DCHP-1 Online
fire-line † 
1 n. the point of farthest advance of a forest fire, where the firefighters work.
See also: fire-front
- c1902 The four trappers, running short of rations, decided to try to flank the fire coming around far enough ahead to intercept the game that must be moving away from the fire line.
- 1953 The fifth and sixth fires appeared out of control and reports from portable radios on the fire line indicated that much more of everything . . . would be required to win control.
2 n. in the bush, a strip of land cleared of trees and brush and intended to stop the advance of a forest fire.
See also: firebreak (def. 3)
- 1958 Dropping our packs we raced as fast as we dared down a narrow game trail, glutted with dead-falls and small jack pine. There was no chance of reaching the Babine Lake fire lines now.
- 1961 Firefighting in B.C. is often referred to as war on the fire lines.
- 1963 When possible, the first thing to do on a fire is to build a fire-line right around it, or at least across the advancing head of the fire. A fire-line is simply a wide path cleared of all underbrush and cover of all kinds and scraped down to mineral soil. When the fire reaches the line, there is no material for it to burn, and if it can be kept from "jumping" the line, control can be established.
3 † n. a barrier erected by firemen to restrain curious onlookers.
- 1957 One man was arrested and charged with obstructing police when he refused to move behind fire lines.
- c1902 The four trappers, running short of rations, decided to try to flank the fire coming around far enough ahead to intercept the game that must be moving away from the fire line.