A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Accelerant

Any substance (such as oil, gasoline, etc) that is applied to a fuel-bed to expedite the burning process.

Adaptor

A fitting used to couple different sized hoses, hoses of the same size with different threads, or different types of couplings, or to connect the male to male, or female to female parts of the same type of coupling.

Adsorption

The taking in of water vapour from the air by dead plant material.

Advance burn

A prescribed fire that reduces fuel through a forest area before felling operations. It is intended to improve the safety of timber harvesting operations and as a silvicultural tool to protect lignotubers and standing trees.

Advancing fire

That portion of the fire with rapid fire spread and higher intensity which is normally burning with the wind and/or up slope.

Aerial detection

The discovering, locating and reporting of fires from aircraft.

Aerial fuels

See: Elevated fuel

Aerial fuels

See:

Aerial ignition

Ignition of fuels by dropping incendiary devices or materials from aircraft.

Aerial ignition device (AID)

Inclusive term applied to equipment designed to ignite wildland fuels from an aircraft.

Aerial Observer

See: Air Observer

Aerial Observer

See: Air Observer

Aerial reconnaissance

Use of aircraft for detection of fires and observing fire behavior, values-at-risk, suppression activity, and other critical factors to facilitate command decisions on strategy and tactics needed for fire suppression.

Aerosol

Airborne solid or liquid particles dispersed or suspended in a gas stream.

AIIMS structure

The combination of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications operating within a common organisational structure with responsibility for the management of allocated resources to effectively accomplish stated objectives relating to an incident (AIIMS).

Air attack

The direct use of aircraft in the suppression of wildfires.

Air Attack Supervisor

Primarily responsible for the safety and efficient tactical coordination of aircraft operations when fixed and/or rotary firebombing aircraft are operating at a fire (Air Attack Supervisor Training Manual).

Air base Manager

An experienced, trained person who is appointed to manage all the functions and personnel on an air base or helicopter base.

Air mass

A meteorological term referring to an extensive body of air within which the conditions of temperature and moisture in a horizontal plane are essentially uniform.

Air Observer

The primary role of the air observer is to aerially obtain intelligence to assist the planning of fire suppression operations. (NSWRFS)

Air operations

The use of aircraft in support of an incident for the purposes of suppression, transportation of personnel, equipment or supplies, or for aerial reconnaissance.

Air Operations Manager

The air operations manager position is responsible for overall coordination of air operations and air support activities in support of an incident.

Aircraft Officer

The aircraft officer is responsible for ground operations and overall provision of support, enabling a safe and efficient air operation to be conducted.

Airside

The parts of an airport not normally open to unauthorised people. It comprises the apron, taxiways, runways and the areas containing them.

Allocated resources

Resources working at an incident (AIIMS).

Anchor point

An advantageous location, usually a barrier to fire spread, from which to start constructing a fireline. The anchor point is used to minimize the chance of being flanked by the fire while the line is being constructed (NWCG).

Aqueous film forming-foam (AFFF)

A synthetic amber coloured liquid concentrate mixed with water to form an agent that is capable of forming water-solution films on the surface of flammable liquids that prevent the escape of fuel vapours, excludes oxygen and maintain the surface when disturbed (self healing).

Area ignition

Ignition of several individual fires throughout an area, either simultaneously or in rapid succession, and so spaced that they add to and influence the main body of the fire to produce a hot, fast-spreading fire condition. Also called simultaneous ignition.

Area of origin

General location where the fire started.

Arson

The deliberate setting of a fire where the intent of the person responsible was to cause harm or destruction to life or property.

Aspect

The direction towards which a slope faces.

Asphyxiants

Substances which interfere with the respiratory process.

Assembly area

Non-preferred term.

Assessment

The process of determining if an individual has the prescribed skills, knowledge and experience needed to acquire a specific capability.

Assets

Anything valued by people which includes houses, crops, forests and, in many cases, the environment.

Assisting agency

An agency directly contributing suppression, support or service resources to another agency.

Atmospheric stability

The degree to which the atmosphere resists turbulence and vertical motion.

Australasian Inter-service Incident Management System (AIIMS)

A nationally adopted structure to formalise a coordinated approach to emergency incident management.

Automatic dispatch

See: Pre-planned dispatch

Automatic weather station (AWS)

The Bureau's standard AWSs use sensors to monitor temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, pressure and rainfall. Various advanced sensors are available for specialised applications. These sensors can monitor cloud height (ceilometer), visibility, present weather, thunderstorms, soil temperature (at a range of depths) and terrestrial temperature. (Developed from the BOM)

Available fuel

The portion of the total fuel that would actually burn under various environmental conditions.

Available resources

The resources at an incident and available for allocation at short notice. (AIIMS)