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NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire (PMS 205)

Term Steward Status Definition
ABCD Miscellaneous Data Management Committee DMC, Incident Business Committee IBC 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, & D size class fires on Forest Service lands.
absolute humidity Fire Weather Subcommittee FWS Approved According to the American Meteorological Society, (also called vapor density). In a system of moist air, the ratio of the mass of water vapor present to the volume occupied by the mixture; that is, the density of the water vapor component.
accounting code Incident Business Committee IBC Approved Agency-specific accounting data. Each agency assigns a specific accounting code to an incident.
accrual reports Incident Business Committee IBC Approved Cost reports utilized for financial obligation purposes.
accuracy descriptor (Point of Origin) (POO) FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved Description of the methods used to determine the certainty and precision of the fire location at the point of origin.
active fire IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved Any fire that has not been called "out".
activity (fire cause) Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC Approved The thing that a person is doing when a wildland fire ignition occurs.
activity group Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC Approved Further refines wildfire cause supporting data, providing information for prevention programs for targeted messaging.
activity name Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC Approved Common name of activity
activity type FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved Type of activity or event
actual completion date Fuels Management Committee FMC Approved Date when treatment was physically completed
admission Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC Approved Oral or written statement tending to link its maker to involvement in a particular crime.
aerial fuels Fire Use Subcommittee FUSC Approved Standing and supported live and dead combustibles not in direct contact with the ground and consisting mainly of foliage, twigs, branches, stems, cones, bark, and vines.
aerial ignition IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee, National Interagency Aviation Committee NIAC Approved Ignition of fuels by dropping incendiary devices or materials from aircraft.
Aerial Ignition Device (AID) Equipment Technology Committee ETC, National Interagency Aviation Committee NIAC Approved Inclusive term applied to equipment designed to ignite wildland fuels from an aircraft.
annual plant FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved A plant that lives for one growing season, starting from a seed each year.
apparatus Equipment Technology Committee ETC Approved A motor-driven vehicle, or group of vehicles, designed and constructed for the purpose of fighting fires. May be of different types such as engines, water tenders, ladder trucks, etc.
apparatus identifier Equipment Technology Committee ETC Approved The alphanumeric characters assigned to an apparatus.
apparatus number National Coordination System Committee NCSC Archived The external alphanumeric value painted on the side of the equipment.
aspect code (Point of Origin) (POO) Geospatial Subcommittee GSC Approved A code used to describe the direction toward which the predominant slope faces at the point of origin of the fire (including ridgetops and/or flat ground). Point of origin is the location where a competent ignition source came into contact with the material first ignited and sustained combustion occurred.
assigned resources National Incident Management System Integration Committee NIMSIC Approved Resources checked in and assigned work tasks on an incident.
at incident National Coordination System Committee NCSC Pending The resource is committed and at the assigned incident.
attack time IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved The starting date, hour, and minute of the first suppression work on a fire.
authority having jurisdiction National Incident Management System Integration Committee NIMSIC Approved An organization, office, or individual responsible for enforcing the requirements of a code or standard, or for approving equipment, materials, an installation, or a procedure.
available DCSC Dispatch Coordination Subcommittee Pending The resource can be used to fill a request. Resources on preposition incidents qualify as available.
available resources National Incident Management System Integration Committee NIMSIC Approved Resources assigned to an incident and available for assignment.
backing fire Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee WFISC, Fire Use Subcommittee FUSC Approved That portion of the fire with slower rates of fire spread and lower intensity normally moving into the wind and/or down slope.
blowup Fire Weather Subcommittee FWS 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.
booster hose Equipment Technology Committee ETC Approved The most common type of hose attached and stored on wildland engine booster reels. The hose is made of neoprene and does not appreciably collapse when stored empty.
boundary conditions FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved The temperature and relative humidity of the boundary layer.
boundary layer [atmospheric] Fire Weather Subcommittee FWS Approved According to the American Meteorological Society, the bottom layer of the troposhpere that is in contact with the surface of the earth. It is often turbulent and is capped by a statically stable layer of air or temperature inversion.
burn block Fire Use Subcommittee FUSC Approved A discrete area within a larger prescribed or fire use project.
burned area rehabilitation FMB Fire Management Board Approved The post-fire activities prescribed and implemented to rehabilitate and restore fire damaged lands.
burning index (fire behavior) FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved A relative number related to the contribution that fire behavior makes to the amount or effort needed to contain a fire in a specified fuel type. Doubling the burning index indicates that twice the effort will be required to contain a fire in that fuel type as was previously required, providing all other parameters are held constant. 
burning rotation Fire Use Subcommittee FUSC Approved The planned number of years between prescribed fires on a specified area.
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 “call-when-needed” status. Employee receives compensation for work
candling Fire Behavior Subcommittee FBSC Approved The burning of the foliage of a single tree or a small group of trees, from the bottom up.
cardinal altitudes National Interagency Aviation Committee NIAC Approved Odd or "even" thousand-foot (305 m) altitudes or flight levels. E.g., 5,000, 6,000, 7,000; FL 250, FL 260, and FL 270.
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
cargo drop National Interagency Aviation Committee NIAC Approved Dropping of equipment or supplies, with or without a parachute, from an aircraft in flight.
carousel hook Equipment Technology Committee ETC, National Interagency Aviation Committee NIAC Approved A remote hook attached to the end of a longline. It has four or more individual hooks which can be independently released, allowing the pilot to fly cargo loads to different locations without landing.
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
center location National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved The city and state pairing for the dispatch center location
chain of command IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee, National Incident Management System Integration Committee NIMSIC Approved The orderly line of authority within the rank of incident management organizations.
comments (repair) Approved Comments on the suppression repair for each feature.
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.
conceptual model Fire Weather Subcommittee FWS Approved A model that is a diagram or description of a set of relationships between factors that describe how a system works, such as an ecological model.
confine IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved A wildfire response strategy of restricting a wildfire to a defined area, primarily using natural barriers that are expected to restrict the spread of the wildfire under the prevailing and forecasted weather conditions.
contained IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved The status of a wildfire suppression action signifying that a control line has been completed around the fire, and any associated spot fires, which can reasonably be expected to stop the fire's spread.
containment (hazardous materials) Fire Use Subcommittee FUSC Approved The act of controlling hazardous spilled or leaking materials.
containment (wildfire) Fire Use Subcommittee FUSC Approved The status of a wildfire suppression action signifying that a control line has been completed around the fire, and any associated spot fires, which can reasonably be expected to stop the fire's spread.
contracted resource vendor National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved The name of the company who, through a contract, provides resources to support incident management activities.
control line Fire Use Subcommittee FUSC Approved An inclusive term for all constructed or natural barriers and treated fire edges used to control a fire.
control time IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved The time a fire is declared controlled.
controlled Fire Use Subcommittee FUSC Approved The completion of control line around a fire, any spot fires therefrom, and any interior islands to be saved; burned out any unburned area adjacent to the fire side of the control lines; and cool down all hotspots that are immediate threats to the control line, until the lines can reasonably be expected to hold under the foreseeable conditions. 
cost Incident Business Committee IBC Approved The dollar amount associated with an incident.
counter fire (hasten spread) IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved Fire set between main fire and backfire to hasten spread of backfire.
country Data Management Committee DMC Approved A nation with its own government, occupying a particular territory.
country code Data Management Committee DMC Approved Short alphanumeric identification code for countries and dependent areas.
country subdivision Data Management Committee DMC Pending Political subdivisions that fall within a country
country subdivision code Data Management Committee DMC Approved A code for the identification of first-level administartive subdivisions 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 Geospatial Subcommittee GSC Approved Date the feature was created.
create name (feature class) Geospatial Subcommittee GSC Approved Name of the person creating the feature.
created by system Data Management Committee DMC Approved System that created the data record.
created on date time Data Management Committee DMC Approved Date and time the event record was created
crown cover Fire Use Subcommittee FUSC Approved The ground area covered by the crown of a tree as delimited by the vertical projection of its outermost perimeter.
daily rate Incident Business Committee IBC Approved Paid on a calendar day basis (0001-2400).
date Data Management Committee DMC Approved A particular day of a calendar year.
date current (geospatial data) Geospatial Subcommittee GSC Approved The last edit, update, of this GIS record.
date-time Data Management Committee DMC Approved The combination of date and time elements.
datum (Point of Origin) (POO) FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved The datum associated with the coordinates that identify the point of origin. Point of origin is the location where a competent ignition source came into contact with the material first ignited and sustained combustion occurred.
dead fuels Fire Behavior Subcommittee FBSC Approved Fuels with no living tissue in which moisture content is governed almost entirely by absorption or evaporation of atmospheric moisture (relative humidity and precipitation).
Delayed Aerial Ignition Devices (DAID) Equipment Technology Committee ETC, National Interagency Aviation Committee NIAC Approved Polystyrene balls, 1.25 inches in diameter, containing potassium permanganate. The balls are fed into a dispenser, generally mounted in a helicopter, where they are injected with a water-glycol solution and then drop through a chute leading out of the helicopter. The chemicals react thermally and ignite in 25-30 seconds. The space between ignition points on the ground is primarily a function of helicopter speed, gear ratio of the dispenser, and the number of chutes used (up to four). 
delete this Geospatial Subcommittee GSC Approved An attribute flag to tell editors to remove a feature added in error.
demob en route DCSC Dispatch Coordination Subcommittee Pending The resource is no longer assigned to an incident and travel has started, but the resource has not yet arrived home.
designated area Fire Use Subcommittee FUSC Approved Those areas identified as principal population centers or other areas requiring protection under state or federal air quality laws or regulations.
discovery time IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved Elapsed time from start of fire (known or estimated) until the time of the first discovery that results directly in fire suppression action.
dispatch center National Coordination System Committee NCSC, Incident Business Committee IBC Approved An organization from which resources are ordered, mobilized or assigned to an incident and/or demobilized. The center may process requests, coordinate response, or track resources and information under the delegation of its benefiting agency(s).
dispatch center (home) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved The dispatch center associated with a resource’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.
dispatch center area National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved Name of the Dispatch Area or Zone
dispatch center location National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved The city and state of the dispatch center
dispatch center name National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved Name of the dispatch center
dispatch center unit identifier National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved Unit Identifier for the dispatch center
dispatch tier National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved Levels of the wildland fire dispatch and coordination system
Documentation Unit National Incident Management System Integration Committee NIMSIC Approved Documentation Unit staff maintain incident files and data for legal, analytical, and historical purposes, including a complete record of the major steps taken to resolve the incident. They also provide duplication services for incident personnel; compile, reproduce, and distribute the IAP; and maintain the files and records that are developed as part of the IAP and planning function.
double shift Incident Business Committee IBC Approved Equipment is staffed with 2 operators or crews (1 per shift) and must be ordered and documented on a resource order. (Reference OF-294 general clauses for payment information.) Regardless of hiring method, on-shift time for operated equipment will be recorded with clock hours on the appropriate document, e.g., equipment hired under a daily rate will be posted with start and stop time for daily work.
draped fuels Fire Use Subcommittee FUSC Approved Needles, leaves, and twigs that have fallen from above and have lodged on lower branches or brush. Draped fuels are part of aerial fuels.
dry bulb Fire Weather Subcommittee FWS Approved A name given to an ordinary thermometer used to determine the temperature of the air (to distinguish it from the wet bulb).
dry-bulb temperature FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved The temperature of the air measured in the shade 4-8 feet above the ground.
edit name (feature class) Geospatial Subcommittee GSC Approved Name of the person editing the feature.
elapsed time IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Archived The total time taken to complete any step(s) in fire suppression.
elevation feet GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Assigned A geographic location's height above or below a fixed reference point
emergency National Incident Management System Integration Committee NIMSIC Approved Any incident, whether natural, technological, biological, or human-caused, that necessitates responsive action to protect life or property.
employment category IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved The employment appointment or agreement under which a person is hired.
Energy Release Component (ERC) Fire Weather Subcommittee FWS Approved The computed total heat release per unit area (British thermal units per square foot) within the flaming front at the head of a moving fire.
estimated containment date FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved The expected containment or completion date of the incident.
estimated incident cost Incident Business Committee IBC Approved Estimated dollar amount associated with an incident.
Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) National Coordination System Committee NCSC, Incident Business Committee IBC Approved Term used in resource planning/following to estimate time of arrival at a point.
Estimated Time of Departure (ETD) National Coordination System Committee NCSC, Incident Business Committee IBC Approved Term used in resource planning/following to estimate time of departure from a point.
event (generic) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved A generic term that relates to both planned and unplanned response activities by the interagency wildland fire community.
experience IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Pending Documented performance in a position.
experience from date Incident and Position Standards Committee IPSC Approved The time when the Experience began.
experience to date Incident and Position Standards Committee IPSC Approved The time when the Experience ended.
extreme fire behavior Fire Behavior Subcommittee FBSC 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. 
feature access Geospatial Subcommittee GSC Approved Determines who or what groups can view a particular feature.
feature category Geospatial Subcommittee GSC Approved Type of wildland fire polygon or unburned areas
field test Risk Management Committee RMC Approved A job-related test of work capacity designed for those with moderately strenuous duties. This test consists a two-mile hike with a 25-pound pack. A time of 30 minutes, the passing score for this test, approximates an aerobic fitness score of 40.
final acres FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved Number of acres within the final fire perimeter of a specific, individual incident, including unburned and unburnable islands.
final approach National Interagency Aviation Committee NIAC Approved Flight path in the direction of the landing along the extended runway center line from the base leg to the runway.
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 cause Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC, Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee WFISC Approved Agency or circumstance which started a fire or set the stage for its occurrence; source of a fire's ignition. For statistical purposes fires are grouped into broad cause classes. The nine general causes used in the U.S. are lightning, campfire, smoking, debris burning, incendiary, machine use (equipment), railroad, children, and miscellaneous. 
fire cause class Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee WFISC Approved Any class into which wildland fires are grouped according to their origin.
fire containment date time FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved The date and time a wildfire was declared contained.
fire control date time FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved The date and time a wildfire was declared under control.
Fire Danger Rating System FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved The complete program necessary to produce and apply fire danger ratings, including data collection, data processing, fire danger modeling, communications, and data storage.
fire discovery date time FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved The date and time a fire was discovered or confirmed to exist.
Fire Intensity Level (FIL) code (Point of Origin) (POO) Fire Behavior Subcommittee FBSC, Fire Environment Committee FENC 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.    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 occurrence identifier Geospatial Subcommittee GSC Approved Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) assigned to the spatialrecord.
fire out date time FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved The date when all observable combustion has ceased or there is no risk of the fire again becoming active and requiring additional control or management actions.
fire report FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved An official record of a fire, generally including information on cause, location, action taken, damage, costs, etc., from start of the fire until completion of suppression action. These reports vary in form and detail from agency to agency.
fire report approver name FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved Name of the person that approved the fire report. Approval authority varies by agency.
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 reporting agency unit identifier FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved The unit identifier for the agency preparing the fire report.
fire resource category National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved The intermediate classification of operational resources available to respond to a fire.
fire resource kind National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved The most general classification of operational resources available to respond to a fire.
fire resource status (record) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved Indicates if the resource record being submitted or updated is an initial response resource or daily resource record.
fire resource type National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved The most specific classification of operational resources available to respond to a fire.
fire size class code FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved A code that corresponds to one of several ranges of fire size based on the number of acres within the final fire perimeter.
fire storm Fire Behavior Subcommittee FBSC 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.
fire swatter Equipment Technology Committee ETC Approved A fire tool that consists of a thick, flat piece of rubber on a long handle used to drag over or smother out flames of grass fires.
Fire Year FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved Calendar year in which the fire started
FireCode Incident Business Committee IBC 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.
firefighting forces IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved Qualified firefighters, together with their equipment and material, used to suppress wildland fires.
first name Data Management Committee DMC Approved The first name of the resource as it appears on a government issued ID.
fitness level Incident and Position Standards Committee IPSC Approved A descriptor of a human resource's physical work capacity
fix Geospatial Subcommittee GSC Approved Geographical position determined by visual reference to the surface, by reference to one or more radio navigational aids, by celestial plotting, or by any other navigational device.
flapper Equipment Technology Committee ETC Approved Fire suppression tool, sometimes improvised, used in direct attack for smothering out flames along a fire edge; may consist merely of a green pine bough or wet sacking, or be a manufactured tool such as a flap of belting fabric fastened to a long handle.
flare-up IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee, Fire Environment Committee FENC 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.
foam generation Equipment Technology Committee ETC Approved The foam production process of forcing air into or entraining air in foam solution, creating a mass of bubbles.
Forest Service assisted indicator Incident Business Committee IBC Approved Indicates if the Forest Service provided assistance on an incident outside their jurisdiction.
Forest Service job code Incident Business Committee IBC Approved A code used to indicate the Forest Service job accounting code for the incident. This is specific to the Forest Service and is usually displayed as two-character prefix on the FireCode.
Forest Service override code Incident Business Committee IBC 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.
frequency identifier Approved Code used to ease identification of a zone.
frequency use designator RSUSC Wildland Fire Radio Standards and Use Committee Approved A designation of the kind of communications that will occur on an assigned radio frequency.
fuel class FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved Group of fuels possessing common characteristics. Dead fuels are grouped according to 1-, 10-, 100-, and 1000-hour timelag, and living fuels are grouped as herbaceous (annual or perennial) or woody.
fuel continuity Fire Use Subcommittee FUSC Approved The degree or extent of continuous or uninterrupted distribution of fuel particles in a fuel bed thus affecting a fire's ability to sustain combustion and spread. This applies to aerial fuels as well as surface fuels.
fuel model FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved Simulated fuel complex for which all fuel descriptors required for the solution of a mathematical rate of spread model have been specified.
fuels treatment polygon GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Assigned A polygon representing the area(s) of unique fuels treatments during a single timeframe.
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.
General Staff National Incident Management System Integration Committee NIMSIC Approved A group of incident personnel organized according to function and reporting to the Incident Commander or Unified Command. The ICS General Staff consists of the Operations Section Chief, Planning Section Chief, Logistics Section Chief, Finance/Administration Section Chief.
general status (resource) Incident and Position Standards Committee IPSC Approved Indicates whether the resource is available or unavailable to fill a capability request.
geographic area National Coordination System Committee NCSC 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 (GA) code National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved A code that identifies one of the wildland fire geographic areas.
Geographic Area (GA) name National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved The name of the geographic area that identifies a boundary designated by 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.
Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC) National Coordination System Committee NCSC, 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. 
Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC) code National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved Shortened form of Geographic Area Coordination Center name.
geographic coordinating area National Coordination System Committee NCSC 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. 
Geographic Coordinating Area (GCA) code National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved A code representing a wildland fire geographic coordinating area.
Geographic Coordinating Area (GCA) name National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved The name of the wildland fire geographic coordinating area.
Geographic Information System Acres GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Approved GIS calculated acres within the fire perimeter, not adjusted for unburned areas
geometry identifier GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Approved Primary key for linking geospatial objects with other database systems.
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved The satellite used for data relay from NFDRS weather stations to ASCADS.
getaway time IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved Elapsed time from receipt of notification by the personnel charged with initiating suppression action to the departure of the first attack unit.
hazardous materials (transported) Equipment Technology Committee ETC Approved A substance or material which has been determined by the Secretary of Transportation to be capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce and which has been so designated.
Height Above Ground Level (HAGL) GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Approved A height measured with respect to the underlying ground surface.
Height Above Sea Level (HASL) GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Approved Height above mean sea level in feet.
helitack Interagency Helicopter Operations Subcommittee IHOPS Approved The utilization of helicopters to transport crews, equipment, and fire retardants or suppressants to the fireline during the initial stages of a fire. The term also refers to the crew that performs helicopter management and attack activities.
helitack crew Interagency Helicopter Operations Subcommittee IHOPS Approved A crew of firefighters specially trained and certified in the tactical and logistical use of helicopters for fire suppression.
helitorch Equipment Technology Committee ETC, National Interagency Aviation Committee NIAC Approved An aerial ignition device hung from or mounted on a helicopter to disperse ignited lumps of gelled gasoline. Used for backfires, burnouts, or prescribed burns.
high pressure fog Equipment Technology Committee ETC Approved Small capacity spray jet produced at very high pressures (greater than 250 psi, the normal maximum pressure for standard ground tankers) and discharged through a small hose with a gun-type nozzle.
home dispatch unit IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved The NWCG Unit Identifier of the center primarily responsible for dispatching the resource.
home unit (administrative) National Coordination System Committee NCSC 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 Geospatial Subcommittee GSC Approved The identfication given to the reference system used for defining the coordinates of points.
host National Coordination System Committee NCSC 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.
humidity Fire Weather Subcommittee FWS Approved General term referring to the moisture content of the atmosphere.
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 from wfnwcgorg:NISC Approved The beginning date and time of the reporting period of an ICS 209.
ICS 209 report for time period to wfnwcgorg:NISC Approved The ending date and time of the reporting period of an ICS 209.
ICS 209 report status IMC Integration Management Committee Approved The version of the ICS 209 report (Initial, Update, or Final).
ignition component FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved A rating of the probability that a firebrand will cause an actionable fire.
ignition method Fire Use Subcommittee FUSC Approved The means by which a fire is ignited, such as hand-held drip torch, helitorch, and backpack propane tanks.
ignition source Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC Approved Any process or event capable of causing a fire.
incident National Incident Management System Integration Committee NIMSIC, FMB Fire Management Board Approved An occurrence, either human-caused or a natural phenomenon, that requires action or support by emergency services personnel to prevent or minimize loss of life or damage to property and/or natural resources.
Incident Command System (ICS) National Incident Management System Integration Committee NIMSIC Approved A standardized approach to the command, control, and coordination of on-scene incident management, providing a common hierarchy within which personnel from multiple organizations can be effective. ICS is the combination of procedures, personnel, facilities, equipment, and communications operating within a common organizational structure, designed to aid in the management of on-scene resources during incidents. It is used for all kinds of incidents and is applicable to small, as well as large and complex, incidents, including planned events.
Incident Commander (IC) name National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved The first (optional) and last name of the Incident Commander(s) currently assigned to the incident.
incident management organization National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved The incident management organization for 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 organization National Incident Management System Integration Committee NIMSIC Pending Archive Resources, together with a complement of overhead personnel, calculated to be sufficient to provide fire efficient incident management.
incident overhead National Incident Management System Integration Committee NIMSIC Pending All supervisory positions described in the Incident Command System.
incident personnel fatality quantity Risk Management Committee RMC 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 Risk Management Committee RMC 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 short description NICADS National Interagency Computer Aided Dispatch Approved General descriptive location of the incident as it relates to an identifiable town or population center. In the case of a Complex, this may describe 1) one of the points of origin of one of the member or “child” incidents, or 2) a center or other representative point that related to the group of incidents.
incident size Incident and Position Standards Committee IPSC Approved How large the incident is, measured in acres. This number can change over the life of the incident.
Incident Type Category (fire) DCSC Dispatch Coordination Subcommittee Approved A sub‐group of the Incident Type Kind "Fire" that describes the types of incident or planned event to which the interagency wildland fire community responded to.
incident type endorsement Incident and Position Standards Committee IPSC Approved The type of incident for which a resource is qualified to perform in a position.
initial fire strategy designator FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved The fire strategy initially used on a wildland fire. The initial fire strategy is the general plan or direction utilized until it succeeds or changes. The NWCG glossary defines strategy as: The general plan or direction selected to accomplish incident objectives.
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
initial response resource quantity FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved The total number of fire resources by kind, category, and type (if listed and applicable) used during the initial response. Initial response resouces will only be counted during intial attack. Extended Attack Incidents are those which persist beyond the first full operational period where local resources are not sufficient and the complexity elevates beyond initial attack commander capability.
Integrated Reporting of Wildland Fire Information Identifier IMC Integration Management Committee 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 “call-when-needed” status. Employee receives compensation for work
invasive concern ISSC Invasive Species Subcommittee Approved A list of invasive species that are cause for concern related to the use of water sources.
is location tracking enabled National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved Indicates whether a resource's location (geometry object/shape) is being updated by a real-time GPS tracking such as AVL (Automated Vehicle Locator).
is national resource National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved Indicates whether a resource is a National Resource for use in Initial Response.
is primary capability Equipment Technology Committee ETC, National Interagency Aviation Committee NIAC Approved Indicates that the capability is the primary capability for the equipment or aircraft.
is valid (resource) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved Indicates whether a resource is valid for use in Initial Response. Invalid resources should be removed from the data stream
is visible GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Approved Provides a flag for mapping display.
jurisdiction Data Management Committee DMC Approved The range or sphere of authority. Public agencies have jurisdiction at an incident related to their legal responsibilities and authority for incident mitigation. Jurisdictional authority at an incident can be political/geographical (e.g., city, county, state or federal boundary lines), or functional (e.g., police department, health department, etc.). 
jurisdictional agency category FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Assigned 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 FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Assigned 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 FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Assigned The name of the governmental entity having overall land and resource management responsibility for a specific geographical area as provided by law.
Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved An estimate (0-800) of the amount of precipitation (in 100ths of inches) needed to bring the top 8 inches of soil back to saturation. A value of 0 is complete saturation of the soil, a value of 800 means 8.00 inches of precipitation would be needed for saturation. In the 1988 version of NFDRS, outputs of KBDI are used to adjust live and dead fuel loadings. 
Kind National Incident Management System Integration Committee NIMSIC Approved As applied to incident resources, a class or group of items or people of the same nature or character or classified together because they have traits in common. Category sometimes referred to as subset of kind.
label GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Approved The label applied to the feature in a GIS system.
landowner Data Management Committee DMC Approved The person or entity that owns the land or has the authority to convey title to others.
landowner category (Point of Origin) (POO) FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved Agency or entity having the land management responsibility at the point of origin.
landowner contact information Approved Full contact information for the landowner including name, phone number, email, etc.
landowner kind (Point of Origin) (POO) FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved Broad classification of land ownership at the point of origin.
landowner unit (Point of Origin) FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved NWCG Unit Identifier of landowner agency at the point of origin of a fire.
last name Data Management Committee DMC Approved The last name of the resource as it appears on a government issued ID. 
latitude (Decimal Degrees) Geospatial Subcommittee GSC Approved The angular distance north or south of the earth's equator, measured in units of decimal degrees along a meridian.
latitude (Decimal Degrees) (Point of Origin) FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved The latitude location of the wildland fire location point specified in decimal degrees.
latitude (Degrees Decimal Minutes) GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Latitude in degrees, decimal minutes WGS84 for labeling purposes.
latitude (initial) National Coordination System Committee NCSC, Geospatial Subcommittee GSC Approved The location coordinate for the latitude value corresponding to the initial reported point of origin specified in decimal degrees.
latitude (Point of Origin) (POO) FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee, GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Approved The latitude 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.
license plate number Equipment Technology Committee ETC Approved The vehicle’s license plate number for purposes of identifying equipment.
light (duty level) Risk Management Committee RMC Approved Light duty mainly involves office-type work with occasional field activity characterized by light physical exertion requiring basic good health.  Individuals almost always can govern the extent and pace of their physical activity.  Essential functions include, but are not limited to: climbing stairs, standing, operating a vehicle, and long hours of work, as well as some bending, stooping, or light lifting.
lighting (aviation obstruction) AMC Aviation Management Committee Approved Indicates if the aviation obstacle is lighted.
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.
live fuels FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved Living plants, such as trees, grasses, and shrubs, in which the seasonal moisture content cycle is controlled largely by internal physiological mechanisms, rather than by external weather influences.
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.
location timestamp National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved The date/time for the resource’s last known position.
longitude (Decimal Degrees) Geospatial Subcommittee GSC Approved The angular distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in units of decimal degrees.
longitude (Decimal Degrees) (Point of Origin) Geospatial Subcommittee GSC Approved The longitude location of the wildland fire location point specified in decimal degrees.
longitude (Degrees Decimal Minutes) Geospatial Subcommittee GSC Approved Longitdue in degrees, decimal minutes WGS84 fore labeling purposes.
longitude (initial) National Coordination System Committee NCSC, Geospatial Subcommittee GSC Approved The location coordinate for the longitude value corresponding to the initial reported point of origin specified in decimal degrees.
longitude (Point of Origin) (POO) FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee, GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee 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) GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Approved Longitude format for labeling and display.
major repair (aviation) National Interagency Aviation Committee NIAC Approved 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.
management complexity level designator FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved The highest management level utilized to manage a fire event.
manager contact information National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved Contact information for the manager of the resource.
manually regulated Equipment Technology Committee ETC Approved 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.
map method Geospatial Subcommittee GSC Approved How the geospatial feature was derived
mathematical model Fire Weather Subcommittee FWS Approved A model that is a quantitative and mathematical representation or simulation which attempts to describe the characteristics or relationship of physical events.
merge identifier IMC Integration Management Committee Approved Identifies that a merge between multiple fires occurred.
middle name Data Management Committee DMC Approved The middle name of the resource as it appears on a government issued ID. Applies only to overhead resources.
mob en route DCSC Dispatch Coordination Subcommittee Pending 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.
model Fire Weather Subcommittee FWS Approved A simplified or generalized representation of reality; a description, analogy, picture, or hypothesis to help visualize something that cannot be directly observed.
modified by system Data Management Committee DMC Approved Username of system that modified the record.
modified on date time Data Management Committee DMC Approved Date/time that the record was modified.
monitoring Fire Use Subcommittee FUSC, IFPC Interagency Fire Planning Committee Approved The orderly collection, analysis, and interpretation of environmental data to evaluate management's progress toward meeting objectives, and to identify changes in natural systems. Monitoring is also conducted on wildland fires to observe fire effects, fire behavior, or both. For example, the work done by Fire Effects Monitor (FEMO) or Field Observer (FOBS) positions. 
mop up time IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved Elapsed time from containment or control of a fire until mopup is complete.
multi-agency incident National Incident Management System Integration Committee NIMSIC Approved An incident where one or more agencies assist a jurisdictional agency or agencies. May be single or unified command.
multijurisdiction incident National Incident Management System Integration Committee NIMSIC Approved An incident requiring action from multiple agencies that have a statutory responsibility for incident mitigation. In ICS these incidents will be managed under unified command.
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 Danger Rating System (NFDRS) FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved A uniform fire danger rating system that focuses on the environmental factors that control the moisture content of fuels.
National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) Fuel Model code FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved A code that corresponds to one of the National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) fuel models representing the predominant fuel bed properties contributing towards fire spread across the fire area.
National Fire Incident Reporting System unit identifier IMC Integration Management Committee 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).
nozzle operator IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved A person assigned to operate a fire hose nozzle, usually on a handline.
obstruction name AMC Aviation Management Committee Approved Common name of feature.
obstruction type AMC Aviation Management Committee Approved Specific descriptor of aviation obstruction identified on a map.
offshore flow Fire Weather Subcommittee FWS Approved Wind blowing from land to water.
operational name National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved The current common operational reference to a Resource, which is the name of the resource and/or call sign.
operational period National Incident Management System Integration Committee NIMSIC Approved The time scheduled for executing a given set of operation actions, as specified in the IAP. Operational periods can be of various lengths, but are typically 12 to 24 hours.
operational status National Coordination System Committee NCSC, IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved The state of a resource as it is utilized by an incident. 
Operations Section National Incident Management System Integration Committee NIMSIC Approved The ICS Section responsible for implementing tactical incident operations described in the IAP. In ICS, the Operations Section may include subordinate branches, divisions, and/or groups.
other structures destroyed quantity FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved The total number of structures, other than residences, destroyed as a result of a fire.
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 Pending All observable combustion has ceased and there is no risk of the fire again becoming active and requiring additional control or management actions.
owner organization National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved The agency or company to be reimbursed for providing a resource to an incident.
owner vendor Incident Business Committee IBC Approved A party that provides a contract resource for an incident.
paracargo National Interagency Aviation Committee NIAC Approved Anything intentionally dropped, or intended for dropping, from any aircraft by parachute, by other retarding devices, or by free fall.
patrol time IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved Elapsed time from completion of original mopping up until the fire is declared to be extinguished.
perennial plant FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee, Fire Use Subcommittee FUSC Approved A plant that lives for more than two growing seasons. For fire danger rating purposes, biennial plants are classed with perennial plants.
perimeter date time FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee, Geospatial Subcommittee GSC Approved The date and time that the fire perimeter was collected (mapped).
perimeter extant GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Approved Identifies if a related wildland fire perimeter polygon exists for the wildland fire location point feature.
permission state Data Management Committee DMC Approved The authorization stage of create, read, update and delete actions in an application based on where the incident is occurring within the lifecyle.
ping-pong ball system Equipment Technology Committee ETC, National Interagency Aviation Committee NIAC Approved Mechanized method of dispensing DAIDs (Delayed Aerial Ignition Devices) at a selected rate. The DAIDs are polystyrene balls, 1.25 inches in diameter, containing potassium permanganate. The balls are fed into a dispenser, generally mounted in a helicopter, where they are injected with a water-glycol solution and then drop through a chute leading out of the helicopter. The chemicals react thermally and ignite in 25-30 seconds. The space between ignition points on the ground is primarily a function of helicopter speed, gear ratio of the dispenser, and the number of chutes used (up to four). 
Planning Section National Incident Management System Integration Committee NIMSIC Approved The ICS Section that collects, evaluates, and disseminates operational information related to the incident and for the development of the IAP. This section also maintains information on the current/forecasted situation and on the status of resources assigned to the incident.
Plastic Sphere Dispenser (PSD) National Interagency Aviation Committee NIAC Approved Device installed, but jettisonable, in a helicopter, which injects glycol into a plastic sphere containing potassium permanganate, which is then expelled from the machine and aircraft. This produces an exothermic reaction resulting in ignition of fuels on the ground for prescribed or wildland fire applications. 
point date time FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee, GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Approved The date and time that the fire point was collected in the field.
point name GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Approved An additional field to assist with identifying the feature.
point type GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Approved Description of the type of point.
point/zone protection IFPC Interagency Fire Planning Committee Approved A wildfire response strategy which protects specific assets or highly valued resources from the wildfire without directly halting the continued spread of the wildfire.
polygon date time GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Approved The date and time that the polygon was collected in the field
position code Position Naming Board PNB Approved A code (mnemonic) for designating a position used in incident management response
position title Position Naming Board PNB Approved A title for a position used for incident management response.
precipitation Fire Weather Subcommittee FWS Approved Any or all forms of water particles, liquid or solid, that fall from the atmosphere and reach the ground.
Predictive Services Area Name IWSC Incident Weather Subcommittee Approved Unique name of the Predictive Services Area defined by Predictive Services.
Predictive Services Area national code Approved Unique code for every PSA associated to a single unit.
prescribed fire FMB Fire Management Board Approved A wildland fire originating from a planned ignition in accordance with applicable laws, policies, and regulations to meet specific objectives.​
prescribed fire escape indicator FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved Indicates whether the wildfire resulted from an escaped prescribed fire. Y or N.
primary email Data Management Committee DMC Approved Individual’s primary email
primary phone Data Management Committee DMC 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.
prohibited Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC Approved Allows identification of an activity which is unlawful or otherwise prohibited (burn ban, unpermitted, etc.) by local authorities.
projected incident activity Fire Environment Committee FENC Approved An estimate of the direction in which the incident is expected to spread, migrate, or expand within a specified time frame.
property information Approved Accountable property information to track ownership.
proportioner Equipment Technology Committee ETC Approved A device that adds a predetermined amount of foam concentrate to water to form foam solution.
protecting agency Incident Business Committee IBC Approved 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.
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.
provider unit National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved 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.
psychrometer Equipment Technology Committee ETC, National Interagency Aviation Committee NIAC Approved 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.
radiation (heat) Fire Behavior Subcommittee FBSC Approved Transfer of heat in straight lines through a gas or vacuum other than by heating of the intervening space.
radiosonde Fire Weather Subcommittee FWS Approved A device carried aloft by a balloon equipped with measuring instruments that automatically convert temperature, pressure, and humidity data into electrical impulses and transmit this information to a ground recorder.
reassigned (at incident) DCSC Dispatch Coordination Subcommittee Pending A resource on a filled request has been reassigned from one incident to the another, but the mobilization travel has not started.
rehabilitation IFPC Interagency Fire Planning Committee Approved Efforts undertaken within three years of a wildland fire to repair or improve fire damaged lands unlikely to recover to a management approved conditions or to repair or replace minor facilities damaged by fire.
Relative Humidity (RH) Fire Weather Subcommittee FWS Approved The ratio of the amount of moisture in the air, to the maximum amount of moisture that air would contain if it were saturated. The ratio of the actual vapor pressure to the saturated vapor pressure.
released (at incident) DCSC Dispatch Coordination Subcommittee Pending A resource on a filled request has been released, but the demobilization travel has not started.
repair status Approved Status of the Suppression Repair project for each feature.
report time (resources) Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee WFISC Approved Elapsed time from fire discovery until the first personnel charged with initiating action for fire suppression are notified of its existence and location.
reserved DCSC Dispatch Coordination Subcommittee Pending 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.
residences threatened quantity FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved The total number of residences threatened by 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. Residences are threatened if they are at risk of loss or damage, or endangered during the course of the fire. This includes, but is not limited to, residences subject to mandatory evacuation.
resource capacity IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee, Incident and Position Standards Committee IPSC Approved The competency level in which the overhead resource is qualified to perform a position. May also be used to define how the resource performed on a specific incident. In both cases the capacity is defined as “trainee” or “qualified”.
resource quantity current as of date time National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved The date and time that reflects the period for which the resource counts are current.
Resource System of Record (RSOR) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved The exchange username of the system that currently is the System of Record for the resource and the capabilities for that resource.
resources [incident] National Incident Management System Integration Committee NIMSIC, IFPC Interagency Fire Planning Committee Approved Personnel and equipment available or potentially available for assignment to incident operations and for which status is maintained. Resources are described by kind and type.
responsible agency unit identifier (Point of Origin) (POO) FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved The unit identifier for the agency that has primary protection responsibility at the point of origin at the time of the incident.
returned from assignment DCSC Dispatch Coordination Subcommittee Pending The resource has returned from the assignment but is not yet available for dispatch.
rural fire protection IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved 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.
seasonal monthly average Fire Weather Subcommittee FWS Approved Historically, the average number of human-caused fires occurring on a protection unit per month during the established fire season.
secondary phone Data Management Committee DMC Approved Individual’s secondary phone.
selection area National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved Indicates the dispatch center inside/outside the current dispatch center for which resources are being requested.
serial number National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved A set of numbers that is put on equipment by the manufacturer so that each has a different number and can be recognized.
significant events FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved In the ICS209, observed fire behavior or significant incident events for the current reporting period.
single shift Incident Business Committee IBC Approved Equipment is staffed with 1 operator or crew. A normal shift could be up to 16 hours long and may cross calendar days.
size class IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved Identifies the fire size based on number of acres within the final fire perimeter
size class of fire IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved As to size of wildfire: Class A - one-fourth acre or less; Class B - more than one-fourth acre, but less than 10 acres; Class C - 10 acres or more, but less than 100 acres; Class D - 100 acres or more, but less than 300 acres; Class E - 300 acres or more, but less than 1,000 acres; Class F - 1,000 acres or more, but less than 5,000 acres; Class G - 5,000 acres or more.
slope class FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved One of five categories used to describe the topography of a fire danger rating area.
slope percentage (Point of Origin) (POO) Geospatial Subcommittee GSC 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.
sounding (upper air sounding) Fire Weather Subcommittee FWS Approved A sampling of upper air conditions made by means of instruments and a small radio transmitter on a free balloon. Automatic radio signals originated by action of weather instruments are sent to a ground receiver. These signals are interpreted for use in analyzing and predicting upper air conditions over a wide area of the earth. Weather elements determined at a number of altitude points as the balloon rises are temperature, atmospheric moisture, pressure, wind direction and speed. Similar soundings may be made using fixed balloons or tethersondes.
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) GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee 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.
spread component FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved A rating of the forward rate of spread of the head of a fire.
staffing index FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved A NFDRS component, index or related indicator (ignition component, spread component, energy release component, burning index, Keetch-Byram drought index) whose outputs are correlated to the local fire problem, used to determine staffing levels.
Staging Area National Incident Management System Integration Committee NIMSIC Approved A temporary location for available resources in which personnel, supplies, and equipment await operational assignment.
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Leadership Committee LC Approved Specific instructions clearly spelling out what is expected of an individual every time they perform a given task. A standard operating procedure can be used as a performance standard for tasks that are routinely done in the operational environment.
Standard Operational Procedure (SOP) Leadership Committee LC Approved Specific instructions clearly spelling out what is expected of an individual every time they perform a given task. A standard operational procedure can be used as a performance standard for tasks that are routinely done in the operational environment.
state (Point of Origin) (POO) FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved The Country and State alpha code identifying the state or equivalent entity at point of origin.
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.
state code Data Management Committee DMC Superseded A code for the identification of the states, the District of Columbia and the outlying areas of the United States, and associated areas.
suppression FMB Fire Management Board Approved All the work to extinguish or limit wildland fire spread.
surface fuel Fire Use Subcommittee FUSC Approved Fuels lying on or near the surface of the ground, consisting of leaf and needle litter, dead branch material, downed logs, bark, tree cones, and low stature living plants.
tail number National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved The numerical identification of an aircraft, also known as the registration number for an aircraft, as displayed on the aircraft’s tail section.
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 DCSC Dispatch Coordination Subcommittee Pending 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.
thin sky cover Fire Weather Subcommittee FWS Approved Sky cover through which higher clouds or the sky can be detected.
time point Data Management Committee DMC Approved A point in time during a 24-hour Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) day.
torch (professional) Equipment Technology Committee ETC Approved A professional firesetter-for-hire.
torching Fire Behavior Subcommittee FBSC Approved The burning of the foliage of a single tree or a small group of trees, from the bottom up.
travel time Incident Business Committee IBC Approved Compensable time en route to or from an emergency incident.
treatment acres Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC Approved Acreage of treatment polygon as calculated with GIS
treatment category Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC Approved Describes major class of treatment.
treatment identifier Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC Approved Unique identifier for fuels treatment polygon(s).
treatment identifier database Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC Approved The database containing additional information related to the treatment identifier
treatment name Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC Approved The name of the fuels treatment
treatment status Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC Approved Status of the fuels treatment polygon(s).
treatment type Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee CEPC Approved Describes the kind of treatment work. Type is more specific than treatment category.
unavailable Pending The resource is not available to fill a resource order request.
unavailable (transferred) DCSC Dispatch Coordination Subcommittee Pending The resource has been transferred to another dispatch, but the transfer has not been completed.
uncontrolled fire IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved Any fire which threatens to destroy life, property, or natural resources, and (a) is not burning within the confines of firebreaks, or (b) is burning with such intensity that it could not be readily extinguished with ordinary tools commonly available.
unified command National Incident Management System Integration Committee NIMSIC Approved Established when more than one agency has incident jurisdiction or when incidents cross political jurisdictions. This is accomplished by establishing a common set of incident objectives and strategies, without losing or abdicating authority, responsibility, or accountability.
unique fire identifier National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved A unique identifier assigned to each wildland fire.
unique fire report identifier FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved A code that uniquely identifies a particular fire report.
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 GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Approved Grid coordinates expressed as a distance in meters to the east.
Universal Transverse Mercator northing coordinates GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Approved Coordinates measured relative to the equator.
Universal Transverse Mercator Zone GISC Geospatial Information Subcommittee Approved A division of the Earth's surface into 60 north-south zones, each 6 degrees of longitude wide.
useful load National Interagency Aviation Committee NIAC Approved Maximum computed gross weight minus equipped weight of a helicopter.
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) National Coordination System Committee NCSC Approved The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) assigned to a piece of equipment.
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)
walk test Risk Management Committee RMC Approved The walk test is designed to determine the ability to carry out light duties. It consists of a one-mile test with no load that approximates an aerobic fitness score of 35. A time of 16 minutes, the passing score for this test, ensures the ability to meet emergency and evacuate to a safety zone. 
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.
weather concerns Fire Environment Committee FENC Approved A field collected in the ICS 209 containing a brief summary of how the current weather is affecting the incident and how the anticipated weather will affect the incident.
wet Incident Business Committee IBC Approved The contractor furnishes all equipment operating supplies.
wet-bulb depression Fire Weather Subcommittee FWS Approved The difference between the wet and dry-bulb temperatures recorded by a psychrometer; used in conjunction with the dry-bulb temperature as a measure of the relative humidity of the air.
wet-bulb temperature Fire Weather Subcommittee FWS Approved The lowest temperature to which air can be cooled by evaporating water into it at a constant pressure when the heat required for evaporation is supplied by the cooling of the air. It is measured by the wet bulb thermometer, which usually employs wetted wicking on the bulb as a cooling (through evaporation) device.
wet-bulb thermometer Fire Weather Subcommittee FWS Approved In a psychrometer, the thermometer with its bulb covered with a jacket of clean muslin which is saturated with distilled water before an observation.
wildfire FMB Fire Management Board Approved A wildland fire originating from an unplanned ignition, such as lightning, volcanos, unauthorized and accidental human caused fires, and prescribed fires that are declared wildfires.
wildfire response strategies wfnwcgorg:ICSC Approved The range of options available for response to a wildfire.
wildfire suppression IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved An appropriate management response to wildfire or prescribed fire that results in curtailment of fire spread and eliminates all identified threats from the particular fire.
wildland fire FMB Fire Management Board Approved Any non-structure fire that occurs in vegetation or natural fuels. Includes wildfires and prescribed fires.
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, WMSC WUI Mitigation Subcommittee Approved A flag that indicates if the presence of Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) increased the cost or management complexity of a wildfire.
Work Capacity Test (WCT) Risk Management Committee RMC Approved The Work Capacity Test (WCT) is a test to ensure a person is physically capable of meeting the minimum fitness requirement associated with assigned wildfire or prescribed fire duties as described in the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.  Below are the three defined duty levels with examples of associated essential functions:   Arduous Arduous duty field work requires above-average endurance and superior conditioning.  Duties may include an occasional demand for extraordinarily strenuous activity in emergency situations under adverse environmental conditions over extended periods. The pace of work typically is set by the emergency condition.  Essential functions include, but are not limited to: running, walking or hiking, climbing, jumping, twisting, bending, lifting more than 50 pounds, and carrying 45 pounds or more for extended periods over difficult terrain.  Moderate Moderate duty field work requires the average endurance and conditioning of an individual who possesses complete control of all their physical faculties. Occasional demands may be required for moderately strenuous activities in emergencies over long periods. The pace of work is usually set by the current environmental conditions.  Essential functions include, but are not limited to: considerable walking over irregular ground, standing for long periods, lifting 25 to 50 pounds, climbing, bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, and reaching. Light Light duty mainly involves office-type work with occasional field activity characterized by light physical exertion requiring basic good health.  Individuals almost always can govern the extent and pace of their physical activity.  Essential functions include, but are not limited to: climbing stairs, standing, operating a vehicle, and long hours of work, as well as some bending, stooping, or light lifting. The WCT consists of three separate levels of tests which correspond with the three duty types.  The tests are defined as follows: Pack Test - This is a job-related test to determine an individual’s ability to perform the minimum standards of arduous duty.  It consists of completing a 3-mile walk over level terrain in 45 minutes or less while carrying a 45-pound pack.   Field Test – This is a job-related test to determine an individual’s ability to perform the minimum standards of moderate duty. It consists of completing a 2-mile walk over level terrain in 30 minutes or less while carrying a 25-pound pack. Walk Test – This is a job-related test to determine an individual’s ability to perform the minimum standards of light duty.  The test consists of completing a 1-mile walk over level terrain in 16 minutes or less with no load. For more information about the Work Capacity Test consult the Work Capacity Test Administrator’s Guide, PMS 307.
work rate Incident Business Committee IBC Approved A daily, hourly, or mileage rate shall apply when equipment is under hire as ordered by the government and on shift, including relocation of equipment under its own power.
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