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NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire (PMS 205)

Term Steward Status Definition
separation (airports) ASSC Aerial Supervision Subcommittee Approved Spacing of aircraft while landing and taking off at airports to achieve safe and orderly movement in flight.
separation (personnel) IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved Spacing of personnel while performing line construction activities.
serial number IMC Integration Management Committee, DCSC Dispatch Coordination Subcommittee Approved A set of numbers that is put on equipment by the manufacturer so that each has a different number and can be recognized.
Serious Accident Investigation Team (SAIT) SRC Safety/Risk Management Committee Approved A formal investigation team that is organized with the purpose of conducting an accident investigation for an occurred serious accident. The team is given full authorization to conduct the investigation from involved agencies through letter of delegation. 
serious aircraft incident AMC Aviation Management Committee Approved An incident or malfunction that could adversely affect the safety of flight.
serious injury ARMS Aviation Risk Management Subcommittee Approved Any injury which: Requires hospitalization for more than 48 hours, commencing within 7 days from the date the injury was received; Results in a fracture of any bone (except simple fractures of fingers, toes, or nose); Causes severe hemorrhages, nerve, muscle, or tendon damage; Involves any internal organ; or Involves second- or third-degree burns, or any burns affecting more than 5 percent of the body surface. (See 49 CFR (NTSB) 830/831)
Service Branch QMC Qualifications Management Committee, NISC NIMS Integration Subcommittee Approved A branch within the logistics section responsible for service activities at the incident. Includes the communications, medical and food units.
service test pressure MFES Mobile Fire Equipment Subcommittee Approved The pressure applied to a hose during periodic testing to determine if the hose can remain in service.
set (incendiary) FISC Fire Investigation Subcommittee Approved An individual incendiary fire.
set (individual) FISC Fire Investigation Subcommittee Approved Individual lightning or railroad fires, especially when several are started within a short time.
set (material) FISC Fire Investigation Subcommittee Approved Material left to ignite an incendiary fire at a later time.
set (planned) FISC Fire Investigation Subcommittee Approved Burning material at the points deliberately ignited for backfiring, slash burning, prescribed burning, and other purposes.
set (point of origin) FISC Fire Investigation Subcommittee Approved The point or points of origin of an incendiary fire.
severity FMSC Fuels Management Subcommittee Approved See fire severity
severity funding FBC Finance/Business Management Committee Approved Suppression funds used to increase the level of presuppression capability and fire preparedness when predicted or actual burning conditions exceed those normally expected, due to severe weather conditions.
severity index FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved A number that indicates the relative net effects of daily fire danger on the fire load for an area during a specified period, such as a fire season.
shaded fuel break FMSC Fuels Management Subcommittee Approved Fuel breaks built in timbered areas where the trees on the break are thinned and pruned to reduce the fire potential yet retain enough crown canopy to make a less favorable microclimate for surface fires.
shape GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Requested Geographic representation of a location in NAD83 datum.
Shareable Content Object (SCO) PMC Fire Planning Management Committee, QMC Qualifications Management Committee, QSSC Qualifications Systems Subcommittee, LMC Logistic and Equipment Management Committee Archived Self-contained units of learning. They can be used as building blocks (or legos) to create packages (lessons) of SCOs, but they cannot be broken down into smaller units.
Shareable Content Object Re-usable Model (SCORM) PMC Fire Planning Management Committee, QMC Qualifications Management Committee, QSSC Qualifications Systems Subcommittee, LMC Logistic and Equipment Management Committee Archived A specification for standardizing the reusability and interoperability of learning content. SCORM has been developed by the Advanced Distributed Learning initiative (ADL). SCORM focuses on two critical pieces of learning content interoperability: It defines an aggregation model for packaging learning content. It defines an API for enabling communications between learning content and the system that launches it.
shock wave FISC Fire Investigation Subcommittee Approved The leading edge of an expanding air mass.
Short Takeoff or Landing (STOL) Airstrip AMC Aviation Management Committee Approved Developed or undeveloped area that has been tested and will accommodate STOL aircraft.
Short Takeoff or Landing Aircraft AMC Aviation Management Committee Approved An aircraft which has the capability of operating from a STOL runway in accordance with applicable airworthiness and operating regulations.
short-haul HSHU Helicopter Short Haul Unit Approved To transport one or more persons suspended on a fixed line (150’-250’) beneath a helicopter. The intent is to transport persons a short distance (short-haul), normally from a limited or inaccessible location to a safe landing area.
short-range spotting FMSC Fuels Management Subcommittee Approved Firebrands, flaming sparks, or embers are carried by surface winds, starting new fires beyond the zone of direct ignition by the main fire. The range of such spotting is usually less than 1/4 mile.
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