[JLV]

Well, putting a fire out is more or less a contest between you getting enough water (or other fire suppressant) on the fire and the amount of fuel the fire can burn during that process (in order to expand and grow).

Since Steve is adding contest rules to the game, I think this would be an excellent example of where to use them. E.g.; perhaps a recurring contest, which, if the players win three in a row, causes the fire to go out, and if the fire wins three in a row, means the players (and NPCs) have to run for their lives and the fire is out of control. You could adjust the player chances to win each contest based on anything clever they think of to help put out the fire, and the fire's chances to win would increase if, say, an arsonist were throwing lamp oil on the blaze on the side away from the players... ;-)