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NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire (PMS 205)

Term Steward Status Definition
surge ETSC Equipment/Technology Subcommittee Approved Rapid increase in water flow which may result in a corresponding pressure rise.
surplus property ETSC Equipment/Technology Subcommittee Approved Any excess personal property not required for the needs and the discharge of the responsibilities of all federal agencies as determined by the General Services Administration (GSA).
survival zone SRC Safety/Risk Management Committee Approved A natural or cleared area of sufficient size and location to protect fire personnel from known hazards while inside a fire shelter. Examples include rock slides, road beds, clearings, knobs, wide ridges, benches, dozer lines, wet areas, cleared areas in light fuels, and previously burned areas. These are all areas where you expect no flame contact or prolonged heat and smoke. 
suspended fuel FISC Fire Investigation Subcommittee Approved A wildland fuel that is suspended off the ground in such a way that fire may burn both over and under it.
sustainability (water source) Approved A measure of the refresh rate of the water source.
sustained attack IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Archived Continuing fire suppression action until fire is under control.
swamper (dozer) TFSC Tree Felling Subcommittee Approved A worker on a dozer crew who pulls winch line, helps maintain equipment, etc., to speed suppression work on a fire.
swamper (faller/sawyer) TFSC Tree Felling Subcommittee Approved 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.
swampout TFSC Tree Felling Subcommittee Approved 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.
swivel ETSC Equipment/Technology Subcommittee Approved An accessory used between the helicopter cargo hook and sling load to allow free turning of the load.
synchronous (training) QMC Qualifications Management Committee, TDSC Training Delivery Subcommittee Approved Training where the students and instructors interact with each other at the same time.
synoptic IWSC Incident Weather Subcommittee Approved Literally, at one time. Thus, in meteorological usage, the weather conditions over a large area at a given point in time.
synoptic chart IWSC Incident Weather Subcommittee Approved 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.
systematic methodology FISC Fire Investigation Subcommittee Approved 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.
T-card QMC Qualifications Management Committee, NISC NIMS Integration Subcommittee Approved Cards filled out with essential tracking information for each resource they represent. The cards are color-coded to represent different types of resources.
Tactical Decision Game (TDGS) QMC Qualifications Management Committee, LTSC Leadership Training Subcommittee, LDSC Leadership Development Subcommitte Approved 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.
tactical direction IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved 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.
tactics IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee, wfnwcgorg:ICSC Approved Deploying and directing resources on an incident to accomplish the objectives designated by strategy.
tag-on SEATB Single Engine Airtanker Board, IAB Interagency Airtanker Board Approved Connecting a (airtanker) drop to the forward part of a previous drop.
tail number IMC Integration Management Committee, DCSC Dispatch Coordination Subcommittee Approved The numerical identification of an aircraft, also known as the registration number for an aircraft, as displayed on the aircraft’s tail section.
tail rotor AMC Aviation Management Committee Approved 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.
tailboard IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Archived Back step of a wildland or structural fire engine.
tailgate safety session SRC Safety/Risk Management Committee Approved 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.
tandem IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved 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.
tank and gating system ETSC Equipment/Technology Subcommittee Approved Tanks, doors, and release mechanism installed in aircraft for cascading fire retardants.
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