What is a significant disadvantage of using the indirect attack method of wildland firefighting?

Using the indirect attack method in wildland firefighting can indeed lead to an increase in the acreage burned. This approach involves creating control lines at a distance from the fire, often utilizing natural features or constructed barriers to manage the fire's spread. However, because it is not an immediate engagement with the fire itself, there can be a significant delay in containment.

While firefighters are working to establish control lines and conducting backburns or other tactics to mitigate the fire's spread, the fire can continue to advance. In certain conditions, such as high winds or rapidly changing weather, the fire may escape initial containment efforts, leading to greater areas becoming affected. Therefore, even if the indirect method is effective in the long run, it has the potential to allow for a larger burn area in the immediate term if not executed under optimal conditions.

The other options may have their own considerations, such as personnel requirements or speed, but the primary concern with the indirect method lies in its potential to allow the fire to spread further before it can be effectively contained.