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What is meant by Out of Control?
By BC Wildfire Service
Why are all new wildfires initially listed as “Out of Control?”
Think of a smoke alarm going off: It doesn’t always mean a house is fully engulfed in flames, but it does mean the situation needs to be treated seriously until it’s checked.
When a new wildfire is discovered, it is automatically classified as Out of Control until crews can assess it and determine otherwise.
That classification does not automatically mean a wildfire is large, spreading rapidly or behaving aggressively. In many cases, it simply means the fire has not yet been fully assessed or contained.
As firefighters gather more information about the wildfire’s behaviour, size and containment, the status may change to ‘Being Held’ or ‘Under Control.’ Some fires are reclassified very quickly after crews arrive on site, others may remain Out of Control but not aggressively spread.
Wildfire classifications are operational tools that help communicate current conditions, not a prediction of worst-case outcomes.
Learn more about the four stages of control and what they mean here.
BC Wildfire Service file photo
