What does indirect attack involve?

Indirect attack is a method used in wildland firefighting that focuses on working from a safe distance away from the active fire front. This approach involves establishing control lines and fire breaks by clearing vegetation and creating barriers to prevent the fire from spreading. By working away from the actual fire, firefighters can utilize topography or existing barriers to aid in controlling the fire, thus minimizing risk to personnel. This method allows for a more strategic approach by considering wind direction, fuel types, and fire behavior, which can be crucial in suppressing the fire effectively.

In contrast, directly wetting the fire, creating fire breaks right next to the fire, or smothering it with soil are more aggressive and immediate tactics that can be risky and require close proximity to the fire. Indirect attack is particularly useful in situations where direct attack is too dangerous or impractical, making it a vital strategy in the toolbox of wildland firefighting techniques.