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[Jim Groovester]

So, while I was working on my embark for the Dwarf Fortress Masters Competition, Round 2, I was frequently beset by the problem of all my dwarves dying from brush fires caused by fire imps. Or all my wood and booze and other objects being burned to a crisp.

I have discovered a way to prevent this problem in its entirety. It's very simple.

Wherever a fire ignites, slap a large farm plot down. In a few moments, all the grass underneath the plot will turn into furrowed soil, and that doesn't burn. Pow! Fire stopped, immediately in its tracks. After that, you can remove the farm plot.

The conversion from grass to soil doesn't happen immediately, so the fire can still spread, but you can always immediately slap another farm plot down, ad infinitum, as needed.

It occurs to me that you might be able to do this with dirt roads, but I don't know if that turns all the grass into soil as quickly as farm plots do, and it may require construction. So, for now, until somebody educates me about dirt road construction, I recommend you use farm plots for all your fire stopping needs.

[guale]

You can also use stockpiles.

[Smew]

You can also use stockpiles.

False, it's been disproven.

[guale]

Oh really? My bad, I had never actually tried it myself, just heard it.

[Quietust]

I suspect a dirt road would work equally well - they build remarkably quickly, anyone will participate (as opposed to only growers), and there's nothing left to remove afterwards.

[IronBeer]

Why would you need a firebreak, though? Trees and shrubbery won't burn, and you can force your dwarves inside with a couple commands. Good find, though!

[Chewykittens]

Why would you need a firebreak, though? Trees and shrubbery won't burn, and you can force your dwarves inside with a couple commands. Good find, though!

If you depend on anything being outside, your fort grinds to a halt. Also having a field of ash is kinda ugly.

[Albedo]

Why would you need a firebreak, though?

Speaks the voice of (no) experience (in this matter, at least.)

Just off the top of my head...

o Ever-present non-zero chance of dwarves catching fire.
o Loss of any workshops built with flammable material (like wood).
o Loss of any flammable items not yet stored, from wood to coal to alcohol.
o Loss of gatherable plants near fortress.
o Delay of above-ground projects.
o Loss of points for style.

[kefkakrazy]

Why would you need a firebreak, though?

Speaks the voice of (no) experience (in this matter, at least.)

Just off the top of my head...

o Ever-present non-zero chance of dwarves catching fire.
o Loss of any workshops built with flammable material (like wood).
o Loss of any flammable items not yet stored, from wood to coal to alcohol.
o Loss of gatherable plants near fortress.
o Delay of above-ground projects.
o Loss of points for style.

B... but...

Dwarves catching fire, a bad thing? Also, style points loss? I kind of like my one fort. It has gotten further than almost any other fort I've ever had, and I rather like the implication that it looks like a burned-out Boatmurdered-style Mordor thanks to fire imp activity.

[Albedo]

They're not hard to start, don't let me stop you!

btw - is there any confirmed way to put out a dwarf (or item) on fire? Does submersion in water work (yet)? (afaik it didn't used to.)

[Chewykittens]

Dwarves catching fire, a bad thing?

Yes, dwarfs that are on fire are bad things. Elves, goblins, cats and lungfish, are all acceptable of being on fire, not dwarfs.