Glossary of Wildfire Terms

Incident Command System (ICS): System first developed to provide a command structure to manage large wildfires in the United States, now widely used by many emergency management agencies.
Indian pump: Water vessel carried on one's back, either a rigid can or collapsible bag, with a hose and telescoping squirt pump. Contains 5 US gal, and is used on hot spots and during mop up. Also called bladder bag (if collapsible), piss pump, or Fedco. Of uncertain utility in active crown fires.
Indirect attack: A method of suppression in which the control line is located some considerable distance away from the fire’s active edge. Generally done in the case of a fast-spreading or high-intensity fire and to utilize natural or constructed firebreaks fuel breaks and favorable breaks in the topography. The intervening fuel is usually backfired; but occasionally the main fire is allowed to burn to the line, depending on conditions.
Infrared (IR) detector: A heat detection system used for fire detection, mapping, and hotspot identification.
Initial attack: The actions taken by the first resources to arrive at a wildfire to protect lives and property, and prevent further extension of the fire. Usually done by trained and experienced crews and takes place immediately after size-up.
Interface zone: Where urban firefighting meets wildland firefighting. Structures at the edges of wildlands are threatened and require skills and equipment of both disciplines.
Into the black: Moving from outside the fire front to inside the burned area, which is sometimes the safest place to be in a flare-up, i.e., behind the fire, if possible to traverse the flames.