NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire (PMS 205)

A situation where personnel are unexpectedly caught in a fire behavior-related, life-threatening position where planned escape routes or safety zones are absent, inadequate, or compromised. An entrapment may or may not include deployment of a fire shelter for its intended purpose. These situations may or may not result in injury. They include "near misses."

A process used to improve the safety of personnel on the fireline, which emphasizes tools and tactics available to prevent being trapped in a burnover situation. This process includes appropriate decision making through risk management, application of LCES, use of pre-established trigger points, and recognition of suitable escape routes and safety zones. 

Direct attack with multiple anchor points, that allows for multiple points of attack. Generally used as an engine tactic in the wildland urban interface.

The complex surroundings of an item or area of interest, such as air, water, natural resources, and their physical conditions (temperature, humidity).

The actual rate of decrease of temperature with elevation.

Person responsible to the planning section chief for collecting and analyzing environmental information about the incident area, determining environmental restrictions and requirements, and providing the information as an input to the incident action and to incident personnel as needed. 

A condition of poor contaminant dispersion which may result in concentrations considered potentially harmful to health or welfare. Episodes may also occur during periods of fairly good dispersion if the source of air contaminants is extremely large.

Moisture content that a fuel particle will attain if exposed for an infinite period in an environment of specified constant temperature and humidity. When a fuel particle reaches equilibrium moisture content, net exchange of moisture between it and its environment is zero. 

Fire caused by mechanical equipment other than railroad operations.

A preplanned and understood route firefighters take to move to a safety zone or other low-risk area. When escape routes deviate from a defined physical path, they should be clearly marked (flagged).

Fire which has exceeded or is expected to exceed initial attack capabilities or prescription.

An entity which oversees the preparedness activities for a particular ESF and coordinates with its primary and support agencies.

A Federal agency with significant authorities, roles, resources, and capabilities for a particular function within an ESF.

An entity with specific capabilities or resources that support the primary agencies in executing the mission of the ESF.

Approximate planned funding for the Group 30 Budget Object Class that covers Aquisition of Assets (more specifically - Equipment, Land and Structures, Investments and Loans).

The expected containment or completion date of the incident.

Estimated duration in years (1-300) that treatment will accomplish its purpose.
 
This information is intended to support the understanding of maintenance needs as well as anticipated effectiveness when intersected by a wildfire (e.g. if expected to be effective for 8 years, and an intersection occurs at 10 and the treatment fails - it would have performed as expected without maintenance)

Approximate planned funding for the Group 40 Budget Object Class that covers Grants and Fixed Charges (more specifically - Grants, Subsidies, and Contributions, Insurance Claims and Indemnities, Interest and Dividends, and Refunds).

Estimated dollar amount associated with an incident.

Approximate planned funding for the Group 90 Budget Object Class that covers Other Charges (more specifically - Unvouchered, Undistributed, Financial Transfers, Adjustments for Rounding)

Approximate planned funding for the Group 10 Budget Object Class that covers Personnel Compensation and Benefits ( more specifically includes Personnel Compensation, Personnel Benefits, and Benefits for Former Personnel).

A measurement of horizontal position error for a GPS unit expressed in feet or meters.

25% Treatment objectives are difficult to achieve and/or multiple treatments are likely to be necessary to achieve success.
 
50% Treatment objectives are moderately difficult to achieve and/or additional treatments are likely to be necessary to achieve success.
 
75% Treatment objectives are moderately easy to achieve and/or just one additional treatment is likely to be necessary to achieve success.
 
100% Treatment objectives are easy to achieve and/or this is likely the final treatment necessary to achieve success.

Term used in resource planning/following to estimate time spent between points.

Term used in resource planning/following to estimate time of arrival at a point.

Term used in resource planning/following to estimate time of departure from a point.

Sum of all estimated cost fields.

The organized, phased, and supervised withdrawal, dispersal, or removal of people and/or animals from dangerous or potentially dangerous areas, and their reception and care in safe areas.

To review and compare outcomes with management and incident objectives desired for a wildland fire. One of the six component activities in an adaptive management process that may lead to adjusting future actions.

The individual who is qualified in the position being evaluated, or supervises the position being evaluated, having responsibility for observing task(s) being performed and documenting successful performance for agency certification or re-certification. Evaluator responsibilities must remain separate from the individual assigned as Trainer/Coach. 

The transformation of a liquid to its gaseous state; heat is released by the liquid during this process.

A generic term that relates to both planned and unplanned response activities by the interagency wildland fire community.

An incident that is a scheduled non-emergency activity (e.g., sporting event, concert, parade).

An area where evidence or potential evidence is or may be located and should be secured and protected from unauthorized entry.

Categories of employees as defined in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), who are either covered or exempted from coverage under the ActPay entitlements vary depending on the employee's FLSA status.

Device which uses the exhaust gas flow of an engine for priming a centrifugal pump.

An organization needed to support an incident which expands along with the Incident Command System.

The ratio of the volume of the foam in its aerated state to the original volume of the non-aerated foam solution.

Documented performance in a position.

Someone with sufficient skill, knowledge, or experience in a given field so as to be capable of drawing inferences or reaching conclusions or opinions that an average person would not be competent to reach. The expert's opinion testimony should aim the judge or jury in their understanding of the fact at issue. 

An event dealing with the various situations that arise as a result of an explosion, presence of an explosive device, or electrical hazard - no fire. 

The side of an object facing the oncoming fire.

Direction in which a slope faces, usually with respect to cardinal directions.

The general surroundings of a site with special reference to its openness to winds.

Property that may be endangered by a fire burning in another structure or by a wildfire.

Classification for a fire not originating in a building, but which ignites building(s). A fire originating in one building and spreading to another is classified under the original cause of fire.

To drop retardant in such a way that the load slightly overlaps and links a previous drop. "Extend your last drop."