WILDLAND FIRE GLOSSARY
Key Terms & Definitions
A
- Arduous Pack Test
- The Work Capacity Test at the arduous level, requiring a firefighter to carry a 45-pound pack over a flat 3-mile course in 45 minutes or less. It is the standard annual fitness test for wildland firefighters and must be completed to obtain or maintain Red Card certification. The test simulates the physical demands of hiking steep terrain with heavy gear during fire operations.
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B
- BLM
- Bureau of Land Management. A federal agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior responsible for managing approximately 245 million acres of public land, including wildfire suppression on BLM-administered lands. BLM is one of the primary agencies that dispatches private wildland fire contractors through VIPR and EERA agreements.
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C
- CDL
- Commercial Driver's License. A specialized driver's license required or preferred for operating larger fire apparatus such as Type 3 wildland engines. CDL holders are particularly valued for Engine Operator positions in wildland fire contracting.
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D
- Dispatch
- The process of ordering, assigning, and directing firefighting resources (engines, crews, aircraft) to wildfire incidents through interagency coordination centers. Dispatch centers coordinate resource availability, travel logistics, and incident assignments across federal, state, and local agencies.
E
- EERA
- Emergency Equipment Rental Agreement. A contract mechanism used by federal and state agencies to hire private equipment and personnel during wildfire emergencies. Unlike VIPR preseason agreements, EERAs can be executed at the time of an incident, providing flexibility for agencies to rapidly scale firefighting resources when demand exceeds standing agreements.
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- ENGB
- Engine Boss. An NWCG-qualified position responsible for leading wildland fire engine crews and making tactical decisions on the fireline. ENGB qualification requires completing specific position training, accumulating documented experience as an Engine Boss Trainee (ENGT), holding FFT1 qualification, completing S-290, and receiving certification from a qualified evaluator.
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- Extended Attack
- Sustained suppression operations that begin when a wildfire escapes initial response and requires additional resources, organizational structure, and a more complex incident management approach. Extended attack assignments typically involve 14-to-21-day operational periods, structured incident command, and coordination with incident management teams and multiple cooperating agencies.
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F
- FFT1
- Firefighter Type 1. An NWCG single-resource qualification for experienced wildland firefighters who can work independently and serve as a lead firefighter on an engine or crew. FFT1 is a prerequisite for advancing to supervisory positions such as Engine Boss (ENGB).
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- FFT2
- Firefighter Type 2. The entry-level NWCG wildland firefighter qualification. FFT2-qualified firefighters work under direct supervision and perform basic fire suppression tasks including hose lay, fireline construction, and mop-up operations. Requires completion of S-130, S-190, L-180, IS-700, and passing the arduous pack test.
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- Fireline
- A break in fuel — either natural (such as a river or rock outcrop) or constructed (by hand tools or bulldozer) — used to stop or control the spread of a wildfire. Fireline construction is a fundamental wildland fire suppression tactic and a core skill for all wildland firefighters.
G
- GPM
- Gallons Per Minute. A measurement of water pump flow rate on wildland fire engines. Ponderosa Fire's Type 3 engine delivers 100 GPM and the Type 6 engine delivers 50 GPM. Higher GPM allows for greater water application on active fire, while lower GPM with higher pressure is effective for precise application in mop-up and wildland interface situations.
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I
- IDL
- Idaho Department of Lands. The state agency responsible for fire protection on state endowment lands and private timber lands in Idaho. IDL coordinates with federal agencies and private contractors for wildfire suppression across the state.
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- IMT
- Incident Management Team. A group of qualified individuals organized to manage large, complex, or extended wildfire incidents. IMTs are classified by type (Type 1 being the most complex) and assume command of fires that exceed local management capabilities. Wildland fire contractors work under IMT direction during extended attack operations.
- Initial Attack
- The first response to a wildfire, focused on rapid containment while the fire is still small — typically within the first 24 to 48 hours after detection. The goal of initial attack is to suppress the fire before it can grow beyond manageable size. Success depends on fast dispatch, crew readiness, and favorable weather conditions.
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- IQS
- Incident Qualification System. The official database system used by NWCG agencies to track wildland firefighter qualifications, training records, and incident experience. All qualified firefighters have their credentials documented in IQS, which is referenced during dispatch and resource ordering.
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- IS-700
- Introduction to the National Incident Management System (NIMS). A required FEMA independent study course that provides an overview of the National Incident Management System, including the Incident Command System (ICS). Completion of IS-700 is a prerequisite for obtaining an NWCG Red Card at the FFT2 level.
L
- L-180
- Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service. An NWCG course that covers situational awareness, decision-making, communication, and risk management on the fireline. L-180 teaches firefighters to recognize and mitigate human factors that contribute to accidents and near-misses during fire operations. It is a required course for FFT2 qualification.
M
- Mop-up
- The process of extinguishing remaining hot spots, embers, and smoldering material after the main body of a wildfire has been suppressed or contained. Mop-up involves systematically checking and treating all areas within and adjacent to the fire perimeter to prevent rekindling. It is one of the most labor-intensive phases of wildfire suppression.
N
- NIFC
- National Interagency Fire Center. Located in Boise, Idaho, NIFC is the nation's primary center for coordinating wildland fire management resources, intelligence, and logistics across federal, state, tribal, and local agencies. Ponderosa Fire LLC is headquartered near NIFC, providing strategic proximity for rapid deployment.
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- NWCG
- National Wildfire Coordinating Group. The interagency body that establishes training, qualification, and operational standards for wildland fire management in the United States. NWCG member agencies include the BLM, USFS, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and state forestry agencies. All Ponderosa Fire personnel maintain current NWCG qualifications.
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O
- ODF
- Oregon Department of Forestry. The state agency responsible for wildfire protection on Oregon's private and state-owned forest lands. ODF contracts with private wildland fire companies to supplement state firefighting resources during fire season.
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P
- PPE
- Personal Protective Equipment. The fire-resistant clothing and safety gear required for wildland firefighting, including Nomex shirts and pants, leather boots with lug soles, hard hats, leather gloves, fire shelters, eye protection, and hearing protection. All Ponderosa Fire personnel are equipped with agency-compliant PPE on every deployment.
- Prescribed Fire
- The intentional application of fire to a predetermined area under specific environmental conditions (wind, humidity, temperature, fuel moisture) to achieve land management objectives. Goals include fuel reduction to lower wildfire risk, habitat restoration, invasive species management, and overall ecosystem health. Prescribed fires require detailed burn plans, agency approval, and qualified burn personnel.
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- PSI
- Pounds Per Square Inch. A measurement of water pump pressure on wildland fire engines. Higher PSI enables longer hose lays and more effective water reach. Ponderosa Fire's Type 3 engine operates at 250 PSI and the Type 6 engine at 300 PSI.
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R
- Red Card
- Incident Qualification Card. The official wallet-sized certification document issued to wildland firefighters verifying their NWCG qualifications, completed training courses, and current fitness test status. A Red Card is required for assignment to any wildland fire incident and must be renewed annually through fitness testing and qualification review.
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S
- S-130
- Firefighter Training. The basic NWCG course covering wildland fire suppression fundamentals, including fireline construction, hose handling, hand tool use, fire shelter deployment, and safety protocols. S-130 is one of the core courses required to obtain FFT2 qualification and a Red Card.
- S-190
- Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior. An NWCG course that teaches the basic principles of wildland fire behavior, including how topography, weather, and fuels influence fire spread. Understanding fire behavior is essential for firefighter safety and tactical decision-making. S-190 is a required course for FFT2 qualification.
- S-290
- Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior. An advanced NWCG course that builds on S-190 concepts, covering fire environment interactions, fire weather forecasting, and extreme fire behavior. S-290 is a prerequisite for advancement to supervisory positions such as Engine Boss (ENGB) and other NWCG leadership qualifications.
- SAM.gov
- System for Award Management. The official U.S. government system for vendor registration and procurement eligibility. Federal contractors must register in SAM.gov to receive government contracts, including wildland fire suppression agreements. SAM.gov registration includes entity validation, representations and certifications, and financial information for payment processing.
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T
- Type 3 Engine
- A mid-size wildland fire engine with a minimum 500-gallon water tank, designed for both on-road and limited off-road firefighting operations. Type 3 engines provide higher water capacity and pump output than smaller engine types, making them suitable for initial attack, extended attack, and structure protection in the wildland-urban interface. Ponderosa Fire's Type 3 engine delivers 100 GPM at 250 PSI.
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- Type 6 Engine
- A compact, highly maneuverable wildland fire engine built on a 4x4 chassis with a 150-to-300-gallon water tank. The Type 6 is designed for off-road access to rough terrain, steep slopes, and backcountry areas that larger engines cannot reach. It is the most commonly deployed engine type for wildland fire initial attack. Ponderosa Fire's Type 6 engine carries 250 gallons and delivers 50 GPM at 300 PSI.
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U
- USFS
- United States Forest Service. A federal agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture responsible for managing 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands, including wildfire prevention and suppression. The USFS administers the VIPR procurement system and is the largest federal wildland fire suppression agency.
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V
- VIPR
- Virtual Incident Procurement. A federal procurement system managed by the U.S. Forest Service and cooperating agencies to pre-qualify and dispatch private wildland fire resources during fire season. VIPR-registered contractors have met federal standards for equipment, training, and insurance, allowing agencies to rapidly deploy resources during wildfire incidents. Registration involves annual preseason agreements, equipment inspections, and compliance verification.
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- VOSB
- Veteran-Owned Small Business. A federal designation for businesses that are at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more military veterans. VOSB status may provide contracting advantages with federal agencies. Ponderosa Fire LLC is a designated VOSB, founded by Nick Whipple, an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot in the Air National Guard.
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