Ponds can be incorporated into a fire line.
Fire lines, or campfires, are areas where vegetation is cleared in hopes of stopping or at least slowing down a fire. A fireline may also be called a firebreak, referring to the idea that it is intended to interrupt the path of the fire, giving firefighting personnel the opportunity to control the fire. A wide variety of tools can be used to create the lines, and they take many forms, from natural features like rivers to labeled areas near the front lines of a fire.
Fire lines are commonly used against wildfires.
The creation of fire lines is essential in fighting wildfires, because without fire lines, a fire can quickly get out of control. By depriving the fire of fuel, the line slows the fire’s progress and confines it to a specific area, which can make it much easier to control. Typically, these lines are made by removing the earth with shovels or bulldozers. Firefighters sometimes take advantage of roads and paths to start a fire, using them as barriers instead of trying to open new lines. A line can also be made using a controlled burn that consumes the fuel in an area before the fire has a chance to reach it.
Fire lines are usually made by removing the earth with bulldozers.
Working on fire lines can be extremely dangerous as it puts firefighters in the direct path of the fire. There is always the danger of a fire crossing the line, trapping firefighters between the original fire and the new one, and as a result, firefighters tend to be especially careful while on the lines. The lines are often considered the front lines, because it is common to establish a foothold in the line of fire and then work inward to control the fire.
Gravel can be used to make a path, it is also used as a fire line.
During catastrophic wildfires, fire lines can extend immense distances and it is not always possible to create fire lines around an entire fire. In such cases, firefighters choose to focus on a specific area and spotting aircraft are used to ensure firefighters are not surrounded by fire while on the job.
In especially fire-prone areas, people are often encouraged to project fire lines around their homes to be safer in the event of a fire. These lines can be deliberately built into the landscape, in the form of an artfully curved driveway, a strategic series of gravel paths, or a well-placed pond. In addition to creating fire lines around a house, it’s also a good idea to keep vegetation near a house neatly trimmed so that if the fire jumps the line, it still has trouble reaching the house.