Deadly wildfires continue to ravage the Los Angeles area, as firefighters battle windy conditions to contain the out-of-control blazes.

But what does it mean to “contain” a wildfire?

Containment does not mean that a blaze has been completely extinguished. Rather, it refers to how much of a perimeter has been established around an active fire, preventing it from growing and engulfing more land.

Fire crews aim to suppress a wildfire by creating containment lines around it — either with…