Fire in Forests. Glossary of Terms
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Terminology concepts
active crown fireNo contributors
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crown fire that advances simultaneously throughout the forest both in the canopy layer and in the lower layers
cured grassNo contributors
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dead fuel consisting of dried out grass or grass-like plants of previous growing seasons
extinguishing water wellNo contributors
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well that is used to take extinguishing water in fire protection
fire behavior triangleNo contributors
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diagram illustrating a wildfire with the help of three main factors: fuel, topography, and weather conditions
fire ecologyNo contributors
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branch of forest ecology that studies the interactions between forest fires, environment, and living organisms
fire refugiaNo contributors
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area which, due to vegetation, soil moisture conditions or some other factors, has repeatedly remained unburned in its forest fire history, or an area which remains unburned in a major forest fire
fire swatterNo contributors
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hand tool used for wildfire suppression and control of prescribed burning
fire triangleNo contributors
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a model in which burning requires heat, oxygen, and fuel at the same time
fire weatherNo contributors
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weather conditions affecting the ignition and spread of wildfires
fire whirlNo contributors
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exceptionally strong warm air currents which rise in forest fires, carry forest fuels and combustible gases with them and increase the risk of crown fires and spot fires
fire-dependent speciesNo contributors
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species dependent on the burnt forest area habitats
flame heightNo contributors
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distance of the tip of the forest fire flame from the ground, measured vertically
flame lengthNo contributors
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distance between the flame tip of the forest fire tip and the midpoint of the flame depth at the base of the flame
forest fire insuranceNo contributors
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insurance covering the damages caused to tree stands, seedlings, and timber stored in the forest by a forest fire and fire suppression activities
forest fuelNo contributors
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organic substances that are found in a forest above, on, and below soil surface and that may ignite
forest fuel flammabilityNo contributors
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sensitivity of forest fuel to ignite under certain circumstances
fuel bedNo contributors
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structural element of fuel loading which can consist of different forest fuels located at a certain height above the ground
fuel moisture contentNo contributors
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water content of a fuel in relation to the total mass of the fuel
fuel typeNo contributors
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index classifying fuels in terms of their composition, volume, and structure
grass fire warningNo contributors
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warning that can be given in springtime to draw public attention to a high cured grass fire risk
grass-fire indexNo contributors
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numerical index describing the moisture content of the 3 cm thick surface soil
hazard fuelNo contributors
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fast-drying and flammable forest fuel which forms a fuel bed so abundant and comprehensive that it can effectively spread the fire horizontally or vertically
ignition probabilityNo contributors
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probability of a fuel to ignite under certain circumstances
independent crown fireNo contributors
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crown fire that advances in the tree crowns independently, not requiring any thermal energy from the lower fuel layers to spread
initial attackNo contributors
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fire control attempt by the first rescue units or aircraft arriving at a wildfire incident to suppress the fire
kulohälytys (fi)No contributors
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warning that was in use in Finland earlier and that may have been issued when forest fire risk was impending
kulovaroitus (fi)No contributors
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warning that was in use in Finland earlier and that was issued when forest fire danger was obvious
ladder fuelNo contributors
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forest fuel that facilitates fire to advance from the lower fuel layers to a canopy layer
large fireNo contributors
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wildfire that, due to its extensive area or intensity, has significant economic or other consequences that affect people's well-being
live fuel typeNo contributors
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index classifying live fuels in terms of their composition, volume, and structure
notice of prescribed burningNo contributors
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notice of conducting prescribed burning made by a prescribed burning organization to the rescue department