What term refers to the entire outer edge of a fire?

The term that refers to the entire outer edge of a fire is known as the fire perimeter. This encompasses the boundary where the fire is actively burning and helps in defining the area affected by the fire. Understanding the fire perimeter is crucial for firefighting operations because it assists in assessing the size of the fire, determining resource needs, and planning containment strategies. It represents the most critical area that firefighting forces must focus on to control and suppress the fire effectively.

In contrast, the flank of a fire refers specifically to the sides of the fire, not the entire boundary. An island is an area within the fire perimeter that is not burning, and a pocket of fire typically describes a small area of active burning that may be surrounded by unburned space. Each of these terms highlights different aspects of fire dynamics and management, but only the fire perimeter accurately describes the full outer edge of the fire.