Canadian Wildland Fire Glossary

CIFFC Training Working Group

Version 2 - February 10, 2021

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Preface

The Canadian Wildland Fire Glossary provides the wildlandfire community a single source for accurate and consistentwildland fire and incident management terminology usedby CIFFC and its’ member agencies.

Consistent use of terminology promotes the efficientsharing of information, facilitates analysis of data fromdisparate sources, improves data integrity, and maximizesthe use of shared resources. The glossary is notintended to be an exhaustive list of all terms usedby Provincial/Territorial and Federal fire managementagencies. Most terms only have one definition. However,in some cases a term may be used in differing contexts byvarious business areas so multiple definitions are warranted.

The glossary takes a significant turn with this 2020 editionas it will now be updated annually to better reflect theevolution of the terms. In addition, it will be produced inthree languages (French, English, Spanish) including theircorrespondence tables.

A user’s guide has been developed to provide guidance onthe development and review of glossary entries. Withinthis guide, users, working groups and committees can findinstructions on the glossary process; tips for viewing theglossary on the CIFFC website; guidance for working groupsand committees assigned ownership of glossary terms,including how to request, develop, and revise a glossaryentry; technical requirements for complete glossary entries;and a list of contacts for support.

More specifically, this version reflects numerous additions,deletions, and edits after careful review from CIFFC agencystaff and CIFFC Working Group members. New featuresinclude an improved font for readability and copyingto word processors. Many Incident Command SystemUnit Leader positions were added, as were numerousmnemonics. Definitions from the Field Guide to theCanadian Fire Behaviour Prediction System (Red Book)3rd Edition have been aligned and simplified whereverpossible.

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Index

Aboriginal In Canada, the term flows from Canada’sConstitution of 1982, which includes NorthAmerican First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoplesof Canada.

Abort To cancel an intended maneuver.

Accuracy - air drop The assessment of an airtanker dropin relation to the target.

Aerial Ignition Device (AID) Any device used for thepurpose of aerial ignition.

Aerial Ignition The ignition of fuels by dropping incendiarydevices or materials from an aircraft.

Aerial Detection Observer A person specifically assignedto the detection of forest fires from an aircraft.

Aerial Detection A system for or the act of discovering,locating, and reporting wildfires from aircraft.May be planned or unplanned.

After Action Review (AAR) A structured review or de-brief process of an event, focused on performancestandards, that enables participants to discoverfor themselves what happened, why it happened,and how to sustain strengths and improve onweaknesses. After action reviews, informal orformal, follow the same general format, involvethe exchange of ideas and observations, and focuson improving performance.

Agency A division of government with a specific functionoffering a particular kind of assistance. Inthe Incident Command System, agencies aredefined either as jurisdictional (having statutoryresponsibility for incident management) or asassisting or cooperating (providing resources orother assistance). Governmental organizations aremost often in charge of an incident, though incertain circumstances private-sector organizationsmay be included. Additionally, nongovernmentalorganizations may be included to provide support.

Agency Representative (AREP) A person assigned bya primary, assisting, or cooperating agency to anincident who has been delegated authority to makedecisions affecting that agency’s participation atthe incident.

Agency Executive or Administrator The officialresponsible for administering policy for anagency or jurisdiction, having full authority foradministering policy for an agency or jurisdiction,having full authority for making decisions,and providing direction to the managementorganization for an incident.

Agency Dispatch The agency or jurisdictional facility fromwhich resources are sent to incidents.

Airtanker A fixed wing aircraft fitted with tanks andequipment for dropping suppressants or retardantson fires. They are divided into two categories,land-based and skimmer.

Airtanker Base An operational base at which airtankersare held in readiness for action on fires.

Air Temperature See Dry-bulb temperature.

Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS) The personprimarily responsible for the coordination of alltactical missions of fixed and/or rotary-wingaircraft operating in incident airspace. Thefunction may be performed in an aerial platformor ground based.

Air Support Group Supervisor (ASGS) The personresponsible for planning and oversight of incidentaircraft support functions (helibase, helispot andFixed Wing Air Bases).

Air Operations Branch Director (AOBD) The personprimarily responsible for managing the resourceswithin the air operations branch, as well aspreparing and implementing the air operationsportion of the Incident Action Plan. Alsoresponsible for providing logistical support tohelicopters operating on the incident.

Air Mass A meteorological term referring to an extensivebody of air within which the conditions oftemperature and moisture in a horizontal planeare essentially uniform.

Air Cargo All items for transport and delivery by aircraft.

Air Attack Officer (AAON) The person responsiblefor directing, coordinating, and supervising a firesuppression operation involving the use of aircraftto deliver retardants or suppressants on a fire.

Air Attack A fire suppression operation involving the useof aircraft to deliver fire fighting suppressants orretardants to a wildfire.

Alert A period when fire fighters, fire control equipment,and aircraft are kept ready for deployment on shortnotice, usually when the fire danger reaches apredetermined degree of severity.

All-hazard / All-risk Describing an incident, natural orhuman caused, that warrants action to protectlife, property, environment, and public health orsafety, and minimize disruption of government,social, and economic activities.

Allocated Resources Resources dispatched to an incident.

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Allowable Burned Area A standard or objective ofprotection effort set for an area of managed forestor other land. The maximum average annual areaburned by wildfire over a given period of years thatcan be tolerated and sustained for a given areawithout disrupting overall forest management andother land use objectives.

Anchor Point An advantageous location, usually a barrierto fire spread, from which to start or finishconstruction of a control line. Used to minimizethe chance of being flanked (or outflanked) by thefire while the line is being constructed See LACES.

Anemometer A general name for instruments designed tomeasure wind speed and direction.

Anticyclone In meteorology, an area where theatmospheric pressure is high relative to thesurrounding area at the same levels and whosecentre has the highest pressure. Synonym - Highpressure.

Area Commander (ACDR) The person responsible tomanage a very large incident that has multipleIMTs assigned. These teams may be establishedany time the incidents are close enough thatoversight direction is required.

Area Command (AC) An organization established tooversee the management of multiple incidentsthat are each being handled by a separateIncident Command System organization, or tooversee the management of a very large orevolving incident that has multiple incidentmanagement teams engaged. An AgencyExecutive/Administrator or other public officialwith jurisdictional responsibility for the incidentusually makes the decision to establish an AreaCommand. An Area Command is activated onlyif necessary, depending on the complexity of theincident and span-of-control considerations.

Armed A description used by the airtanker pilot to declarethat the drop system is set to allow immediaterelease of the load or any part thereof as previouslyrequested by the birddog.

Aspect The direction that a slope is facing.

Aspirate To draw in air by suction. The aspiratingnozzle draws air into the nozzle to mix with foamsolution.

Aspirating Nozzle A foam generating device that mixesair at atmospheric pressure with foam solution ina nozzle chamber.

Assigned Resources Resources checked in and assignedwork tasks on an incident.

Assignments Tasks given to resources to perform withina given operational period that are based onoperational objectives defined in the Incident

Action Plan.

Assistant Title for subordinates of the principalCommand Staff positions. The title indicates alevel of technical capability, qualifications, andresponsibility subordinate to the primary positions.Assistants may also be assigned to Unit Leaders.

Assistant Area Commander, Logistics (ACLC) Theperson responsible for providing facilities, servicesand material at the Area Command level, andfor ensuring effective use of critical resources andsupplies among the incident management teams.

Assisting Agency An agency or organization providingpersonnel, services, or other resources to theagency with direct responsibility for incidentmanagement.

Atmospheric Stability A meteorological term referring tothe resistance of the atmosphere to turbulenceand vertical motion (upward). With referenceto fire management activities the atmosphere isusually described as neutral, stable, or unstablewith respect to the dry adiabatic lapse rate.

Atmospheric Pressure The gravitational force exertedby a column of air extending from the point ofconcern to the outer limits of the atmosphere.Recommended unit is the kilopascal (kPa),although millibar (mb) has been the most commonunit of measurement.

Attack The actual physical fire fighting operation.

Available Resources Resources assigned to an incidentthat are checked in and available for a missionassignment; normally located in a Staging Area.

Available Fuel The quantity of fuel in a particular fuel typethat would actually be consumed under specifiedburning conditions.

Back See Rear of Fire.

Backfire A fire spreading, or set to spread, into or againstthe wind.

Backfiring A form of indirect attack where extensive fire isset along the inner edge of a control line or naturalbarrier, usually some distance from the wildfireand taking advantage of indrafts, to consume fuelsin the path of the fire, and thereby halt or retardthe progress of the fire front.

Backpack Pump A portable water container, equippedwith carrying straps, discharge hose and handpump carried on the back; used for applyingwater in suppression and mop-up operations.These are classified as a)collapsible (usuallyrubber) to reduce space required for storage andtransportation or b) rigid (hard plastic or metalcontainer).

Base, Incident The location at which primary Logisticsfunctions for an incident are coordinated and

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administered. There is only one Base per incident.(Incident name or other designator will be addedto the term Base.) The Incident Command Postmay be co-located with the Incident Base.

Base/Camp Manager (BCMG) The person responsiblefor appropriate sanitation and facility managementservices in the assigned Base or Camp.

Base Leg The leg of the bombing circuit immediatelypreceding and perpendicular to the final leg.

Batch Mixer The container in which batching is done.In retardant mixing operations, it is a tank,usually 4550 litres (1,000 gallons), in whichpowdered retardant and water are mixed togetherby mechanical means to produce the final product.

Batch Mix Manually adding one suppressant ingredient toanother to develop the final product. Batching caninvolve a powder and a liquid or two liquids. Forfoams, it is the process of manually pouring foamconcentrate into water to make a foam solution.Foam is produced when the solution is pumpeddown a hose and out an aspirating nozzle. Forfire retardants it is the process of adding powderto a measured amount of water and mechanicallyagitating it to produce fire retardant.

Bay That portion of a fire edge, usually between fingers,where fire spread is slower. This pattern usuallyresults from the forest fuel or slope being lessconducive to fire spread in the area where the bayis formed.

Beaufort Wind Scale A method for estimating windspeed based on the observation of visual indicatorsof wind effects (e.g. smoke drift, flag andtree movement). Suggested for use when ananemometer is lacking or is not in operatingcondition.

Birddog Aircraft An aircraft carrying the person (AirAttack Officer) directing the fire bombing actionon the fire.

Bladder Portable, collapsible, soft material container,transported externally by helicopter and used totransport water. Often used for providing smallwater supply to field staff in remote locations. Thesealed unit has filling and discharge ports, mostoften in a triangular shape and has built in strapswith rings for hook up for slinging by helicopter.

Blowup A somewhat sudden, and sometimes unexpected,major increase in rate of spread and head fireintensity sufficient to upset overall fire suppressionaction or plans. Blowups can result from small orlarge fire situations.

Bomb Run The path the airtanker flies on the approachup to the target.

Bombs Away Now A voice signal from the birddog on

a Show Me Run to indicate target location. Maybe given as Bombs Away Now, Target Now, StartNow.

Branch The organizational level having functional orgeographical responsibility for major aspects ofincident operations. A Branch is organizationallysituated between the Section Chief and theDivision or Group in the Operations Section,and between Section and Units in the LogisticsSection. Branches are identified by the use ofRoman numerals or by functional name.

Branch Director The person responsible for implementingthe portion of the Incident Action plan applicableto the assigned Branch.

Break - airtanker A command for an aircraft toimmediately turn left or right.

Broadcast Burning Intentional burning of debris on adesignated unit of land, where the fuel has notbeen piled or windrowed, allowing fire to spreadfreely over the entire area.

Bucker An individual who is certified to operate a chainsawon trees already on the ground.

Buildup The hourly increase in cumulus cloud cover overthe course of a day; also can refer to the increasein resources on a given fire.

Buildup Index (BUI) A numerical rating of the totalamount of fuel available for combustion thatcombines the Duff Moisture Code and DroughtCode.

Bull’s-Eye/Bullseye An assessment that the aircraft dropwas placed exactly where requested.

Burn-P3 Short for probability, prediction, and planning,Burn-P3 is a spatial fire simulation model that isused for land-management planning and wildlandfire research. It uses the Canadian Wildland FireSimulation Model to determine the ignition andspread of a very large number of fires in order todetermine fire likelihood.

Burning Prescription A written statement and/or listdefining the objectives to be attained fromprescribed burning, as well as the burningconditions under which fire will be allowed toburn, generally expressed as acceptable rangesof the various parameters, and the limit of thegeographical area to be covered.

Burning Period That part of each 24-hour day when firesare generally the most active. Typically, this isfrom mid -morning to sundown, although it varieswith latitude and the time of year.

Burning Out A fire suppression operation where fire is setalong the inside edge of a control line or naturalbarrier to consume unburned fuel between theline and the fire perimeter, thereby reinforcing the

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existing line and speeding up the control effort.Generally a limited, small-scale routine operationas opposed to backfiring.

Burning Off A fire suppression operation where fire is setto consume islands of unburned fuel inside the fireperimeter usually during mop-up operations.

Burning Conditions The state of the combinedcomponents of the fire environment that influencefire behaviour and fire impacting a given fuel type.Usually specified in terms of such factors as fireweather elements, fire danger indexes, fuel load,and slope.

Burnover An event in which a fire moves through alocation or overtakes personnel or equipmentwhere there is no opportunity to utilize escaperoutes and safety zones, often resulting in personalinjury or equipment damage.

Burn Window A time period within a short-termplanning horizon in which the forecasted fireweather is within the previously determinedrange in order to proceed with a prescribedburn. Typically incorporating aspects of bothatmospheric conditions such as the Initial SpreadIndex, as well as fuel dryness, such as the BuildupIndex.

Burn Severity Organic matter consumption from flamingand smouldering combustion, and the resultingecosystem impacts. Can be assessed in the fieldor using satellite remote sensing techniques.

Bust Several forest fires usually ignited by lightning strikingsimultaneously in the same region..

Byram’s Fireline Intensity see Fire Intensity.

Cache A pre-determined complement of tools, equipment,and/or supplies stored in a designated location,available for incident use.

Called Shot A drop technique whereby the birddog triggersthe airtanker drop by voice command, saying “3,2, 1, now”.

Camp A geographical site within the general incidentarea, (separate from the Incident Base), equippedand staffed to provide sleeping, food, water, andsanitary services to incident personnel.

Campaign Fire A fire of such size, complexityand/or priority that its extinction requires alarge organization, high resource commitment,significant expenditure, and prolonged suppressionactivity.

Canadian Wildland Fire Simulation Model Adeterministic wildland fire growth simulationmodel based on the Canadian Forest Fire DangerRating System. The model computes spatially-explicit fire behaviour and spread outputs givenfuel, topography and weather inputs.

Canadian Interagency Forest Fire CentreRepresentative (CREP) The CIFFCRepresentative (CREP) utilizes a variety of skillsand abilities to provide coordination servicesbetween the CIFFC Duty Officer/OperationsManager and the Receiving Agency Duty Officerand their associated support staff, along withliaising with any Senior Agency Representative(SREP) and Agency Representative (AREPs) fromassisting CIFFC member agencies.

Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC)Founded in 1982, CIFFC has a mandate to provideoperational wildland fire management servicesto member agencies that will, by agreement,gather, analyse, and disseminate fire managementinformation to ensure a cost effective sharingof resources; and actively promote, develop,refine, standardise, and provide services tomember agencies that will improve wildland firemanagement in Canada.

Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System Acomponent of the Forest Fire Danger AssessmentMethodology. The components of the CanadianForest Fire Danger Index Method provide arelative numerical assessment of the potential firedanger in a benchmark fuel type (a mature jackpine stand) and in flat terrain. The results arebased solely on successive observations, measuredwith a suitable weather station at noon each day(12:00 noon solar time or 1:00 p.m. daylighttime), of four (4) weather parameters: airtemperature, relative humidity, wind speed andprecipitation. The method described above isapplied uniformly across Canada.

Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System(CFFDRS) The national system of rating firedanger in Canada. The CFFDRS includes allguides to the evaluation of fire danger and theprediction of fire behaviour such as the CanadianForest Fire Weather Index System and CanadianForest Fire Behaviour Prediction System.

Canadian Forest Fire Behaviour Prediction System(FBP) A subsystem of the Canadian ForestFire Danger Rating System. The FBP Systemprovides quantitative outputs of fire behaviourcharacteristics for certain major Canadian fueltypes and topographic situations.

Cargo Net A special net, approved by the Ministry ofTransport, attached by a lanyard to a helicoptercargo hook and used to haul supplies.

Cargo Dropping The dropping of equipment or suppliesfrom an aircraft in flight, with or without aparachute.

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Centrifugal Pump A pump that expels water bycentrifugal force through the ports of a circularimpeller rotating at high speed. This type of pumpallows the discharge line to be shut off while thepump is running.

Certification A formal process by which a recognizedindividual or body (government or non-government) assesses and recognizes that anindividual has demonstrated competence in aspecific position or role.

Chain of Command A series of command, control,executive, or management positions in hierarchicalorder of authority.

Charcoal Phase of Combustion Charcoal phase or solidphase, is when the output of flammable gases fromthe material is too low for persistent presence offlame and the charred fuel does not burn rapidly(just glows) and later smoulders.

Charged Line A line of fire hose filled with water underpressure.

Check-in Process in which all responders, regardless ofagency affiliation, must report in to receive anassignment in accordance with the proceduresestablished by the Incident Commander.

Chicot A standing dead tree or a dead limb of a tree thatmay endanger a worker.

Chief The ICS title for individuals responsible formanagement of functional sections: Operations,Planning, Logistics, Finance/Administration.

Circuit Altitude The highest altitude in the circuit theairtanker will attain during skimming operations.

Claims Specialist (CLMS) The person who is responsiblefor managing all claims related activities (otherthan injury) for an incident.

Clerk (CLRK) The person responsible for providingadministrative support to any Section as assigned.

Clock Method A means of referencing a target or pointby using the clock direction.

Closed Area An area in which specified activities or entryare temporarily restricted by agency legislation toreduce the risk of human-caused fire. In somejurisdictions a closed area is called a restrictedtravel zone or a restricted fire zone.

Cold Trailing A method of determining whether or nota fire is still burning, involving careful inspectionand feeling with the hand, or by use of a hand-heldinfrared scanner, to detect any heat source.

Combination Nozzle Used for applying water as either asolid stream or a fixed spray pattern.

Combustion A chemical oxidation-type process in whichheat is produced (i.e. a substance is combinedwith oxygen). In the case of forest fires, living anddead fuels are converted to mainly carbon dioxide

and water vapour, and heat energy is releasedvery rapidly. Flaming combustion is characterizedby the movement of a visible flame throughthe fuel bed. On the other hand, smoulderingor glowing combustion is generally associatedwith the residual burning of forest fuels followingflaming combustion.

Command The act of directing, ordering, or controllingby virtue of explicit legal, agency, or delegatedauthority.

Command Staff The Command Staff consists of theInformation Officer, Safety Officer, and LiaisonOfficer. They report directly to the IncidentCommander. They may have (an) Assistant(s),as needed.

Commisarry Manager (CMSY) The person responsiblefor commissary operations and security.

Communications The concept by which all personnelassigned to an incident must have a quick, reliable,and tested way to communicate with others. Thismay be by direct radio contact, or through alookout or other relay point. See LACES.

Communications Unit Leader (COML) The personresponsible for developing plans for theeffective use of incident communicationsequipment and facilities; installing and testingcommunications equipment; supervising theIncident Communications Center; distributingcommunications equipment to incident personnel;and maintaining and repairing communicationsequipment.

Communications Unit An organizational Unit inthe Logistics Section responsible for providingcommunication services to an incident.

Communications Technician (COMT) The personresponsible for installing, maintaining, andtracking communications equipment.

Compacts Formal working agreements among agencies toobtain mutual aid.

Compartmented Tank - airtanker An external or internaltank containing several different compartments,each with its own door. The doors may beopened individually, simultaneously or in sequenceto affect a desired retardant or water pattern onthe ground. Note that once a door opens theentire contents of that compartment are released.

Compensation/Claims Unit Leader (COMP) Theperson responsible for the overall management anddirection of all administrative matters pertainingto compensation for injury and claims-relatedactivities related to an incident.

Compensation Unit/Claims Unit Functional unit withinthe Finance/Administration Section responsible

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for financial concerns resulting from propertydamage, injuries, or fatalities at the incident.

Complex Two or more individual incidents located in thesame general area and assigned to a single IncidentCommander or to Unified Command.

Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) A foam systemwhich combines air under pressure with foamsolution to create foam in the hose.

Conduction Transfer of heat through solid matter.

Conflagration A popular term for a large, fast- movingwildfire exhibiting many or all of the featuresassociated with extreme fire behaviour.

Consequence Outcome of an event affecting objectives.

Continuous Crown Fire A high-intensity crown fire witha crown fraction burned greater than 90 percent.

Control Time The periods from initial attack until the fireis considered Under Control.

Control Line A comprehensive term for all constructed ornatural fire barriers and treated fire perimeter usedto control a fire.

Convection Transfer of heat by the movement of massesof hot air; the natural direction is upwards inthe absence of any appreciable wind speed and/orslope.

Convection Column The definable plume of hot gases,smoke, firebrands, and other combustion by-products produced by, and rising above, a fire.

Cooperating Agency An agency supplying assistanceother than direct operational, support functions,or resources, to the incident management effort.

Coordination Centre A facility that is used for thecoordination of agency or jurisdictional resourcesin support of one or more incidents.

Cost Unit Leader (COST) The person responsiblefor collecting all cost data, performing cost-effectiveness analyses, and providing costestimates and cost-saving recommendations.

Cost Unit Functional unit within the Finance/AdministrationSection responsible for tracking costs, analysingcost data, making cost estimates, andrecommending cost-saving measures.

Cost Sharing Agreements Agreements between agenciesor jurisdictions to share designated costs related toincidents. Cost sharing agreements are normallywritten but may also be oral between authorizedagency or jurisdictional representatives at theincident.

Coupling, quick-connect, external-lug A cast or forgedmetal hose coupling that incorporates a universalcoupling system with two external fitting lugs.

Coverage Level Represents the volume of water orretardant in U.S. gallons over a one hundredsquare foot area. e.g. Coverage level 4 equals

an application rate of 4 U.S. gallons per 100 sq.ft of surface area.

Cover Type The designation of a vegetation complexaccording to its dominant species, age, and/orform.

Creeping A fire spreading slowly over the ground, generallywith a low flame.

Crew Member - Type 3 (CRM3) A wildfire crewmemberis used in the control or suppression of a wildfire,and works as a member of a Type 3 wildfire crew.

Crew Member - Type 2 (CRM2) A wildfire crewmemberis used in the control or suppression of a wildfire,and works as a member of a Type 2 wildfire crew.

Crew Member - Type 1 (CRM1) A wildfire crewmemberis used in the control or suppression of a wildfire,and works as a member of a Type 1 wildfire crew.

Crew Leader - Type 3 (CRL3) A wildfire crew leaderis the primary supervisor in command of usually2-20 Type 3 crew members and responsiblefor their performance, safety and welfare, whilemaintaining span of control.

Crew Leader - Type 2 (CRL2) A wildfire crew leaderis the primary supervisor in command of usually2-20 Type 2 crew members and responsiblefor their performance, safety and welfare, whilemaintaining span of control.

Crew Leader - Type 1 (CRL1) The person who is theprimary supervisor in command of usually 2 to 20Type 1 crew members and responsible for theirperformance, safety, and welfare while maintainingthe span of control.

Crew - Type 3 (CRW3) Generally made up of temporaryfirefighter forces used for mop-up situationsthat have received some type of basic agencyfirefighting training.

Crew - Type 2 (CRW2) Crews intended for utilizationon low to moderate complexity sustained actionoperations and meeting all requirements of theInteragency Exchange Standards.

Crew - Type 1 (CRW1) The primary fire responseforce consisting of 3 to 21 persons and meetingall requirements of the Interagency ExchangeStandards.

Crossover The point at which the relative humidity is lessthan, or equal to, the ambient air temperature.May be used as an indicator of extreme burningconditions.

Crosswind leg The leg of the circuit over an airport orbombing target that precedes the downwind leg.

Crowning A fire ascending into the crowns of trees andspreading from crown to crown.

Crown Scorch Browning of the needles or leaves in thecrown of a tree or shrub caused by the heat rising

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above a surface fire as a result of convection.

Crown Fuels The standing and supported forestcombustibles not in direct contact with the groundthat are generally only consumed in crown fires(e.g. foliage, twigs, branches, cones).

Crown Fraction Burned (CFB) The proportion of treecrowns involved in the fire in a given area.Between 10 and 89 percent is considered anintermittent crown fire, while over 90 percent isa continuous crown fire.

Crown Fire A fire that advances through the crown fuellayer, usually in conjunction with a surface fire.

Crown Base Height The height, above ground, where thelive crown of coniferous trees begins.

Daily Severity Rating (DSR) A numerical measure, basedon the Fire Weather Index (FWI), specificallydesigned for averaging over any desired period oftime (e.g. week, month, year), at either a singlefire weather station or spatially over a number ofstations.

Damage Appraisal A method of determining financial orother losses resulting from a wildfire.

Danger Tree A tree that is hazardous because of locationor lean, physical damage, overhead hazards,deterioration of the limbs, stem or root system,or any combination thereof.

Degree of Curing The proportion of cured and/or deadplant material in a grassland fuel complex.

Delayed Aerial Ignition Device (DAID) An incendiarydevice producing a chemical reaction which, whendropped from a flying aircraft, will ignite after apredetermined elapsed time.

Delegation of Authority A statement provided to theIncident Commander by the Agency Executivedelegating authority and assigning responsibility.The Delegation of Authority can includeobjectives, priorities, expectations, constraints,and other considerations or guidelines as needed.Many agencies require written Delegation ofAuthority to be given to Incident Commandersprior to their assuming command on largerincidents.

Demobilization The orderly, safe, and efficient return ofan incident resource to its original location andstatus.

Demobilization Unit Leader The person responsible forpreparing the Demobilization Plan and schedule,ensuring an orderly, safe, and efficient movementof personnel and equipment from the incident.

Demobilization Unit Functional unit within the PlanningSection responsible for assuring orderly, safe, andefficient demobilization of any incident resourcesto the original location and status.

Density Altitude Altitude as determined by pressurealtitude and existing air temperature. Densityaltitude is used as an index to aircraft performancecharacteristics such as take-off distance and rateof climb.

Depth of Burn (DOB) The reduction in forestfloor thickness due to consumption by fire.Recommended unit is centimetres (cm).

Deputy A fully qualified individual who, in the absence of asuperior, can be delegated the authority to managea functional operation or perform a specific task.In some cases, a Deputy can act as relief for asuperior, and therefore must be fully qualified inthe position. Deputies generally can be assignedto the Incident Commander, General Staff, andBranch Directors.

Detection Pattern A predetermined flight plan fordetection aircraft.

Detection Aircraft An aircraft deployed for the expresspurpose of discovering, locating, and reportingwildfires.

Dew Point Temperature The temperature to which airmust be cooled to reach saturation at a constantatmospheric pressure. The dew point is alwayslower than the wet-bulb temperature which in turnis always lower than the dry-bulb temperature.The only exception to this occurs when the air issaturated (i.e. relative humidity is 100 percent),in which case all three are equal. Recommendedunit is degrees Celsius.

Dewpoint Depression The difference in degreesbetween the air temperature and the dewpoint.Recommended unit is degrees Celsius.

Difficulty of Control The amount of effort requiredto contain and mop up a fire based on itsbehaviour and persistence as determined by thefire environment.

Direct Attack The fire is attached immediately adjacentto the burning fuel; action is taken directly on theactive flame front. Burning fuels are separatedfrom unburned fuels.

Director The ICS title for individuals responsible for thesupervision of a Branch.

Discovery Determination that a fire exists at a specificlocation; in contrast to action related to detection,reporting of the fire is not required.

Discovery Time The period from the start of a fire(estimated or known) until the time the fire wasdiscovered.

Dispatch The ordered movement of a resource orresources to an assigned operational mission or anadministrative move from one location to another.

Dispatcher (DISP) The person responsible for notifying

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resources to assigned incidents.

Divert The action of changing assignment from one targetor fire to another.

Division The partition of an incident into geographicalareas of operation. Divisions are established whenthe number of resources exceeds the manageablespan of control of the Operations Chief. A divisionis located within the ICS organization between theBranch and resources in the Operations Section.

Division Supervisor (DIVS) The person responsible forsupervising equipment and personnel assigned toa division. Reports to a Branch Director orOperations Section Chief.

Documentation Unit Leader (DOCL) The personresponsible for maintaining accurate and completeincident files, providing duplication services toincident personnel, and packing and storingincident files.

Documentation Unit Functional unit within the PlanningSection responsible for collecting, recording,and safeguarding all documents relevant to theincident.

Door Length The distance actually covered by a singledoor of the load on the ground.

Door Interval The time delay between doors for any dropsequence.

Double Door Salvo A technique whereby two doors areopened simultaneously.

Double Door A technique whereby two doors are openedsimultaneously from a compartmentalized tank.

Downwind Leg The leg of the bombing circuitimmediately preceding and perpendicular to thebase leg.

Dozer Boss (DOZB) The person responsible to leada single bulldozer and attached personnel andis responsible for their safety on wildland andprescribed fire incidents.

Drift Smoke Smoke that has drifted from its origin andhas lost any column structure.

Drift - airtanker drop Advice or indication that awind condition exists of sufficient velocity tosignificantly affect aerial drop placements and thata correction factor must be allowed for wind drift.

Drip Torch A hand-held incendiary device that releasesslow-burning flaming fuel at a predetermined rate.

Drop Zone The area immediately surrounding or adjacentto the airtanker intended target.

Drop Sequence The order and method in which the doorsare opened.

Drop Leg A part of the airtanker circuit. The approachand departure from the target.

Drop Height The height of the airtanker at load release,usually given in feet above the tree canopy.

Drought A period of relatively long duration withsubstantially less than normal precipitation,occurring usually over a wide area.

Drought Code (DC) A numerical rating of the averagemoisture content of deep, compact organic layers.This code indicates seasonal drought effects onforest fuels, and the amount of smouldering indeep duff layers and large logs.

Dry-bulb Temperature The temperature registered bya dry-bulb thermometer, and identical to thetemperature of the air in the normal sense.Recommended unit is degrees Celsius.

Dry Lightning Storm A thunderstorm with negligibleprecipitation reaching the ground.

Dry Foam A type of foam with very thin bubble wallsand only small amounts of solution between thebubbles. These types of foams have very slowdrainage rates.

Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate A meteorological termreferring to the rate of decrease of temperaturewith height of a parcel of dry air ascending inthe atmosphere without mixing or heat exchange.A typical value is approximately 1 degree Celsiusper 100 metres of altitude. Conversely, dry airdescending in the atmosphere warms at the samerate.

Duff The layer of partially and fully decomposed organicmaterials lying below the litter and immediatelyabove the mineral soil. It corresponds to thefermentation (F) and humus (H) layers of theforest floor. When moss is present, the top of theduff is just below the green portion of the moss.

Duff Moisture Code (DMC) A numerical rating of theaverage moisture content of loosely compactedorganic layers of moderate depth. This codeindicates the fuel consumption in moderate dufflayers and medium-sized woody material.

Early - drop Advice that the drop is to be or was triggeredshort of a designated point.

Ecosystem impacts Disturbance characteristics such asportion of vegetation killed or damaged, effectson soil organisms, and post-fire regenerationpatterns.

Eductor A proportioning device using vacuum created by aliquid moving through a hose line to draw anotherliquid into the stream.

Effective Wind Speed The sum of the vectors of the 10-m open wind speed and the slope equivalent windspeed.

Elliptical Fire Growth Model A model of a free-burning point source fire with an elliptical shape.Assumptions include uniform and constant fuels,homogeneous topography, constant but non-zero

8

wind, and no suppression.

Emergency Operations Plan The ongoing planmaintained by various jurisdictional levels forresponding to a wide variety of potential hazards.

Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) The physicallocation at which the coordination of informationand resources to support incident management(on-scene operations) activities normally takesplace. An EOC may be a temporary facility ormay be located in a more central or permanentlyestablished facility, perhaps at a higher levelof organization within a jurisdiction. EOCsmay be organized by major functional disciplines(e.g., fire, law enforcement, medical services),by jurisdiction (e.g., federal, provincial, regional,municipal), or by some combination thereof.Sometimes referred to as Emergency CoordinationCentre (ECC).

Emergency Fire Fighter (EFF) Personnel other thanregular employees or seasonally employed crews,hired on a casual basis for presuppression andsuppression related work activities.

Emergency dump Release of an aircraft’s entire load dueto an emergency.

Engine Specialized truck on which is mounted a watertank, pump, hose and supplementary equipment.It is used to bring a self contained water source toa fire with the capability of pumping water througha hose line directly from the tank to a fire.

Engine operator (ENOP) The person responsible for thesafe and efficient use of a wildland fire engine onan incident.

Engine Boss (ENGB) The person that leads a single fireengine and attached personnel and is responsiblefor their safety on wildland and prescribed fireincidents.

Engine - Type 7 An engine equipped with a 10 gallonsper minute pump at 100 psi, capacity 50 to 200gallons and 200 ft of 1.5 inch hose.

Engine - Type 6 An engine equipped with a 30 gallonsper minute pump at 100 psi, capacity 150 to 400gallons and 300 ft of 1.5 inch hose.

Engine - Type 5 An engine equipped with a 50 gallonsper minute pump at 100 psi, capacity 400 to 700gallons and 300 ft of 1.5 inch hose.

Engine - Type 4 An engine equipped with a 50 gallons perminute pump at 100 psi, capacity over 750 gallonsand 300 ft of 1.5 inch hose.

Engine - Type 3 An engine equipped with a 150 gallonsper minute pump at 250 psi, capacity over 500gallons and 500 ft of 1.5 inch hose.

Entrapment A situation where personnel are unexpectedlycaught in a fire behaviour-related position where

planned escape routes or safety zones are absent,inadequate, or compromised. These situationsmay or may not result in injury.

Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) The moisturecontent that a fuel element would attain ifexposed for an infinite period in an environmentof specified constant dry-bulb temperature andrelative humidity. When a fuel element hasreached its EMC, it neither gains nor losesmoisture as long as conditions remain constant.

Equipment Time Recorder (EQTR) The EquipmentTime Recorder is responsible for tracking andposting equipment time on an incident.

Escaped Fire Analysis The process of deciding whataction to take on an escaped fire. This involvesa review and analysis of the threats to publicsafety, values, resource management objectives,probable fire effects, existing fire load, presentand anticipated fire behaviour, availability of firesuppression resources, probability of successfulcontrol, and feasible fire suppression methods.

Escaped Fire A wildfire (or prescribed fire that has burnedbeyond its intended area) that remains not undercontrol following initial attack.

Escape Route A pre-determined route that can be usedby anyone in the event that a fire begins anunexpected run that will jeopardize the safety ofcrews or anyone else on the fire line. The escaperoute will take everyone to another pre-determinedlocation (safety zone).

Excursion An unplanned but acceptable enlargement ofthe area intended to be treated with prescribedfire which does not greatly affect any values andinvolves a minimum of suppression effort.

Expendable equipment Items that cannot be reused,refurbished, or recycled.

Exposure Proportion of amount of a value that interactswith a hazard. Exposure is a function of timeand distance based on the physical process beingconsidered (i.e. ember transport versus radiantheating).

Extend - airtanker Either (1) An instruction to aircraftto tag on and continue the line in the requireddirection; or (2) Instruction to extend a circuit,leg or bomb run beyond a designated point.

Extreme Fire Behaviour A level of fire behaviour thatoften precludes any fire suppression action. Itusually involves one or more of the followingcharacteristics: high rate of spread and head fireintensity, crowning, prolific spotting, presence oflarge fire whirls, and a well-established convectioncolumn. Fires exhibiting such phenomena oftenbehave in an erratic and dangerous manner.

9

Facilities Unit Leader (FACL) The person responsible forlaying out and operating incident facilities (Base,Camp(s), and ICP) and managing Base and Campoperations. Each Base and Camp may be assigneda manager.

Facilities Unit Functional unit within the Support Branchof the Logistics Section that provides fixedfacilities for the incident. These facilities mayinclude the Incident Base, feeding areas, sleepingareas, sanitary facilities, etc.

Faller (FALL) A person who is qualified under workplaceregulations to fall non-danger trees on an incident.

False Smoke Any phenomenon mistaken for smoke.

Field Observer (FOBS) The person responsible forcollecting incident status information frompersonal observations at the incident andproviding this information to the activatedfunction, or other resources.

Final - drop A low level route to the target in which theairtanker intends to make the drop. The final leg isthe last leg of the bombing circuit, perpendicularto the base leg.

Finance/Administration Section Chief (FSC)The person responsible for all financial,administrative, and cost analysis aspects of theincident and for supervising members of theFinance/Administration Section.

Finance/Administration Section The Sectionresponsible for all administrative and financialconsiderations surrounding an incident.

Fine Fuels Fuels that dry quickly, ignite readily, and areconsumed rapidly by fire. Examples include: curedgrass, fallen leaves, needles, and small twigs.

Fine Fuel Moisture Code (FFMC) A numerical ratingof the moisture content of litter and other curedfine fuels. This code indicates the relative ease ofignition and flammability of fine fuel.

Finger Burned areas projecting from the main body of thefire resulting in an irregular fire perimeter. SeeParts of a Fire.

Fire (1) Simultaneous release of heat, light, andflame, generated by the combustion of flammablematerial. (2) In a wider sense, any outbreak offire.

Firebrand An airborne piece of flaming or smoulderingmaterial capable of acting as an ignition source.

Fireguard A strategically planned barrier, either manuallyor mechanically constructed, intended to stop orretard the rate of spread of a fire, and from whichsuppression action is carried out to control a fire.It is the constructed portion of a control line.

Fireline That portion of the fire upon which resources aredeployed and are actively engaged in the incident.

In a general sense, the working area around a fire.

Fire Whirl A spinning, moving column of hot air and gasesrising up from a fire and carrying aloft smoke,debris, flame and firebrands. These range fromless than one metre to several hundred metres indiameter. They may involve the entire fire area oronly hot spots within or outside the fire perimeter.

Fire Weather Index A numerical rating of fire intensitythat combines the Initial Spread Index and BuildupIndex. It is suitable as a general index of firedanger throughout the forested areas of Canada.

Fire Weather Forecast A prediction of the future stateof the atmosphere prepared specifically to meetthe needs of fire management in fire suppressionand prescribed burning operations. Two typesof forecasts are most common: The zone orarea weather forecast is issued on a regular basisduring the fire season for a particular geographicalregion and/or one or more fire weather stations.These regions are delineated on the basis of fireclimate and/or administrative considerations. Aspot weather forecast is issued to fit the time,topography, and weather of a specific campaignfire location or prescribed fire site. These forecastsare issued on request and are more detailed, timely,and specific than zone or area weather forecasts.

Fire Weather Collectively, those weather parametersthat influence fire occurrence and subsequentfire behaviour(e.g. dry-bulb temperature, relativehumidity, wind speed and direction, precipitation,atmospheric stability, winds aloft).

Fire Use See Prescribed burning.

Fire Types - Type 5 A fire undergoing initial attack; shortduration, seldom lasting into the next burningperiod; few resources assigned (generally fewerthan 6 people); little complexity. See Incident -Type 5.

Fire Types - Type 4 Initial attack or first response toan incident; Incident Commander is a hands onleader and performs all functions of Operations,Logistics, Planning, and Finance; few resourcesare used (several individuals or a single striketeam); normally limited to one operational period;does not require a written Incident Action Plan.See Incident - Type 4.

Fire Types - Type 3 Extended initial attack on wild-landfires; Incident Commander walks the line betweena manager and a ”doer”; resources may varyfrom several single resources to several task forcesor strike teams; some Command/General Staffpositions (ie, Division Supervisor, Unit Leader)may be filled; may extend into another operationalperiod (12 hours) and require an IAP. See Incident

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- Type 3.

Fire Types - Type 2 Incident Commander spends all timebeing a manager; most Command and Generalstaff positions are filled; Large number of resourcesutilized; incident extends into multiple operationalperiods; Base Camp(s) established; significantlogistical support is required. See Incident - Type2.

Fire Types - Type 1 All functions are filled, plusleaders, branches etc. Multi-agency and nationalresources; Large number of personnel andequipment are assigned to the incident. It is alarge, complex incident. See Incident - Type 1..

Fire Triangle An instructional aid in which the sides ofan equilateral triangle represent the three factorsnecessary for combustion and flame production(i.e. oxygen, heat, and fuel). When any one ofthese factors is removed, flame production is notpossible or ceases.

Fire Suppression All activities concerned with controllingand extinguishing a fire following its detection.

Fire Storm A large continuous area of intense burningcharacterized by violent fire-induced convectionresulting in gale-force indraft surface winds nearand beyond the fire perimeter, a toweringconvection column, and the occurrence of largefire whirls.

Fire Size Class A classification of fire area, independent offire typing through the Incident Command System.Type A (less than 0.1 ha); Type B (0.11 to 1.0ha); Type C (1.1 to 10 ha); Type D (10.1 to 100ha); Type E (100.1 to 1,000 ha); Type F (1,000.1to 10,000 ha); Type G (10,000.1 to 100,000 ha);Type H (over 100,000 ha).

Fire Situation Map A map used by fire managementpersonnel to locate and plot wildfires, whetherthey are reported, burning, or out.

Fire Simulator A training device that imposes simulatedfire and smoke and depictions of fire suppressionmeasures on a projected landscape scene toinstruct fire management personnel in different firesituations and fire suppression techniques.

Fire Shovel A type of shovel specifically designed for usein constructing a fire line, having a tapered bladewith both edges sharpened. Used for scraping,digging, grubbing, throwing and cutting.

Fire Severity Characteristic of the fire regime. Fire severityrefers to the effects of fire on the quality of theseedbed and on the underground parts of theplants that trigger regeneration after fire. It isrelated to the depth of burning, fire intensity,residence time, etc.

Fire Season The period(s) of the year during which fires

are likely to start, spread, and do damage tovalues-at-risk sufficient to warrant organized firesuppression; a period of the year set out andcommonly referred to in fire prevention legislation.The fire season is usually further divided on thebasis of the seasonal flammability of fuel types(e.g. spring, summer, and fall).

Fire Scouting Reconnaissance of a fire and itssurroundings by any means to obtain fireintelligence information.

Fire Scar An injury or wound on a tree caused oraccentuated by fire.

Fire Run A term normally associated with the rapidadvance of a wildfire characterized by a markedincrease in rate of spread and a correspondingincrease in head fire intensity with respect to thatseen before and following the event.

Fire Retardant A substance that physically or chemicallyreduces the flammability of fuels. There are two(2) types: short term retardant and long termretardant.

Fire Response Type A category indicating the responseto the fire, divided into one of three catagoriesincluding a three letter code: Full response (FUL),Modified Response (MOD), and MonitoredResponse (MON).

Fire Response - Monitored Response (MON) Awildfire that is observed and assessed to determinethe response option required to minimize socialdisruption and/or significant value and resourceimpacts while achieving beneficial ecological,economic or resource management objectives. SeeFire Response type.

Fire Response - Modified Response (MOD) Awildfire that is managed using a combinationof suppression techniques, including direct andindirect attack as well as monitoring to steer,contain or otherwise manage fire activity within apre-determined perimeter such that costs and/ordamage are minimized and/or benefits from thefire are maximized. See Fire Response type.

Fire Response - Full Response (FUL) A wildfirewhich requires immediate, aggressive initial attackand/or sustained suppression action until the fireis declared out. See Fire Response type.

Fire Report An official report of a fire, generally includinginformation on cause, location, action taken,damage, and costs from start of the fire untilcompletion of suppression action. The report isusually accompanied by a map of the burn. Thesereports vary in form and detail from agency toagency.

Fire Regime The kind of fire activity or pattern of fires

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that generally characterize a given area. Someimportant elements of the characteristic patterninclude fire cycle or fire interval, fire season, andthe number, type, and intensity of fires.

Fire Rake A long-handled combination rake and cuttingtool, the blade of which is made up of a singlerow of mowing-machine cutter teeth. Useful fortrenching, scraping, and cutting, particularly inleaves, pine needles, and light duff.

Fire Progression Map A map maintained to show at giventimes the location of the fire perimeter and spotfires, deployment of resources, and fire suppressionactivities (e.g. constructed fireguard).

Fire Prevention Activities directed at reducing fireoccurrence; includes public education, lawenforcement, personal contact, and reduction offire hazards and risks.

Fire Perimeter The entire outer edge boundary of a fire.

Fire Occurrence The number of fires started in a givenarea over a given period of time.

Fire Management Planning The systematic,technological, and administrative managementprocess of determining the organization, facilities,resources, and procedures required to protectpeople, property, and forest areas from fire andto use fire to accomplish forest management andother land use objectives.

Fire Management Plan A statement of policy andprescribed actions with respect to a specific area(may include maps, charts, and statistical data).

Fire Management Decision Support System A genericterm for the various systems used by firemanagement agencies in Canada that employcomputer software designed to facilitate thestorage, compilation, analysis and display of fireintelligence data and other related information onthe fire environment, fire suppression resources,fire occurrences, values-at-risk, etc. in supportof planning and daily operational decision makingwith respect to wildfires and prescribed fires.

Fire Management The activities concerned with theprotection of people, property, and forest areasfrom wildfire, and the use of prescribed burning,for the attainment of forest management andother land use objectives, all conducted in amanner that considers environmental, social, andeconomic criteria.

Fire Load The number and magnitude (i.e. fire sizeclass and head fire intensity) of all fires requiringsuppression action during a given period within aspecified area.

Fire Investigator (FINV) The person responsible fordetermining the origin, cause and development of

a wildland fire.

Fire Interval The average number of years between theoccurrence of fires at a given point.

Fire Intensity The amount of heat or energy released perunit length of fire front. Frontal fire intensityis a major determinant of certain fire effets anddifficulty of control. Numerically, it is equal tothe product of the net heat of combustion, thequantity of fuel consumed in the flaming front,and the linear rate of spread.

Fire Impacts The immediately evident effect of fire onthe ecosystem in terms of physical, biological andecological alterations.

Fire History The study and/or compilation of evidence(e.g. historical documents, fire reports, fire scars,tree growth rings, charcoal deposits) that recordsthe occurrence and effects of past wildfires for anarea.

Fire Hazard A general term to describe the potentialfire behaviour, without regard to the state ofweather-influenced fuel moisture content, and/orresistance to fireguard construction for a given fueltype. This may be expressed in either the absolute(e.g. cured grass is a fire hazard) or comparative(e.g. clear-cut logging slash is a greater fire hazardthan a deciduous cover type) sense. Such anassessment is based on physical fuel characteristics(e.g. fuel arrangement, fuel load, condition ofherbaceous vegetation, presence of ladder fuels).

Fire Front The strip of primarily flaming combustion alongthe fire perimeter; a particularly active fire edge.Fine fuels typically produce a narrow fire front,whereas dry, heavy fuels produce a wider zone orband of flames.

Fire Frequency The average number of fires that occurper unit time at a given point.

Fire Equipment Cache A supply of fire fighting toolsand equipment in planned quantities or standardunits at a strategic point for exclusive use in firesuppression.

Fire Environment Triangle see fire triangle.

Fire Environment The surrounding conditions, influences,and modifying forces of topography, fuel, and fireweather that determine fire behaviour.

Fire Effects Value Appraisal Determination of the netgains or losses resulting directly or indirectly fromforest fires, expressed in monetary or other terms,based on a systematic assessment of fire benefitsand impacts.

Fire Effects Physical, biological and ecological changesto resources and assets caused by fire, whetherimmediate or long-term. May be detrimental,beneficial, or benign.

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Fire Edge See fire perimeter.

Fire Ecology The study of the relationships between fire,the physical environment, and living organisms.

Fire Detection A system for, or the act of, discovering,locating, and reporting wildfires.

Fire Dependent Ecosystems An ecosystem can beconsidered fire dependent if periodic fire isessential for maintaining the character, diversityand vigour of the intrinsic plant and animalcommunities.

Fire Danger Rating The process of systematicallyevaluating and integrating the individualand combined factors influencing fire dangerrepresented in the form of fire danger indexes.

Fire Danger Index A quantitative indicator of one ofmore facets of fire danger, expressed either in arelative sense or as an absolute measure; oftenused as a guide in a variety of fire managementactivities (e.g. to judge day-to-day preparednessand suppression requirements, as a basis forproviding information on fire danger to the generalpublic in fire prevention, as an aid to prescribedburning).

Fire Danger Class A segment of a fire danger indexscale identified by a descriptive term (e.g. Low,Moderate, High, Extreme), and/or a colour code.The classification system may be based on one ormore fire danger indexes (e.g. the Buildup Indexis sometimes used in addition to the Fire WeatherIndex).

Fire Danger A general term used to express an assessmentof both fixed and variable factors of the fireenvironment that determine the ease of ignition,rate of spread, difficulty of control, and fireimpact.

Fire Cycle The number of years required to burn over anarea equal to the entire area of interest.

Fire Climate The composite pattern or integration overtime of the fire weather elements that affect fireoccurrence and fire behaviour in a given area.

Fire Cause - Natural - Natural Other A wildfire of knownnatural cause other than lightning.

Fire Cause - Natural - Lightning A wildfire causeddirectly or indirectly by lightning.

Fire Cause - Human - Undetermined A wildfire ofundetermined cause, including a wildfire that iscurrently under investigation, as well as one wherethe investigation has been completed.

Fire Cause - Human - Resident A wildfire resultingfrom activity performed by people or machines forthe purpose of agriculture, or an accidental firecaused by activity associated with normal living ina forested area.

Fire Cause - Human - Recreation A wildfire causedby people or equipment engaged in a recreationalactivity (e.g. vacationing, fishing, picnicking, non-commercial berry picking, hiking).

Fire Cause - Human - Railroads A wildfire causedby any machine, employee, agent, or contractorperforming work associated with a railwayoperation, or a passenger on a train.

Fire Cause - Human - Other Industry / Government Awildfire caused by industrial operations other thanforest industry or railroads. Includes municipal,provincial, or federal works projects whetheremployees, agents, or contractors.

Fire Cause - Human - Incendiary A wildfire wilfullystarted for the purpose of mischief, grudge, orillegitimate gain.

Fire Cause - Human - Human Other A wildfire of knownhuman cause that cannot be properly classifiedunder any of the other standard human classeslisted.

Fire Cause - Human - Forest Industry A wildfire causedby people or machines engaged in any activityassociated with forest product production.

Fire Cause Categories based on the cause of wildfiresdivided into: Natural (Lightning, Natural Other),Human (Forest Industry, Incendiary, HumanOther, Other Industry/Government, Railroads,Recreation, Resident), and Undetermined.

Fire Cache Manager (FCMG) The person responsiblefor the supervision of the supply of fire equipmentassembled in planned quantities or at a strategiclocation.

Fire Bust Several forest fires usually ignited by lightningstriking simultaneously in the same region.

Fire Benefits Any effect(s) of fire that are favourableor beneficial in terms of the attainment of forestmanagement and other land use objectives.

Fire Behaviour Triangle An instructional aid in which thesides of an equilateral triangle represent the threeinteracting components of the fire environmentthat are responsible for fire behaviour (i.e. fireweather, fuels, and topography).

Fire Behaviour Analyst (FBAN) A specialist positionunder the planning function of a fire incidentmanagement team, responsible for makingpredictions of probable fire behaviour based on ananalysis of the current and forecasted state of thefire environment.

Fire Behaviour The manner in which fuel ignites,flame develops, and fire spreads and exhibitsother related phenomena as determined by theinteraction of fuels, weather, and topography.

Fire Axe A single bit fire line axe with a wooden or

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fiberglass handle. The style of the axe head iscommonly referred to as the ”Dayton” pattern.

Fire Analysis Review of fire management actions takenwith respect to a specific fire, group of fires, or fireseason in order to identify reasons for effective andineffective actions and to recommend or prescribeways and means of doing a more efficient job.

Firing Boss (FIRB) The person leading ground and/oraerial ignition operations and coordinates withholding resources on wildland and prescribed fireincidents.

First Nations A broad term for Canada’s first peoples,including status and non-status, but not includingInuit or Metis peoples of Canada.

Fixed Wing Base Manager (FWBM) The personresponsible for supervision and coordination at afixed-wing base.

Flame-retardant treatment - fabric The process ortreatment whereby flame resistance characteristicsare imparted onto a fabric or other component.

Flame Resistance / flame resistant - fabricThe property of a material whereby flamingcombustion is slowed, terminated or prevented.Note: Flame resistance can be an inherentproperty of the basic fibre material, or can beimparted by a specific treatment or additive.

Flame Length The length of flames measured along theiraxis at the fire front; the distance between theflame height tip and the midpoint of the flamedepth at the ground surface. Flame length is anapproximate indicator of head fire intensity.

Flame Height The average maximum vertical extensionof flames at the fire front; occasional flashes thatrise above the general level of flames are notconsidered.

Flame Depth The width of the zone within whichcontinuous flaming occurs behind the edge of afire front.

Flame Angle The angle formed between the flame at thefire front and the ground surface, expressed indegrees.

Flaming Front The area of a moving fire wherecombustion is primarilyflaming. The flaming frontnormally consists of the fire frontand the flamingzone.

Flaming Combustion The production of flames as partof the combustion process. Luminous oxidationof gases evolved from the rapid decomposition offuel.

Flammability The relative ease with which a substanceignites and sustains combustion.

Flank Fire A fire spreading, or set to spread, at roughlyright angles to the prevailing wind direction.

Flanks Those portions of the fire perimeter that arebetween the head and the back of the fire whichare roughly parallel to the main direction of spread.Right and left flanks are distinguished by lookingfrom rear to head. See Parts of a Fire.

Flareup A sudden, localized increase in head fire intensitywithin or along the fire perimeter requiring atemporary adjustment in suppression action inorder to avoid a possible blowup condition. Unlikea blowup, a flareup is of relatively short durationand does not radically change existing controlplans.

Flash Over The rapid combustion and/or explosion oftrapped, unburned gases; usually occurs in poorlyventilated areas. The flash-over phenomenon isnormally associated with structural or urban fires,however, it can occur in forest fires (although rare)when gases are trapped in topographic pocketsor accumulate over a broad area when there is atemporary lull in air movement.

Flow Tank A type of tank using an onboard computerto open and close a set of two doors to restrictthe release of the tank contents to achieve adesired coverage level on the ground. The tankusually contains just one compartment. ‘Variable’refers to the ability of the doors to fluctuate theiraperture during the drop to account for varyinghead pressures in that tank; ‘Constant flow’refers to that fluctuation producing a consistentcoverage level on the ground.

Foam A product that relies primarily on the water itcontains for firefighting. These products containfoaming agents which create air bubbles whenaerated, and wetting agents which allow the fluidthat drains from the foam bubbles to be easilyabsorbed by fuel, soil and other materials that itcomes in contact with.

Foam Solution A homogeneous mixture of water and foamconcentrate to which air is added to produce foam.Foam solution has no real bubble structure butsome bubble formation may occur due to agitationand impact.

Foam Generation The transformation of a foam solutioninto foam by the addition of air to the solution.

Foam Concentrate The concentrated foaming agent asreceived from the manufacturer, containing asurfactant, corrosion inhibitor, and stabilizers.

Foam Blanket A layer of foam which forms an insulatingand reflective barrier from heat and is used for fuelprotection and property.

Foam - Class B Foam designed for use on flammable liquidfires.

Foam - Class A Foam intended for use on woody

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fuels. Made from hydrocarbon-based surfactantspossessing excellent wetting properties, it is alsobiodegradable.

Foliar Moisture Content The percentage moisturecontent by weight of live conifer needles of treesat least 1-year old.

Follow Up The act of supporting or increasing the effortsof initial attack by increasing suppression resourcesand commitment to control.

Food Unit Leader (FDUL) The person responsible fordetermining feeding requirements at all incidentfacilities and for menu planning, determiningcooking facilities required, food preparation,serving, providing potable water, and generalmaintenance of the food service areas.

Food Unit Functional unit within the Service Branch of theLogistics Section responsible for providing mealsfor incident personnel.

Forest Protection That branch of forestry concerned withthe prevention and control of damage to forestsfrom fire, insects, disease, and other harmfulagents.

Forest Floor The organic surface component of the soil supporting forest vegetation; the combined duff (if present) and litter layers.Forest Fire Management See Fire Management. Forest Fire

Forest Closure An official order by a designated authorityto close a specified forest area. Usually providedfor in fire prevention legislation.

Forwarder Unit (1) A self-contained unit consisting of a

water tank, fire pump, and hose specially designedto be carried on a logging forwarder for use in firesuppression. (2)The term usually applies to thespecial attachments, but it may also refer to theattachments and logging forwarder together.

Free Dropping Open door work from a helicopter which

entails a competent person dropping packaged(securely boxed and bagged) hose outside thehelicopter at a hover in a safe manner as to notcreate any hazard to persons or property below.Packaged fire hose is the only item to be freedropped.

Free Burning A general term to describe the condition

of a fire, or portion of a fire perimeter, that isunaffected by natural or man-made barriers to firegrowth and/or any suppression measures taken.

Front In meteorology, the boundary between two air massesof different density. A cold front represents theleading edge of colder air replacing warmer air;

the reverse of this is a warm front.

Fuel Any organic material that can ignite and burn; it canbe divided into three broad levels: ground, surfaceand aerial.

Fuelbreak An existing barrier or change in fuel type (to onethat is less flammable than that surrounding it), ora wide strip of land on which the native vegetationhas been modified or cleared (fireguard), that actsas a buffer to fire spread so that fires burninginto them can be more readily controlled. Oftenselected or constructed to protect a high value areafrom fire. In the event of fire, may serve as acontrol line from which to carry out suppressiveoperations.

Fuel Type An identifiable association of fuel elementsof distinctive species, form, size, arrangement,and continuity that will exhibit characteristic firebehaviour under defined burning conditions.

Fuel Treatment Handling or disposal of forest fuels toreduce the likelihood of fire, potential damageand resistance to control measures by delimbing,chipping, crushing, piling and burning.

Fuel Moisture Content The amount of water present infuel generally expressed as a percentage of thefuel’s dry weight when thoroughly dried at 100degrees Celsius.

Fuel Management The planned manipulation and/orreduction of living or dead forest fuels forforest management and other land use objectives(e.g. hazard reduction, silvicultural purposes,wildlife habitat improvement) by prescribed fire;mechanical, chemical, or biological means; and/orchanging stand structure and species composition.

Fuel Load The dry weight of combustible materials perunit area. Recommended units are kilogramsper square metre (kg/m2) or tonnes per hectare(t/ha). 1.0 kg/m2 is equivalent to 10 t/ha.

Fuel Description A description of the fuel properties thatare important for assessing potential fire behaviour(e.g. fuel arrangement, fuel load, fuel moisturecontent).

Fuel Complex The type, quantity, condition, arrangementand continuity of fuel available to burn.

Fuel Bulk Density The dry weight of combustiblematerials per unit volume. Numerically, it isequal to fuel load divided by the depth of theparticular fuel layer (e.g. duff, tree crownfoliage). Recommended units are kilograms percubic metre.

Fuel Arrangement A general term referring to thehorizontal and vertical distribution of allcombustible materials within a particular fuel type.

Fuel Appraisal The process of first describing the fuel type

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Variously defined for legal purposes. Types of fires are ground, surface, and crown.

characteristics and secondly interpreting the fueldescription in terms of potential fire behaviouron the basis of past experience, comparativemethods, and mathematical models.

Function Refers to the five major activities in ICS:Command, Operations, Planning, Logistics, andFinance/Administration. The term function isalso used when describing the activity involved,e.g., the planning function.

Gap (retardant / suppressant) A weak or missed area ina retardant or suppressant line.

Gated Wye A three-way hose line accessory permittingtwo lines of hose to be taken from a single supplyline. Valves located in the discharge ports permitcontrol of stream flow or shutting off one or bothdischarge lines.

General Staff A group of incident management personnelorganized according to function and reportingto the Incident Commander. The GeneralStaff normally consists of the Operations SectionChief, Planning Section Chief, Logistics SectionChief, and Finance/Administration Section Chief.An Intelligence/Investigations Chief may beestablished, if required, to meet incidentmanagement needs.

Geographic Information System Specialist (GISS)The person responsible for providing timely andaccurate spatial information to the Situation UnitLeader about the incident to be used by all facetsof the IMT.

Green Up The appropriate time during the first half ofthe fire season in which deciduous trees and/orunderstory vegetation (e.g. grasses, herbs, shrubs)have more or less completed their flushing ofnew growth. This typically takes place in latespring/early summer.

Ground Support Unit Leader (GSUL) The personresponsible for the fuelling, maintaining, andrepairing of vehicles, and the transportation ofpersonnel and supplies.

Ground Support Unit Functional unit within the SupportBranch of the Logistics Section responsible forthe fuelling, maintaining, and repairing of vehicles,and the transportation of personnel and supplies.

Ground Probe A specialized nozzle used to penetratedeep-seated combustible fuels to extinguishground fires.

Ground Fuels All combustible materials below the litterlayer of the forest floor that normally supportssmouldering or glowing combustion associatedwith ground fires (e.g. duff, roots, buried punkywood, peat).

Ground Fire A fire that burns in the ground fuel layer.

Ground Effect Reaction of a helicopter’s rotor downwashagainst the ground surface forming a groundcushion that increases the lifting capability of thatparcel of air.

Group Established to divide the incident managementstructure into functional areas of operation.Groups are composed of resources assembled toperform a special function not necessarily withina single geographic division. Groups are locatedbetween Branches (when activated) and resourcesin the Operations Section.

Group Supervisor The individual responsible forsupervising equipment and personnel assignedto a group. Reports to a Branch Director orOperations Section Chief.

Gutter Trench A ditch dug to the mineral soil on a slopebelow a fire to trap rolling firebrands, such ascones and logs.

Half On Half Off A drop made parallel to a given referencewith half the drop covering the reference and halfoutside.

Hazard Reduction Burning The burning of surface fuels,most often grass, in low intensity fires in order toreduce fuel loading and potential fire intensity.

Hazard Reduction Treatment of living or dead forest fuelsto diminish the likelihood of a fire starting, and tolessen the potential rate of spread and resistanceto control.

Head A fire spreading, or set to spread, with the wind(upslope in the absence of wind).

Head Fire Intensity The rate of heat energy released atthe head of the fire.

Head Fire That portion of the fire perimeter having thegreatest rate of spread and fire intensity which isgenerally on the downwind and/or upslope part ofthe fire.

Head End of Drop The most forward end of the air dropon the ground.

Heat Transfer The process by which heat is imparted fromone body or object to another. In forest fires, heatenergy is transmitted from burning to unburnedfuels by conduction, convection, and radiation.

Heat of Combustion The potential heat energy availablefor release by the combustion process. In frontalfire intensity calculations, the heat of combustionvalue used is subject to several possible reductions,chiefly because of the presence of moisture inthe fuel. A quantity is generally specified fora particular fuel on a per unit weight basis.Recommended unit is kilojoules per kilogram(kJ/kg).

Heavy Helicopter 15-plus passenger, seats up to 25,000lbs. external load (e.g. Bell 214, Sikorsky 61

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and 64, Vertol 107 and 234, Kamov 32). SeeHelicopter Classification.

Heavy Fuels Large diameter woody or deep organicmaterials that are difficult to ignite and burn moreslowly than fine or medium fuels.

Heavy equipment operator (HEOP) The personresponsible for the safe and efficient operation ofa single piece of heavy equipment on an incident.

Heavy Equipment Group Supervisor (HEGS) Theperson responsible for supervising and directingoperations of assigned heavy equipment, includingheavy equipment strike teams/task forces or singleresources.

Heavy Equipment Branch Director (HEBD) Theperson responsible to supervise and manage theoverall operations for all heavy equipment on anincident. This person will prioritize the need andallocation of heavy equipment for the incident.

Held Line A control line that still contains the fire whenit is declared Under Control.

Helibase The main location for parking, fuelling,maintenance, and loading of helicopters operatingin support of an incident. It is usually located ator near the incident base.

Helibase Manager (HEBM) The person responsible forcontrolling helicopter take-offs and landings at ahelibase, managing helibase assigned helicopters,supplies, fire retardant mixing and loading.

Helibucket A specially designed rigid or collapsiblecontainer slung by a helicopter and usedfor picking up and dropping suppressants orretardants on a fire. Size of the bucket load iscompatible with the size of the helicopter.

Helicopter Sounding Determination of the verticaltemperature profile based on observationsof a helicopter’s free-air thermometer andcorresponding altimeter readings.

Helicopter engineer (HENG) The person responsible forthe maintenance of a helicopter.

Helicopter Coordinator (HLCO) The person responsiblefor coordinating tactical or logistical helicoptermission(s) at an incident.

Helicopter (classification) Helicopters are divided intofour catagories: Light: 1 to 4 passenger seats,up to approximately 1,500 lbs. external load (e.g.Robinson R22, Bell 47 and 206B, Hiller 12E/T,Hughes 500, etc.).Intermediate: 5 to 8 seats, up toapproximately 2,500 lbs. external load. (e.g. Bell206L, AS350, Bell 407, Bell 222, etc.). Medium: 5to 8 seats, up to approximately 2,500 lbs. externalload. (e.g. Bell 206L, AS350, Bell 407, Bell 222,etc.).Heavy: 15-plus passenger seats up to 25,000lbs. external load (e.g. Bell 214, Sikorsky 61 and

64, Vertol 107 and 234, Kamov 32).

Helipad The prepared surface or structure at a heliportwhere a helicopter actually lands.

Heliport A permanent landing area for helicopters, wherefuel, service, and supply are generally available.

Helispot Any designated location where a helicopter cansafely take off and land. Some helispots maybe used for loading of supplies, equipment, orpersonnel.

Helispot manager (HESM) The person responsible formanaging all resources assigned to a helispot.

Helitack Initial attack on wildfires involving the useof helicopters and trained crews, deployed as acomplete unit.

Helitack Crew An initial attack crew specially trained inthe tactical and logistical use of helicopters for firesuppression.

Helitank A specially designed tank fitted to ahelicopter and used for transporting and droppingsuppressants or retardants.

Helitanker A helicopter equipped with a helitank or abucket.

Helitorch A specialized aerial drip torch, primarily using agelled fuel, slung and activated from a helicopter.

Helitorch mixmaster (HTMM) The person responsibleto supervise mixing/filling operations andmanages time frames to maintain availability ofhelitorch fuel.

Hold - aircraft Either (1) An instruction to an aircraft notto drop and to await further instruction; or (2) Aninstruction to an aircraft not to enter a specificarea or to remain in a specific area.

Holdover Fire A fire that remains dormant and undetectedfor a considerable amount of time after it starts(particularly lightning-caused fires).

Hook, Cargo Hook attached to the helicopter to allowcarrying of external loads. It is designed to includeboth electrical and mechanical release functions.

Hose-lay The arrangement of connected lengths of firehose and accessories on the ground beginning atthe first pumping unit and ending at the point(s)of water delivery.

Hose Friction Loss Reduction in efficiency of a fire hose(the amount of water pressure lost) due to theresistance between the inside wall of the hose andthe water flowing through the hose. The factorsaffecting friction loss are the velocity of the waterthrough the hose, the roughness of the inner liningof the hose, and the diameter of the hose.

Hose Coupling Wrench A specialized tool for tighteningor loosening external-lug threaded hose couplingsand accessory connections.

Hose Clamp A crimping device for stopping the flow of

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water in a hose.

Hose - Forestry Conveys water under positive andsometimes negative pressure from the firepumping unit to the outlet, normally affixed withstandardized couplings or connectors. Classifiedas percolating or non-percolating hose.

Hot Spotting A method to check the spread and intensityof a fire at those points that exhibit the most rapidspread or that otherwise pose some special threatto the control of the situation. This is in contrastto systematically working all parts of the fire atthe same time, or progressively, in a step-by-stepmanner.

Hot Spot (1) A particularly active part of a fire; (2) A smallarea of smouldering or glowing combustion, whichmay be exhibiting smoke, located on or within thefire perimeter; a term commonly used during themop-up stage of a fire; (3) A satellite detection ofan area of active flaming combustion.

Hover Exit The loading and unloading of personnel andequipment from a helicopter that is under power,where the pilot must manipulate the flight controlsto maintain a stable altitude. This could befree of, or in partial contact with, a groundedsurface. A helicopter in full skid contact with anunstable surface that requires the pilot to makeflight control adjustments is also considered to bein a hover.

Ignition The beginning of flame production or smoulderingcombustion; the starting of a fire.

Ignition Temperature The minimum temperature atwhich ignition can take place and sustainedcombustion can occur.

Ignition Specialist (IGSP) The person responsiblefor directing and supervising all aspects of anignition team in the performance of tacticalignition operational assignments on wildfires andprescribed burns.

Impact Change in a given value. Impact is a function ofvulnerability, intensity, and exposure.

Incident An occurrence or event, natural or manmade,that requires a response to protect life orproperty. Incidents can, for example, includemajor disasters, emergencies, terrorist attacks,terrorist threats, civil unrest, wildland andurban fires, floods, hazardous materials spills,nuclear accidents, aircraft accidents, earthquakes,hurricanes, tornadoes, tropical storms, tsunamis,war-related disasters, public health and medicalemergencies, and other occurrences requiring anemergency response.

Incident Support Organization Includes any off-incidentsupport provided to an incident. Examples

would be Agency Dispatch Centres, Airports,Mobilization Centres, etc.

Incident Objectives Statements of guidance and directionneeded to select the appropriate strategies, andthe tactical direction of resources. Incidentobjectives are based on realistic expectations ofwhat can be accomplished when all allocatedresources have been effectively deployed. Incidentobjectives must be achievable and measurable, yetflexible enough to allow for strategic and tacticalalternatives.

Incident Meteorologist (IMET) The person responsiblefor on-site meteorological support to an incident.

Incident Management Team (IMT) The IncidentCommander and the appropriate Command andGeneral Staff personnel assigned to an incident.

Incident Commander (IC) The individual responsible forall incident activities, including the development ofstrategies and tactics and the ordering and releaseof resources. The IC has overall authority andresponsibility for conducting incident operationsand is responsible for the management of allincident operations at the incident site.

Incident Command System (ICS) A standardized on-scene emergency management system specificallydesigned to provide for the adoption of anintegrated organizational structure that reflectsthe complexity and demands of single ormultiple incidents, without being hindered byjurisdictional boundaries. ICS is the combinationof facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures,and communications operating within a commonorganizational structure, designed to aid in themanagement of resources during incidents. It isused for all kinds of emergencies and is applicableto small as well as large and complex incidents.ICS is used by various jurisdictions and functionalagencies, both public and private, to organizefield-level incident management operations.

Incident Command Post (ICP) The field location atwhich the primary tactical-level on-scene incidentcommand functions are performed. The ICP maybe co-located with the Incident Base or otherincident facilities.

Incident Base The location at which primary Logisticsfunctions for an incident are coordinated andadministered. There is only one Base per incident.(Incident name or other designator will be addedto the term Base.) The Incident Command Postmay be co-located with the Incident Base.

Incident Action Plan (IAP) An oral or written plancontaining general objectives reflecting the overallstrategy for managing an incident. It may include

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the identification of operational resources andassignments. It may also include attachments thatprovide direction and important information formanagement of the incident during one or moreoperational periods.

Incident - Type 5 An incident of little complexity andnormally under control or out within the firstoperational period. Incident Commander is theonly position activated; a verbal Incident ActionPlan is required, no written IAP is needed.

Incident - Type 4 Limited to one operational period inthe out of control stage; Incident Commanderis activated and other operational positionsactivated as required; No written Incident ActionPlan is required, but an operational briefing willbe completed for all incoming resources.

Incident - Type 3 The incident normally extends intomultiple operational periods; the appropriate ICSpositions should be added to match the complexityof the incident; some of the Command/GeneralStaff positions (Division Supervisor, Unit Leader)may be filled; a written IAP may be required foreach operational period.

Incident - Type 2 Incident will extend into multipleoperational periods; this type of incident mayexceed the capabilities of local fire managementresources. Most or all Command and General staffpositions are filled. The Agency Administrator orofficial is responsible for the incident complexityanalysis, agency administrative briefings, andagency delegation of authority; multiple agenciesmay be involved. A written IAP is required foreach operational period.

Incident - Type 1 Most complex type of incident tosafely and effectively manage and operate; allCommand and General Staff and required supportpositions are activated. The incident complexityanalysis, agency administrative briefings, andagency delegation of authority must be completedand monitored and updated as required. Multipleagencies will be involved and there may bea declaration of emergency by the appropriateauthority. A written IAP is required for eachoperational period.

Indigenous The preferred term in Canada to include FirstNations, Inuit, and Metis.

Indirect Attack A method of attack whereby the controlline is strategically located away from the fire’sedge to take advantage of favourable terrain andnatural fuel breaks in advance of the fire perimeter.The forest fuel between the control line and thefire is usually burned out or backfired.

Information Officer (IOF) A member of the Command

Staff responsible for interfacing with internalclients, the public and media, and/or withother agencies with incident related informationrequirements.

Infrared Scanner An optical-electronic system foridentifying thermal infrared radiation in theflaming, smouldering, or glowing combustionphases. The system may be operated from anaircraft, or hand-held on the ground.

Infrared Operator (IROP) The person responsible forinfrared scanning and mapping operations whenassigned.

Infrared Interpreter (IRIN) The person directing infraredmapping operations when assigned.

Inherently flame-resistant - fabric As applied to textiles,having flame resistance that derives from anessential characteristic of the polymer or othermaterial from which the fibre is made.

Initial Spread Index (ISI) A numerical rating related tothe expected rate of fire spread. It combines theeffects of wind and Fine Fuel Moisture Code onthe rate of spread but excludes the influence ofvariable quantities of fuel.

Initial Response Resources initially committed to anincident.

Initial Attack Resources Fire fighting resources fundedand organized specifically for the prime objectiveof implementing initial attack on wildfires.

Initial Attack Crew (IAC) Personnel trained, equipped,and deployed to conduct suppression action to haltthe spread or potential spread of a wildfire withinthe first burning period.

Initial Attack Base Any place where initial attackcapability has been positioned in readiness forprobable fire action. Resources must have airand/or ground transport capability on site.

Initial Attack The action taken to halt the spread orpotential spread of a fire by the first fire fightingforce to arrive at the fire.

Inspection Run A pass over the target by the birddogaircraft or the airtanker to assess the bomb run,target area, and exit from the target.

Intensity In the context of risk, a measure of themagnitude of a fire, such as head fire intensity,smoke density, or rate of spread. A contextualterm dependent upon the values being impacted.

Interagency resource representative (IARR) Arepresentative of the Sending Participants based atthe Receiving Participants’ Coordinating Authorityor a Receiving Participant’s Fire Centre who hasbeen delegated authority to make decisions onmatters affecting all the Sending Participants’resources in the Receiving Participants’ country.

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The IARR reports directly to the SendingParticipants’ Coordinating Authority.

Intermediate Helicopter 5 to 8 seats, up to approximately2,500 lbs. external load. (e.g. Bell 206L, AS350,Bell 407, Bell 222, etc.).

Intermittent Smoke Smoke that becomes visibleoccasionally.

Intermittent Crown Fire A moderate to high-intensitycrown fire with crown fraction burned greater than10 percent and less than 90 percent.

Intervalometer An electronic device mounted in anaircraft which actuates the compartment doors(s)singly, or multiple doors simultaneously or insequence, to produce the desired coverage leveland line length.

Inversion The atmospheric condition in which thetemperature within a vertical layer of air increaseswith altitude, resulting in a very stable atmosphereuntil the inversion lifts or breaks. This is contraryto the usual situation in which temperaturedecreases with height. Temperature inversions atthe earth’s surface are a common occurrence inthe early morning hours during the fire season anddampen fire behaviour.

Island An area(s) of unburned fuels located within the fireperimeter.

Isobar A line of equal or constant atmospheric pressuredisplayed on a synoptic chart.

Isochrone Lines on a map showing fire progression at aconstant time; the forecasted or mapped locationof the fire front over time.

Jettison To release the load at a predetermined locationto meet the landing weight for the airtanker, notused for emergency situations.

Jettison Area A designated zone where an airtanker canjettison a load or portion of a load before landing.

Jump Fire A fire started outside the edge of the mainfire perimeter from a fire, or burning by sparks orfirebrands carried by wind, drafts, fire vortices orgravity.

Jurisdiction A range or sphere of authority. Publicagencies have jurisdiction at an incident relatedto their legal responsibilities and authority.Jurisdictional authority at an incident can bepolitical, geographical, or functional.

Jurisdictional Agency The agency having jurisdiction andresponsibility for a specific geographical area, or amandated function.

Kind of Resource An Incident Command System resourceclassification that refers to similar resources. Allfire engines for example are grouped as the same“Kind” of resource, their capability however isdefined by “Type”.

LACES A safety system used by wildland firefightersto protect themselves from entrapmentin free-burning wildfires and other firelinehazards. Stands for Lookouts, Anchor points,Communications, Escape routes, and Safetyzones.

Ladder Fuels Fuels that provide vertical continuitybetween the surface fuels and crown fuels in aforest stand, thus contributing to the ease oftorching and crowning (e.g. tall shrubs, small-sized trees, bark flakes, tree lichens).

Land based airtanker A fixed wing aircraft that operatesfrom and must return to a designated airtankerbase from which they are loaded with fire retardantor suppressant.

Landscape Fire Management Landscape firemanagement is the integration andimplementation of fire management at multiplescales including the individual homeownerscale, the community scale (wildland urbaninterface), and the landscape beyond the interfacescale. Landscape fire management assists firemanagers and communities in finding cost-effective approaches to preventing unwanted fires,as well as maintaining desirable fire regimes.When fires do occur, landscape fire managementprovides the framework for: (1) evaluatingwhether the effects will be detrimental or benign;(2) weighing relative benefits and risks of differentscenarios; and (3) responding appropriately basedon the objectives.

Lanyard A length of rope or cable used to attach a cargonet or sling to a helicopter cargo hook.

Lap On An instruction to drop, overlapping the previousdrop to the left or right; unless directed otherwisecoverage will be a 1/3 overlap.

Late Advice that the drop is to be or was triggered beyonda designated point.

Leader The ICS title for an individual responsible for aTask Force, Strike Team, or Functional Unit.

Lead In A technique whereby the airtanker follows directlybehind the birddog to the target.

Legitimate Smoke Smoke from any authorized use of fireor other permissible sources, such as permitteddebris burning or industrial operations.

Length To Breadth Ratio For a simple elliptical (oval)shaped fire, the ratio of the fire’s spread distancein the same direction as the wind (length) to theflanking spread distance (breadth).

Level of Protection The amount of effort that a firemanagement organization is willing to expend torespond to forest fires based on the organization’sland and resource management objectives.

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Liaison Officer (LOFR) A member of the Command Staffresponsible for coordinating with representativesfrom cooperating and assisting agencies.

Life-Safety Refers to the joint consideration of both thelife and physical well being of individuals.

Light Helicopter 1 to 4 passenger seats, up toapproximately 1,500 lbs. external load (e.g.Robinson R22, Bell 47 and 206B, Hiller 12E/T,Hughes 500, etc.). See Helicopter Classification.

Lightning Locator System A network of sensors todetect the location and polarity of cloud-to-groundlightning flashes in real-time.

Likelihood Probability of an event occurring.

Line scout (LSCT) The person responsible to determinethe location of a fire line.

Line Locator A person who selects and marks the locationof a control line.

Line Astern Directing two or more airtankers (landbased or skimmer) to drop on a giventarget while occupying the same circuit altitudesimultaneously. The second and each subsequentairtanker follows the line of flight flown by the leadaircraft.

Litres per Hour Concept The litres per hour conceptemploys number of tankers and turnaround timesto gauge efficiency of water application and theproper amount of tankers being utilized for thedesired effect. Identifies the point at which addingtankers to a circuit may not apply more water tothe fire.

Litter The uppermost part of the forest floor consistingof freshly cast or slightly decomposed organicmaterials (i.e. the L layer).

Loaded Patrol An aerial patrol where the aircraft iscarrying an initial attack crew or fire retardantson board while conducting aerial detection flights.

Loading Ramp Ramp used for boarding and disembarkingequipment on board aircraft.

Loading Pad A cement pad at a retardant base on whichaircraft stand when being loaded with slurry.

Loadmaster (LOAD) The person responsible for the safeloading and unloading of personnel and or cargofrom aircraft.

Load Width Width actually covered by a given drop onthe ground.

Load Sheet A document provided to the Pilot-In-Command prior to flight which lists all cargo,quantities and weights, this includes a passengermanifest with names, list of equipment andsupplies and identifies all dangerous goods onboard by their common name, proper Shippingname, UN number, class, quantity and weight asnot to exceed aircraft payload.

Load - drop Term used describing the drop.

Logistics Section Chief (LSC) This individual responsiblefor supervising the Logistics Section. Reports tothe Incident Commander and is a member of theGeneral Staff. This position may have one or moredeputies assigned.

Logistics Section The Section responsible for providingfacilities, services, and material support for theIncident.

Lone Wolf Refers to an airtanker conducting drops notunder the immediate supervision of a birddog.

Longline A cable, 50-ft. in length or greater, that may beequipped with an electrical cable to activate thehook(s).

Long Term Retardant Long term retardants containretardant salts, typically agricultural fertilizers,that alter the way the fire burns, decreases thefire intensity, and slows the advance of the fire,even after the water they originally contained hasevaporated.

Long - drop Assessment that the drop landed beyond adesignated point.

Lookout A competant and trusted person located in anadvantageous position who has the responsibilityof watching for changes in fire behaviour that riskentrapment and relaying them to their supervisor.See LACES.

Lost Line Any part of a control line that fails to stop thespread of a fire.

Low-level Jet Wind A particular type of wind aloftcondition, evident in the vertical wind profile, inwhich there is a zone of increasing wind speednear the earth’s surface, and a zone of decreasingvelocity above a point of maximum wind speed.

Low Expansion Foam Foam having an expansion between1:1 and 20:1.

Management by Objectives A management approachthat involves a five-step process for achievingthe incident goal. The Management byObjectives approach includes the following:establishing overarching incident objectives;developing strategies based on overarchingincident objectives; developing and issuingassignments, plans, procedures, and protocols;establishing specific, measurable tactics or tasksfor various incident-management functionalactivities and directing efforts to attain them, insupport of defined strategies; and documentingresults to measure performance and facilitatecorrective action.

Manager Individual(s) within the Incident CommandSystem organizational unit that are assignedspecific managerial responsibilities (e.g. Staging

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Area Manager or Camp Manager).

Manning Action The daily or short-term adjustments inthe strength and positioning of fire suppressionresources required for the initial attack to meeta predetermined level of preparedness based onthe likelihood of fire occurrence and probable firebehaviour as determined by the forecasted firedanger. This may involve increasing or decreasingthe number and types of suppression crews andequipment.

Marker Load - drop A drop strategically placed as areference point used for subsequent drops.

Masticated Fuels A mechanical process by which treesand shrubs are chipped to create irregularly shapedfuel particles that effectively relocates verticalladder fuels onto the surface.

Max - drop The maximum flow rate available from aconstant variable flow tank. A specified portionof the load when requested at ”max” produces a”salvo” type drop.

Medical Unit Leader (MEDL) The person responsible fordeveloping the Medical Plan, obtaining medicalaid and transportation for injured or ill incidentpersonnel, and preparing reports and records.

Medical Unit Functional unit within the Service Branchof the Logistics Section responsible for thedevelopment of the Medical Emergency Plan, andfor providing emergency medical treatment toincident personnel.

Medium Helicopter 9 to 14 passenger seats, up toapproximately 6,000 lbs. external load. (e.g.Sikorsky S55T and 58T, Bell 204, 205, 212, K-Max, etc.). See Helicopter Classification.

Medium Fuels Fuels too large to be ignited until afterthe leading edge of the fire front passes, but smallenough to be completely consumed.

Medium Expansion Foam Foam having an expansionbetween 21:1 and 200:1.

Mineral Soil That portion of the soil stratum immediatelybelow the litter and duff. Mineral soil containsvery little combustible material except on highlyproductive sites where an upper soil horizon maybe enriched with organic matter.

Minisonde Observation A method of constructing avertical temperature profile determined by airtemperature data being continuously telemeteredto a portable receiver unit at the earth’s surfacefrom a transmitting sensor package that is carriedaloft by a free-lift balloon.

Mitigation The actions taken to reduce the impact ofdisasters in order to protect lives, property, theenvironment, and to reduce economic disruption.

Mixing Height A term commonly used in air pollution

meteorology to determine the maximum heightabove the earth’s surface to which relativelyvigorous mixing due to convection takes place.Above this layer, a stable atmosphere exists whichacts to suppress vertical mixing. The mixingheight is dependent on the vertical temperatureprofile. Recommended unit is metres (m).

Mixmaster (MXMS) The person in charge of fireretardant mixing operations, with responsibility forthe quantity and quality of the slurry, and forthe loading of the aircraft in land-based airtankeroperations.

Mix Ratio The ratio of foam or retardant concentrateto water. Foam is expressed as a percentage.Retardant is expressed as a ratio.

Modern Treaty Comprehensive land claims in areas whereAboriginal land rights have not been dealt withby treaty or through other means. In theseareas, forward-looking agreements are negotiatedbetween the Aboriginal group, Canada, and theprovince or territory. The treaties include certaintyabout ownership, use and management of land andresources, and may include provisions relating toAboriginal self-government.

Mop-up Time The period from the achievement of controluntil enough work has been done to ensure thatthe fire can not rekindle.

Mop-up The act of extinguishing a fire after it has beenbrought under control.

Mulch Masticated woody tree material, primarily stemwood, with additional bark, branch, and foliagecontent.

Multi-jurisdiction Incident An incident requiring actionfrom multiple agencies that each have jurisdictionto manage certain aspects of an incident. In ICS,these incidents shall be managed under UnifiedCommand.

Multi-hook A system of multiple hooks allowing thetransport of separate loads.

Multiple Fire Situation A circumstance of high fireincidence over short periods of time in anyadministrative unit, usually overtaxing the normalinitial attack capability of the unit.

Mutual Aid Agreement Written or oral agreementbetween and among jurisdictions that providesa mechanism to quickly obtain assistance in theform of personnel, equipment, materials, andother services. The primary objective is tofacilitate rapid, short-term deployment of supportprior to, during, and/or after an incident.

Neutral Atmosphere A condition of the atmospherein which the temperature decrease with altitudeequals to the Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate.

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New Target Indication that a new target and/or bomb runhas been selected and that the target descriptionwill follow.

Non-Percolating Forestry Hose Forestry fire hosewithout wetting or soaking characteristics.

Notice To Airmen (NOTAM) Temporary airspacerestrictions for non-incident aircraft in the incidentarea. NOTAM’s are established by TransportCanada to ensure aircraft safety.

Officer The ICS title for the personnel responsible for theCommand Staff positions of Safety, Liaison, orInformation.

One Strike Concept An aerial operation involving rapidinitial action and the delivery of enough resourcesto achieve the initial attack objective in one trip.

Operational Period The time scheduled for executing agiven set of operation actions, as specified in theIncident Action Plan. Operational periods can beof various lengths, although usually they last 12to 24 hours.

Operations Section Chief (OSC) The individualresponsible for supervising the Operations Section,who reports to the Incident Commander and is amember of the General Staff. This position mayhave one or more deputies assigned.

Operations Section The Section responsible forall tactical operations at the incident andimplementation of the Incident Action Plan. Thissection can include Branches, Divisions and/orGroups.

Operations Branch Director (OPBD) The personresponsible for implementing the portion of theIAP applicable to the assigned Branch..

Orbit and Direct A technique whereby the birddog orbitsthe fire and verbally identifies targets or referencesto the airtankers.

Organic Layer The accumulated, partially to fullydecomposed, organic matter at the soil surface.It corresponds to the fermentation (F) and humus(H) layers in forests and/or the peat (O) layer inwetlands.

Out of Service Resources Resources assigned to anincident but unable to respond for mechanical,rest, or personnel reasons.

Overhead A collective term for all positions not includingcrews. Overhead includes supervisory positions aswell as single resources.

Overlap - drop An instruction to cover or partially covera previous drop or reference point.

Overwintering Fire A fire that persists throughout thewinter months to the opening of a fire season.

Para-drop Cargo, attached to a parachute, dropped froman aircraft in flight.

Para-cargo That portion of air cargo to be delivered bypara-drop.

Parallel Pumping A procedure whereby the flow from twofire pumps is combined into one hose line.

Parallel Drop Same bearing but the aircraft position isa specified distance to the right or left of theprevious drop.

Parallel Attack A method whereby a fireguard isconstructed as close to the fire as heat and flamepermit, and burning out the fuel between the fireand the fireguard.

Parts Of A Fire Descriptors of specific areas of a fire thatare named relative to the direction of fire spread,including Fire Perimeter, Fire Edge, Head, Rear(back), Flank(s), Fingers, Bays, Islands, Point ofOrigin and Spot (jump) fire.

Patrol (1) To inspect a section of a control line or portionof the fire perimeter to prevent escape of the fire;(2) To travel a given route to inspect, prevent,detect, and suppress fires.

Patrol Time The period from completion of mop-up untilthe fire is declared out.

Percent Contained The percentage of a fire that has beencontained with the use of mechanical, hose line,or natural barriers with possible values between 0and 100.

Percolating Forestry Hose A self-protecting forestry firehose with wetting or soaking characteristics whichallow the hose material to become saturated withthe water when conveying water to help prevent itfrom burning.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Any piece ofequipment or clothing designed to be used toprotect the health and safety of an individual.

Personnel Time Recorder (PTRC) The personresponsible for overseeing the recording of timefor all personnel assigned to an incident.

Planned Event A planned non-emergency activity (e.g.sporting event, concert, parade, etc.).

Planning Section Chief (PSC) The person responsiblefor supervising the Planning Section. Reports tothe Incident Commander and is a member of theGeneral Staff. This position may have one or moredeputies assigned.

Planning Section The Section responsible for thecollection, evaluation, and dissemination ofinformation related to the incident, and for thepreparation and documentation of Incident ActionPlan. This Section also maintains information onthe current and forecasted situation, and on thestatus of resources assigned to the incident.

Planning Meeting A meeting held as needed before andthroughout the duration of an incident to select

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specific strategies and tactics for incident controloperations and for service and support planning.For larger incidents, the Planning Meeting is amajor element in the development of the IncidentAction Plan.

Plastic Sphere Dispensor Operator (PLDO) The personresponsible to utilize the Plastic Sphere Dispenserfor aerial ignition operations..

Point Of Origin The location(s) within the fire perimeterwhere ignition first occurred.

Portable Tank A portable, collapsible, open-top tank usedas a reservoir to store water. Many tanks areself supporting, they include a foam-type collarwhich raises the walls as it is being filled to containthe contents. Framed tanks have a foldable solidstructure supporting the liner, which is attachedinternally.

Power Pump Kit A kit containing a medium power pump,pump tool box, intake hose with foot valve, anda 22.8 litre (5 imp. gal) or approximate fuelcontainer with fuel line.

Preattack Plan A plan detailing predetermined firesuppression strategy and tactics to be deployedfollowing fire occurrence in a given landmanagement unit. A preattack plan containsdata on fuel types and topographic conditionsincluding fuel breaks, access routes and traveltimes, water supply sources, lakes suitable forskimmer aircraft, and existing heliports. It alsoincludes information on existing and/or proposedlocations for control lines (including the types andnumber of fire suppression resources that may berequired, probable rates of fire guard construction,and possible constraints), base and line camps,helispots, and the priorities for constructionand/or improvement of presuppression facilities.

Precipitation Any or all of the forms of water, whetherliquid (i.e. rain or drizzle) or solid (e.g. snow orhail), that fall from the atmosphere and reach theground. The more common term rainfall also isused in this total sense to include not only theamount of rain, but also the water equivalent offrozen precipitation. Precipitation is the preferredgeneral term.

Preheating Phase Unburned fuel is raised to its ignitiontemperature and gaseous vapours begin to evolve.

Preparedness Actions that involve a combination ofplanning, resources, training, exercising, andorganizing to build, sustain, and improveoperational capabilities. Preparedness is theprocess of identifying the personnel, training,and equipment needed for a wide range ofpotential incidents, and developing jurisdiction-

specific plans for delivering capabilities whenneeded for an incident.

Prescribed Fire Fires deliberately utilized in apredetermined area in accordance with a specifiedand approved burning prescription to achieve setobjectives.

Prescribed Burning The deliberate, planned andknowledgeable application of fire by authorizedpersonnel and in accordance with policy andguidelines to a specific land area to accomplishpre-determined forest management or other landuse objectives. See Fire Use.

Prescribe Fire specialist (PBSP) The person responsiblefor creating burn plans for prescribed fire, toensure the best ecological results in the safestprocedure.

Presuppression Those fire management activities inadvance of fire occurrence concerned with theorganization, training, and management of a firefighting force and the procurement, maintenance,and inspection of improvements, equipment, andsupplies to ensure effective fire suppression.

Prevention Actions taken to avoid the occurrence ofnegative consequences associated with a giventhreat; prevention activities may be included asa part of mitigation.

Procurement Unit Leader (PROC) The personresponsible for administering all financial matterspertaining to vendor contracts, leases, and fiscalagreements.

Procurement Unit Functional unit within theFinance/Administration Section responsible forfinancial matters involving vendor contracts.

Professional Passenger A person who takes an active rolein ensuring that a flight is conducted as safely aspossible.

Project Fire Large area forest fire with high resistance tosuppression, requiring an elaborate strategy andlarge numbers of personnel..

Proportioner A device that adds a predetermined amountof liquid foam or retardant concentrate to waterto form a solution.

Pulaski A combination chopping and trenching tool, whichcombines a single-bitted axe blade with a narrowadze-like trenching blade fitted to a straighthandle. Useful for grubbing or trenching in duffand matted roots.

Qualification A specified pre-arranged series ofrequirements (knowledge, abilities, skills, andexperience) that shall be acquired to be eligible toperform a specific position or role.

Radiation Transmission of heat in the form of radiantenergy, i.e. radially, in a straight line and in all

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directions.

Radio Operator (RADO) The person responsible forpassing accurate and timely information viaincident radio communications. May alsobe required to document all communicationsand ensure regular check-ins by resources arecompleted.

Radio Cache A supply of radios stored in a pre-determinedlocation for assignment to incidents.

Rain Precipitation in the form of liquid water drops.Recommended unit for measurement is millimetres(mm).

Rain Gauge The general name for instruments designed tomeasure the amount of rain that has fallen. Bothrecording and non-recording types are commonlyused at fire weather stations.

Rappel Crew An initial attack crew trained to descendfrom a specially equipped, hovering helicopter ona rope fitted with a mechanical device to controlthe rate of descent.

Rate of Spread (ROS) The speed at which a fire extendsits horizontal dimensions, expressed in terms ofdistance per unit of time. Generally thought of interms of a fire’s forward movement or head firerate of spread, but also applicable to back fire andflank fire rates of spread..

Rate of Perimeter Growth The speed at which a fireincreases its perimeter, expressed in terms ofdistance per unit of time. Recommended unitsare metres per minute (m/min) and kilometres perhour (km/h).

Rate of Area Growth The speed at which a fire increasesits size, expressed in terms of area per unit of time.Recommended unit is hectares per hour (ha/h).

Rawinsonde Observation A method of determining windspeed and direction, air temperature, relativehumidity, and atmospheric pressure at variouslevels in the atmosphere in the vicinity of anobservation station by tracking a transmitting,balloon-borne sensor package with a radiodirection- finder or by radar. A rawinsondeobservation is commonly used in determiningatmospheric stability and for constructing verticaltemperature and wind profiles.

Re-Certification An ongoing or periodic assessment ofan individual’s ability to demonstrate competencyand remain current in a specific position or role.

Rear The portion of the fire perimeter that is opposite tothe head. The rear is usually the slowest spreadingpart of the fire. See Parts of a Fire.

Reburn Subsequent burning of an area previously burned.

Receiving/Distribution Manager (RCDM) The personresponsible for receiving and distributing all

supplies and equipment (other than primaryresources), and the service and repair of tools andequipment.

Recorders Individuals within ICS organizational unitswho are responsible for recording information.Recorders may be found in Planning, Logistics,or Finance/Administration Units.

Relative Humidity Recovery The increase in relativehumidity during the overnight period to near-saturation (100 percent) levels. The recovery ofrelative humidity indicates an increase in fine fuelmoisture content and decreased fire intensity.

Relative Humidity (RH) The ratio, expressed as apercentage, of the amount of water vapour ormoisture in the air to the maximum amount ofmoisture that the air would hold at the same dry-bulb temperature and atmospheric pressure. RHcan vary from 0 to 100 percent.

Relay Tank A tank, usually collapsible, used as a reservoirin the relay of water from one fire pump toanother.

Reload An instruction to the airtanker to proceed to adesignated airtanker base for more retardant andreturn to the same incident for another drop. Theterm when given to a skimmer airtanker refersto refilling with more water at the predeterminedwater source.

Remote or Extended Hook Designed to attach to theend of a line which can be remotely operated bythe helicopter pilot.

Remote Automatic Weather Station (RAWS) Aweather station at which the services of anobserver are not required. A RAWS unitmeasures selected weather elements automaticallyand is equipped with telemetry apparatus fortransmitting the electronically recorded data viaradio, satellite, or by a land-line communicationsystem at predetermined times or on a user requestbasis.

Report Time The period from discovery of a fire untilthe first person charged with initiating suppressionaction is notified of its existence and location.

Reserve A tract of land, the legal title to which is held bythe Crown, set apart for the use and benefit of aFirst Nations band.

Residence Time The length of time required for theflaming zone or fire front of a spreading forest fireto pass a given point, most commonly expressedin minutes (min) and/or seconds (s). Numerically,it is equal to the flame depth divided by the rateof spread.

Resistance to Fireguard Construction The relativedifficulty of constructing fireguards as determined

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by fuel type characteristics (e.g. forest floordepth), effects of topography on access (e.g. slopesteepness), and mineral soil type.

Resistance to Control The relative ease of establishingand holding a fireguard and/or securing a controlline as determined by the difficulty of control andresistance to fireguard construction.

Resource Clerk (RESC) The person responsible forsupport to the Resource Unit.

Resources Personnel and major items of equipment,supplies, and facilities available or potentiallyavailable for assignment to incident operations andfor which status is maintained. Resources aredescribed by Kind and Type and may be used inoperational support or supervisory capacities at anincident or at an emergency operations center.

Resources Unit Leader (RESL) The person responsiblefor establishing all incident check-in activities;preparing and processing resource statusinformation; preparing and maintaining displays,charts, and lists that reflect the current status andlocation of suppression resources, transportation,and support vehicles; and maintaining a mastercheck-in list of resources assigned to the incident.

Resources Unit Functional unit within the PlanningSection responsible for recording the status ofresources committed to the incident. ThisUnit also evaluates resources currently committedto the incident, the impact that additionalresponding resources will have on the incident, andanticipated resource needs.

Resources - Seasonal The base level, or seasonalcomplement level for each specified resource Kindand Type. The numbers reported reflect theplanned inventory levels.

Resources - Exportable The number of resources theagency controls that meet all the InteragencyExchange Standards for the resource Kind andType.

Resources - Available The number of exchangableresources currently available. This is expectedto change throughout the season due to internalresource demand.

Restricted Fire Zone A specific area where outdoor firesare not permitted.

Retardant Base The ground facilities for mixing, storing,and loading fire retardant into aircraft.

Rising Ground - Terrain Indicates that the ground aheador beside the target is higher than the targetelevation itself.

Risk Broadly, the effect of uncertainty on objectives. Riskis often expressed in terms of a combination ofthe consequences of an event and the associated

likelihood of occurrence.

Risk Management Framework Set of componentsthat provide the foundations and organizationalarrangements for designing, implementing,monitoring, reviewing and continually improvingrisk management throughout the organization.

Roll Up - drop A load placed in front of a visible referencepoint, such as another retardant load, a structure,a water body, etc. The intent is to have the loadend as it reaches the given reference point.

Rotor Downwash The air turbulence occurring under andaround the main rotor system(s) of an operatingrotary-wing aircraft.

Run - drop The flight path of the airtanker to the target.

Safety Zone A location clear of fuels and of sufficient sizeto allow for safe shelter during the passage of thefire front.

Safety Officer (SOF) A member of the commandstaff who is responsible for monitoring responseoperations and advising the Incident Commanderon all matters related to the safety of operations,including the health and safety of personnel.

Safety Margin The cushion of time in excess of the timeneeded by firefighters to get to a safety zone beforethe fire gets to them.

Safety Attitude A person’s tendency to respond positivelytoward a safety goal, idea, plan, procedure,prevention, or situation.

Salvo - drop A technique whereby a specified numberof doors in a compartmented tank are openedsimultaneously.

Section The organizational level having responsibilityfor a major functional area of incidentmanagement (e.g. Operations, Planning,Logistics, Finance/Administration, andIntelligence/Investigations (if established). TheSection is organizationally situated between theBranch and the Incident Command.

Sector On large incidents, a division can be furthergeographically subdivided into sectors. Sectorscan be managed by a Task Force Leader or StrikeTeam Leader depending on the resources assigned.

Sector Leader (SCLD) The person responsible fordirecting a combination of personnel, crews, orother types of equipment in performing tacticalmissions on a sector (specific piece of fire line).

Senior Agency Representative (SREP) A representativeof the Sending Participant based at a ReceivingParticipant’s Fire Centre, who has been delegatedauthority to make decisions on matters affectingthe Sending Participant’s resources at an incidentor within that jurisdiction. The SREP reportsto the Interagency Resource Representative

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(IARR) or the Sending Participants’ CoordinatingAuthority and is the link between the field AREPSand the IARR.

Service Branch Director (SVBD) The person responsiblefor managing all service activities at the incident.The Service Branch Director supervises theoperations of the Communications, Medical, andFood Unit Leaders.

Service Branch A Branch within the Logistics Sectionresponsible for service activities at the incident.Includes the Communications, Medical, and FoodUnits.

Short - drop Assessment that the drop landed before adesignated point.

Show Me Run A simulated bombing run made on a targetby the birddog to indicate target and run to theairtanker.

Side Stepping When bomb runs cannot be made byrunning down a slope, using short drops droppedat 90 degrees to the slope can build a line.

Single-layer Garment Protective garment constructedfrom a single fabric (not including facing orinterfacing). A single layer garment is onethat cannot be easily separated into its majorconstituent components. Note: Fabric materialfor a single layer garment is received in a finishedstate from the fabric supplier or finisher. Garmentsmade from bonded fabrics, laminated fabrics,coated fabrics, double cloth, and quilted fabrics,for example, are considered single layer garments.

Single Resource An individual, a piece of equipmentand its personnel complement, or a crew/team ofindividuals with an identified work supervisor thatcan be used on an incident.

Single Door - drop A technique in which only one doorin a compartmented tank is opened.

Siren Yelp Siren from the Birddog aircraft signalling to theground personnel of an intended and/or imminentdrop from an airtanker.

Siren Wail Siren from the Birddog aircraft signalling tothe ground personnel that airtanker operations inthe area have been completed.

Situational Awareness The perception of envirinmentalconditions with respect to time or space,the comprehension of their meaning, and theprojection of changing conditions over time orspace. Situational awareness comprises the firsttwo phases of the observe-orient-decide-act cycle.

Situation Unit Leader (SITL) The person responsiblefor collecting and organizing incident statusand information and evaluating, analyzing, anddisplaying that information.

Situation Unit Functional unit within the Planning Section

responsible for the collection, organization, andanalysis of incident status information, and foranalysis of the situation as it progresses.

Situation Report (SITREP) Document that oftencontains confirmed or verified informationregarding the specific details relating to anincident.

Skidder Unit (1) A self-contained unit consisting of watertank, fire pump, and hose, specially designed tobe carried on a logging skidder for use in firesuppression. (2) A basket to hold fire fightingtools and equipment specially designed to becarried on a logging skidder. (3) The term usuallyapplies to the special attachments, but it mayalso refer to the attachments and logging skiddertogether.

Skimmer airtanker A fixed wing aircraft which is capableof self-loading by skimming across the surface ofa water body.

Slash Debris left as a result of forest and other vegetationbeing altered by forestry practices and other landuse activities (e.g. timber harvesting, thinning andpruning, road construction, seismic line clearing).Slash includes material such as logs, splinters orchips, tree branches and tops, uprooted stumps,and broken or uprooted trees and shrubs.

Slashburning The broadcast burning of slash resultingspecifically from timber harvesting operations.

Slash Disposal The treatment of slash for hazardreduction, silvicultural, or other purposes.

Sling A looped line of strap or rope attachable to a lanyardto lift, lower, or carry cargo beneath a helicopter.

Slip-on Tank A self-contained unit consisting of a watertank, fire pump, and hose, designed for quickloading on conventional trucks.

Slope The upward or downward inclination of the earth’ssurface (i.e. the deviation in terrain from levelor flat ground). Most commonly expressed as apercentage. Numerically, it is equal to the verticalrise or fall in elevation divided by the horizontaldistance and then multiplied by 100.

Slope Equivalent Wind Speed An approach used in theFBP System whereby the effect of slope on firespread with zero wind is given a value in units ofwind speed.

Slope Azimuth The uphill slope direction, 180 degreesopposite the slope aspect.

Small Engine Mecanic (SMEC) The person responsiblefor the repair and maintenance of small enginespowering fire fighting equipment, such as portablepumps, chainsaws etc.

Smoke The visible products of combustion rising above afire.

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Smokejumper (SMKJ) A firefighter who travels towildland fires by fixed wing aircraft and parachute.

Smoke Sensitive Area An area in which smoke fromoutside sources is intolerable, owing to heavypopulation, transportation services, existing airpollution, and/or intensive recreation/tourist use.

Smoke Management Scheduling and conducting aprescribed burning program under predeterminedburning prescriptions and firing techniques thatwill minimize the adverse impacts of the resultingsmoke production in smoke sensitive areas.

Smoke Haze Haze caused by smoke.

Smoke Column Smoke and other gases that form acolumn -shaped mass above a fire, characterizedby sharply defined, billowed edges.

Smouldering A fire burning without flame with low ratesof spread.

Snag A tree that is hung up on another tree or object.

Span Refers to a distance equal to the wingspan of theairtanker being used.

Span of Control The number of resources for which asupervisor is responsible, usually expressed as theratio of supervisors to individuals. An appropriatespan of control is between 1:3 and 1:7, withoptimal being 1:5.

Spatial Fire Management System Software thatproduces daily to hourly maps of fire weather andpotential fire behaviour based on the interpolationof weather observations and fuels maps.

Spotter In rappelling and smoke jumping operations, theindividual responsible for selecting drop target andsupervising all aspects of dropping smoke jumpersor rappel crews.

Spotting A fire producing firebrands carried by the surfacewind, a fire whirl, and/or convection column thatfall beyond the main fire perimeter and result inspot fires.

Spot Weather Forecast A special forecast issued to fitthe time, topography, and weather of a specificincident. These forecasts are issued upon requestof the user agency and are more detailed, timely,and specific than zone forecasts. Usually, on-site weather observations or a close, representativeobservation is required for a forecast to be issued.

Spot Fire A fire ignited by firebrands that are carriedoutside the main fire perimeter by air currents,gravity, and/or fire whirls. See Parts of a fire.Synonym Jump Fire.

Spread Azimuth The direction in which the fire isspreading, determined by combining the wind andslope azimuths.

Sprinkler Kit A collection of water thieves, supply hose,and water sprinkler heads used to wet the fuels

along the fire perimeter or along a fireguard orin value protection. Quantified by the number ofsprinkler heads per kit.

Squall Line A narrow, organized band of activethunderstorms, often preceding a cold front.

Stable Atmosphere Condition of the atmosphere in whichthe temperature decrease with increasing altitudeis less than the dry adiabatic lapse rate. In thiscondition, the atmosphere tends to suppress large-scale vertical motion. Also known as stable air.

Stack - aircraft Vertically established holding pattern overa fire for aircraft. Spacing will be at 500 ftintervals.

Stage of Control: This catagory indicates the currentstage of control of the fire, each with a two lettercode. Out of Control (OC), Being Held (BH),Under Control (UC) and Out (EX).

Stage of Control - Under Control (UC): Describesa wildfire having received sufficient suppressionaction to ensure no further spread of the fire: withthe two letter code (UC).

Stage of Control - Out of control (OC): Describesa wildfire not responding, or only responding ona limited basis, to suppression action such thatperimeter spread is not being contained: with thetwo letter code (OC).

Stage of Control - Out (EX): Describes a fire havingbeen extinguished; with the two letter code (EX).

Stage of Control - Being Held (BH): Describes awildfire that with currently committed resources,sufficient suppression action has been taken thatthe fire is not likely to spread beyond existentor predetermined boundaries under prevailing andforecasted conditions; with the two letter code(BH).

Staging Area Manager (STAM) The person responsiblefor managing all activities within a Staging Area.

Staging Area Established for the temporary locationof available resources. A Staging Area can beany location in which personnel, supplies, andequipment can be temporarily housed or parkedwhile awaiting operational assignment.

Stakeholder A person, group, organization, or governmentwith an interest or concern in a particular measure,proposal, or event.

Standby A state of readiness to take immediate actionupon detection of a fire.

Stand Structure The horizontal and vertical distributionof components of a forest stand includingthe crown layers and stems of trees, shrubs,herbaceous understory, snags, and downed woodydebris.

Stand Conversion The process of actively removing

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conifer trees in a mixed wood stand tosimultaneously reduce the total stem density andproportion of conifer trees relative to deciduoustrees.

Stand Composition The proportion of each tree speciesin a stand expressed as a percentage of the total;in the fire management sense, as a percentage ofthe crown biomass.

Start Stop - drop A drop technique for constant flowtanks where a required start point and stop pointare indicated.

Static Suction Lift In hydraulics, the term used for thevertical distance between the surface of the watersupply and the suction inlet of a fire pump; maybe positive or negative. Positive suction lift occurswhen the water supply level is higher than that ofthe suction inlet (the water is aiding the pump).If the fire pump is above the water supply it mustlift the water, creating a negative suction lift (themost common situation).

Status / Check-In Recorder The person responsible, ateach check-in location, to ensure that all resourcesassigned to an incident are accounted for.

Stay An instruction to the airtanker to proceed to adesignated location and wait for a new dispatch.

Step 1) An instruction to drop parallel to a previousdrop with a specified start point and lateraladjustment (e.g.: ”Step 1 load width left and tagon extend.”). 2) An instruction to correct the finalline to the left or the right and maintain the sameheading. Amount to step right or left is usuallyreferenced to load width(s).

Strategy The general plan or direction selected toaccomplish incident objectives.

Strike Team Leader (STLD) The individual responsiblefor supervising a strike team. Reports to aDivision/Group Supervisor or Operations SectionChief.

Strike Team A set number of resources of the samekind and type that have an established minimumnumber of personnel, common communications,and a leader.

String Drop A technique whereby a specified number ofdoors in a compartmented tank are opened insuccession at defined intervals to give an extendedpattern on the ground.

Structure Protection Unit See Values Protection Unit.

Subsidence A meteorological term referring to thedescending motion of air in the atmosphere,usually extending over a rather broad area,accompanied by warming and drying.

Supervisor The person responsible for a Division or Group.

Supply Unit Leader (SPUL) The person responsible

for ordering personnel, equipment, and supplies;receiving and storing all supplies for the incident;maintaining an inventory of supplies; and servicingnonexpendable supplies and equipment.

Supply Unit Clerk (SPEC) The person responsible forsupport to the Supply Unit.

Supply Unit Functional unit within the Support Branchof the Logistics Section responsible for orderingequipment and supplies required for incidentoperations.

Support Branch Director (SUBD) The personresponsible for developing and implementinglogistics plans in support of the IAP. The SupportBranch Director supervises the operations of theSupply, Facilities, and Ground Support Units.

Support Branch A Branch within the Logistics Sectionresponsible for providing personnel, equipment,and supplies to support incident operations.Includes the Supply, Facilities, and GroundSupport Units.

Suppressant A liquid wherein water is the fire suppressingagent, used to extinguish the combustion by directapplication to burning fuels. See Long termretardant.

Suppression Crew A unit of fire fighters assembled andorganized for conducting fire suppression, eitherfor initial attack and/or continuing work on fires.Crew size, specialization, and configuration aredetermined by agency procedure.

Surface Fuels All combustible materials lying above theduff layer between the ground and ladder fuels thatare responsible for propagating surface fires (e.g.litter, herbaceous vegetation, low and mediumshrubs, tree seedlings, stumps, downed/deadroundwood).

Surface Fire A fire that burns in the surface fuel layer,excluding the crowns of the trees, as either aheadfire, flank fire, or backfire.

Surfactant A surface active agent or wetting agent.A formulation which, when added to water inproper amounts, will materially reduce the surfacetension of the water and increase penetration andspreading abilities of the water.

Sustained Action Crew Personnel trained, equipped,and deployed to conduct suppression action on awildfire for an extended period of time.

Sustained Action The actions takens by the resources tocontain and completely extinguish the fire.

Synoptic Chart Any map on which weather data andanalyses are presented depicting the state ofmeteorological conditions over a large area at theearth’s surface and at various levels in the upperatmosphere, at a particular time.

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Tactical Withdrawl A planned departure from the firelineusing pre-established escape routes and safetyzones. Departure is based on pre-establishedtrigger points (e.g., time of day, observed weatheror fire behaviour); or observations made on thefireline leading to a well-communicated, orderlydeparture.

Tactics The set of specific, measurable actions or tasks forvarious incident management functional activitiesthat support the defined strategies.

Tag On And Extend To drop retardant in such a waythat the load slightly overlaps and then lengthensa previous drop. A 25 percent overlap forconventional drops or 30 to 40 feet (for constantflow tanks) is desired.

Tag On Connecting the tail end of a drop to a given point.

Tail End - drop The aft end of a drop on the ground.

Tanker Used as a short form for airtanker.

Target Now A voice signal from the birddog on a lead-inor show me to indicate the target location.

Target Elevation The desired and safe elevation(determined during the inspection run) that theairtanker is expected to fly over the target.

Target Altitude The desired and safe altitude (determinedduring the inspection run) that the airtanker isexpected to fly over the target.

Task Force Leader (TFLD) The individual responsiblefor supervising a task force. Reports to aDivision/Group Supervisor or Operations SectionChief.

Task Force Any combination of resources assembledfor a particular tactical need, with commoncommunications and a Leader.

Technical Specialist (THSP) Personnel with special skillsthat can be used anywhere within the IncidentCommand System organization.

Thermal Imagery Visual presentation or printeddocument from an infrared detector.

Thunderhead A popular term for a cumulonimbus cloudformation associated with a thunderstorm. It ischaracterized by a large vertical column toppedby a mushroom or anvil-shaped head.

Thunderstorm A localized storm producing lightning andthunder.

Tie-in - drop Instruction to connect a drop or portion ofa drop to a specific reference point.

Timelag The drying time required for dead fuels to losetwo-thirds of the difference between their initialmoisture content and their equilibrium moisturecontent. The fuels represented by the Fine FuelMoisture Code, Duff Moisture Code, and DroughtCode in the Canadian Forest Fire Weather IndexSystem have timelag values of 2/3 (or 16 hours),

15, and 53 days in average weather, respectively.

Time Unit Leader (TIME) The person responsiblefor recording personnel time and managing thecommissary operation.

Time Unit Functional unit within the Finance/AdministrationSection responsible for recording time for incidentpersonnel and hired equipment.

Torching The ignition of a single tree or small group oftrees from the bottom up.

Traditional Lands As land ownership systems evolvedover time and with the introduction of protectedarea policies and large infrastructure development,Indigenous peoples have found themselvesincreasingly marginalized, exploited, and displacedfrom traditional land and sources of food.

Traditional Knowledge The knowledge, innovations, andpractices of Indigenous and local communities.Developed from experience gained over thecenturies and adapted to the local culture andenvironment, traditional knowledge is transmittedorally from generation to generation.

Trainee An individual who has acquired a pre-arrangedseries of competencies (knowledge, abilities, andskills) but requires additional experience in aspecific role. The Trainee requires directsupervision by a person who is certified in the roleor position and meets the Interagency ExchangeStandard for that role or position, to which theTrainee is assigned to for the duration of theassignment.

Training The learning process involving the acquisition ofknowledge, skills and competencies.

Travel Time The period between departure of the initialattack force for a fire and its arrival at the fire.

Turnaround Time Time used by an air tanker or helitankerto reload and return to the fire.

Type of Resource A classification of resources that refersto capability. Type 1 is more capable than Types2, 3, or 4 respectively, because of size, power,capacity, or in the case of Incident ManagementTeams experience and qualifications.

UHF frequency The Ultra High Frequency radio frequencyrange, between 300 and 3000 MHz.

Underburning Prescribed burning under a forest canopywithout the involvement of canopy fuels.

Unified Command (UC) An application used whenmore than one agency has incident jurisdictionor when incidents cross political jurisdictions.Agencies work together through the designatedmembers of the Unified Command (UC), often thesenior persons from the agencies and/or disciplinesparticipating in the UC, to establish a common setof objectives and strategies and a single Incident

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Action Plan.

Unified Area Command (UAC) Command establishedwhen incidents under an Area Command are multi-jurisdictional.

Unit The organizational element with functionalresponsibility for a specific incident Planning,Logistics, or Finance/Administration activity.

Unit Leader The individual in charge of managing Unitswithin an Incident Command System functionalsection. The Unit can be staffed by a numberof support personnel providing a wide range ofservices.

Unity of Command Principle of management stating thateach individual involved in incident operations willbe assigned to only one supervisor..

Unstable Atmosphere The temperature decrease withaltitude is greater than the dry adiabatic lapserate.

Uphill Run - drop A bomb run that requires the airtankerto continue or initiate a climb in order to clearterrain following the drop.

Upper Trough A meteorological term referring to anelongated area of relatively low atmosphericpressure in the upper atmosphere; often associatedwith cool and showery weather conditions at theearth’s surface. The opposite of an upper troughis an upper ridge.

Upper Ridge Breakdown A weakening or collapse of anupper ridge; generally associated with an increasein fire weather severity at the earth’s surface.

Upper Ridge A meteorological term referring to anelongated area of relatively high atmosphericpressure in the upper atmosphere; usuallyassociated with warm and dry weather conditionsat the earth’s surface. The opposite of an upperridge is an upper trough.

Values-at-Risk The specific or collective set ofnatural resources and man-made improvements/developments that have measurable or intrinsicworth and that could of may be destroyed orotherwise altered by fire in any given area.

Values Protection Unit Combination of power pumps,hose, sprinkler heads and other accessoriesdeployed together in value protection. Mayinclude personnel required to maintain the unit.

Ventilation Index The ventilation index is a numericalvalue relating to the potential of the atmosphereto disperse airborne pollutants from a stationarysource (e.g. smoke from a prescribed fire).Five ventilation classes, from poor to excellentdispersion, are defined for use in operationalforecasting.

Verbal Description - drop A technique whereby the

birddog identifies targets by verbally describing thebomb run and target position.

Vertical Wind Profile A plot of winds aloft againstheight above the earth’s surface; most commonlydetermined by a rawinsonde observation.

Vertical Temperature Profile A plot of actual airtemperature against height above the earth’ssurface; most commonly determined by arawinsonde observation.

VHF Very High Frequency radio. The standard aircraftradio that all civil aircraft use to communicatewith ground radio stations and other aircraft.

VHF-FM Very High Frequency Frequency Modulationradio. Commonly used for dispatch, land-basedmobile, and airborne communications. Generally46 to 175 Mhz.

VHF-AM Very High Frequency Amplitude Modulation.Aircraft radio operates in the 118 MHz to 130MHz range.

VirgaWisps or streaks of water or ice particles falling out ofa cloud but evaporating before reaching the earth’ssurface as precipitation.

Viscosity The relative ability of a fluid to resist flow.

Visibility Trim Retroreflective, fluorescent, or combinationretroreflective and fluorescent material attachedpermanently to the outer material for visibilityenhancement. Note: Retroreflective materialsenhance night time visibility, and fluorescentmaterials improve day time visibility.

Vortex Turbulence Horizontal whirlwind(s) created inthe wake of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraftthat are in flight. Under certain atmosphericconditions, this turbulent air can be projectedto the ground and in turn adversely affect firebehaviour. A small fire or segment of a fireperimeter can unexpectedly flare up, particularly ifthe wind speed is light and an unstable atmosphereexists.

Vulnerability How easily damaged a particular value is ina fire of a given intensity.

Water Thief A type of bleeder valve designed forinstallation at convenient points in hose lines topermit drawing off water for filling back-packpumps or other use without interfering with pumpor nozzle operation.

Water Tender A vehicle used to transport water for afireline to fill portable relay tanks and therebyprovide a continual supply of water.

Water Enhancer A product that relies primarily on thewater it contains for firefighting. These productscontain polymers or other thickeners to improveperformance by: a) aiding in adherence to fuels, b)allowing build-up of a thick, protective wet layer,

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and c) minimizing drift during aerial application.Water Bombing The act of dropping suppressants,

(water, foam, or enhanced water solutions) ontoa fire from an aircraft in flight.

Water Bladder (slingable) Closed water bladder designedto be slung by helicopter to provide a water sourceto a remote location.

Weather Map A map or chart depicting the meteorologicalconditions over a specific geographic area at aspecific time.

Wet-bulb Temperature The lowest temperature towhich the air can be cooled by evaporatingwater into it at a constant atmospheric pressure.Recommended unit is degrees Celsius.

Wetting Agent A chemical that reduces the surfacetension of water causing it to spread and penetratemore effectively.

Wet Water Water with added chemicals, called wettingagents, that increase spreading and penetratingproperties of water by reducing its surface tension.

Wet Foam The bubbles of wet foams are spherical massesof air which are enclosed in solution. The bubblewalls are separated by a large amount of solution,relative to other types of foams. Wet foams havevery fast drainage rates.

WFX-FIT An unbiased, valid, job-related physicalperformance standard used to determine whetheran individual possesses the physical capabilitiesnecessary to meet the rigorous demandsencountered while fighting wildland fires.

Wildfire Risk The combination of the likelihood of awildfire o ccurring c ombined w ith t he potentialimpacts of that fire.

Wildland An area in which development is essentially non-existent, except for roads, railroads, powerlines,and similar transportation facilities, and where

Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) The area where homes

Wildland Fire Any fire that is burning in and consumes natural fuels: forest, brush, tundra, grass, etc. Includes wildfires and prescribed fires.

Windfall A tree or trees that have been uprooted or brokenoff by wind, or an area of previously standingtimber that has been blown over by strong windsor storms.

Wind Speed The rate of horizontal motion of the

air. In the Canadian Forest Fire Danger RatingSystem and in fire weather forecasts, wind speedis assumed to be measured or estimated at astandard height of 10 metres in the open on levelterrain. Recommended unit is kilometres per hour(km/h).

Wind Direction The direction from which the wind

is blowing. Wind direction is most commonlyreferred to by cardinal direction (e.g. North, East,South, West) but may also be expressed in degrees(i.e. 1D to 360D).

Wind Azimuth The direction the wind is blowing, that is180 degrees opposite the wind direction.

Workwear - fireline Protective workwear such as, but

not limited to, coveralls, trousers and shirts,designed to provide a degree of protection againstthe adverse effects o f fi re an d ra diant he at tothe firefighter’s body during wi ldland firefighting.Fireline workwear covers the body from the neckto the wrists and ankles and may or may notcompletely cover the neck. It does not includeadd-on accessories, such as, but not limited tobelts, backpacks and external harnesses.

Wye A three-way hose line accessory permitting two lines

of hose to be taken from a single supply line, withno provisions to regulate stream flow. See GatedWye.

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Wildfire Any natural caused or unplanned humancaused fires that is burning in and consumes natural fuels: forest, brush, tundra, grass, etc. Also include escaped prescribed fires.

structures, if any, are widely scattered.

and other human developments meet or are intermixed with wildland fire fuels.