As firefighters battled windy weather to suppress the out-of-control blazes, deadly wildfires continue to rage over the Los Angeles region.
However, what is meant by “containing” a wildfire? Being contained does not imply that a fire has been put out entirely.
Instead, it describes the extent to which a perimeter has been created around an active fire to stop it from spreading and consuming additional area.
Using containment lines, which may be made of roads, highways, or natural barriers like rivers or other waterways, firefighters try to put out a wildfire by enclosing the flames and preventing them from spreading.
By excavating broad trenches around a fire’s flank or by removing nearby vegetation and other “fuel” that may catch fire, containment lines can also be created.
According to the Western Fire Chiefs Association, a nonprofit organization composed of fire organization leaders from western U.S.