Firebreaks: Wet/black lines

Other examples of constructed firebreaks are wet lines and blacklines. With wet lines, a small pump and water tank are used to wet the short grass of a mowed firebreak just behind the ignition crew member while the fire is allowed to burn toward the burn unit. The holding crew continues to mop up the fire edge along the firebreak. Blacklines are completed prior to the main burn to remove fuel and create a firebreak around the perimeter of the burn unit. Burning blacklines is done under weather conditions where the fire is easy to control, i.e., higher humidity, light winds. When the fire has burned the desired width, it is extinguished and mopped up. The main burn is conducted on a day that meets the prescription. Both wet lines and blacklines are more complex and should only be attempted by experienced crews.