What does Extended Attack refer to in firefighting operations?

Extended Attack in firefighting operations refers to a scenario where the initial response to a fire is insufficient to control it, necessitating the deployment of additional resources. This typically occurs when the fire has spread beyond the initial attack’s capability, requiring a more robust and sustained firefighting effort.

In an Extended Attack situation, several factors can contribute to the need for reinforcements, such as the fire's size, intensity, the terrain, and the availability of resources. This type of operation often involves a more complex and coordinated response from multiple teams to effectively manage the situation, control the fire spread, and ultimately achieve complete extinguishment.

The choices about initial resources managing to control the fire or maintaining it with minimal effort pertain to scenarios that do not require extensive additional support and thereby are not representative of an Extended Attack. An effective management during the first burn period also indicates a swift response that successfully mitigates the fire early on without needing the scale of effort associated with an Extended Attack.