Skip to main content

NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire, PMS 205

Overview

The NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire provides an extensive listing of approved terms and definitions used by the NWCG community. It contains terms commonly used by NWCG in the areas of wildland fire and incident management and is not intended to list all terms used by NWCG groups and member agencies. The NWCG has directed that all committee and subgroup product glossaries be contained within the NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire to maintain definition consistency and clarity among documents.

Comments, questions, and recommendations shall be submitted to the appropriate agency program manager assigned to the Data Standards and Terminology Board (DSTB). 

NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire, PMS 205  (Quick View)

EDG Explorer is a database platform used for managing NWCG Glossary terms.  The following table is a quick view of the terms found in EDG. More detailed information such as rules, documentation, and term relationships may be viewed in EDG Explorer.  

Note: If the NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire is not displaying below please report it to NWCG Webmaster

Title Steward Status Sort descending Definition
activity group CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee

Further refines wildfire cause supporting data, providing information for prevention programs for targeted messaging.

Seasonal Data Collection Station
Law Enforcement (internal)

An event dealing with the agency's law enforcement program. Includes non-fire infrared flights, surveillance, etc.

National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service Identifier
IQCS, FireCode, NAMS, FEOS
Weather, Lightning, Fire Reporting, UnitID
Chemical

A compound or substance that has been purified or prepared.

Management Event (internal)

An event dealing with agency-specific administrative programs, such as public relations.

Closures

Not open

Camouflage

The disguising of sensitive sites by painting or covering them to make them blend in with their surroundings.

Data Collection

The systematic approach to gathering and measuring information from a variety of sources to get a complete and accurate picture of an area of interest.

Warnings

Give notice of hazard or caution.

Plant Source Development

Obtaining resources necessary to obtain, store, and grow out photosynthesizing living organisms.

Communications

Verbal, graphical, or written information sharing with internal and external audiences.

Program Management

Function that oversees a group of individual projects linked together through a shared organizational goal or a common area of impact.

Biological

A living organism.

Assessment

The evaluation or estimation of the nature, quality, or ability of someone or something.

Major Asset Replacement

A useful thing or quality to be put back after loss.

Critical Incident Stress Management/Peer Support

An event dealing with a critical incident event. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)/Peer Support is the selection and implementation of the most appropriate crisis intervention tactics to best respond to the needs of the situation. CISM has multiple components other than responding after a critical incident occurs. These components can be used before, during, and after a crisis. They include a wide range of various activities, including PreIncident Education (PIE), which provides for resiliency, planning and preparedness, acute crisis management, and post-incident follow up. 

Treatment

Actions that affect fuel or vegetative conditions, community adaptation, public safety, or public land access through their completion.

Activity

Actions necessary to conduct a future treatment or evaluate the success of a completed treatment that do not affect fuel or vegetative conditions, community adaptation, public safety, or public land access through their completion.

interagency (organization)
Year-Round Data Collection Station

A permanent 24-hour observing station.

Mechanical

Produced by machinery

Asset Replacement

A useful thing or quality to be put back after loss.

Asset Repair

A useful thing or quality to be fixed or mended.

Hazardous Conditions

An event, usually managed by organizations external to the fire community, for which the primary focus is for dealing with a hazardous situation that poses an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property.

Minor Repair

A useful thing or quality to be fixed or mended.

Document Preparation

Development and composition of written communication instruments.

Search/Rescue/Recovery

An event, usually managed by organizations external to the fire community, for which the primary focus is the search, rescue and/or recovery of people or things. This category includes missing persons, entrapments, etc.

Public Assistance

A community or public service event, managed by an organization external to the fire community, which requires resource support from the fire community. This category includes VIP visits, law enforcement activities, concerts, conventions, parades, road/bridge closures, etc. 

Natural Disasters & Severe Weather

An event, usually managed by organizations external to the fire community, for which the primary focus is managing emergency situationscreated by severe weather or natural disaster.

Training & Proficiency

A scheduled activity that provides instruction to make attendees fit, qualified, or proficient in a particular area. This is a planned event.

Fire

An event, responded to and/or managed by the wildland fire community, where an ignition resulting in sustained combustion occurred. 

rainfall output
WIMS identification number
wind speed
Compliance

Actions taken to conform with legal requirements.

Minor Asset Replacement

A useful thing or quality to be fixed or mended.

Fire Management Action

An event, responded to and/or managed by the wildland fire management community, which addresses certain activities and responses undertaken by the wildland fire management community in conjunction with existing or potential fire event(s). 

Accident

An event, usually managed by organizations external to the fire community, for which the primary focus is for dealing with an accident and assistance to potential victims. This category includes accidents such as: automobile, aircraft, train, watercraft, and industrial.

Hazardous Conditions

An event, usually managed by organizations external to the fire community, for which the primary focus is for dealing with a hazardous situation that poses an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property.

Agency Program Support

An event, managed by one of the fire agency's other (non-fire) program areas, for accomplishing activities deemed necessary by agency management. 

slug flow ETC Equipment Technology Committee Approved

The discharge of distinct pockets of water and air due to the insufficient mixing of foam concentrate, water, and air in a compressed air foam system.

open burning FUSC Fire Use Subcommittee Approved

Burning of any fuel outdoors without the use of mechanical combustion enhancements.

break coupling ETC Equipment Technology Committee Approved

To detach two pieces of hose by backing the swivel thread off the nipple thread.

spur ridge FENC Fire Environment Committee Approved

A small ridge which extends finger-like from a main ridge.

barrier IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved

Any obstruction to the spread of fire. Typically an area or strip devoid of combustible fuel.

required training IPSC Incident and Position Standards Committee Approved

A course or courses that must be completed prior to initiating a position task book. Training which has been identified as required cannot be challenged; an agency equivalent course may be used as a substitute when the course meets or exceeds a required course's learning and performance objectives. 

fire load FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved

The number and size of fires historically experienced on a given unit over a given period (usually one day) at a given index of fire danger.

Displaying 1 - 50 of 2464

Page Last Modified / Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

Updated NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515

Date: May 10, 2024
Contact: IFUASS Qualification and Curriculum Board (IFUASS) 

The 2024 revision of the NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515 is now available. PMS 515 standardizes the processes and procedures for interagency use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), including pilot inspections and approvals. This publication is now available as a PDF for easy use offline.

References:

NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515

Memorandum 24-003: Removal of Type 1 Command and General Staff (C&G) Incident Position Qualification Pathways

Date: May 10, 2024
Contact: Aitor Bidaburu 

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide NWCG direction for removal of the Type 1 Command and General Staff (C&G) incident position qualification pathways to transition to Complex Incident Management (CIM). Responders may continue to utilize available NWCG pathways to attain Type 1 C&G qualifications until December 31, 2024.

References:

Memorandum 24-003

CIM Story Map

2024 Professional Reading Program

Date: April 26, 2024
Contact: Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program (WFLDP) 

The Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program is announcing the 2024 Professional Reading list! The intent of the Professional Reading Program is to promote the reading and discussion of these books throughout the year. Discussion guides are provided and the corresponding Wildland Fire Leadership Levels have been identified.

The five books chosen for this year are: Young Men and Fire by Norman Maclean, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog by William H. McRaven, The Art of Clear Thinking by Hasard Lee, Emotional Agility by Susan David, and Writing to Persuade by Trish Hall.

References:

Professional Reading Program

Wildland Fire Leadership Levels

NWCG Training Catalog now on Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Date: April 25, 2023
Contact: NWCG Training  

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) has migrated the training catalog from the NWCG website to the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP) as part of our ongoing efforts to streamline processes and improve efficiency. To facilitate this transition, the training catalog remains available on www.nwcg.gov through April 2024.

Starting May 2024, the training catalog will no longer be accessible on www.nwcg.gov. However, you can still access the complete training catalog by logging in as a guest to the WFLP.

References:

Wildland Fire Learning Portal