09/03/2026
We’re at the Mop-Up Stage
Large flames and towering smoke columns draw the most attention on a wildfire, but some of the most critical work happens after the main fire activity has slowed down. As conditions on the High Lava Fire have improved, pockets of heat and burning material remain inside the containment lines, and at this stage, they’re called hotspots. Fire can smolder in stumps, roots, and p***y logs. It could creep in the duff layer or in the needle cast. It could even be high up in the crotch of tree. All these hotspots near the perimeter of the fire need to be extinguished for fire officials to declare an area “contained.”
To put out the hotspots, they need to be found. Some are obvious - they’re smoking. Many though, aren’t visibly smoking. Firefighters systematically cover the ground to find them, but finding heat that isn’t smoking involves smelling, looking for bugs hovering over heat for warmth, and carefully touching everything with their bare hands. Once found, it’s time to put it out.
Mop-up involves using hand tools, water and chainsaws. Firefighters work methodically, digging apart burning material, exposing hidden heat, applying water, and feeling for remaining heat repeatedly until they are confident the heat is out. When water isn’t available, they’ll mix the hot material into the soil and churn it up until fully extinguished, called dry-mopping.
This phase of the fire is called “mop-up,” and without it, the fire could linger for days, weeks, or even months.
