When fighting a fire, firefighters typically work from which area to which area?

Firefighters typically work from areas that have not yet burned to areas that are still burning. This approach is grounded in minimizing risk and maximizing effectiveness. By starting from the unburned sections, firefighters can control the spread of the fire, prevent it from reaching new areas, and protect structures and resources that are still intact. This strategy allows them to establish a perimeter, often making it safer to engage with and extinguish the active fire.

Initiating from the unburned areas also provides time to assess conditions and apply tactics more effectively. It allows firefighters to gradually move into the burnt areas once they have a better control over the situation, thus ensuring they don’t endanger themselves unnecessarily and can manage potential hot spots better.

This method contrasts with working from burnt areas to unburned ones, which would expose firefighters to greater risks and possibly lead to a more chaotic firefighting effort.