NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire, PMS 205

Any of the processes that lead to upward vertical motion in the atmosphere. These processes may include low level convergence, heating or thermal convection, orographic lifting over the mountains, and frontal lifting.

Fast-drying fuels, generally with a comparatively high surface area-to-volume ratio, which are less than 1/4-inch in diameter and have a timelag of 1 hour or less. These fuels readily ignite and are rapidly consumed by fire when dry.

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.

Wind speed less than 7 mph (6 knots) measured at 20 feet above ground. At eye level, light winds are less than 3 mph (3 knots).

A number, on a scale of 1 to 6, which reflects frequency and character of cloud-to-ground lightning (forecasted or observed). The scale for 1 to 5 is exponential, based on powers of 2 (i.e., LAL 3 indicates twice the lightning of LAL 2). LAL 6 is a special category for dry lightning and is closely equivalent to LAL 3 in strike frequency. 

Wildfire caused directly or indirectly by lightning.

Numerical rating of the potential occurrence of lightning-caused fires.

A number related to the expected number of cloud-to-ground lightning strokes to which a protection unit is expected to be exposed during the rating period. The LR value used in the occurrence index includes an adjustment for lightning activity experienced during the previous day to account for possible holdover fires. 

Factor derived from local thunderstorm and lightning-caused fire records that adjusts predictions of the basic lightning fire occurrence model to local experience, accounting for factors not addressed directly by the model (e.g., susceptibility of local fuels to ignition by lightning, fuel continuity, topography, regional characteristics of thunderstorms). 

Electronic sensor used to record the number of lightning strokes within a predetermined range over a specified period of time.

Ash and other materials found on other remains at a fire scene which have a tendency to settle on top of the other objects.

Removing branches from a felled or standing tree, or from brush.

Halting of fire spread at the head, or that portion of the flanks of a prescribed fire that is threatening to exceed prescription criteria, and ensuring that this spread rate will not be encountered again; does not indicate mopup.

Fire crew member in the progressive method of line construction who cuts and clears away brush, small saplings, vines, and other obstructions in the path of the fireline; usually equipped with ax or brush hook, or pulaski.

The date and time that the fire perimeter was collected in the field.

Managing officer, or designee, of the agency, division thereof, or jurisdiction having statutory responsibility for incident mitigation and management.

A firefighter who determines the location of a fire line.

Fire hose with a smooth inner coating of rubber or plastic to reduce friction loss.

Liquid phosphate fertilizers used as fire retardants, usually diluted three to five times prior to application.

The top layer of forest floor, composed of loose debris of dead sticks, branches, twigs, and recently fallen leaves or needles; little altered in structure by decomposition.

Insignificant change in wind speed, direction, and temperature (less than 5 degrees) and relative humidity (less than five percent), respectively. When used as a general statement in a long-range forecast, all four criteria apply.

Ratio of the amount of water to the amount of dry plant material in living plants.

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.

Ratio of the amount of water to the amount of dry plant material in herbaceous plants (i.e., grasses and forbs).

Hose line filled with water under pressure and ready to use.

Hose line or reel on a fire engine, carried preconnected to the pump, ready for use without making connections to pump or attaching nozzle.

Indicates that the airtanker has the target in sight and will make a retardant drop on this run over the target.

Ratio of the amount of water to the amount of dry plant material in shrubs.

An order given to the airtanker pilot to pick up another load of retardant or water and hold at the reload base. The tanker is still committed to the fire.

Order given to the airtanker pilot to pick up another load of fire retardant or water and return to the fire.

An agency form used to calculate helicopter allowable payload.

Concrete pad at a retardant base on which aircraft stand when being loaded.

Individual responsible to the Deck Coordinator for the manifesting, loading and unloading of personnel, equipment and cargo.

Any agency having jurisdictional responsibility for all or part of an incident.

Day/Month/Year officially accepted by the local manager as meeting all local requirements to receive funds in the planned year.

A number or code that uniquely identifies an incident report for a particular reporting unit and a particular calendar year.

User entered ID for Treatment or Activity

A number or code that uniquely identifies an incident for a particular local fire management organization within a particular calendar year.

Resources within a dispatch center's area of responsibility.

Lands on which neither the state nor the federal government has any legal responsibility for providing fire protection.

Winds which are generated over a comparatively small area by local terrain and weather. They differ from those which would be appropriate to the general pressure pattern.

The date/time for the resource’s last known position.

Unwanted tree parts (crowns, logs, uprooted stumps) remaining after harvest.

The ICS section responsible for providing facilities, services, and supplies in support of an incident and personnel well being. The logistics section may include units and branches.

Fire weather forecast for a period greater than five days in advance.

Large glowing firebrands are carried high into the convection column and then fall out downwind beyond the main fire starting new fires. Such spotting can easily occur 1/4 mile or more from the firebrand's source.