Unit 3 – Use of Tools and Equipment

Objectives

• Demonstrate checking hand tools for serviceability, and how to perform basic maintenance

• As a member of a team, demonstrate how to construct fire line using several different tools

Hand Crews

• Generally 15 to 20 fire fighters• Primary objective is to create fire lines• Two “types” of crews (can’t be mixed)

– Type I (20+ members in crew)• No restrictions on use• USFS “Hot Shots”• Foreman and crew

– Type II (15-18 members in crew)• Restrictions on use• Inmate crews• Private or local crews

Hand Crews

• Hand tools– Shovels, Pulaskis, Mcleods, axes, chains saws, brush

hooks, rakes, firing items (fusees, drip torches, etc.)

• Factors affecting the width of fire lines– Type and size of fuels– Weather– Topography– Cold-trail or big flames– Direct or indirect attack– Radiant and convective heat– Availability of dirt and water

General Handcrew Considerations

• Flame lengths of 4 feet or less

• Always start from an anchor point

• width of line should be 1 1/2 times the height of the fuel

• A “scratch line” is a quick and dirty line to hold fire until better line can be built

How to Place the Line

• Start from anchor point• Use natural &

manmade barriers• Go around heavy fuels• Include spot fire areas

inside line• Keep line as straight as

possible

• Place line as close to fire edge as possible

• Place line at bases of hills

• Plan for fire spread

Order of Tools

• Brush hooks chainsaws

• Pulaskis • McLeod tools and

fire rakes• Shovels

The Saw Line

• This is the path that sawyers build using chainsaws

• Sawyers drop trees, saplings, and clear brush

• Aerial fuels like overhanging branches are removed too

Cutting Tools

• Brush hooks and Pulaski tools are used for cutting low aerial fuels, bushes, roots, and clearing the way to start taking out the surface fuels

More on the Pulaski

• The other end of the pulaski’s head is for grubbing

• Used to chop up the surface fuels and ground to make scraping easier

Scraping Tools

• Most often McLeods and adz hoes, used to scrape off the surface fuels down to mineral soil

• McLeods can also be used as a rake for leaves and pine needles

Smothering Tools

• The fire swatter is a flap of heavy rubber on a handle

• Rapidly losing popularity as portable pumps and backpack pumps come into service

• Wet burlap sacks work as smothering tools as well

The Shovel and You

• Shovels can be used for smothering, scraping, and cutting roots

• Throwing dirt is also an option, to knock fire out of bushes and lower aerial fuels

Head Lamp

• Absolutely essential for working at night

• Head lamps from GSA have a paper cover over the battery contact in the case that needs to be removed before use

Hand Tools

• Crews should work in at least teams of five

• Remember to keep 10 feet of distance between crewmembers while working

• Backpack pumps and hoselays can be used to knock down flames

Techniques for Handline Const.

In one style, each crew member makes two threescrapes with the tool, then takes two stepsup the line

The second method has each firefightertaking slow steps and scraping with each step

Hand Crews

• Lines should only be wide enough to hold based on current and expected conditions– Construct line to mineral soil– All lines start at an anchor point– Continuous or slit trenches catch rolling

material– Cut green into green and black into black– Fall snags near the line or isolate with mineral

soil scratch line

How wide should the line be?

• Control line should be at least 1 ½ times the height of the fuel on the fire side of the line.

• The above statement doesn’t always fit (40ft trees?)

• Kind, types, size, condition, and chemical content will all make a difference in the effectiveness of the line

General line width;

• Grass; 2 to 3 feet down to mineral soil

• Med. Brush; 4 to 6 feet cleared, 2’ to dirt

• Hvy Brush; 9 feet clear, 2 to 3ft to dirt

• Very hvy brush & logging slash; 12 feet clear, 3 feet to dirt

• Timber; 20 ft clear, 3 ft to dirt

• Need to know three things before starting a line:1. Anchor point2. How wide the line should be3. Escape routes and safety zones

• Construction rates for a crew depend on:– length of shift– Weather

conditions– Topography– Fuels

Hand Crews

Fuel Type Ft. Per Hour Line Width

Grass 900 3 ft.

Medium Brush 450 6 ft.

Heavy Brush 300 9 ft.

Heaviest Brush and Slash

225 12 ft.

Cutting line

• Throw burned fuels back into the burn, green fuel usually back into the green

• Cut handline about a foot from the fire’s edge

• Fall snags and reduce aerial fuels

• Do not bury burning fuels

Trenching

• Trenching is digging the line into the hill and making a berm on the down hill side

• The idea here is to catch rolling material from falling down below the line and jumping your control line

Downhill line construction

• This is one of the most dangerous situations firefighters can face; many have been killed performing this operation

• This should be done under very experienced supervisors

• Should be a last resort• LOOKOUTS, COMMUNICATIONS, ESCAPE

ROUTES, SAFETY ZONES!

Downhill line checklist

• Don’t perform if fire is right under your start point

• Shouldn’t have line in or next to chimneys or chutes

• Should be anchored at the top• Need to have very easy access to escape

routes and short distances to safety areas• Fire out from line as you work down the hill

Working with Aircraft

• Helicopters are slower, and can see firefighters on the ground easier

• Watch where they are dropping, stay out of the way

Approaching Aircraft

• If you don’t have time to move out of the drop area;– Lay down facing

the direction of the approaching aircraft

– Hold onto your tool and hold your helmet on

Working at Night

• Use headlamps, don’t rely on the light from the fire

• Keep an eye on the terrain you are in

• Remember to keep your 10 foot distance!

Travel & Transportation of Personnel and Tools

• Safety procedures to follow when traveling by each of the following:– Vehicle– Boat– Helicopter– Fixed wing aircraft– On foot