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Home , Fire shelter, Hotshot crew, Wildfire

Supplementary material Occup Environ Med

Glossary: Wildland Terminology Wildland Fire Term Definition Active Wildland A wildland fully qualified to perform duties and responsibilities for Firefighter their specified position who is currently employed and available to be assigned to wildland fire incidents. Agency An administrative division of a government with a specific function, or a non- governmental organization (e.g., private contractor, business, etc.) that offers a particular kind of assistance. A federal, tribal, state or local agency that has direct fire management or land management responsibilities or that has programs and activities that support fire management activities. Assigned Crews Wildland fire crews checked in and assigned work tasks on an incident. Assignments Tasks given to crews to perform within a given operational period (work shift). Backfire A fire set along the inner edge of a fireline to consume the in the path of a or change the direction of force of the fire's column. Crew A type of wildland fire resource. An organized group of under the leadership of a crew boss or other designated official that have been trained primarily for operational assignments on wildland fire incidents. General term for two or more firefighters organized to work as a unit. Direct attack A suppression tactic applied directly to burning fuel such as wetting, smothering, or chemically quenching the fire or by physically separating the burning from unburned fuel. Direct Fireline Fireline constructed directly on the active fire edge. Engine Crew Firefighters that specialize in the use of engines for tactical operations. The Fireline Handbook (https://www.nifc.gov/PUBLICATIONS/redbook/2019/RedBookAll.pdf) defines the minimum crew makeup by engine type. Equipment Weight The combined weight of a wildland firefighter's fireline pack and tools carried while working on the fireline. Also: Pack Weight Fire Environment The surrounding conditions, influences, and modifying forces of , fuel, and that determine fire behavior. Fire Management All activities for the management of wildland to meet land management objectives. Fire management includes the entire scope of activities from planning, prevention, or modification, prescribed fire, mitigation, fire response, rehabilitation, monitoring and evaluation. Fire Qualifications Qualifications and certifications required for those personnel responding to an incident locally, regionally, or nationally. Qualifications typically include, training, experience, and physical fitness. Fireline 1. The part of a containment or control line that is scraped or dug to mineral soil. 2. The area within or adjacent to the perimeter of an uncontrolled wildfire of any size in which action is being taken to control or manage fire. Such action includes operations, which directly support control of fire. Fireline Pack A one-person unit of fire tools, equipment, and supplies prepared in advance for carrying on the back.

West MR, et al. Occup Environ Med 2020;0:1–6. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2019-106186 Supplementary material Occup Environ Med

Fireline Qualified Personnel who have met the current qualifications in order to work on the fireline of a wildland fire incident. To be qualified to work on the fireline, personnel must have passed the arduous work capacity test, specific National Wildland Fire Coordinating Group training courses, and complete scenario training including a practice deployment. Geographic Region A boundary designated by governmental agencies (wildland agencies), that coincides with a geographic area boundary within which they work together coordinating, for the effective, mobilization and demobilization of management resources within their area. Listings of geographic coordinating areas can be found in the National Interagency Mobilization Guide, Chapter 20, Section 21.1. (https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/mobguide/Mobilization_Guide.pdf). There are currently 9 geographic areas. Hand Crew Firefighters that specialize in the use of hand tools, , ignition devices, and other tools for tactical operations and to build fireline by hand. Hand crew types include Interagency Hotshot Crews (IHC)s, Type 2 Initial Attack Crews, Type 2 Crews, Fire Suppression Modules, and Fuels Crews (previous 2 are subtypes of Type 2 crews) Indirect Attack A method of fire management where activities are conducted a distance from the fire's active edge. Control line may be constructed or natural barriers may be identified to utilize as indirect fireline. Interagency Hot Shot A hand crew consisting of 20-22 wildland firefighters who must as a collective Crew (IHC) crew possess specific qualifications as required by the Standards for Interagency Operations or agency policy. IHCs are safe, professional, mobile, and highly skilled hand crews for all phases of fire management and incident operations. Also: Type I crew Mixed Attack A combination of direct and indirect attack. Pack Weight The weight of a one-person unit of fire tools, equipment, and supplies prepared in advance for carrying on the back. Prescribed Any fire intentionally ignited by management actions in accordance with applicable laws, policies, and regulations to meet specific objectives. Resource All personnel and equipment available or potentially available for assignment to incidents. Sawyer A firefighter who operates a . Swamper A worker who assists sawyers by clearing away brush, limbs and small . Carries fuel, oil and tools and watches for dangerous situations. The Interagency A group of interagency federal wildland fire employees that states, Standards for Fire references, or supplements policy and provides program direction for Bureau Operations Group of Land Management, U.S. Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, , and Bureau of Indian Affairs fire and fire aviation program management. The group annually revises, publishes, and distributes, the federal Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations.

West MR, et al. Occup Environ Med 2020;0:1–6. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2019-106186 Supplementary material Occup Environ Med

The National Wildland A group of interagency wildland fire employees provides national leadership Fire Coordination to enable interoperable wildland fire operations among federal, state, local, Group tribal, and territorial partners. NWCG goals include establishing national interagency wildland fire operations standards, fire position standards, performance support capabilities, and support the goal of responding to safely and effectively. The NWCG recognizes that the decision to adopt standards is made independently by NWCG members and communicated through their respective directives systems. Type Refers to resource capability. A Type 1 resource provides a greater overall capability due to power, size, capacity, etc., than would be found in a Type 2 resource. Resource typing provides managers with additional information in selecting the best resource for the task. Type I Crew A hand crew consisting of 20-22 wildland firefighters who must as a collective crew possess specific qualifications as required by the Standards for Interagency Hotshot Crew Operations or agency policy. IHCs are safe, professional, mobile, and highly skilled hand crews for all phases of fire management and incident operations. Also: Interagency Hotshot Crew Type II Crew A hand crew consisting of 7-20 individuals that have been organized and trained and are supervised principally for operational assignments on an incident. Training, experience, and management qualifications are less than for Type I crews. United States Forest An agency of the U.S. Department of that administers the nation's Service (USFS) 154 national and 20 national grasslands. The largest wildland fire management agency and employer in the United States. Wildland Fire Engines A ground vehicle providing specified levels of pumping, , and hose capacity. There are 5 types of engines which are specified by tank capacity, pump rating, hose capacity, and number of personnel. An engine is accompanied by 2-6 personnel. Work Capacity Test A family of tests to determine firefighter physical capabilities. Work capacity (WCT) tests are used to ensure that persons assigned to fire activities are physically capable of performing the duties of wildland . Firefighters must pass the arduous level of the work capacity test to perform duties on the fireline.

Definitions of Job Tasks from Table 1 Wildland Fire Term Definition Briefing A meeting usually at the beginning of the work shift to give assignments and tasks. Cold Trailing A method of controlling a partly dead fire edge by carefully inspecting and feeling with the hand for to detect any fire, digging out every live spot, and trenching any live edge. Compound Work Various job tasks at a wildland firefighter's duty station, where they normally report to work. Driving Driving to and from the fireline or to locations around a wildfire or prescribed burn. Engine Pump A WLFF assigned to control the pump of a for use in wildland fire Operator operations or training.

West MR, et al. Occup Environ Med 2020;0:1–6. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2019-106186 Supplementary material Occup Environ Med

Felling Sawyer A WLFF operating a chainsaw with the purposes of trees. Felling Swamper A WLFF assisting a sawyer with felling trees and moving debris from fallen trees. Grid the To search for hot spots within an already burned area by systematically traveling over an area on parallel courses or gridlines. Grid the Green To search for a small ignition sites in an unburned area close to an already burned area by systematically traveling over an area on parallel courses or gridlines. Handline Direct Fireline constructed with hand tools directly on the active fire edge by engine Engine crew members Handline Direct Fireline constructed with hand tools directly on the active fire edge by Firefighter firefighter crew members Handline Direct Pump Operating an engine pump or portable pump for use in a hose lay or other tactic to deliver water to direct fireline. Handline Direct Fireline constructed with a chainsaw directly on the active fire edge by a Sawyer sawyer, who typically goes ahead of the rest of the crew and clears vegetation to create a path for the handline. Handline Direct An unfinished preliminary control fireline established or constructed directly Scratch on the active fire edge to check the spread of fire. Handline Direct Squad Handline constructed with hand tools directly on the active fire edge by a Leader squad leader. During handline construction squad leaders typically are involved in scouting, planning, supervising, and assisting with the construction of handline. Handline Direct Fireline constructed directly on the active fire edge by a swamper, who assists Swamper the sawyer and removes vegetation that is cut by the sawyer and places it on the opposite side of the active fire from where the handline will be constructed Handline Indirect A WLFF assisting, instructing, and guiding a dozer operator to build and Dozer Boss improve indirect fireline Handline Indirect Handline constructed with hand tools away from the active fire edge by a Firefighter firefighter. Handline Indirect Operating an engine pump or portable pump for use in a hose lay or other Pump tactic to deliver water to indirect fireline. Handline Indirect Fireline constructed with a chainsaw away from the active fire edge by a Sawyer sawyer, who typically goes ahead of the rest of the crew and clears vegetation to create a path for the handline. Handline Indirect An unfinished preliminary control fireline established or constructed away Scratch from the active fire edge as a measure to check the spread of fire. Handline Indirect Handline constructed with hand tools away from the active fire edge by a Squad Leader squad leader. During handline construction squad leaders typically are involved in scouting, planning, supervising, and assisting with the construction of handline. Handline Indirect Fireline constructed away from the fire edge by a swamper, who assists the Swamper sawyer and removes vegetation that is cut by the sawyer and places it on the side of the fireline opposite of the side the active fire is near

West MR, et al. Occup Environ Med 2020;0:1–6. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2019-106186 Supplementary material Occup Environ Med

Hiking Walking over terrain to get to the area of the fire a crew is assigned, return to vehicles from the fire after shift, or move positions on a fire Holding Direct Line Patrolling a section of the direct fireline and using tactics to ensure that fire does not cross the fireline. If fire crosses the fireline, other tactics are employed to control the fire that has crossed. Holding Engine An engine crew member patrolling a section of the direct fireline and to ensure that fire does not cross the fireline and using capabilities of an engine, most commonly water from a hose lay to keep fire from crossing. Holding Firefighter A firefighter patrolling and using tactics to ensure fire does not cross a particular area that is neither direct or indirect line. This could be a natural barrier or road. If fire crosses the area, other tactics are employed to control the fire that has crossed. Holding Indirect Line Patrolling a section of the indirect fireline and using tactics to ensure that fire does not cross the fireline. If fire crosses the fireline, other tactics are employed to control the fire that has crossed. Holding Pump Operating an engine or portable water pump in support of firefighters holding direct or indirect fireline utilizing a hose lay. Holding Squad Leader Supervising and assisting a group (squad) of firefighters who are patrolling direct or indirect fireline and using tactics to ensure that fire does not cross the fireline. If fire crosses the fireline, other tactics are employed to control the fire that has crossed. The squad leader typically walks all sections the fireline where firefighters he/she is supervising are present. Incident Command A firefighter at the incident command post awaiting assignment or departure Post (ICP) Stationary to fireline Improving Direct Line Utilizing chainsaws, hand tools, and other tactics to either widen, deepen, re- enforce, or otherwise improve direct handline already constructed Improving Indirect Utilizing chainsaws, hand tools, and other tactics to either widen, deepen, re- Line enforce, or otherwise improve indirect handline already constructed Incident Command At the incident command post carrying out an array of duties such as Post (ICP) Other gathering supplies for the crew, refurbing tools, eating breakfast, administrative duties etc. Initial Attack Actions taken by the first resources to arrive at a wildfire to prevent further extension of the fire. Line Preparation Utilizing a chainsaw to clear vegetation to a specified distance on both sides of a planned or already constructed fireline. Swampers move cut vegetation beyond the specified distance or to a designated area opposite the side of the line from the active fire. Lunch Break 30-minute mandatory break while on the fireline. Medical Responding to a medical incident on the fireline. 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 . Operational Break A pause in operations for reasons other than a scheduled or rest break. Reasons may include waiting in a safety zone until fire behavior decreases or waiting to engage until supervisors have scouted for . Other A specific job task not otherwise specified.

West MR, et al. Occup Environ Med 2020;0:1–6. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2019-106186 Supplementary material Occup Environ Med

Physical Training Partaking in physical fitness training to properly prepare for the physical demands of arduous wildland fire tasks. Project Saw Utilizing a chainsaw to complete project work such as a forest fuels project or clearing forest roads of vegetation. Project Stacking Stacking and piling vegetation that is cut by a chainsaw on a project such as a forest fuels thinning project or clearing forest roads of vegetation. Refurb Tools Sharpening, repairing, , and otherwise refurbishing chainsaws, hand tools, and other equipment. Rest Break A break from job tasks in order to rest. Prescribed (RX) Holder Carrying out holding duties (patrolling a section of fireline and using tactics to ensure that fire does not cross the fireline) on a prescribed burn. RX Lighter Utilizing a hand-held device for igniting a prescribed fire by dripping flaming liquid fuel on the materials to be burned. Scouting Hazard Trees Searching for, identifying, and assessing trees that may be a hazard to both personnel working in the area and/or may compromise fireline by spreading fire to the opposite side of the fireline. Staging Crews are assigned to await a tactical assignment on a three-minute available basis. Structure Protection Employing tactics to protect a structure from active wildfire in the immediate area or threat of wildfire, often done in preparation. Suppression Holder Patrolling a section of the direct fireline and using tactics to ensure that fire does not cross the fireline. If fire crosses the fireline, other tactics are employed to control the fire that has crossed. This is done on a wildfire incident while other firefighters are utilizing tactics to light a backfire. Suppression Lighter Utilizing a hand-held device for igniting a backfire on a wildfire by dripping flaming liquid fuel on the materials to be burned. Tool up/Tool Down Gathering gear and equipment for immediate departure to the assigned task or removing gear and returning to appropriate storage following task. Working with Aviation Communicating, directing, acting as liaison for aircraft that is providing support or suppression operations to the fire. This is most commonly in the form of dropping water or other fire suppressants from a helicopter or airplane onto active fire in the area.

References for Glossary: Wildland Fire Terminology:

1. Velasco II, Robert. FSH 6709.11 Health and Safety Code Handbook. November 2018. 2. NIFC. Standards For Interagency Hotshot Crew Operations. 2016. 3. Hotshots | US Forest Service. https://www.fs.fed.us/science- technology/fire/people/hotshots. Accessed November 26, 2019.

West MR, et al. Occup Environ Med 2020;0:1–6. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2019-106186 Supplementary material Occup Environ Med

4. Hotshot Physical Fitness Training | U.S. Hotshots Association. https://www.ushotshots.com/hotshot-physical-fitness-training/. Accessed November 26, 2019. 5. Fire Terminology. https://www.fs.fed.us/nwacfire/home/terminology.html#M. Accessed July 9, 2019. 6. NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire, PMS 205 | NWCG. https://www.nwcg.gov/glossary/a-z. Accessed November 19, 2019.

West MR, et al. Occup Environ Med 2020;0:1–6. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2019-106186