Firefighters battle a wildfire in Westhampton Beach on Saturday.

Firefighters battle a wildfire in Westhampton Beach on Saturday. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost

In 2006, the National Wildfire Coordinating Group issued a glossary that listed terms used to describe the battle of fighting fires on mostly undeveloped land.

The group's members include the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fire Administration and the International Association of Fire Chiefs. 

While it comes to fighting such fires, brush trucks are part of the arsenal of tools that can be used. 

Some leading manufacturers of those vehicles note on their websites that the specialized vehicles often have 4-wheel drive. They also carry their own water, shovels and other equipment, along with crews who will battle at the fire lines.

Here are some of the commonly used terms used in this specialized firefighting.

Wildland: An area of where land is essentially undeveloped except for transportation infrastructure and any structures are scattered widely.

Brush fire: A fire in mostly shrubs, brush and scrub growth.

Wildfire: An unwanted fire in wildland, including unauthorized fires started by people and blazes that are ignited on purpose under approved plans, but then get out of control.

Air attack: Using a fixed-wing plane or helicopter to drop water or fire retardant, transport crews and supplies or assess overall fire area from the air. 

Knockdown: When firefighters reduce flames or heat on the worst parts of the blaze along its edge.

Backfire: Also known as "backfiring." When firefighters intentionally set fire to vegetation inside the operation's control line to slow, knock down or contain a wildfire on their terms.

With John Valenti

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