NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire, PMS 205

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. 

Update w/ correct PDF

Update w/ correct PDF

The satellite used for data relay from NFDRS weather stations to ASCADS.

Elapsed time from receipt of notification by the personnel charged with initiating suppression action to the departure of the first attack unit.

A system of navigational satellites operated by the U.S. Department of Defense and available for civilian use. The system can track objects anywhere in the world with an accuracy of approximately 40 feet.

The process of oxidation of solid fuel accompanied by incandesence. All volatiles have already been driven off, oxygen reaches the combustion surfaces, and there is no visible smoke. This phase follows the smoldering combustion phase and continues until the temperature drops below the combustion threshold value, or until only non-combustible ash remains. 

The final phase of combustion following flaming and smoldering phases.

Any wildfire on which suppression action has not reached an extensive mop up stage.

A vehicle owned by, on loan to, leased or rented by the government.

Wind flowing parallel to pressure isobars or contours with low pressure on the left of the observer in the Northern Hemisphere; velocity such that the pressure gradient, Coriolis, and centrifugal force acting in the area are in balance.

Wind created by differing barometric pressures between high- and low-pressure systems. Velocity is generally five to 30 miles per hour, and wind shifts are usually gradual as systems move and shift.

A graphic scale is a line marked off on a map which compare smap distances to the ground distance in “different”units of measurements.

Any fire in which the predominant fuel is grass or grasslike.

In NFDRS, the two grass types (annual, perennial) determine how seasonal drying of live herbaceous fuels is modeled.

Of, or pertaining to, measurement by weight.

Water storage tank for fire protection and sometimes community water service that supplies water by gravity pressure.

Green-up for the 1978 version of NFDRS model is defined as the beginning of a new cycle of plant growth. Green-up usually occurs once a year, except in desert areas where rainy periods can produce a flush of new growth more than once a year. Green-up may be signaled at different dates for different fuel models. Green-up should not be started when the first flush of green occurs in the area. Instead, the vegetation that will be the fire problem (represented by the NFDRS fuel model associated with the weather station) when it matures and cures should be identified. Green-up should start when the majority of this vegetation starts to grow. 

Landscaped and regularly maintained fuel break, usually put to some additional use (e.g., golf course, park, playground).

The heating of the earth's surface by both atmospheric infrared radiation and incoming solar radiation.

In the 1988 version of NFDRS, a code scaled from 0 to 20 representing the greenness of grasses and shrubs from near dead to maximum greenness.

Method of igniting prescribed fires in which ignition points are set individually at predetermined spacing with predetermined timing throughout the area to be burned.

A search technique typically dividing into squares the specific origin area and ignition area of a wildland fire to systematically search for microscale fire pattern indicators and evidence.

To search for a small fire by systematically traveling over an area on parallel courses or gridlines.

The value specified by the manufacturer as the maximum allowable weight placed on an axle of a vehicle when fully equipped, including payload, fluids and occupants.

Actual vehicle weight, including chassis, body, cab, equipment, water, fuel, crew, and all other load.

The value specified by the manufacturer as the maximum allowable weight of a vehicle fully equipped, including payload, fluids and occupants.

Total allowable weight of a loaded aircraft for takeoff or landing, adjusted for altitude differences.

Reaction of a rotor downdraft against the ground surface, forming a "ground cushion" that increases lifting capability of that section of air.

Fire that consumes the organic material beneath the surface litter ground, such as a peat fire.

Fog which extends vertically to less than 20 feet.

All combustible materials below the surface litter, including duff, tree or shrub roots, punky wood, peat, and sawdust, that normally support a glowing combustion without flame.

Speed with which an aircraft traverses the ground over which it flies.

Ground Support Unit staff provide ground transportation in support of incident operations. They maintain and repair vehicles and mobile ground support equipment and perform pre- and postuse inspections on all ground equipment assigned to the incident. The staff supply fuel for incident mobile equipment, and develop and implement the incident Traffic Plan. Additionally, during major incidents, Ground Support Unit staff maintain a transportation pool of vehicles (e.g., cars, buses, pickup trucks) suitable for transporting personnel, as opposed to tactical vehicles such as ambulances. Ground Support Unit staff also provide information to the Resources Unit on the location and status of vehicles assigned to the Ground Support Unit.

Verification at the site of what has been observed and/or measured from aircraft, satellites, other aerial platforms, aerial photographs, or maps.

Horizontal visibility observed at the ground.

An organizational subdivision established to divide the incident management structure into functional areas of operation. Groups are composed of resources assembled to perform a special function not necessarily within a single geographic area.

Prescribed burning or use of wildland fire during the photosynthetically-active growing season, where live fuel moistures are relatively high and the dominant vegetation, grasses, forbs, and herbaceous vegetation are fully greened.

Geographic subdivision of a fire-protected area, delimiting the initial attack bounds of a single fire guard or fire crew.

A dry chemical product which is mixed with water to form a fire retardant slurry.

Rapid fluctuations in wind speed with a variation of 10 knots (11.5 mph) or more between peaks and lulls.

A series of short,nearly parallel lines used in map making to represent a sloping surface. Representing a depression or pit, the contourline is joined forming a circle with the hachures on the inside of the circle.

An atmospheric index used to indicate the potential for wildfire growth by measuring the stability and dryness of the air over a fire.

A number of individuals that have been organized and trained and are supervised principally for operational assignments on an incident.

Fireline constructed with hand tools.

A situation in which a tree is lodged in another, preventing it from falling to the ground.

Noncollapsible suction hose attached to a pump and used to draft water from a source lower than the pump. Customary hose sizes in wildland fire engines are 2 and 2-1/2 inches in diameter (51 and 64 mm).