NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire (PMS 205)

An area of relatively low atmospheric pressure in which winds tend to move in a counterclockwise direction, spiraling in toward the low's center.

Foam with an expansion between 1:1 and 20:1.

General large-scale climate of a large area or country as distinguished from smaller scale mesoclimate and microclimate.

Large single fire pattern indicator or overall patterns of indicators that are readily visible from a distance.

Bearing by magnetic north rather than true north.

The direction toward which a magnetic needle of a compass points.

Prominent ridgeline separating river or creek drainages. Usually has numerous smaller ridges (spur) extending outward from both sides.

Any natural catastrophe or, regardless of cause, any fire, flood, or explosion, in any part of the United States, which in the determination of the President causes damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant major disaster assistance.

A repair (1) that, if improperly done, might appreciably affect weight, balance, structural strength, or other qualities affecting airworthiness or (2) that is not done according to accepted practices or cannot be done by elementary operations.

An externally threaded hose nipple which fits in the thread of a female (internally threaded) swivel coupling of the same pitch and diameter. Nozzles attach to this type of coupling.

Geographic points on the ground or specific points in time where an escalation or alternative of management actions is warranted. These points are defined and the management actions to be taken are clearly described in an approved Prescribed Fire Plan. Timely implementation of the actions when the fire reaches the action point is generally critical to successful accomplishment of the objectives.

A management approach, fundamental to NIMS, that involves (1) establishing objectives, e.g., specific, measurable and realistic outcomes to be achieved; (2) identifying strategies, tactics, and tasks to achieve the objectives; (3) performing the tactics and tasks and measuring and documenting results in achieving the objectives; and (4) taking corrective action to modify strategies, tactics, and/or performance to achieve the objectives.

The highest management level utilized to manage a fire event.

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

The technical and scientific specifications for management activities or potential actions mandated by the agency administrator and defined in land/resource management plans. Management requirements are derived from land/resource management plan and fire management plan standards and guidelines information. 

Contact information for the manager of the resource.

Individuals within ICS organizational units that are assigned specific managerial responsibilities, e.g., staging area manager or camp manager.

A non-telemetered weather station that provides one observation every 24 hours for manual entry into WIMS.

A proportioning method or device that requires a manual adjustment to maintain a desired mix ratio over a changing range of water flows and pressures.

A line drawing, to some scale, of an area of the earth's surface. It shows objects and features by conventional signs.

How the geospatial feature was derived

Indicates the ratio or proportion of the horizontal distance on the map to the corresponding horizontal distance on the ground.

An event dealing with an accident or mishap involving watercraft.

Air which has a high moisture content and the temperature characteristics of an ocean surface due to extensive exposure to that surface. An intrusion of marine air will moderate fire conditions. Absence of marine air in coastal areas may lead to more severe fire danger. 

Regional climate under the predominant influence of the sea, that is, a climate characterized by marine air; the opposite of a continental climate.

An event dealing with a search, and/or rescue, and/or recovery in a marine setting.

Air which has assumed high moisture content and the temperature characteristics of a water surface due to extensive exposure to that surface.

An offender who sets three or more fires at the same location during a limited period of time.

A fire resulting from many simultaneous ignitions that generates a high level of energy output.

Chronological listing of the dates of fires documented in a designated area, the dates being corrected by crossdating. Size of the area must be specified.

The fuel that is first set on fire by the heat of ignition.

A model that is a quantitative and mathematical representation or simulation which attempts to describe the characteristics or relationship of physical events.

Hand tool with a narrow hoeing surface at one end of the blade and a pick or cutting blade at the other end; used for digging and grubbing.

Absolute maximum allowable gross weight for an aircraft as established by the manufacturer and approved by the FAA.

Computed gross weight for an aircraft, obtained from the appropriate performance chart, which is the maximum gross weight appropriate to the applicable circumstance of configuration and/or environmental conditions.

The highest value for dry bulb temperature measured at the observation site during the preceding 24-hour period.

Unit of measure in testing of a pump. The highest value obtained when multiplying pressure by flow of a performance curve of a pump.

The maximum geographic limits of spread within which a wildland fire is allowed to spread.

The maximum flow at various pressures of a pump with peak revolutions per minute of the engine or motor.

The highest value for relative humidity measured at the observation site during the preceding 24-hour period.

International distress signal/call. When repeated three times it indicates imminent and grave danger and that immediate assistance is required.

A combination hoe or cutting tool and rake, with or without removable blades.

Arithmetic average of all fire intervals in a given area over a given time.

Average height of the surface of the sea for all stages of the tide over a 19-year period.

Moisture content of the small branch wood and foliage of live woody plants, expressed as a percentage of the oven dry weight of the sample, collected monthly and used to supplement NFDRS modeled outputs.

An event dealing with a rescue, and/or recovery, and/or service for a non-accident medical emergency (e.g., heart attack, illness, etc.).

A physician responsible for the oversight of the EMS system, EMS agencies and licensed EMS personnel WITHIN A SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHICAL AREA.