The primary goal of a fire containment strategy is to:

The primary goal of a fire containment strategy is to prevent the fire from spreading. This approach is critical in firefighting, as it focuses on limiting the extent and progression of a fire to reduce the risk of loss, damage, and injury. By containing the fire, firefighters are able to protect both lives and property while creating a manageable situation, ultimately providing an opportunity to extinguish it more effectively.

Preventing the spread also allows for better allocation of resources, as the focus can be directed toward the most critical areas rather than attempting to tackle a larger fire that has already extended beyond control. Containment efforts often include creating firebreaks, using fire retardants, and employing various tactics to control the fire's perimeter, which contribute to overall firefighting effectiveness.

In contrast, while immediate extinguishing of the fire is important, it is usually a part of the broader strategy that includes containment first. Assessing environmental impact and protecting wildlife may be important considerations in broader fire management, but they are not the primary goals in a typical fire containment strategy during active firefighting operations.