NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire, PMS 205

Any motorized vehicle designed for or capable of cross-country travel on or immediately over land, water, sand, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or other terrain.

Char patterns formed on paint or burned wood remains, usually in the shape of blisters.

Resources dispatched to an incident, that have not yet checked in.

The amount of weight that is available for passengers and/or cargo. On the load calculation form it is the operating weight subtracted from the selected weight.

The barometric pressure reading used to adjust a pressure altimeter for variations in existing atmospheric pressure or to the standard altimeter setting (29.92) inches.

According to the American Meteorological Society, background, environmental, or surrounding air.

A ground transport vehicle configured, equipped and staffed to respond, care for and transport a patient(s) and approved by a state to do.

To move from place to place, walk.

Hypersensitivity (as to foreign proteins or drugs) resulting from sensitization following prior contact with the causative agent.

An advantageous location, usually a barrier to fire spread, from which to start constructing a fireline. The anchor point is used to minimize the chance of being flanked by the fire while the line is being constructed.

According to the American Meteorological Society, the general name for instruments designed to measure total wind speed.

Angle of point symbol displayed in mapping application

Power: Simultaneous contact, or arching, between an animal and electrical equipment, either phase-to-phase or phase-to-ground, resulting in electrocution and short circuits.
Other: An ignition that occurs when a wild or domestic animal makes contact with electrical equipment such as a power line or electric fence.

Annual review by an employing agency of an individual's position qualifications and documentation certifying that the individual is fully qualified to perform duties and responsibilities for a specified position. Annual certification is based on established performance standards and agency specific requirements. 

A procedural guide which describes fire meteorological services provided within the Geographic Area of responsibility, including the National Interagency Fire Center. The guide is based on the National Interagency Agreement and applicable Geographic Area Memorandum of Agreement. 

A plant that lives for one growing season, starting from a seed each year.

According to the American Meteorological Society, an atmospheric anticyclonic circulation, a closed circulation. The wind in an anticyclone is in the clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere.

An agent that reduces or prevents vomiting.

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.

The alphanumeric characters assigned to an apparatus.

The external alphanumeric value painted on the side of the equipment.

In fire service terminology, that which is inspected and listed by recognized fire-testing agencies. The term as used in National Fire Protection Association standards means approval by the authority having jurisdiction, such as the fire chief, insurance inspection department, or other agency that enforces standards or regulations. 

The generic name for a high-strength, flame-resistant, synthetic fabric used in the shirts and jeans of firefighters. Nomex ® , a brand name for aramid fabric, is the term commonly used by firefighters.

Electric arc: continuous, high-density electric current between two searated conductors in a gas or vapour with a relatively low potential difference, or voltage, across the conductors. Conductor clashing occurs when energized wires accidentally come into contact with each other.

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. 

An organization that oversees the management of multiple incidents or oversees the management of a very large or evolving situation with multiple ICS organizations.

A facility which serves as a central point for one or more agencies to use in processing information and resource requests. It may also serve as a dispatch center for one of the agencies.

Ignition of several individual fires throughout an area, either simultaneously or in rapid succession, and so spaced that they add to and influence the main body of the fire to produce a hot, fast-spreading fire condition.

Delineated area surrounding a base which can be reached first by the ground or air attack units assigned to the base.

A source category of air pollution that generally extends over a large area. Prescribed burning, field burning, home heating, and open burning are examples of area sources.

A term used to indicate that the airtanker dropping mechanism is set to allow a programmed release of part or all of the load of fire retardant.

The taking or keeping of a person in custody by legal authority, especially in response to a criminal charge.

At common law, the malicious and willful burning of another's dwelling, outhouse or parcel; by most modern statutes, the intentional and wrongful burning of someone else's, or one's own, property. Frequently requires proof of malicious or wrongful intent.

At common law, the malicious and willful burning of another's dwelling, outhouse, or parcel; by most modern statutes, the intentional or wrongful burin gof someone else's, orone's own property. Frequently requires proof of malicious or wrongful intent.

A fire that is intentional and wrongfully set to burn one's own or someone else's property.

Group of individuals convened to analyze, investigate and solve arson problems in a particular region.

One who commits arson.

A chronic disease characterized by abnormal thickening and hardening of the arterial walls with resulting loss of elasticity.

Cardinal direction toward which a slope faces.

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.

To draw in gases (or other substances); nozzle aspirating systems draw air into the nozzle to mix with the foam solution.

The evaluation and interpretation of measurements, intelligence, and other information to provide a basis for decision-making.

A fire weather fire danger product based on a thorough evaluation of all pertinent sources of meteorological, fire danger and resource information.

Resources checked in and assigned work tasks on an incident.

A task given to a person or team to perform based on operational objectives defined in the IAP.

A title for subordinates of principal Command Staff and EOC director’s staff positions. The title indicates a level of technical capability, qualification, and responsibility subordinate to the primary positions. Assistants may also be assigned to unit leaders.

An agency or organization providing personnel, services, or other resources to the agency with direct responsibility for incident management.

Acceptance of information as true without proof or demonstration.

Training where the students and/or instructors are not interacting with each other in real time. Typically, the students are accessing learning resources at a time of their choosing.