Glossary of Wildfire Terms

Aerial canopy: Fuel type consisting of trees having few low branches, making it less susceptible to ignition by low-intensity fires.
Aerial firefighting (or Air attack): Use of aircraft in support of ground resources to combat wildfires, often most effective in initial attack in light fuels.
Air drop: Delivery of supplies or retardant from the air. Supplies can be dropped by parachute. Retardant is dropped in a single "salvo" or one or more "trails", the size of which is determined by the wind and the volume, speed and altitude of the airtanker (usually no less than 200 feet above the drop zone).
Air operations: Group tasked with coordinating aerial-based observation, supply, rescue and suppression at a wildfire.
Air Tactical Group Supervisor or Air Attack: Coordinates air resources for attack of a fire.
Airtanker: Fixed-wing aircraft certified by FAA as being capable of transport and delivery of 600 to 3,0000 gallons of water or other liquid or powder fire retardants. Formerly referred to as "borate bombers" before borate-based retardants became less desirable. Often accompanied by a spotter plane.
Anchor point: An advantageous location, usually a barrier to fire spread, from which to start constructing a fireline. The anchor point is used to minimize the chance of being flanked (or outflanked) by the fire while the line is being constructed.