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NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire, PMS 205

Overview

The NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire provides an extensive listing of approved terms and definitions used by the NWCG community. It contains terms commonly used by NWCG in the areas of wildland fire and incident management and is not intended to list all terms used by NWCG groups and member agencies. The NWCG has directed that all committee and subgroup product glossaries be contained within the NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire to maintain definition consistency and clarity among documents.

Comments, questions, and recommendations shall be submitted to the appropriate agency program manager assigned to the Data Standards and Terminology Board (DSTB). 

NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire, PMS 205  (Quick View)

EDG Explorer is a database platform used for managing NWCG Glossary terms.  The following table is a quick view of the terms found in EDG. More detailed information such as rules, documentation, and term relationships may be viewed in EDG Explorer.  

Note: If the NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire is not displaying below please report it to NWCG Webmaster

Title Steward Status Definition
engine company ETC Equipment Technology Committee Approved

A resource that includes an engine of a specific type. The type specifies tank capacity, pump rating, hose capacity and number of personnel.

engine type (water source) NCSC National Coordination System Committee Approved

Largest engine type that can use the water source.

entrapment RMC Risk Management Committee Approved

A situation where personnel are unexpectedly caught in a fire behavior-related, life-threatening position where planned escape routes or safety zones are absent, inadequate, or compromised. An entrapment may or may not include deployment of a fire shelter for its intended purpose. These situations may or may not result in injury. They include "near misses."

entrapment avoidance RMC Risk Management Committee Approved

A process used to improve the safety of personnel on the fireline, which emphasizes tools and tactics available to prevent being trapped in a burnover situation. This process includes appropriate decision making through risk management, application of LCES, use of pre-established trigger points, and recognition of suitable escape routes and safety zones. 

envelopment IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved

Direct attack with multiple anchor points, that allows for multiple points of attack. Generally used as an engine tactic in the wildland urban interface.

environment FWS Fire Weather Subcommittee Approved

The complex surroundings of an item or area of interest, such as air, water, natural resources, and their physical conditions (temperature, humidity).

environmental lapse rate FWS Fire Weather Subcommittee Approved

The actual rate of decrease of temperature with elevation.

environmental specialist IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Archived

Person responsible to the planning section chief for collecting and analyzing environmental information about the incident area, determining environmental restrictions and requirements, and providing the information as an input to the incident action and to incident personnel as needed. 

episode (pollution) FUSC Fire Use Subcommittee Approved

A condition of poor contaminant dispersion which may result in concentrations considered potentially harmful to health or welfare. Episodes may also occur during periods of fairly good dispersion if the source of air contaminants is extremely large.

Equilibrium Moisture Content FDSC Fire Danger Subcommittee Approved

Moisture content that a fuel particle will attain if exposed for an infinite period in an environment of specified constant temperature and humidity. When a fuel particle reaches equilibrium moisture content, net exchange of moisture between it and its environment is zero. 

equipment use fire WFISC Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee Approved

Fire caused by mechanical equipment other than railroad operations.

escape route RMC Risk Management Committee Approved

A preplanned and understood route firefighters take to move to a safety zone or other low-risk area. When escape routes deviate from a defined physical path, they should be clearly marked (flagged).

escaped fire IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Approved

Fire which has exceeded or is expected to exceed initial attack capabilities or prescription.

escaped prescribed fire FMC Fuels Management Committee, FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Proposed New
ESF Coordinator NIMSIC National Incident Management System Integration Committee Approved

An entity which oversees the preparedness activities for a particular ESF and coordinates with its primary and support agencies.

ESF Primary Agency NIMSIC National Incident Management System Integration Committee Approved

A Federal agency with significant authorities, roles, resources, and capabilities for a particular function within an ESF.

ESF Support Agency NIMSIC National Incident Management System Integration Committee Approved

An entity with specific capabilities or resources that support the primary agencies in executing the mission of the ESF.

Estimated Asset Cost

Approximate planned funding for the Group 30 Budget Object Class that covers Aquisition of Assets (more specifically - Equipment, Land and Structures, Investments and Loans).

estimated containment FRSC Fire Reporting Subcommittee Approved

The expected containment or completion date of the incident.

Estimated Contractual Cost
Estimated Durability

Estimated duration in years (1-300) that treatment will accomplish its purpose.
 
This information is intended to support the understanding of maintenance needs as well as anticipated effectiveness when intersected by a wildfire (e.g. if expected to be effective for 8 years, and an intersection occurs at 10 and the treatment fails - it would have performed as expected without maintenance)

Estimated Grants Fixed Cost

Approximate planned funding for the Group 40 Budget Object Class that covers Grants and Fixed Charges (more specifically - Grants, Subsidies, and Contributions, Insurance Claims and Indemnities, Interest and Dividends, and Refunds).

estimated incident cost IBC Incident Business Committee Approved

Estimated dollar amount associated with an incident.

Estimated Other Cost

Approximate planned funding for the Group 90 Budget Object Class that covers Other Charges (more specifically - Unvouchered, Undistributed, Financial Transfers, Adjustments for Rounding)

Estimated Personnel Cost

Approximate planned funding for the Group 10 Budget Object Class that covers Personnel Compensation and Benefits ( more specifically includes Personnel Compensation, Personnel Benefits, and Benefits for Former Personnel).

Estimated Position Error WFISC Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee Approved

A measurement of horizontal position error for a GPS unit expressed in feet or meters.

Estimated Success Probability

25% Treatment objectives are difficult to achieve and/or multiple treatments are likely to be necessary to achieve success.
 
50% Treatment objectives are moderately difficult to achieve and/or additional treatments are likely to be necessary to achieve success.
 
75% Treatment objectives are moderately easy to achieve and/or just one additional treatment is likely to be necessary to achieve success.
 
100% Treatment objectives are easy to achieve and/or this is likely the final treatment necessary to achieve success.

Estimated Time En Route NCSC National Coordination System Committee, IBC Incident Business Committee Approved

Term used in resource planning/following to estimate time spent between points.

Estimated Time of Arrival NCSC National Coordination System Committee, IBC Incident Business Committee Approved

Term used in resource planning/following to estimate time of arrival at a point.

Estimated Time of Departure NCSC National Coordination System Committee, IBC Incident Business Committee Approved

Term used in resource planning/following to estimate time of departure from a point.

Estimated Total Cost

Sum of all estimated cost fields.

evacuation NIMSIC National Incident Management System Integration Committee Approved

The organized, phased, and supervised withdrawal, dispersal, or removal of people and/or animals from dangerous or potentially dangerous areas, and their reception and care in safe areas.

evaluate FMB Fire Management Board Approved

To review and compare outcomes with management and incident objectives desired for a wildland fire. One of the six component activities in an adaptive management process that may lead to adjusting future actions.

evaluation In Development
evaluator IPSC Incident and Position Standards Committee Approved

The individual who is qualified in the position being evaluated, or supervises the position being evaluated, having responsibility for observing task(s) being performed and documenting successful performance for agency certification or re-certification. Evaluator responsibilities must remain separate from the individual assigned as Trainer/Coach. 

evaporation FWS Fire Weather Subcommittee Approved

The transformation of a liquid to its gaseous state; heat is released by the liquid during this process.

event (generic) NCSC National Coordination System Committee Approved

A generic term that relates to both planned and unplanned response activities by the interagency wildland fire community.

event (planned) NIMSIC National Incident Management System Integration Committee Approved

An incident that is a scheduled non-emergency activity (e.g., sporting event, concert, parade).

evidence protection area WFISC Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee Approved

An area where evidence or potential evidence is or may be located and should be secured and protected from unauthorized entry.

exempt / nonexempt IBC Incident Business Committee Approved

Categories of employees as defined in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), who are either covered or exempted from coverage under the ActPay entitlements vary depending on the employee's FLSA status.

exhaust primer ETC Equipment Technology Committee Approved

Device which uses the exhaust gas flow of an engine for priming a centrifugal pump.

expanded dispatch IBC Incident Business Committee Approved

An organization needed to support an incident which expands along with the Incident Command System.

expansion ETC Equipment Technology Committee Approved

The ratio of the volume of the foam in its aerated state to the original volume of the non-aerated foam solution.

experience IOSC Incident Operations Subcommittee Proposed New

Documented performance in a position.

expert witness WFISC Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee Approved

Someone with sufficient skill, knowledge, or experience in a given field so as to be capable of drawing inferences or reaching conclusions or opinions that an average person would not be competent to reach. The expert's opinion testimony should aim the judge or jury in their understanding of the fact at issue. 

explosives or electrical danger (event) NCSC National Coordination System Committee Approved

An event dealing with the various situations that arise as a result of an explosion, presence of an explosive device, or electrical hazard - no fire. 

exposed side WFISC Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee Approved

The side of an object facing the oncoming fire.

exposure (direction) FENC Fire Environment Committee Approved

Direction in which a slope faces, usually with respect to cardinal directions.

exposure (openness) FENC Fire Environment Committee Approved

The general surroundings of a site with special reference to its openness to winds.

exposure (threatened) FENC Fire Environment Committee Approved

Property that may be endangered by a fire burning in another structure or by a wildfire.

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How to Print or Download Glossary of Wildland Fire, PMS 205

Modified / Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

NWCG Fire Prevention Education Team Host Unit Guide, PMS 464 and NWCG Fire Prevention Education Team Guide, PMS 474

Date: July 10, 2023
Contact: Fire Prevention Education Team Subcommittee (FPETSC)

 

Two new publications from the Fire Prevention Education Team Subcommittee (FPETSC) are now available. The NWCG Fire Prevention Education Team Host Unit Guide, PMS 464, aids the interaction between host units requesting Fire Prevention Education Teams (FPETs) and the FPET itself and second, to clarify the different aspects of logistics, operations, information, safety, and business and finance support needed for FPETs.


The NWCG Fire Prevention Education Team Guide, PMS 474, provides information and guidance for successful use, management, and outcomes for FPET assignments and highlights the responsibilities and protocols related to FPETs.

References:

NWCG Fire Prevention Education Team Host Unit Guide, PMS 464

NWCG Fire Prevention Education Team Guide, PMS 474

Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Incident Replacement Guidance, Memo 23-09

Date: June 30, 2023
Contact: Incident Business Committee (IBC)

Currently, a fleet rate has not been established for agency or cooperator owned UAS. Most UAS and related support equipment are purchased and maintained at a local unit level with base funding. Therefore, unlike manned aircraft, a daily availability rate or applicable hourly flight rate for operations is not being assessed when a UAS is assigned to an incident. Incident replacement guidance for UAS is outlined is memo 23-09.

References:

Memo 23-09

NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations, PMS 508

Date: June 30, 2023
Contact: Interagency Airtanker Base Subcommittee (IABS)

The updated 2023 NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations (SABO), PMS 508 standardizes operations and procedures at interagency airtanker bases to ensure safe, efficient, and effective operations in support of interagency goals and objectives.

References:

6 Minutes for Safety - Week of Remembrance June 30 -July 6

Date: June 29, 2023
Contact6MFS Subcommittee

As we approach the Week of Remembrance (June 30 - July 6), we all take a moment to reflect on the wildland fire incidents that took the lives of many of our brothers and sisters. Today, the 6 Minutes For Safety Subcommittee issued a letter to leadership to honor the fallen and to express the importance of lessons learned, checking in with your wildland fire families, and prioritizing the people who serve in the important mission of fighting wildland fire.

References:

6MFS Week of Remembrance