Out of Control: Any new fire that's still spreading and not contained within barriers. Any “out of control” status fires will require a percent contained.
Percent Contained: A rough estimate of how much of the fire’s boundary is surrounded by firebreaks, such as water-drenched areas, bulldozer-created line, or natural barriers like lakes and roads.
Being Monitored: A known, out of control fire that is not immediately threatening life or infrastructure. Monitored by aircraft or satellite with no resources currently assigned.
Contained: The fire is surrounded by barriers like bulldozer breaks or hose lines, which are expected to keep it from spreading further if firefighting efforts continue. However, fire is still actively burning on some or all edges, and it could potentially jump or spread.
Under Control: A control line surrounds the fire, and the fire's activity is low with only occasional flare-ups. The chance of the fire jumping or escaping is very low. Ongoing work is focused on putting out remaining flames and managing hotspots.
Being Patrolled: The fire is fully contained within the barriers or hose lines. There's little to no fire activity, occasional small smoke may be seen, and the chance of the fire escaping is minimal. Only minimal staff is needed, and most of the cleanup is done.
Out: The fire is completely extinguished, with no visible smoke for at least 24 hours. The incident commander declares a fire "out" when they're confident there’s no remaining heat or risk of rekindling.