Update: Whitlock Fire in Imperial County - 40% containment achieved

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Updated: 9:23 a.m. May 21

First discovered: 52 hours ago, 4:57 a.m. May 19

Initial location: Whitlock Road and Graeser Road, near Holtville, Imperial County, Calif.

Fire unit: Bureau of Land Management

Fire type: Wildfire

Fire name: Whitlock Fire

Whitlock Fire initially started 4:57 a.m. May 19 at Whitlock Road and Graeser Road, near Holtville in Imperial County, California.

Since its discovery two days ago, it has burned 100 acres. By Thursday morning, the fire crew succeeded in containing 40% of the wildfire. The blaze's cause remains under investigation.

Fire containment

What does it mean for a fire to be 40% contained?

The percentage indicates how much of the fire perimeter has been surrounded by a control line. In this case, it means that 40% of the wildfire is contained from spreading, while 60% is still uncontrolled.

Containment is part of a larger plan for managing a wildfire. It is normally expressed as a percentage and it refers to how much of the fire perimeter has been surrounded/enclosed by a control line that firefighters create. The containment percentage indicates a certain level of control, but it doesn't always correlate to safety level. Also, it's important to note that containment doesn't mean a fire is out.

How is containment measured?

The incident's central command constantly receives progress reports from firefighters on the ground. As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage. The percentage tells the public how much of the fire perimeter is believed to not go beyond the control lines.

Source: Cal Fire

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This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 9:42 AM.