Just watering the flowers

when a fire is out of control, they spray the surrounding area first so the fire doesn't spread... i think

This is what we Firefighters call "protecting the exposures." In the picture, the house is already fully involved and beyond saving. so we let the house burn while protecting other houses, brush, and other combustible objects surrounding the fire building, the "exposures." Might as well save what you can and let what you can burn to the ground.