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NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire, PMS 205

Overview

The NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire provides an extensive listing of approved terms and definitions used by the NWCG community. It contains terms commonly used by NWCG in the areas of wildland fire and incident management and is not intended to list all terms used by NWCG groups and member agencies. The NWCG has directed that all committee and subgroup product glossaries be contained within the NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire to maintain definition consistency and clarity among documents.

Comments, questions, and recommendations shall be submitted to the appropriate agency program manager assigned to the Data Standards and Terminology Board (DSTB). 

NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire, PMS 205  (Quick View)

EDG Explorer is a database platform used for managing NWCG Glossary terms.  The following table is a quick view of the terms found in EDG. More detailed information such as rules, documentation, and term relationships may be viewed in EDG Explorer.  

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Title Steward Status Definition
origin destroyed CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee In Development
orographic FWS Fire Weather Subcommittee Approved

Pertaining to, or caused by mountains.

orthophoto GSC Geospatial Subcommittee Approved

Photograph obtained from the orthogonal (i.e., horizontal) projection of a correctly oriented stereoscopic model formed by two overlapping aerial photographs; an orthophoto is free of tilt and relief displacements.

orthophoto maps GSC Geospatial Subcommittee Approved

Aerial photographs corrected to scale such that geographic measurements may be taken directly from prints. They may contain graphically emphasized geographic features and may be provided with overlays of such features as: water systems, facility location, etc. 

orthostatic EMC Emergency Medical Committee Approved

Of, relating to, or caused by erect posture.

Osborne Firefinder IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved

A sighting device used by lookouts to determine the horizontal bearing and sometimes the vertical angle of a fire from a lookout.

other (specific cause) CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee In Development

A category or classification to group data points that doent fit neatly into predefined or standard categories, often used for values or entries that are uncommon or don't conform to the expected set of categories.

other activity

Groups or activities associated with the fire cause or origin that don't fit the named categories.

other causes CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee In Development

Refers to wildfire ignitions not classified under common cause categories. 

other explosives CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee In Development
other infrastructure failure CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee In Development

Surge of current, leading to equipment damage, power outages, and potential safety hazards.

other land clearing CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee In Development

Land clearning not covered in a traditional prescribed burn or field/ag burn.

other mechanical failure CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee In Development
other small engine equipment CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee In Development
other spark/friction/static CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee In Development
other structure FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved

A constructed building not designed for continuous human occupancy, such as barns, commercial buildings, etc.

other structures destroyed In Development

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. Other structure is defined as a constructed building not designed for continuous human occupancy, such as barns, commercial buildings, etc. Other structures are threatened if they are at risk of loss or damage, or endangered during the course of the fire. This typically includes other structures subject to mandatory evacuation.

other training which supports development of knowledge and skills IPSC Incident and Position Standards Committee Approved

Courses defined as containing supplemental knowledge and skills not required for safe and tactical operations success on a wildfire.

other utilities CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee In Development

Entities repsonsible for providing essential services like water, sanitation, telecommunications, renewable energy, transporation or waste management.

otitis EMC Emergency Medical Committee Approved

Inflammation of the ear.

out (fire) FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Proposed New

All observable combustion has ceased and there is no risk of the fire again becoming active and requiring additional control or management actions.

out of area response (event) NCSC National Coordination System Committee Approved

An event where resources are mobilized to a Wildfire (WF) Event within their corresponding dispatch center's response area (boundary). When resources arrive on scene, it is determined the ignition is not within their area of response, but in fact plots within an adjacent dispatch center's response area (boundary).

out-of-service resources IBC Incident Business Committee Approved

Resources assigned to an incident but unable to respond for mechanical, rest, or personal reasons.

outdoor oven/fireplace/metal fire ring CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee In Development
outside aid IBC Incident Business Committee Approved

Firefighting assistance given to adjacent areas and nearby communities by contract or other agreement that covers conditions and payment for assistance rendered and services performed. Contrasted to mutual aid, in which neighboring firefighting organizations assist each other without charge. 

Outside Diameter (OD) ETC Equipment Technology Committee Approved

External diameter of a cylinder or tube, conductor, or coupling as distinguished from the internal diameter.

Over The Counter (OTC) medications EMC Emergency Medical Committee Approved

Drugs that can be purchased without a prescription.

overdue aircraft ARMS Aviation Risk Management Subcommittee Approved

An aircraft is considered “overdue” when it fails to arrive within 30 minutes past the estimated time of arrival (ETA) and cannot be located.

overhaul WFISC Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee Approved

Fire department procedure of inspecting premises after extinguishment of fire, to insure that fire is completely out and unable to rekindle before returning control to owner or occupants.

overhead NIMSIC National Incident Management System Integration Committee Archived

Personnel assigned to supervisory positions, including incident commander, command staff, general staff, branch directors, supervisors, unit leaders, managers and staff.

overheating/radiant CEPC Communication, Education, and Prevention Committee In Development
overload (operational) IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved

A situation that taxes an operational system to the limit of its functional capabilities. Such as too many fires for an individual unit to handle (fire overload), or too many orders for an individual dispatch center to process (dispatch overload).

overload (vehicle) ETC Equipment Technology Committee Approved

Gross vehicle weight (GVW) in excess of the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) specified by the chassis manufacturer. Also an excess of weight over the gross vehicle axle weight rating (GAWR) specified by the chassis manufacture.

overwintering fire FUSC Fire Use Subcommittee Approved

A fire that persists through the winter months until the beginning of fire season.

owner vendor IBC Incident Business Committee In Development

A party that provides a contract resource for an incident.

oxidation WFISC Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee Approved

Process during which oxygen combines with another substance.

oxidizer WFISC Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee Approved

The portion of a chemical mixture or compound which furnishes oxygen for burning a fuel or propellant, creating an oxide.

pace IPSC Incident and Position Standards Committee Approved

A pace is defined as the average length of two natural steps (a count is made each time the same foot touches the ground).

pack test RMC Risk Management Committee Approved

Used to determine the aerobic capacity of fire suppression support personnel and assign physical fitness scores. The test consists of walking a specified distance, with or without a weighted pack, in a predetermined period of time, with altitude corrections. 

packing ratio FENC Fire Environment Committee, FWS Fire Weather Subcommittee Approved

The fraction of a fuel bed occupied by fuels, or the fuel volume divided by bed volume.

panoramic photograph GSC Geospatial Subcommittee Approved

Photographs from a lookout point, bearing azimuth and vertical angle scales, to assist in locating fires with a firefinder.

paracargo NIAC National Interagency Aviation Committee Approved

Anything intentionally dropped, or intended for dropping, from any aircraft by parachute, by other retarding devices, or by free fall.

parallel attack IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved

Method of fire suppression in which fireline is constructed approximately parallel to, and just far enough from the fire edge to enable workers and equipment to work effectively, though the fireline may be shortened by cutting across unburned fingers. The intervening strip of unburned fuel is normally burned out as the control line proceeds but may be allowed to burn out unassisted where this occurs without undue delay or threat to the fireline. 

parallel lane technique WFISC Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee Approved

A search technique dividing the specific origin area into lanes that are parallel to the advancing fire progression for the purpose of a systematic examination.

parallel pumping ETC Equipment Technology Committee Approved

Procedure by which the flow from two fire pumps is combined into one hose line.

parallel tandem pumping ETC Equipment Technology Committee Approved

Procedure by which the flow from two fire pumps is combined into a third pump.

paramedic EMC Emergency Medical Committee Approved

An EMS professional who provides basic and advanced life support skills and interventions for patients within the EMS system.

parameter IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Archived

A variable which can be measured quantitatively; sometimes, an arbitrary constant; associated with populations. One of the unknown values that determine a model.

Parent Number

If related to other Treatments or Activities, Parent Treatment or Activity ID is displayed

Displaying 1951 - 2000 of 2948

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