Fir Any of the evergreen, coniferous trees of the genus Abies . From the Old English fyre . The great shaper and transformer of the northern forest. Ishkote or ashkote in the Ojibwe. Firebreak Any natural or constructed barrier or space, clear of flammable materials, used to segregate, stop, and control the spread of fire or to provide a control line from which to work.
Bodies of water can form natural firebreaks.
Fire Danger A measure of the likelihood of a forest fire, based on temperature, relative humidity, wind force and direction, and the dryness of the woods. Often proclaimed on roadside signs in National Forests, including the Superior. Not particularly useful for cooking, except as a platform upon which to balance one's cook stove. The typical period between wildfires in a natural environment, free of fire supression efforts. Fire Line Cleared area extending down to mineral soil that surrounds a fire to prevent the fire from reaching fresh fuels.