fire an area cleared of flammable material that can be used with relative safety by fire fighters and their equipment in the event of a nearby blowup, or used for escape if the control line is outflanked or a spot fire causes fuels outside the control line to render the line unsafe —note 1. in firing operations, crews progress to maintain a safety island nearby —note 2. large safety islands may also be constructed as integral parts of fuelbreaks This definition last updated 08/02/2008