National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG)Glossary of Wildland Fire Terminology |
Contents | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I J K | L | M | N | O | P | Q R | S | T | U V | W X Y Z | Acronyms
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Jump to: Q | R | Reaction | Reel | Rescue | Respirator | Rich
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- Mapping unit which defines an area in terms of longitude and latitude distance. Two common scales are 1:24,000 quadrangles, which are 7.5' longitude x 7.5' latitude, and 1:62,500 quadrangles, which are 15' longitude x 15' latitude.
- A written resume of an expert witness used to show that expert’s sufficient special expertise in the field.
Qualifications and Certification
- This subsystem of NIIMS provides recommended qualification and certification for those personnel responding to an incident regionally or nationally, allowing for the development of local minimum standards to meet local needs. Standards typically include training, experience, and physical fitness.
see also: National Interagency Incident Management System
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Radial
- A magnetic bearing extending from a ground-based navigational system, providing airborne navigation information.
- A thermal trauma that maybe a superficial, partial thickness or full thickness burn.
- The amount of heat flowing through a given area in a given time, usually expressed as calories/square centimeter/second.
- Propagation of energy in free space by virtue of joint, undulatory variations in the electric or magnetic fields in space, (i.e., by electromagnetic waves).
- Transfer of heat in straight lines through a gas or vacuum other than by heating of the intervening space.
- A cache may consist of a number of portable radios, base station, and, in some caches, a radio repeater that is stored in a predetermined location for dispatch to incidents.
- Determination of position by one or more radio navigational aids.
- A device carried aloft by a balloon equipped with measuring instruments that automatically convert temperature, pressure, and humidity data into electrical impulses and transmit this information to a ground recorder.
see also: Sounding (Upper Air Sounding)
- A fire resulting from any operation or activity of a railroad, except smoking.
- Any wildfire on rangeland.
- An administrative subdivision of a national forest (under a district ranger) or other tract of public land.
- Technique of landing specifically trained and certified firefighters from hovering helicopters; involves sliding down ropes with the aid of friction-producing devices.
- The relative activity of a fire in extending its horizontal dimensions. It is expressed as rate of increase of the total perimeter of the fire, as rate of forward spread of the fire front, or as rate of increase in area, depending on the intended use of the information. Usually it is expressed in chains or acres per hour for a specific period in the fire's history.
see also: Forward Rate of Spread
- A factor usually on a scale of 1 to 100 which represents a relative rate of forward spread for a specific fuel condition and fixed weather conditions (or fuel model). Factors can be used as multipliers, arguments for entering tables, or provide a ratio of values between two fuels.
- A device that computes the probable rate of spread of a fire for different combinations of fuel moisture, wind speed, and other selected factors.
- Part of the National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS). The period of time during which a fire danger rating value is considered valid or representative for administrative or other purposes. Normally it is 24 hours extending from midnight to midnight.
- Method of upper-air observation consisting of an evaluation of the wind speed and wind direction, temperature, pressure, and relative humidity aloft by means of a balloon-borne radiosonde tracked by a radar or radio direction- finder.
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Reaction Intensity
- The rate of heat release, per unit area of the flaming fire front, expressed as heat energy/area/time, such as Btu/square foot/minute, or Kcal/square meter/second.
see also: Combustion Rate
- Condition or degree of being completely ready to cope with a potential fire situation.
- Mental readiness to recognize changes in fire danger and act promptly when action is appropriate.
see also: Preparedness
- That portion of a fire spreading directly into the wind or down slope.
- That portion of a fire edge opposite the head.
- Slowest spreading portion of a fire edge. Also called heel of a fire.
Reasonably Available Control Measures (RACM)
- Control measures developed by EPA which apply to residential wood combustion, fugitive dust, and prescribed and silvicultural burning in and around "moderate" PM-10 non-attainment areas. RACM is designed to bring an area back into attainment and uses a smoke management program which relies on weather forecasts for burn/no-burn days.
see also: Best Available Control Measures
- Repeat burning of an area over which a fire has previously passed, but left fuel that later ignites when burning conditions are more favorable.
- An area that has reburned.
Receiving and Distribution Manager (RCDM)
- This ICS position is responsible for receiving and distributing supplies and equipment ordered for the incident and reports to the Supply Unit Leader.
see also: Supply Unit
- Confirmation through the re-issuance of an incident qualification card that an individual has regained qualifications for a specified position that was lost through a lack of current experience. A key component in the certification or re-certification process is the subjective evaluation by the appropriate agency official of an individual's capability to perform in a position.
- To examine a fire area to obtain information about current and probable fire behavior and other related fire suppression information.
- Individuals within ICS organizational units who are responsible for recording information. Recorders may be found in planning, logistics and finance/administration units.
- The increase in fuel moisture as a result of increased relative humidity, usually occurring overnight.
- The general term used to describe the maximum overnight value of atmospheric relative humidity.
- A fire resulting from recreational use, except smoking.
- Training scheduled at established intervals that has been identified as required training in order to maintain position currency.
- Term used by fire weather forecasters to alert forecast users to an ongoing or imminent critical fire weather pattern.
see also: Fire Weather Watch
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Reel
- A frame on which hose is wound, now chiefly used for "booster" or small hose (3/4- or l-inch hose) (19 or 25 mm) supplied by a water tank on the apparatus; also, a hand-drawn 2-wheel frame for 2-1/2 inch (64 mm) hose used in industrial plants.
- Visibility impairment caused by the cumulative air pollutant emissions from numerous sources over a wide geographic area.
see also: Haze
- Efforts undertaken within three years of a wildland fire to repair or improve fire damaged lands unlikely to recover to a management approved conditions or to repair or replace minor facilities damaged by fire.
- Reignition due to latent heat, sparks, or embers or due to presence of smoke or steam.
- An NDVI-derived image of vegetation greenness compared to how green it has been historically.
see also: Greenness Factor
- The ratio of the amount of moisture in the air, to the maximum amount of moisture that air would contain if it were saturated. The ratio of the actual vapor pressure to the saturated vapor pressure.
- Use of two or more fire pumps to move water a distance which would require excessive pressures in order to overcome friction loss if only one pump were employed at the source.
- A tank, usually collapsible, used as a reservoir in the relay of water from one fire pump to another.
- The order that defines when personnel and/or equipment will be ready for release from an incident.
- A pressure-controlled device which bypasses water at a fire pump to prevent excessive pressures when a nozzle is shut down.
- An airfield where air tankers are reloaded but not permanently stationed.
see also: Air Attack Base
Remote Automatic Weather Station (RAWS)
- A GEOS telemetered weather station that transmits hourly observations 24 times per day. These observations are automatically delivered through ASCADS to WIMS.
- A radio signal station that automatically relays a radio transmission, sometimes over a different frequency, thereby increasing the range of transmission. Repeaters are often named for the mountaintops or peaks where they are installed.
- Elapsed time from fire discovery until the first personnel charged with initiating action for fire suppression are notified of its existence and location.
- Any wildfire that requires fire suppression to protect natural resources or values associated with natural resources, or is destructive to natural resources.
- Location or facilities where incoming resources can check-in at the incident. Check-in locations include: incident command post (resources unit), incident base, camps, staging areas, helibases, helispots, and direct to the line. Check-in at one location only.
see also: Check-in
- Documented, satisfactory performance in a specified position needed to qualify for another (usually higher level) position. Required experience cannot be challenged.
- A course or courses that must be completed prior to initiating a position task book. Training which has been identified as required cannot be challenged; an agency equivalent course may be used as a substitute when the course meets or exceeds a requried course's learning and performance objectives.
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- Saving a life from fire or accident; removing a victim from an untenable or unhealthy atmosphere.
- Any staffed ground vehicle capable of providing medical services.
- Any staffed ground vehicle capable of providing emergency medical care and staffed with appropriate number of trained personnel and equipment for that incident.
- In wildland fire suppression terminology resources not assigned to a specific task, but available for assignment.
- The time, in seconds, required for the flaming front of a fire to pass a stationary point at the surface of the fuel. The total length of time that the flaming front of the fire occupies one point.
- The smoldering zone behind the zone of an advancing fire front.
- Smoke produced by smoldering material. The flux of smoke originating well after the active flaming combustion period with little or no vertical buoyancy and, therefore, most susceptible to subsidence inversions and down-valley flows.
- The relative difficulty of constructing and holding a control line as affected by resistance to line construction and by fire behavior. Also called difficulty of control.
Resistance to Line Construction
- The relative difficulty of constructing control line as determined by the fuel, topography, and soil.
- The ability of the wildland fire program to respond to current and anticipated workload needs for the area of concern.
- The form used by dispatchers, service personnel, and logistics coordinators to document the request, ordering or release of resources, and the tracking of those resources on an incident.
Resource Ordering and Status System (ROSS)
- A national system that provides automated support to interagency and agency dispatch and coordination offices. The system will provide current status of resources available to support all-risk activities; enable dispatch offices to exchange and track resource ordering information electronically; enable dispatch offices to rapidly and reliably exchange mission-critical emergency electronic messages.
- Visual aid containing pertinent information regarding fire organization, current operational period resources, previous operational period resources, and next operational period resources being prepared; placed at a convenient location in fire camp for review by fireline overhead personnel on large fires.
- Person responsible to the planning section chief for determining capabilities and limitations of resources at an incident.
- Fire suppression planning tool providing a relative expression (in five classes) of fire effects on all resources (not the value of the resources themselves).
- Personnel, equipment, services and supplies available, or potentially available, for assignment to incidents. Personnel and equipment are described by kind and type, e.g., ground, water, air, etc., and may be used in tactical, support or overhead capacities at an incident.
- The natural resources of an area, such as timber, grass, watershed values, recreation values, and wildlife habitat.
see also: Active Resources ; Allocated Resources ; Assigned Resources ; Available Resources ; Values-At-Risk ; Values To Be Protected
- Functional unit within the planning section responsible for recording the status of resources committed to the incident. The unit also evaluates resources currently committed to the incident, the impact that additional responding resources will have on the incident, and anticipated resource needs.
- The ICS responsible for supervising the Resources Unit. Reports to the Planning Section Chief.
see also: Resources Unit
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Respirator
- A simple filter mask for individual protection against smoke and fumes, recommended for use in fire suppression on wildfires only; not recommended for use on structure fires or fires involving most hazardous materials.
see also: Air Pack ; Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
- Movement of an individual firefighting resource from its assigned standby location to another location or to an incident in reaction to dispatch orders or to a reported alarm.
- Activities that address the short-term, direct effect of an incident, including immediate actions to save lives, protect property, and meet basic human needs. Also includes the execution of emergency operations plans as well as mitigation activities designed to limit the loss of life, personal injury, property damage, and other unfavorable outcomes.
- Agency with primary responsibility for fire suppression on any particular land area.
see also: Fire Agency ; Responsible Fire Agency
- The continuation of rehabilitation beyond the initial three years or the repair or replacement of major facilities damaged by the fire.
- Airspace of defined dimensions identified by an area on the surface of the earth within the flight of an aircraft, which is subject to restrictions (but not wholly prohibited).
- Aircraft that is generally used for cargo, retardant dropping, agricultural operations, survey work and other specific projects, and may not transport passengers.
- Measures taken by jurisdictional agencies to impose bans and standards of use on certain human activities that could lead to the cause of wildland fire. Restrictions may be applied to: smoking in designated areas; open flame; mechanical operations in high-risk areas; and off-road use.
see also: Closure
- A substance or chemical agent which reduces the flammability of combustibles.
- Ground facilities for mixing, storing, and loading fire retardant into air tankers.
- Area of fuel covered and degree of coverage on the fuel by a fire retardant, usually expressed in terms of gallons per hundred square feet (liters per square meter).
- Fire retardant cascaded from an air tanker or helitanker.
- An order to an air tanker pilot to return to the retardant base and await further instructions; mission completed, further loads not required.
- Hose fitting that performs the functions of a siamese or a wye (i.e., to combine the flow from two lines into a single line or to permit two lines to be taken from a single line).
- Flow characteristics of liquid fire retardants, especially their cohesiveness or ability to hold together while falling through the air.
- Science of deformation and flow of fire retardants and other liquids, especially of the cohesiveness bodies and stress-strain relationship of their particles.
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- A long-handled combination rake and cutting tool, the blade of which is constructed of a single row of mowing machine cutter teeth fastened to a piece of angle iron. Also called fire rake or council rake.
see also: Council Tool
- An elongated area of relatively high atmospheric pressure extending from the center of a high-pressure region.
see also: Surface High
- A fire started by igniting the full perimeter of the intended burn area so that the ensuing fire fronts converge toward the center of the burn. Set around the outer perimeter of a resource to establish a protective black-line-buffer.
- The chance of fire starting as determined by the presence and activity of causative agents.
- A chance of suffering harm or loss.
- A causative agent.
- (NFDRS) A number related to the potential of firebrands to which a given area will be exposed during the rating day.
- A number related to the probability of a firebrand igniting a fire.
- A continuous, five-step process that provides a systematic method for identifying and managing the risks associated with any operation.
- Identifiable human activity that historically has been a major cause of wildfires on a protection unit; one of the eight general causes listed on the standard fire report.
- Portion of human-caused fires that have occurred on a protection unit chargeable to a specific risk source; calculated for each day of the week for each risk source.
- Hose coupling in which the lugs used for tightening or loosening are semicircular in shape and designed to pass over obstructions.
- A turbulent altocumulus-type cloud formation found in the lee of some large mountain barriers. The air in the cloud rotates around an axis parallel to the range. Also sometimes refers to part of the cloud base along the leading edge of a cumulonimbus cloud; it is formed by rolling action in the wind shear region between cool downdrafts within the cloud and warm updrafts outside the cloud. Also called rotor cloud.
- Assembly of airfoils (rotor blades), together with a hub and attachments, that rotates about an axis to provide lift and/or thrust on a helicopter.
- Air turbulence occurring under and around the main rotor of an operating helicopter. Also called rotor downwash.
- The main rotor arc in feet and inches (meters). Used for planning helispot clearance.
- An aircraft that depends principally on the lift generated by one or more rotors for its support in flight. Also called rotary wing.
synonym: Helicopter
- The accumulation of living and dead ground and understory vegetation, especially grasses, forest litter, and draped dead needles, sometimes with addition of underbrush such as palmetto, gallberry, and wax myrtle. Most often used for southern pine types.
- Reduction of fire hazard in rough, usually by prescribed burning.
- Index card used by a dispatcher and frequently carried on fire apparatus which lists specific directions for responding to individual rural properties. The card frequently includes a description of the property, water sources available, and any special information pertinent to fire suppression and rescue operations. Also called running card.
- Rapid advance of the head of a fire, characterized by a marked transition in fireline intensity and rate of spread with respect to that noted before and after the advance.
- Behavior of a fire spreading rapidly with a well defined head.
- Any area wherein residences and other developments are scattered and intermingled with forest, range, or farm land and native vegetation or cultivated crops.
- An organization established to provide fire protection to a designated geographic area outside of areas under municipal fire protection. Usually has some taxing authority and officials may be appointed or elected.
- Fire protection and firefighting problems that are outside of areas under municipal fire prevention and building regulations and that are usually remote from public water supplies.
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