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)

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Term	Steward	Status	Definition
ABCD Miscellaneous	DMC Data Management Committee, IBC Incident Business Committee	Approved	A FireCode used by the USDA Forest Service to track and compile cost information for emergency initial attack fire suppression expenditures for A, B, C, &amp; D size class fires on Forest Service lands.
accounting code	IBC Incident Business Committee	Approved	Agency-specific accounting data. Each agency assigns a specific accounting code to an incident.
active fire	IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee	Approved	Any fire that has not been called "out".
adolescent (13-17)	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
adult (18+)	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
aerial fireworks	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Explode or create an aerial flash. The hot remains of an aerial firework may land in flammable vegetation and ignite a fire. &nbsp; &nbsp;
aircraft (specific cause)	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	An airplane, helicopter, or other machine capable of flight.
arson	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	At common law, the malicious and willful burning of another's dwelling, outhouse, or parcel; by most modern statutes, the intentional or wrongful burin gof someone else's, orone's own property. Frequently requires proof of malicious or wrongful intent.
at incident	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Proposed New	The resource is committed and at the assigned incident.
available		Proposed New	The resource can be used to fill a request. Resources on preposition incidents qualify as available.
available resources	NIMSIC National Incident Management System Integration Committee	Approved	Resources assigned to an incident and available for assignment.
barbeque/smoker	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
black powder/muzzle loading	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
blasting	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
blowup	FWS Fire Weather Subcommittee	Approved	Sudden increase in fireline intensity or rate of spread of a fire sufficient to preclude direct control or to upset existing suppression plans. Often accompanied by violent convection and may have other characteristics of a fire storm.
bonfire/party fire	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
brakes	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	A mechanical system used to slow down, stop or control the motion of a moving object by applying friction or force.
branding	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	the action of marking/burning with a branding iron
burn barrel	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Fuels burned within a barrel.
burning personal items	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	lighting personal items on fire, in the open, in order for the fire to consume them (not in a burn barrel)
Call When Needed (CWN)	IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee	Approved	An appointment/agreement that meets the following conditions: Employing office is a government or contractor entity There is no set work schedule; the person is in a &ldquo;call-when-needed&rdquo; status. Employee receives compensation for work
campfire	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
candling	FBSC Fire Behavior Subcommittee	Approved	The burning of the foliage of a single tree or a small group of trees, from the bottom up.
career	IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee	Approved	An appointment/agreement that meets the following conditions: Employing office is a government entity Employees are permanent employees Year-round work schedule Employee receives compensation for work
career-seasonal	IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee	Approved	An appointment/agreement that meets the following conditions: Employing office is a government entity Employees are permanent employees who are placed in nonduty/nonpay status and recalled to duty in accordance with pre-established conditions of employment Annually recurring periods of work of at least 6 months, but less than 12 months, during a calendar year Employee receives compensation for work
casual hire	IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee	Approved	An appointment/agreement that meets the following conditions: Term of appointment is based on duration of the emergency situation for which the employee is hired. Employee receives compensation for work based on Administratively Determined (AD) Pay Plan for Emergency Workers
ceremonial fire	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
chainsaw/brush saw/weed trimmer	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	A powered garden, agricultural, and/or forestry tool used to trim weeds, small trees and other foliage.
child (0-12)	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
cigar/cigarette/pipe	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
commercial transport vehicle	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	A vehicle required to be registered which is used or maintained for the transportaiton of persons for hire, compensation, or profit or designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.
complex identifier	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	The Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) of the complex.
complex name	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	The name of the complex that the fire is assigned.
cost	IBC Incident Business Committee	Approved	The dollar amount associated with an incident.
country subdivision	DMC Data Management Committee	Proposed New	Political subdivisions that fall within a country
county code (Point of Origin) (POO)	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	The County Code identifying the county or equivalent entity at point of origin designated at the time of collection. Point of origin is the location where a competent ignition source came into contact with the material first ignited and sustained combustion occurred.
create date	GSC Geospatial Subcommittee	Approved	Date the feature was created.
create name (feature class)	GSC Geospatial Subcommittee	Approved	Name of the person creating the feature.
created by system	DMC Data Management Committee	Approved	System that created the data record.
created on date time	DMC Data Management Committee	Approved	Date and time the event record was created
date current (geospatial data)	GSC Geospatial Subcommittee	Approved	The last edit, update, of this GIS record.
date-time	DMC Data Management Committee	Approved	The combination of date and time elements.
debris and open burning	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	A fire spreading from any fire originally set for the purpose of clearing land or for rubbish, garbage, range, stubble, or meadow burning.
delete this	GSC Geospatial Subcommittee	Approved	An attribute flag to tell editors to remove a feature added in error.
demob en route		Proposed New	The resource is no longer assigned to an incident and travel has started, but the resource has not yet arrived home.
derailment	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	A type of train wreck that occurs when a rail vehicle such as a train comes off its rails.
device	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
dispatch center (home)	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	The dispatch center associated with a resource&rsquo;s home unit. The Home Dispatch Center is responsible for initial mobilization and is the Center associated with the resource when an assignment is completed.
distress/signal fire	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	fire light to serve as a beacon or signal by light or smoke
ditch/fence line burning	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Burning of accumulated vegetation in a ditch or fence line.
drug paraphernalia	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Tools, devices or equipment ued for the consupmtion, preparation, or consealment of drugs.&nbsp;
dynamic grid failure	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	When a dynamic brake is applied, the traction motors convert to generators which produe electrical current that is routed to a resistor grid on the locamotive. This resistor grid resembles a larg toaster element and its location on an engive varies but is typically vented out the top of the locomotive car body.
edit name (feature class)	GSC Geospatial Subcommittee	Approved	Name of the person editing the feature.
electric fence	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	A fence through which an electric current can be passed thereby giving an electric shock to any person or animal touching it.
electric motor/power tools/battery	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	A machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.
electrical transmission/distribution systems	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
electronic cigarettes	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	A battery-powered device that simulates the act of smoking by delivering a vaporized form of nicotine and other substances.
elevation feet		In Development	A geographic location's height above or below a fixed reference point
equipment and vehicle use	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
escaped prescribed fire	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	A prescribed fire that has exceeded or is expected to exceed prescription parameters or otherwise meets the criteria for conversion to wildfire.
estimated containment date	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	The expected containment or completion date of the incident.
estimated incident cost	IBC Incident Business Committee	Approved	Estimated dollar amount associated with an incident.
exhaust particles	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Diesel carbon is bound together with polymeric lubricant resins and form particles with pumice-like, granular, or flaky appearence which is often sooty or oily.
exploding target shooting	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	Superceded
exploding targets
extreme fire behavior	FBSC Fire Behavior Subcommittee	Approved	Extreme implies a level of fire behavior characteristics that ordinarily precludes methods of direct control action. One or more of the following is usually involved: high rate of spread, prolific crowning and/or spotting, presence of fire whirls, strong convection column. Predictability is difficult because such fires often exercise some degree of influence on their environment and behave erratically, sometimes dangerously.&nbsp;
feature access	GSC Geospatial Subcommittee	Approved	Determines who or what groups can view a particular feature.
feature category	GSC Geospatial Subcommittee	Approved	Type of wildland fire polygon or unburned areas
field/agricultural burning	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	The practice of intentionally setting fire to unwanted vegetation in a field, typically crop residue left after harvest, to clear the land for new planting, manage pests, or control weeds.
final acres		Approved	Number of acres within the final fire perimeter of a specific, individual incident, including unburned and unburnable islands.
final fire size	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	Number of acres within the final fire perimeter of a specific, individual incident, including unburned and unburnable islands.
Fire Intensity Level (FIL) code (Point of Origin) (POO)	FENC Fire Environment Committee, FBSC Fire Behavior Subcommittee	Approved	An expression of fire intensity based on observed and/or calculated flame lengths representative across the immediate vicinity of the point of origin during the initial response.&nbsp; &nbsp; Fire intensity levels (FILs) provide "an expression of fireline intensity, based on typical and/ or calculated flame length of a fire behavior condition. FILs are used in the analysis to reflect the differences in difficulty of suppression and fire effects on natural and cultural resources." (Ref. FSH5109.19 ch40.5 9/85)
fire report provider name	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	Name of person that provided the data for the fire report or is the contact for questions regarding the fire report.
fire resource status (record)	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	Indicates if the resource record being submitted or updated is an initial response resource or daily resource record.
fire storm	FBSC Fire Behavior Subcommittee	Approved	Violent convection caused by a large continuous area of intense fire. Often characterized by destructively violent surface indrafts, near and beyond the perimeter, and sometimes by tornado-like whirls.
firearms and explosives use	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
FireCode	IBC Incident Business Committee	Approved	A standardized code used by the federal wildland fire agencies/bureau assigned to effectively track and compile cost information for emergency suppression expenditures. The FireCode is incorporated into each agency’s accounting code structure.
fireworks	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Any composition or device designed to produce a visible or audible effect by&nbsp; combustion, deflagration, or detonation, and which meets the defintion of "consumer fireworks"&nbsp; or "display fireworks" as defined in 27 CFR 555.11.
first name	DMC Data Management Committee	Approved	The first name of the resource as it appears on a government issued ID.
fitness level	IPSC Incident and Position Standards Committee	Approved	A descriptor of a human resource's physical work capacity
flare-up	IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee, FENC Fire Environment Committee	Approved	Any sudden acceleration in rate of spread or intensification of the fire. Unlike blowup, a flare-up is of relatively short duration and does not radically change existing control plans.
flares/fusees	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
flint/friction	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
Forest Service override code	IBC Incident Business Committee	Approved	A code used to indicate the Forest Service override code for the incident. This is specific to the Forest Service, and is usually displayed as a four-character suffix on FireCode.
fulfillment comment	IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee	Approved	Communication about the request and fulfilling that request
fulfillment status	IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee	Approved	Indicates the state of the request.
gas cooking/warming/lighting device	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
general status (resource)	IPSC Incident and Position Standards Committee	Approved	Indicates whether the resource is available or unavailable to fill a capability request.
geographic area	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	A boundary designated by governmental agencies (wildland fire protection agencies) within which they work together for the interagency, intergovernmental planning, coordination, and operations leadership for the effective utilization of emergency management resources within their area. There are ten geographic areas. A listing of the areas can be found in the National Interagency Mobilization Guide, Chapter 70 along with listings of the Geographic Coordinating Areas and Geographic Area Coordination Centers.
Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC)	NCSC National Coordination System Committee, FMB Fire Management Board	Approved	The physical location of an interagency, regional operation center for the effective coordination, mobilization and demobilization of emergency management resources. A coordination center serves federal, state and local wildland fire agencies through logistical coordination of resources throughout the geographic area, and with other geographic areas, as well. Listings of geographic coordination centers and their respective geographic coordinating areas can be found within the National Interagency Mobilization Guide.&nbsp;
Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC) code	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	Shortened form of Geographic Area Coordination Center name.
geographic coordinating area	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	A boundary designated by governmental agencies (wildland fire protection agencies), that may coincide with a geographic area boundary or may be a subdivision of a geographic area within which they work together coordinating, for the effective, mobilization and demobilization of emergency management resources within their area. Listings of geographic coordinating areas and geographic coordination centers can be found in the National Interagency Mobilization Guide, Chapter 20, Section 21.1.&nbsp;
Geographic Coordinating Area (GCA) code	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	A code representing a wildland fire geographic coordinating area.
Geographic Coordinating Area (GCA) name	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	The name of the wildland fire geographic coordinating area.
Geographic Information System Acres		Approved	GIS calculated acres within the fire perimeter, not adjusted for unburned areas
geometry identifier		Approved	Primary key for linking geospatial objects with other database systems.
glass refraction/magnification	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	Superceded
ground fireworks	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Emit flame and sparks which when set off adjacent to flammable vegetation can easily ignite a fire. .&nbsp;
hand pile/slash	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee, FUSC Fire Use Subcommittee	In Development	Made by hand treatment of slash to reduce fire hazard or for other purposes.
heavy equipment & implements	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
Height Above Ground Level (HAGL)		Approved	A height measured with respect to the underlying ground surface.
Height Above Sea Level (HASL)		Approved	Height above mean sea level in feet.
home dispatch unit	IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee	Approved	The NWCG Unit Identifier of the center primarily responsible for dispatching the resource.
home unit (administrative)	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	The administrative organization where a resource is regularly assigned or the agency location where an individual is hired or a contract is administered.
horizontal datum code	GSC Geospatial Subcommittee	Approved	The identfication given to the reference system used for defining the coordinates of points.
host	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	A term historically used to indicate the agency or unit with jurisdiction or protection responsibilities or who was financially responsible for the incident response. Its use is not recommended.
hot set	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Use of an open flame to ignite a wildfire and the source is removed from the ignition area.
hot work: welder/grinder/torch		In Development	Track maintenance that involves welding, soldering, cutting and brazing railroad tracks.
hot work: welder/grinder/torch/cutter	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	Superceded
ICS 209 remarks	wfnwcgorg:NISC	Approved	Additional information pertinent to the management of the incident.
ICS 209 report date time	wfnwcgorg:NISC	Approved	Automated date and time stamp applied when the ICS 209 report is submitted.
ICS 209 report for time period to	wfnwcgorg:NISC	Approved	The ending date and time of the reporting period of an ICS 209.
illegal substance manufacture	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	The production, preparation, propagation, compounding or processing of a controlled substance, either directly or indirectly or by extraction from substances of natural origin outside legally authorized facilities. The term "manufacture" includes the act of growing.
incendiary device	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Contrivance designed and used to start a fire.&nbsp;
Incident Commander (IC) name	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	The first (optional) and last name of the Incident Commander(s) currently assigned to the incident.
Incident Management Team name		Approved	Name of the Incident Management Team in charge of the fire.
incident name	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	The name assigned to an incident.
incident overhead	NIMSIC National Incident Management System Integration Committee	Pending Revision	All supervisory positions described in the Incident Command System.
incident personnel fatality quantity	RMC Risk Management Committee	Approved	The total number of deaths, connected with the performance of work duties, that occurred in conjunction with an incident.
incident personnel injury illness quantity	RMC Risk Management Committee	Approved	Total number of reportable occupational injuries and illnesses, which resulted in lost work days, that occurred in conjunction with an incident. Also includes cases without lost work days which result in transfer to another job, termination of employment, or required medical treatment (other than first aid); or which involved loss of consciousness, or restriction of work or motion. (First aid and lost work days are further defined under OSHA Part 1904.)
incident size	IPSC Incident and Position Standards Committee	Approved	How large the incident is, measured in acres. This number can change over the life of the incident.
inert target shooting	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
initial fire strategy met indicator	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	Indicates whether the objectives for the initial fire strategy were attained. NWCG glossary defines strategy as: The general plan or direction selected to accomplish incident objectives
Integrated Reporting of Wildland Fire Information Identifier		Approved	Primary key for linking to the Wildland Fire Locations Point dataset.
intermittent	IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee	Approved	An appointment/agreement that meets the following conditions: Employing office is a government or contractor entity There is no set work schedule; the person is in a &ldquo;call-when-needed&rdquo; status. Employee receives compensation for work
invasive concern		Approved	A list of invasive species that are cause for concern related to the use of water sources.
is primary capability	ETC Equipment Technology Committee, NIAC National Interagency Aviation Committee	Approved	Indicates that the capability is the primary capability for the equipment or aircraft.
is visible		Approved	Provides a flag for mapping display.
jurisdictional agency category		In Development	The agency category having land and resource management responsibility for a specific geographical or functional area as provided by federal, state or local law.
jurisdictional agency kind		In Development	The agency kind having land and resource management responsibility for a specific geographical or functional area as provided by federal, state or local law.
jurisdictional unit	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	The governmental entity having overall land and resource management responsibility for a specific geographical area as provided by law.
jurisdictional unit identifier	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	Code used in interagency wildland fire to uniquely identify the governmental entity having overall land and resource management responsibility for a specific geographical area as provided by law.
jurisdictional unit name		In Development	The name of the governmental entity having overall land and resource management responsibility for a specific geographical area as provided by law.
label		Approved	The label applied to the feature in a GIS system.
landowner	DMC Data Management Committee	Approved	The person or entity that owns the land or has the authority to convey title to others.
landowner contact information		Approved	Full contact information for the landowner including name, phone number, email, etc.
latitude (Degrees Decimal Minutes)			Latitude in degrees, decimal minutes WGS84 for labeling purposes.
lighter/matches	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Common tools used to ignite cigarettes, cigars, campfires and other items.
lighting (aviation obstruction)		Approved	Indicates if the aviation obstacle is lighted.
lightning	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
limitations (water source)		Approved	Limitation of the water source like duration of use, seasonality, slow refill, must have specific size screen on draft hose, etc.
line date time	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	The date and time that the fire perimeter was collected in the field.
local fire report identifier	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	A number or code that uniquely identifies an incident report for a particular reporting unit and a particular calendar year.
local incident identifier	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	A number or code that uniquely identifies an incident for a particular local fire management organization within a particular calendar year.
longitude (Degrees Decimal Minutes)	GSC Geospatial Subcommittee	Approved	Longitdue in degrees, decimal minutes WGS84 fore labeling purposes.
longitude (Point of Origin) (POO)		Approved	The longitude location of the point of origin specified in decimal degrees. Point of origin is the location where a competent ignition source came into contact with the material first ignited and sustained combustion occurred.
longitude (World Geodetic System 1984)		Approved	Longitude format for labeling and display.
luminary
luminary (aerial/ground)	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	Superceded
machine pile/slash	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee, FUSC Fire Use Subcommittee	In Development	Made by machine treatment of slash to reduce fire hazard or for other purposes.
management complexity level designator	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	The highest management level utilized to manage a fire event.
map method	GSC Geospatial Subcommittee	Approved	How the geospatial feature was derived
military ordnance	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
minor (historical only)	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
misuse of fire by a minor	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Any unauthorized use of fire or incendiary devices by an individual under the ae of 18, including incidents caused by curiosity and exploration with fire.
mob en route		Proposed New	The resource is assigned to an incident and travel has started, but the resource has not yet arrived at the incident. This is the time between ETD and ETA.
modified on date time	DMC Data Management Committee	Approved	Date/time that the record was modified.
National Fire Danger Adjective Class Rating	FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee	Approved	The Fire Danger Adjective Class Rating representative of an area that best describes the potential initiation, spread, and difficulty of control during intial response. Fire Danger Adjective Class Rating: A method of normalizing rating classes across different fuel models, indexes, and weather station locations. It is a resultant descriptor of the combination of both constant and variable factors that affect the initiation, spread, and difficulty of control of wildfires on an area.
National Fire Danger Adjective Class Rating Code	FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee	Approved	The Fire Danger Adjective Class Rating representative of an area that best describes the potential initiation, spread, and difficulty of control during intial response. Fire Danger Adjective Class Rating: A method of normalizing rating classes across different fuel models, indexes, and weather station locations. It is a resultant descriptor of the combination of both constant and variable factors that affect the initiation, spread, and difficulty of control of wildfires on an area.
National Fire Incident Reporting System unit identifier		Approved	National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) fire department ID used to uniquely identify a non-federal organizational unit (office administratively responsible for either managing incidents, providing resources, or providing logistical services).
non-military tracer	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
not applicable (age category)
not applicable (specific cause)
not investigated	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
obstruction name		Approved	Common name of feature.
obstruction type		Approved	Specific descriptor of aviation obstruction identified on a map.
OHV/ATV/motorcycle	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
oil/gas production/transportation	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	The process of exploration, extraction, refining, and transportation of petroleum products.&nbsp;
open trash burning	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee, FUSC Fire Use Subcommittee	In Development	Burning of any fuel outdoors without the use of mechanical combustion enhancements.
operational status	IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee, NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	The state of a resource as it is utilized by an incident.&nbsp;
origin and/or cause not identified	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
origin destroyed	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
other (specific cause)	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	A category or classification to group data points that doent fit neatly into predefined or standard categories, often used for values or entries that are uncommon or don't conform to the expected set of categories.
other causes	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Refers to wildfire ignitions not classified under common cause categories.&nbsp;
other explosives	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
other land clearing	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Land clearning not covered in a traditional prescribed burn or field/ag burn.
other shooting (only for historical mapping)
other small engine equipment	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
other structures threatened quantity	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	The total number of structures, other than residences, threatened by the fire.
out (fire)	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Proposed New	All observable combustion has ceased and there is no risk of the fire again becoming active and requiring additional control or management actions.
outdoor oven/fireplace/metal fire ring	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
passenger vehicle/motorized RV	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
pest control/deterrent/smoke out	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Fire ignited to clear vegetation as a form of pest control or as deterrent. Also used to smoke small game from burrows.
polygon date time		Approved	The date and time that the polygon was collected in the field
position code	PNB Position Naming Board	Approved	A code (mnemonic) for designating a position used in incident management response
position title	PNB Position Naming Board	Approved	A title for a position used for incident management response.
power generation/transmission/distribution	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Systems designed to produce, transport and distribute energy. (summary of information found in PMS 412 and FI-210)
primary phone	DMC Data Management Committee	Approved	Individual’s primary phone.
primary weather station identifier	PSOG National Predictive Services Oversight Group	Approved	The six-digit National Weather Station ID for the National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) weather station that best represents the predominate weather and climate conditions for the incident site at the time of initial response.
projected incident activity	FENC Fire Environment Committee	Approved	An estimate of the direction in which the incident is expected to spread, migrate, or expand within a specified time frame.
protecting unit	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	The entity responsible for providing direct incident management and services to a given area pursuant to its jurisdictional responsibility or as specified by law, contract or agreement.
rail grinding	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Process usually done with a maintenance of way vehicle or train to restore the profile and remove irregularities from worn tracks.
railroad operations and maintenance	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
reassigned (at incident)		Proposed New	A resource on a filled request has been reassigned from one incident to the another, but the mobilization travel has not started.
recreation and ceremony	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
refraction/magnification			An ignition that occurs as the result of concave glass or reflective materials focusing sunlight creating intense heat.
released (at incident)		Proposed New	A resource on a filled request has been released, but the demobilization travel has not started.
reserved		Proposed New	The resource has been assigned to a request but has not started travel. Either no travel has been assigned, or if travel has been assigned, the ETD has not yet passed.
residences destroyed quantity	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	The total number of residences destroyed, or damaged to an extent requiring rebuilding, as a result of the fire. Residence is defined as a place where one lives; a house, apartment, or other shelter used as the residence of a person, family or household. This includes primary and secondary residences.
resource quantity current as of date time	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	The date and time that reflects the period for which the resource counts are current.
Resource System of Record (RSOR)	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	The exchange username of the system that currently is the System of Record for the resource and the capabilities for that resource.
returned from assignment		Proposed New	The resource has returned from the assignment but is not yet available for dispatch.
right-of-way clearing	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Use of fire to clear vegetation, debris and brush within a right-of-way.
right-of-way vegetation maintenance	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	RR: Process of treating or removing flamable vegetation from the Railroad Right-of-Way (ROW). Debris/open burning: Use of fire to clear vegetation, debris and brush within a right-of-way.
secondary phone	DMC Data Management Committee	Approved	Individual’s secondary phone.
selection area	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	Indicates the dispatch center inside/outside the current dispatch center for which resources are being requested.
serial number	NCSC National Coordination System Committee	Approved	A set of numbers that is put on equipment by the manufacturer so that each has a different number and can be recognized.
slope percentage (Point of Origin) (POO)	GSC Geospatial Subcommittee	Approved	The ratio between the amount of vertical rise and horizontal distance of the terrain as expressed in a percent that represents the typical slope in the immediate vicinity of the point of origin of a fire. Point of origin is the location where a competent ignition source came into contact with the material first ignited and sustained combustion occurred.
smoking	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Discarded or improperly managed cigarette butts or other smoking paraphanalia that leads to a wildfire ignition.
solar utility system	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Photovolaticis (PV) or concentrating solar power (CSP) systems
source agency		Approved	Land management agency with responsibility for creating and administering the data.
source depth (water)		Approved	Depth in feet of the water source.
source gallon capacity (water source)		Approved	Capacity in gallons of the water source.
source hyperlink (mapping)			A link to documentation about the mapping effort
special land designator	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	Officially designated special land types within the fire perimeter.
spontaneous combustion	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	An ignition that occurs when materials geneate heat internally, often due to chemical reactions, leading to a fire without an external spark or flame.
state and landowner final fire acre quantity	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee	Approved	Number of acres measured by each Landowner Kind and Category within a State Code associated with the land within the final fire perimeter of a specific, individual incident. The area measured within the perimeter includes unburned and unburnable islands or portions of such.
structure	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	When flames from a burning building or other structure extend beyond the immediate area and ignite surrounding vegetation.
temporary	IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee	Approved	An appointment/agreement that meets the following conditions: Employing office is a government entity Term of appointment is not to exceed one year Employee receives compensation for work
tentative release		Proposed New	A resource may be tentatively released from At Incident so that a dispatcher can have a view of where resources are and their availability to be assigned to an incident.
torching	FBSC Fire Behavior Subcommittee	Approved	The burning of the foliage of a single tree or a small group of trees, from the bottom up.
track replacement	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Replacement of railroad tracks or ties. Can be done with hand crews or a track renewal train.
tractors/mowers/brush hogs	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
trailer	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
UAS model rockets & airplanes	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
unavailable		Proposed New	The resource is not available to fill a resource order request.
unavailable (transferred)		Proposed New	The resource has been transferred to another dispatch, but the transfer has not been completed.
under investigation	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
undetermined	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Refers to wildfire incidents where an investigation did not identify a clear or definitive cause of origin.
Unit Identifier (UnitID)	UIB Unit Identifier Board	Approved	A code used within the interagency incident management community to uniquely identify a particular governmental or non-government organizational unit recognized by NWCG as a wildland fire or all-risk cooperator.
Universal Transverse Mercator easting coordinates		Approved	Grid coordinates expressed as a distance in meters to the east.
Universal Transverse Mercator northing coordinates		Approved	Coordinates measured relative to the equator.
Universal Transverse Mercator Zone		Approved	A division of the Earth's surface into 60 north-south zones, each 6 degrees of longitude wide.
unknown (remarks required)	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Used when the actual value is unavailable, uncertain or yet to be determined. It indicates that the information is missing or not applicable rather than representing an error or invalid entry.
unspecified shooting	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
volcano	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
volunteer	IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee	Approved	An appointment/agreement that meets the following conditions: The person does not receive compensation (other than reasonable reimbursement or allowance for expenses actually incurred)
water source	IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee	Approved	Any strategically located supply of water that is readily available for pumps, tanks, trucks, helicopters, or fire camp use.
water source type	IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee	Approved	The type of water source.
watercraft	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development
Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)	FMB Fire Management Board	Approved	The line, area, or zone where structures and other human development meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland or vegetation fuels.
Wildland Urban Interface indicator	FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee, WUIMC Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Committee	Approved	A flag that indicates if the presence of Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) increased the cost or management complexity of a wildfire.
wind turbine/windmills utility systems	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Electrical generation system consisting of a turbine(s) and tower(s). These systems convert wind's kinetic energy into electricity.
yard debris	CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee	In Development	Use of fire to dispose of organic yard waste i.e bursh, tree limbs, leaves, and weeds.

How to Print or Download Glossary of Wildland Fire, PMS 205

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Last Modified / Reviewed: December 02, 2025

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NWCG Latest Announcements

NEW! S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (Blended) Available Now

Date: Aug 15, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Fire Behavior Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (Blended) training is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal. S-290 (Blended) training combines online training and instructor-led training components that support individuals working towards any Single Resource Boss or Fire Effects Monitor incident qualifications.

This second course in the series collectively serves to develop fire behavior prediction knowledge and skills, and provides more detailed information on fuels, weather, and topography that affect wildland fire behavior for safety purposes.

Students are required to finish the prerequisite S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, before enrolling in S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (Blended).

References:

S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (Blended)

S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

NEW! S-271, Helicopter Crewmember (Blended) Now Available

Date: Aug 14, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Interagency Helicopter Operations Subcommittee

The S-271, Helicopter Crewmember (Blended) is now available. Developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, this training supports individuals working towards Helicopter Crewmember (HECM) incident qualifications.

S-271, Helicopter Crewmember (Blended) training combines online training and instructor-led training components. This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the duties of the HECM position, as described in the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, scheduled for January 2026.

References:

S-271, Helicopter Crewmember (Blended)

NWCG Helicopter Crewmember (HECM) Position Page

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for FBAN and LTAN

Date: Aug 13, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Fire Behavior Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN) and Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, scheduled for January 2026.

References:

NWCG Fire Behavior Analyst Position Page

NWCG Long Term Fire Analyst Page

ETC/RMC Safety Bulletin: 25-001 New Guidance on Laundering Wildland Fire Clothing to Reduce Contamination

Date: Aug 8, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee
Risk Management Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) and the Risk Management Committee (RMC) have issued Safety Bulletin 25-001: Laundering to Decontaminate Wildland Fire Clothing. Recent research revealed that wildland fire flame-resistant pants and shirts can be contaminated with chemicals from combustion byproducts, including carcinogens, and that common laundering practices can effectively remove these harmful contaminants from wildland firefighter clothing more effectively than previously understood. It is recommended to decontaminate wildland fire clothing as frequently as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions about this new information and how to implement recommendations can be found on the NWCG Alerts page. Read the complete ETC/RMC Safety Bulletin: 25-001 to learn more.