NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire (PMS 205)

Resources Unit staff track the location and status of all resources assigned to an incident. They ensure all assigned resources have checked in at the incident.

A device that is designed to protect the wearer from the adverse effects of inhalation hazards by removing contaminants from the surrounding air or by supplying clean air from a safe source.

Administrative entity that provides resources in response to the incident.

Agency with primary responsibility for fire suppression on any particular land area.

Airspace of defined dimensions identified by an area on the surface of the earth within the flight of an aircraft, which is subject to restrictions (but not wholly prohibited).

Aircraft that is generally used for cargo, retardant dropping, agricultural operations, survey work and other specific projects, and may not transport passengers.

Measures taken by jurisdictional agencies to impose bans and standards of use on certain human activities that could lead to the cause of wildland fire. Restrictions may be applied to: smoking in designated areas; open flame; mechanical operations in high-risk areas; and off-road use.

A substance or chemical agent which reduces the flammability of combustibles.

Ground facilities for mixing, storing, and loading fire retardant into airtankers.

Area of fuel covered and degree of coverage on the fuel by a fire retardant, usually expressed in terms of gallons per hundred square feet (liters per square meter).

Fire retardant cascaded from an airtanker or helitanker.

An order to an airtanker pilot to return to the retardant base and await further instructions; mission completed, further loads not required.

The resource has returned from the assignment but is not yet available for dispatch.

Hose fitting that performs the functions of a Siamese or a wye (i.e., to combine the flow from two lines into a single line or to permit two lines to be taken from a single line).

Flow characteristics of liquid fire retardants, especially their cohesiveness or ability to hold together while falling through the air.

Science of deformation and flow of fire retardants and other liquids, especially of the cohesiveness bodies and stress-strain relationship of their particles.

A long-handled combination rake and cutting tool, the blade of which is constructed of a single row of mowing machine cutter teeth fastened to a piece of angle iron.

A long narrow elevation of land; a steep slope or a similar range of hills or mountains.

An elongated area of relatively high atmospheric pressure extending from the center of a high-pressure region.

A method to document a fire scene using right angle measurements off of a base line.

A fire started by igniting the full perimeter of the intended burn area so that the ensuing fire fronts converge toward the center of the burn. Set around the outer perimeter of a resource to establish a protective black-line-buffer.

A causative agent.

A number related to the potential of firebrands to which a given area will be exposed during the rating day.

A chance of suffering harm or loss.

The chance of fire starting as determined by the presence and activity of causative agents.

Systematic process to comprehend the nature of risk, express and evaluate risk, with the available knowledge.

A number related to the probability of a firebrand igniting a fire.

A continuous, five-step process that provides a systematic method for identifying and managing the risks associated with any operation.

Identifiable human activity that historically has been a major cause of wildfires on a protection unit; one of the eight general causes listed on the standard fire report.

Portion of human-caused fires that have occurred on a protection unit chargeable to a specific risk source; calculated for each day of the week for each risk source.

Hose coupling in which the lugs used for tightening or loosening are semicircular in shape and designed to pass over obstructions.

A turbulent altocumulus-type cloud formation found in the lee of some large mountain barriers. The air in the cloud rotates around an axis parallel to the range. Also sometimes refers to part of the cloud base along the leading edge of a cumulonimbus cloud; it is formed by rolling action in the wind shear region between cool downdrafts within the cloud and warm updrafts outside the cloud.

Assembly of airfoils (rotor blades), together with a hub and attachments, that rotates about an axis to provide lift and/or thrust on a helicopter.

Air turbulence occurring under and around the main rotor of an operating helicopter.

The main rotor arc in feet and inches (meters). Used for planning helispot clearance.

The accumulation of living and dead ground and understory vegetation, especially grasses, forest litter, and draped dead needles, sometimes with addition of underbrush such as palmetto, gallberry, and wax myrtle. Most often used for southern pine types.

Reduction of fire hazard in rough, usually by prescribed burning.

Rapid advance of the head of a fire, characterized by a marked transition in fireline intensity and rate of spread with respect to that noted before and after the advance.

Behavior of a fire spreading rapidly with a well defined head.

Any area wherein residences and other developments are scattered and intermingled with forest, range, or farm land and native vegetation or cultivated crops.

An organization established to provide fire protection to a designated geographic area outside of areas under municipal fire protection. Usually has some taxing authority and officials may be appointed or elected.

Fire protection and firefighting problems that are outside of areas under municipal fire prevention and building regulations and that are usually remote from public water supplies.

Depression or pass in a ridgeline.

A form and process, used by wildland firefighting agencies, for reporting and resolving incidents relating to firefighter safety. The information collected is used to determine long-term trends and problem areas within the wildland fire industry.

A safety alert addressing wildland fire safety information that isn't related to imminent or potential threats of injury.

A warning or alert concerning critical information relating to firefighter safety, that is distributed via email through an NWCG mail server. There are three types of alerts: Safety Warning, Safety Advisory, and Safety Bulletin.

A safety briefing emphasizes key safety concerns on the incident and is presented at each briefing session. The safety briefing should contain information to alert incident personnel of potential risk/hazard considered to be most critical.

A safety alert containing a factual confirmation of a serious wildland fire accident, incident or fatality.

An obstruction-free circle around the (helicopter) landing pad.