Which fire should be left to emergency services to extinguish?

The choice of a rapidly spreading fire as the situation that should be left to emergency services is based on the inherent dangers and unpredictability associated with such fires. Rapidly spreading fires can quickly escalate beyond the control of untrained individuals and pose significant risks to life and property. They can result in extensive damage and can spread to adjacent structures or environments, creating hazardous conditions that may not be manageable without professional firefighting assistance.

In contrast, fires that are less than a foot tall, small and controlled fires, or fires contained in a small area may still be manageable by trained individuals or fire guards. These situations allow for the application of appropriate extinguishing techniques and resources. Proper training equips individuals to assess the fire's intensity and containment, enabling them to make informed decisions on whether they can safely intervene or if the fire requires immediate attention from emergency services. Therefore, the guideline emphasizes the importance of recognizing when a fire exceeds the capabilities of non-professional intervention, directing such cases to the expertise of emergency responders.