Fire conditions
Understanding Fire Conditions
Before initiating wildfire suppression operations, it is crucial to assess the fire’s current state. Each phase of a fire’s development requires a specific approach and clear objectives to ensure an effective and safe response.
Different Fire Conditions
A fire is classified based on its stage of spread and management at a given moment. The main categories are as follows:
New: A recently reported fire that is under evaluation. Its status must be updated within 12 hours of detection.
Being held: A fire whose progression has been temporarily halted and is not expected to expand by more than 10% within the next 10 hours or 150 hectares, whichever occurs first.
Under control: A fire whose spread has been stopped by a suppression line, whether natural (rock, mineral soil, waterbody), artificial (road, wetline), or due to weather conditions.
Extinguished: A fire with no remaining signs of combustion.
Out of Control: A fire analysis indicates that an initial attack will not be sufficient to halt its rapid spread, or that an attempted intervention has failed to limit its expansion.
Under Observation: A known fire that does not require immediate intervention.
Recorded: A fire documented in the northern zone with no active suppression efforts.
The objective of response teams is to move a fire from the new stage to extinguished as quickly as possible while ensuring the safety of responders and surrounding communities.