Wildfire suppression is a range of firefighting tactics used to suppress wildfires. Firefighting efforts depend on many factors such as the available fuel, the local atmospheric conditions, the features of the terrain, and the size of the wildfire. Because of this wildfire suppression in wild land areas usually requires different techniques, equipment, and training from the more familiar structure fire fighting found in populated areas. Working in conjunction with specially designed aerial firefighting aircraft, fire engines, tools, firefighting foams, fire retardants, and using various firefighting techniques, wildfire-trained crews work to suppress flames, construct fire lines, and extinguish flames and areas of heat in order to protect resources and natural wilderness. Wildfire suppression also addresses the issues of the wildland–urban interface, where populated areas border with wild land areas.
A wildfire suppression operation in Washington, United States in 2002. Methods here include fire retardant drops and the bulldozing of firebreaks.
Lava flow on the coastal plain of Kīlauea, on the island of Hawaii, generated this wildfire.
Fire retardant dispersed aerially onto brush adjoining a firebreak to contain the Tumbleweed Fire in California, in July 2021
A helicopter dips its bucket into a pool before dropping the water on a wildfire close to Naples, Italy.
Firefighting is a profession aimed at controlling and extinguishing fire. A person who engages in firefighting is known as a firefighter or fireman. Firefighters typically undergo a high degree of technical training. This involves structural firefighting and wildland firefighting. Specialized training includes aircraft firefighting, shipboard firefighting, aerial firefighting, maritime firefighting, and proximity firefighting.
Firefighters douse a burning convent in Massueville, Canada.
Bulgarian firefighters in action, 1930s
Ottawa Fire Department motor pump, Ottawa, Ontario, taken by the Topley Studio, May 1915.
Firefighters onboard the USS Forrestal in 1967.