What is an example of a natural control line?

A ridge top serves as a natural control line due to its geographic features that can help slow down or direct the spread of wildfire. Natural control lines are existing features in the landscape, such as ridges, rivers, or roads, that can be utilized to contain a fire. Because ridges often provide an elevation advantage, they can hinder the movement of fire, especially if the slope of the terrain is steep.

Using natural features like ridge tops has several benefits, including reduced time and labor involved in creating artificial barriers. In contrast, hand lines are created by firefighters by clearing vegetation, constructed clearings involve human-made modifications to the environment, and burnout areas refer to sections that are intentionally burned ahead of a fire to create buffer zones. While important, those options do not exemplify natural control lines as they involve significant human activity or modification of the landscape.