defined by Predictive Services.
Predictive Services Area national code Approved Unique code for every PSA associated to a single unit.
preignition combustion phase FASC Fire Analysis Subcommittee Approved Thermal or chemical decomposition of fuel at an elevated temperature. This is the pre-combustion stage of burning during which distillation and pyrolysis predominate. Heat energy is absorbed by the fuel which, in turn, gives off water vapor and flammable tars, pitches, and gases. These ignite when mixed with oxygen to initiate the flaming combustion phase. 
preignition phase FASC Fire Analysis Subcommittee Approved Preliminary phase of combustion in which fuel elements ahead of the fire are heated, causing fuels to dry. Heat induces decomposition of some components of the wood, causing release of combustible organic gases and vapors.
preparedness (activity) FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee, IFPC Interagency Fire Planning Committee Approved Activities that lead to a safe, efficient, and cost-effective fire management program in support of land and resource management objectives through appropriate planning and coordination.
preparedness (capability) FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee, IFPC Interagency Fire Planning Committee Approved The range of deliberate, critical tasks, and activities necessary to build, sustain, and improve the capability to protect against, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents.
preparedness (mental) FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee, IFPC Interagency Fire Planning Committee Approved Mental readiness to recognize changes in fire danger and act promptly when action is appropriate.
preparedness level IMC Integration Management Committee, DCSC Dispatch Coordination Subcommittee Approved Increments of planning and organizational readiness dictated by burning conditions, fire activity, and resource availability.
preparedness plan IFPC Interagency Fire Planning Committee Approved A written plan providing for timely recognition of approaching critical fire situations, priority setting, the deployment of forces, and other actions to respond to those situations.
prescribed burning FMSC Fuels Management Subcommittee Approved Application of prescribed fire.
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