Wildland Fire Terminology 101
and last updated 2021-07-11 20:19:22-04
Wildland firefighters often use terminology unfamiliar to the general public. This glossary is intended to help people better understand the terminology used by fire crews and in news reports.
Aerial Fuels: All live and dead vegetation in the forest canopy or above surface fuels, including tree branches, twigs and cones, snags, moss, and high brush.
Air Tanker: A fixed-wing aircraft equipped to drop fire retardants or suppressants. Tankers are often referred to by their plane model type, such as the DC-10 Air Tanker.
Agency: Any federal, state, or local organization participating with jurisdictional responsibilities.