Last year, the Herald provided a handy glossary of forestry terms to help people familiarize themselves with some common timber talk. This year, on the heels of a fire season that kicked off in April and became one of the most intense that BC has ever experienced, we are going to provide a glossary of terms related to forest fires.

Candling: a single tree or clump of trees which is burning from the bottom up, often refers to the visually impressive moment when highly flammable needles or leaves ignite.

Out of Control: describes a wildfire that is not responding to suppression action with perimeter spread continuing uncontained.

Being Held: describes a wildfire that is not likely to spread beyond the existing perimeter or predetermined boundaries.

Contained: previously referred to as 100% contained, this describes a wildfire which has received sufficient suppression action to ensure it will spread no further.

Out: describes a wildfire that has been extinguished.

Fireguard: a barrier installed by machine or hand that clears fuels, ideally, down to the mineral soil. A fireguard is designed to stop or slow the spread of a fire by starving it of fuel, particularly a surface fire. Also functions as a control line from which crews can work on suppression action.

Bambi Bucket: a helicopter bucket carrying water to douse fires is often referred to as a Bambi Bucket, although the correct term is helicopter bucket. Bambi Bucket is a trademarked product by Canadian industrial fabrics manufacturer SEI Industries Ltd.

Interface fire: this type of fire has the potential to involve forest fuel, buildings, and vegetation whether that be natural, wild or cultivated. Simply put, a wildfire burning on the edge of a residential area, such as the forests and grasslands behind Merritt’s Bench neighbourhood.

Crown fire: refers to the movement of a fire through the uppermost layer of foliage on a tree or shrub, known as the canopy, more or less independently of the surface fire. This type of fire is intense and difficult to contain.

Drip torch: a handheld device consisting of a canister and a spout which drips flaming liquid fuel. Most often used for controlled burning with the aim of removing fuel ahead of the main fire front.

Mop up: the stage after a fire is brought under control where residual fire is extinguished to ensure it doesn’t spread outside of the established perimeter and containment area. This may include breaking apart smouldering debris, dousing hot spots, felling trees, moving hot or burning debris to prevent it rolling downhill and igniting previously unburned vegetation. During this stage, firefighters ensure a fire cannot reignite, even under hot, dry conditions.

Firestorm: this occurs when heat from a wildfire creates its own wind system. Intense updrafts may even cause fire whirls, sometimes referred to as a fire tornado, as part of the firestorm.

Pulaski: a hand tool used predominantly for firefighting which combines an axe and adze (similar to an axe but with the cutting edge perpendicular to the handle rather than parallel). A Pulaski can be used for cutting trail or constructing a firebreak. Fun fact, the Pulaski is named for its inventor, Ed Pulaski, an assistant ranger with the United States Forest Service in 1911.

Spot fire: a fire that ignites outside of the main fire perimeter, caused by flying sparks or embers that can travel several kilometres.