NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire, PMS 205

Moisture content of one-hour timelag fuels.

Fuels consisting of dead herbaceous plants and roundwood less than about one-fourth inch (6.4 mm) in diameter. Also included is the uppermost layer of needles or leaves on the forest floor.

The moisture content of the 100-hour timelag fuels.

Dead fuels consisting of roundwood in the size range of 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.6 cm) in diameter and very roughly the layer of litter extending from approximately three-fourths of an inch (1.9 cm) to 4 inches (10 cm) below the surface.

The moisture content of the 1,000-hour timelag fuels.

Dead fuels consisting of roundwood 3-8 inches in diameter and the layer of the forest floor more than about 4 inches below the surface.

Wind blowing from water to land.

Burning of any fuel outdoors without the use of mechanical combustion enhancements.

Refers to open fire front where no line has been constructed.

For helicopters, the equipped weight plus weight of the crew and fuel.

The exercise of authority over initiating, conducting, or terminating any operation. Often associated with aviation operations.

The CURRENT common operational reference to a Resource, the name of the resource and/or call sign. This value will be updated for equipment, crews, modules, and teams based on how the resource is currently being utilized through a filled request.

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.

The state of a resource as it is utilized by an incident. 

The speed and intensity of actions relative to the speed and intensity of the unfolding events in the operational environment.

An area over an incident, whether within an FTA or TFR, where aviation operations are taking place.

Primary facility of the Multi-agency Coordination System (MACS); houses staff and equipment necessary to perform the MACS function.

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.

A circular holding pattern of an aircraft around a fixed location often related to a wildland fire. For example, the circular pattern of an airtanker in the vicinity of a wildland fire, waiting to make a retardant drop.

An employee is on duty, and time spent on standby duty is hours of work if, for work-related reasons, the employee is restricted by official order to a designated post of duty and is assigned to be in a state of readiness to perform work with limitations on the employee’s activities so substantial the employee cannot use the time effectively for his or her own purposes. A finding that an employee’s activities are substantially limited may not be based on the fact that an employee is subject to restrictions necessary to ensure that the employee will be able to perform his or her duties and responsibilities, such as restrictions on alcohol consumption or use of certain medications (5 CFR 551.431(a) (1)).

That fraction of the soil that includes plant and animal residues at various stages of decomposition, cells and tissues of soil organisms, and substances synthesized by the soil population.

Any soil or soil horizon containing at least 30% organic matter (e.g., muck, peat).

The organizational element having responsibility within a functional area in the incident command structure such as operations, planning, logistics or finance.

Pertaining to, or caused by mountains.

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.

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. 

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

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

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.

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

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

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).

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

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. 

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

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.

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

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).

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.

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

A party that provides a contract resource for an incident.

Process during which oxygen combines with another substance.

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

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

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. 

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