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English > Glossary
Airtac
Support for aircraft. Usually, this is a small plane used to assist slurry bombers (airtankers) or helicopters to aid
Backburn / Backfire
Also known as a backfire, this is used in two instances. One is used when firefighters want to contain a fire by setting another fire, that will burn less hot, and do less damage, and will stop the fire from burning past a certain point.
Bitterroot Forest
The Bitterroot Forest is a national forest surrounding the 60 mile long Bitterroot Valley. It covers more than 1.6 million acres of land, both multi-use forest and wilderness (each about 800,000 acres).
Bladder
When used in the firefighting sense, they are used to hold water or retardant for planes. They are easily transportable, and can hold anywhere around 6,000 gallons of liquid.
Bulldozer
A piece of equipment with a blade attached to it, used to make fire line. It's also known as a dozer, or Cat.
Crown Fire
A very hot type of fire that burns on the top of trees- the trees are often heated very hot, and it's actually the gases that are burning in a crown fire.
De-limb
The act of removing the limbs of a tree (this is done right after it is cut)
Firestorm
This "storm of fire" can take many different forms, but is very rare, and only happens in special conditions. Firestorms are known for high winds created by the fire, and very hot, very large, fast moving flames.
Fire Brands
Small, hot pieces of burning material that is thrown into the air from the fire, and can land elsewhere and start a spot fire.
Fire Camp
Literally a camp, used firefighters, as a place to sleep, eat, and get information, while they are out fighting fires.
Fireline
This is the most common practice used to stop fires. People using hand tools, or machinery, clear a path of all biomass on the ground, so the fire will hopefully not cross the line.
Fire Pumper
A truck equipped with a water tank, used to assist in providing water to fire engiines, or it can be used by itself, to fight a fire.
Foam
A substance (similar to dish soap) is sometimes added to water, to increase it's firefighting capability. Craig Thomas said it improves the firefighting capability 7-15 times.
Forest Service
A federal government agency in the United States that manages the National Forest.
Helibase
A spot where helicopters can land and refuel. They sometimes have water/retardant at the helibase to resupply the helicopters. Otherwise, the helicopters get water out of a lake or stream.
Hot saw
A round, circular saw, that is kept always rotating (or hot), and is usually mounted on a feller/buncher for cutting trees, but can be used to ut other things
Hose
People often use this instead of both words, fire hose.
ID Team
ID Team stands for interdisciplinary team, and it's a decision making team made up of people from different disclipines, such as forestry, wildlife biology, and wildfire. The team is used to try to make educated desicions, using different perspectives.
Ladder Fuel
Ladder fuel is the smaller fuel on the ground, or close to the ground, including dead tree branches that are on trees, or have fallen, and shrubs and other vegetative matter that grows on the ground. It is called ladder fuel, because if there is enough of it, a ground fire will often use it to climb a tree, and then move along on the tops of the trees (which is often a faster burner fire).
National Forest
Publicly owned forested lands, mostly in the western United States (they include both multi-use forests and wildernesses).
Para-cargo
Para-cargo is cargo that is transported via aircraft, and dropped from the aircraft, with a parachute attached to it. It is used to get supplies to firefighters in remote areas, or who need supplies fast.
Prescribed Burn
A prescribed burn, similar to a backfire or backburn, is a fire that is intentionally lit for a number of purposes, including fuel reduction, and healthy forest management.
Proteus
A specific brand of feller-buncher machine, which was used by Craig Thomas, not only as that, but also to carry concrete and water. It can navigate very steep hills, and uses tracks and wheels.
Pulaski
A tool, which has an axe on one end, and a hoe on the other end, used to build fire line. It was named after the person who invented it, Edward Pulaski.
Retardant (Slurry)
Retardant, or slurry, is a mixture of mainly water and fertilizer, and is dyed a red color so it can easily be seen. It also contains thickeners, corrosion inhibitors, stabilizers, and a soap-like mixture used to help it stick to trees. It costs about 70 (US) cents per gallon, and $2 per gallon to drop on fires, and is usually dropped from planes or helicopters.
Retardant Planes
Also known as slurry bombers, airtankers, or borate bombers. These planes are usually old military planes, equipped with tanks for holding retardant.
Roadblock
A roadblack is used to keep the public safe, by keeping them off the road. This is often used when a fire approaches a road.
Sawyer
A person who cuts trees, a logger
Slash
This is the leftover vegetative matter, after logging has been done (branches, and any other tree material). The slash is then piled in a pile, and burned later.
Smokejumper
A specially trained firefighter, that parachutes from a plane, so that he/she can be placed on an exact location, quickly on a fire (also used in remote situations).
Snag
A snag is a dead tree. This word is usually found in reference to the dead trees that are left after a fire moves through an area.
S.O.
An acronym for Supervisor's Office
Spot Fire
This is a fire that has started ahead of the main fire, usually by the wind created by the fire sending little pieces of burning trees ahead of it.
Wildland/Urban Interface
This exists when houses extend into the forest. This is a very controversial area, as it is poses a threat to not only creating fire, but also in the fact that it is more work for firefighters when they have to protect structures in the way of fire.
Wilderness
The part of the forest that no motorized or non-motorized vehicles can be taken.
© ThinkQuest Team C0119184 :: Credits & Sources
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