Glossary of wildfire terms

Glossary of Wildfire Terms is a comprehensive list of terms and definitions related to wildfires. This glossary is intended to serve as a resource for those interested in understanding the language used in wildfire science, management, and policy.

A

Aerial firefighting - The use of aircraft, both fixed-wing and rotary-wing, to combat wildfires.

Air tanker - A fixed-wing aircraft equipped to drop fire retardants or suppressants.

B

Backfire - A fire set along the inner edge of a fireline to consume the fuel in the path of a wildfire and to change the direction of force of the fire's convection column.

Burnout - The process of burning all flammable material in a given area to slow or stop the progress of a wildfire.

C

Containment - The status of a wildfire suppression action signifying that a control line has been completed around the fire, and any associated spot fires, which can reasonably be expected to stop the fire's spread.

Control line - An inclusive term for all constructed or natural barriers and treated fire edges used to control a fire.

D

Defensible space - An area around a structure where fuels and vegetation are treated, cleared or reduced to slow the spread of wildfire towards the structure.

E

Escape route - A planned and understood course of travel from a specific location to a safe area.

F

Fire behavior - The manner in which a fire reacts to the influences of fuel, weather, and topography.

Firebreak - A natural or constructed barrier used to stop or check fires that may occur, or to provide a control line from which to work.

G

Ground fire - Fire that consumes the organic material beneath the surface litter ground, such as a peat fire.

H

Hotspot - A particularly active part of a fire.

I

Incident Command System - A standardized approach to the command, control, and coordination of emergency response providing a common hierarchy within which responders from multiple agencies can be effective.

J

Jump fire - A fire set on the opposite side of a natural or constructed firebreak during a backfire operation.

K

Knock down - To reduce the flame or heat on the more vigorously burning parts of a fire edge.

L

Lookout - A person designated to detect and report fires from a vantage point.

M

Mop up - Extinguishing or removing burning material near control lines, felling snags, and trenching logs to prevent rolling after an area has burned, to make a fire safe, or to reduce residual smoke.

N

Natural barrier - Any area where lack of flammable material obstructs the spread of wildfires.

O

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

P

Prescribed burn - Controlled application of fire to wildland fuels in either their natural or modified state, under specified environmental conditions, which allows the fire to be confined to a predetermined area and produces the fire behavior and fire characteristics required to attain planned fire treatment and resource management objectives.

Q

Quick response - The rapid mobilization and use of resources to suppress wildfires.

R

Red flag warning - A term used by fire-weather forecasters to call attention to limited weather conditions of particular importance that may result in extreme burning conditions.

S

Spot fire - A fire ignited outside the perimeter of the main fire by a firebrand.

T

Topography - The physical features of a geographic area, such as mountains, valleys, and bodies of water, that can influence fire behavior and fire management strategies.

U

Understory fire - A fire that consumes surface litter and undergrowth, but does not significantly affect larger trees.

V

Volunteer fire department - A fire department composed of individuals who perform fire suppression and other related activities voluntarily.

W

Wildland fire - Any non-structure fire, other than prescribed fire, that occurs in the wildland.

Wildland Fire Management - The process of planning, preventing, suppressing and managing the aftermath of wildfires.

X

Xeric conditions - Environmental conditions characterized by low moisture levels and high potential for fire.

Y

Youth fire setting - A fire-setting activity by a child or adolescent without malicious intent.

Z

Zero hour - The time at which a planned operation is scheduled to begin, often used in relation to the start of a significant or coordinated fire suppression action.