Price's selectivity index

Price's selectivity index measures how accurately a firefighting method targets fires without causing unnecessary damage. It's a ratio that compares the area affected by the suppression method to the actual size of the fire. A higher index indicates the method is more precise, attacking only the fire and minimizing impact on surrounding areas. Conversely, a lower index suggests less selectivity, possibly causing more damage beyond the fire zone. This helps evaluate the effectiveness and environmental impact of different firefighting approaches, aiming to optimize fire suppression while preserving as much of the unaffected area as possible.