A fire break is a critical structure designed to prevent the spread of wildfires, but there are several common synonyms to describe this useful tool. One is a firebreak, a compound word that maintains the same definition as fire break. Another is fire lane, which emphasizes the strip of land or area around a burning zone kept free from combustible materials. Firestop is another synonym, denoting a wider area cleared of vegetation or debris to keep a fire within a defined zone. Lastly, fire trail is a term used for the creation of a controlled fire line in advance of a prescribed burn. No matter which term is used, the idea of a fire break is essential to protect people and property from the spread of wildfire.