NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire (PMS 205)

Filling pump with water when pump is taking water not under a pressure head. Necessary for centrifugal pumps.

An imaginary line on the ground running north-south which is accurately laid out to serve as the reference meridian in land surveys.

Activities related to individual residents or families.

A number representing the chance that a given event will occur. The range is from 0% for an impossible event, to 100% for an inevitable event.

A forecast of the probability of occurrence of one or more of a mutually exclusive set of weather contingencies as distinguished from a series of categorical statements.

The chance that a firebrand will cause an ignition when it lands on receptive fuels.

A level of certainty corresponding to being more likely true than not.

Agency personnel with specific delegation of procurement authority, acting within the limits of agency policy of said authority.

Functional unit within the Finance/Administration Section responsible for managing all financial matters pertaining to vendor contracts.

An event dealing with maintenance of licenses, currencies, or proficiencies, including recurring proficiencies.

A hose lay in which double shutoff wye (Y) valves are inserted in the main line at intervals and lateral lines are run from the wyes to the fire edge, thus permitting continuous application of water during extension of the lay.

A system of organizing workers to build fireline in which they advance without changing relative positions in line.

Allows identification of an activity which is unlawful or otherwise prohibited (burn ban, unpermitted, etc.) by local authorities.

An application of fire danger rating to support regulation of contractors involved in land management activities for fire prevention purposes in California.

Equivalent to Fire Name.

The specific results expected from completing a project.

An estimate of the direction in which the incident is expected to spread, migrate, or expand within a specified time frame.

Accountable property information to track ownership.

A device that adds a predetermined amount of foam concentrate to water to form foam solution.

Areas for which a fire protection organization has the primary responsibility for managing a wildfire and directing fire management actions. Such responsibility may be authorized by law, contract, or personal interest of the firefighting agent (e.g., a lumber operator). Note: Several agencies or entities may have some basic responsibilities (e.g., private owner) without being known as the fire organization having primary responsibility.

The side of an object opposite the oncoming fire and therefore shielded from the oncoming fire by the object itself.

The agency 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.

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.

A geographical area which is administratively defined and for which organized fire suppression activities are formally planned.

That area for which a particular fire protection organization has the primary responsibility for attacking an uncontrolled fire and for directing the suppression action. Such responsibility may develop through law, contract, or personal interest of the firefighting agent (e.g., a lumber operator). Several agencies or entities may have some basic responsibilities (e.g., private owner) without being known as the fire organization having direct protection responsibility. 

The exterior perimeter of an area within which a specified fire agency has assumed a degree of responsibility for wildland fire control. It may include land in addition to that for which the agency has jurisdiction or contractual responsibility.

Any government organization that is a source of resources for response or mutual aid support to an incident, whether in the field, at the scene of an incident, or operations center.  This includes government organizations that administer contracts or agreements for resources.

General name for instruments designed to determine the moisture content of air. A psychrometer consists of dry- and wet-bulb thermometers that give the dry- and wet-bulb temperatures, which in turn are used to determine relative humidity and dew point.

Aircraft used only in the service of a government or a political subdivision. It does not include any government-owned aircraft engaged in carrying persons for commercial purposes.

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.

An event managed by local public service organizations (police, fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services, or military).

A combination chopping and trenching tool widely used in fireline construction, which combines a single-bitted axe blade with a narrow adze-like trenching blade fitted to a straight handle.

Filling pump with water when pump is taking water not under a pressure head. Necessary for centrifugal pumps.

Partly decayed material, such as old wood, in which fire can smolder unless it is carefully mopped up and extinguished. A good receptor for firebrands when dry.

Containing, consisting of, or being pus (a purulent discharge or a purulent lesion), accompanied by suppuration (purulent meningitis).

The thermal or chemical decomposition of fuel at an elevated temperature. This is the preignition combustion phase of burning during which heat energy is absorbed by the fuel which, in turn, gives off flammable tars, pitches, and gases.

A mixture of chemicals designed to produce heat, light, gas, smoke or noise.

Mapping unit which defines an area in terms of longitude and latitude distance. Two common scales are 1:24,000 quadrangles, which are 7.5' longitude x 7.5' latitude, and 1:62,500 quadrangles, which are 15' longitude x 15' latitude.

A written resume of an expert witness used to show that expert's sufficient special expertise in the field.

This subsystem of NIIMS provides recommended qualification and certification for those personnel responding to an incident regionally or nationally, allowing for the development of local minimum standards to meet local needs. Standards typically include training, experience, and physical fitness.

An individual, other than a member of the crew, aboard an aircraft whose presence is required to perform, or is associated with the performance of, a governmental function.

Same value as pump performance value (USDA Forest Service standard).

Qualitative risk assessment is the application of judgment based in knowledge and experience when assessing wildfire risk, the potential for ignitions and recommendations regarding possible ways to mitigate the risk.

Quantitative risk assessments provide a method by which we can calculate risk based on measurements or estimates of various risk components such as likelihood of fire occurrence, intensity of fire should it occur, and susceptibility to fire of the various values being evaluated.

A magnetic bearing extending from a ground-based navigational system, providing airborne navigation information.

A thermal trauma that maybe a superficial, partial thickness or full thickness burn.

The amount of heat flowing through a given area in a given time, usually expressed as calories/square centimeter/second.

Propagation of energy in free space by virtue of joint, undulatory variations in the electric or magnetic fields in space, (i.e., by electromagnetic waves).