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Napalm

1. An incendiary mixture with a jelling agent used in flamethrowers and bombs.

National Advanced Resources Technology Center (NARTC)

1. Multi-agency training facility at Pinal Air Park, Marana, Arizona, which specializes in presentation of national-level fire management training courses.

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

1. A legal limit on the level of atmospheric contamination. The level is established as the concentration limits needed to protect all of the public against adverse effects on public health and welfare, with an adequate safety margin. Primary standards are those related to health effects. Secondary standards are designed to protect the public welfare from effects such as visibility reduction, soiling, material damage and nuisances.

National Association of State Foresters (NASF)

1. An organization consisting of the State Forester from each state and territory which promotes cooperation in forestry matters between the states and territories, the federal government and private forestry groups. It promotes legislation, programs and activities which will advance the practice of forestry and use of forest products.

National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS)

1. A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Agency.

National Fire Codes (NFC)

1. The collected technical fire protection standards prepared by various committees of the National Fire Protection Association and published annually in 15 volumes.

National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS)

1. A uniform fire danger rating system that focuses on the environmental factors that control the moisture content of fuels.

see also: Fire Danger Rating System

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

1. A private, non-profit organization dedicated to reducing fire hazards and improving fire service.

National Fire Protection Association Standards (NFPA)

1. Standards of the National Fire Protection Association are frequently adopted by insurance agencies such as the National Board of Fire Underwriters as a basis for their regulations and used as a guide for municipal, state, or provincial laws, ordinances, and regulations.

National Forest Lands

1. Public lands, generally forest, range, or other wildland, administered by the Forest Service, USDA.

National Forest System

1. Consists of all national forest lands, the national grasslands and land utilization projects administered under title III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, and other interests as defined in Section 9 of the National Forest Management Act of 1976.

National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC)

1. Coordinates allocation of resources to one or more coordination centers or major fires within the nation. Located in Boise, Idaho.

National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)

1. A facility located at Boise, Idaho, jointly operated by several federal agencies, dedicated to coordination, logistical support, and improved weather services in support of fire management operations throughout the United States.

National Interagency Fire Management Integrated Database (NIFMID)

1. The archive of daily weather observations from WIMS.

National Interagency Incident Management System (NIIMS)

1. An NWCG developed program consisting of five subsystems which collectively provide a total systems approach to all-risk incident management. The subsystems are: The Incident Command System, Training, Qualifications and Certification, Supporting Technologies, and Publications Management.

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National Park

1. A federal reservation administered by the National Park Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior in order to conserve unique scenery, flora and fauna, and any natural and historic objects within its boundaries for public enjoyment in perpetuity.

National Pipe Straight Hose Thread (NPSH)

1. Also known as National Pipe Straight Mechanical (NPSM) thread. This is a straight (nontapered) thread standard with the same threads per inch as the appropriate size iron pipe thread. It requires a gasket to seal and is the thread standard used by most U.S. industry.

National Resource Lands (NRL)

1. Public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior.

National Response Plan

1. A plan that integrates federal government domestic prevention, preparednes, response, and recovery plans into one all-discipline, all-hazard plan.

National Standard Thread (NH)

1. Abbreviated (NH) for national hose. Specifically defined screw thread used on fire hose couplings.

National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG)

1. A group formed under the direction of the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to improve the coordination and effectiveness of wildland fire activities and provide a forum to discuss, recommend appropriate action, or resolve issues and problems of substantive nature.

see also: NWCG Standard

National Wildlife Refuge System

1. All lands, waters and interests therein administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service for the protection and conservation of fish and wildlife, including those that are threatened with extinction.

Native Species

1. A species which is a part of the original fauna or flora of the area in question.

Natural Barrier

1. Any area where lack of flammable material obstructs the spread of wildfires.

Natural Fuels

1. Fuels resulting from natural processes and not directly generated or altered by land management practices.

see also: Activity Fuels

Near Miss

1. Any potential accident which, through prevention, education, hazard reduction, or luck, did not occur.

NESDIS ID

1. An 8-character identifier assigned by NESDIS that becomes the RAWS identification number for use with the GOES satellite.

Net Value Change (NVC)

1. The sum of the changes in the value of natural resources affected by a fire. The basis for computing NVC is each resource's fire-induced value change (pluses and minuses) as computed and expressed on a per unit basis.

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Neutral Atmosphere

1. Condition in which temperature decrease with increasing altitude is equal to the dry adiabatic lapse rate (i.e., the atmosphere neither aids nor hinders large-scale vertical motion).

Night (Aviation)

1. The time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight, as published in the American Air Almanac, converted to local time.

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

1. The result of nitric oxide combining with oxygen in the atmosphere. A major component of photochemical smog.

Nitrogen Oxide (NO)

1. Product of combustion from transportation and stationary sources and a major contributor to acid deposition and the formation of ground level ozone in the troposphere.

Nomex ®

1. Trade name for a fire resistant synthetic material used in the manufacturing of flight suits and pants and shirts used by firefighters. Aramid is the generic name.

Non-attainment Area

1. An area identified by an air quality regulatory agency through ambient air monitoring (and designated by the Environmental Protection Agency), that presently exceeds federal ambient air standards.

Noncommercial Forest Land

1. Forest land incapable of yielding crops of commercially useful wood because of adverse site conditions, or productive forest land withdrawn from commercial timber use through statute or administrative regulation.

Nonflammable

1. Material unlikely to burn when exposed to flame under most conditions.

see also: Flammable

Nonprecision Approach Procedure

1. Standard aircraft instrument approach procedure in which no electronic glide slope is provided.

Nonstatistical Fire

1. Any fire not posing a threat to resources or property of the jurisdictional agency, regardless of whether action was taken by the agency.

Normal Fire Season

1. A season when weather, fire danger, and number and distribution of fires are about average.
2. Period of the year that normally comprises the fire season based on historical fire occurrence.

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)

1. A satellite observation-derived value that is sensitive to vegetative growth, measured at 1.1 km (0.6 mile) spatial and 1 week temporal scales.

Notice to Airmen (NOTAM)

1. Notice identified as either a NOTAM or Airmen Advisory containing information concerning the establishment, condition, or change in any component of, or hazard in, the National Airspace System, the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with flight operations.

Nozzle Aspirated Foam System

1. A foam generating device that mixes air at atmospheric pressure with foam solution in a nozzle chamber.

Nozzle Operator

1. A person assigned to operate a fire hose nozzle, usually on a hand line.

NWCG Standard

1. A defined behavior, action, process, or equipment type, agreed upon by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group for wildland fire performance, and is necessary to meet consistent, interagency fire management activities.

see also: National Wildfire Coordinating Group

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