Deadly wildfires remain burning in the Los Angeles area, with firefighters battling strong winds to quell blazes that have gotten out of control.
But what does it mean to “contain” a wildfire?
Even if the fire is extinguished, it does not mean that the fire is completely extinguished. Rather, it refers to how much of a perimeter is established around an active fire to prevent the fire from expanding and engulfing more land.
Firefighters aim to suppress wildfires by setting up natural barriers such as roads, highways, or rivers or other waterways around wildfires to create containment lines that surround the flames and prevent them from spreading. Masu.
Containment lines can also be constructed by digging wide trenches around the sides of the fire and clearing out surrounding vegetation and other “fuel” that could ignite.
According to the Western Fire Chiefs Association, a nonprofit organization made up of fire service leaders from Western states and the Pacific Islands, fire containment is typically measured as a percentage of how well a fire is contained.
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The largest fire in the Los Angeles metropolitan area was the Palisades Fire, which broke out nearly a week ago in the Pacific Palisades and Malibu areas. The fire has burned more than 23,000 acres and was only 14% contained as of Monday, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. This means firefighters have set up containment lines around 14% of the perimeter.
Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire, which has burned more than 14,000 acres in Altadena and Pasadena, is 33% contained. The Hearst Fire, which has burned about 800 acres in the Sylmar area, is 95% contained, Cal Fire said.
Containment is a good indicator of firefighting progress, but it can change as the wildfire progresses and environmental conditions improve or worsen.
A man has had a heartwarming reaction after being reunited with his beloved dog who went missing in the Palisades bushfires.
In Southern California, for example, strong Santa Ana winds are predicted to cause significant fires in parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties over the next three days. Dry, windy conditions help existing fires grow and favor new ignitions to spread quickly.
Even so, completely extinguished fires can continue to burn for some time. However, the key strategy is to eliminate the threat of a fire crossing the containment line.
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