<p>One hundred percent contained would mean that the fire had been completely stopped from spreading further, but not necessarily been put out. By five percent contained, which is only an approximate figure, the commentator meant that the fire was still spreading but, thanks to the firefighters efforts, to a slightly lesser extent than it had been earlier.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-24T02:18:57.790Z
The significance of 5% containment depends on conditions.  For example, a recent local fire was effectively stopped with just 5% containment: prevailing winds kept it from spreading to the southwest, while irrigated fields kept it from spreading to the northwest or southeast.  The only available direction of growth was to the northeast, so a relatively short fire line was sufficient to stop it.
Mark
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-29T14:26:03.540Z
2019-10-29T14:35:54.940Z
2019-10-29T14:35:54.940Z
Michael Walsby
<p>The LAFD reported that the Getty fire near Los Angeles is "5% contained". What is meant by "containment" and what does 5% containment mean in this context? I've tried googling "wildfire containment" but all I'm getting is news articles about a different currently ongoing wildfire.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-29T12:31:37.330Z
Note: I asked this here because I noticed there were other questions on wildfires, including a tag for the topic, so I assumed that it fits here, even though I'm not sure containment itself fits within the scope of ES.
Nzall
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-29T12:51:01.137Z
https://www.google.com/search?q=wildfire+containment+definition&rlz=1C1GGGE_deDE764DE764&oq=wildfire+containment&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l4j69i60.5128j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 - the addition "definition" is usually a good idea.
Erik
<wildfire>
What does the containment percentage mean when a fire department is reporting on a wildfire?
Nzall
# What does the containment percentage mean when a fire department is reporting on a wildfire?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-10-29)

The LAFD reported that the Getty fire near Los Angeles is "5% contained". What is meant by "containment" and what does 5% containment mean in this context? I've tried googling "wildfire containment" but all I'm getting is news articles about a different currently ongoing wildfire.

**Tags:** wildfire

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Note: I asked this here because I noticed there were other questions on wildfires, including a tag for the topic, so I assumed that it fits here, even though I'm not sure containment itself fits within the scope of ES.  
> **username_1**: https://www.google.com/search?q=wildfire+containment+definition&rlz=1C1GGGE_deDE764DE764&oq=wildfire+containment&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l4j69i60.5128j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 - the addition "definition" is usually a good idea.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-10-29. Score: 0

One hundred percent contained would mean that the fire had been completely stopped from spreading further, but not necessarily been put out. By five percent contained, which is only an approximate figure, the commentator meant that the fire was still spreading but, thanks to the firefighters efforts, to a slightly lesser extent than it had been earlier.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: The significance of 5% containment depends on conditions.  For example, a recent local fire was effectively stopped with just 5% containment: prevailing winds kept it from spreading to the southwest, while irrigated fields kept it from spreading to the northwest or southeast.  The only available direction of growth was to the northeast, so a relatively short fire line was sufficient to stop it.  

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