NORTHERN PIEDMONT FIRE
Forest District # 17
Other Fire Tools
Here are few of the other tools of the trade:
Drip torch is used in lighting back fires or burning out!
Chainsaws are use by skilled fire fighter in dropping of hazard trees
Bulldozers are use to plow a fireline
Helicopters are use on initial attack
S.E.A.T are also used in initial attack
Wildland Fire Equipment
Here is some of our fire management equipment.
2003 2500 Dodge brush unit with a 200 gallon slip-on with 300 gallon mintue pump, Varies hose and fitting, work lights
A 2002 2500 Chevy Brush unit with 200 gallon slip-on w/15 gallons of class A form and a 1991 trailer that has hand tools for a 20 man crew, 2 drip torches, 2 indina tanks, 6 bladder bags, 2-500 gallon port-a-ponds, 1-relay tank, 2-9hp darley portable pumps, 1-mini-mark, ICP-tent, sleeping bags/mats, 5 gallon pail of foam, 1500ft of 11/2, 1500ft of 1in forestry line and 800ft of 5/8 mop-up hose, varries tees and gated wyes.
2001 Honda 4x4 rancher with utility racks, drip torch mount, a mounted combi-tooland a 25 gallon slip-on with a 3.8 gpm pump
Brush 61 is a 1985 GMC Chassis that was donated by the DCNR-Bureau of Foresrty to the Kimberton Fire Company. It has a 150 gallon tank with 15 gallons of class A foam and carries handtools, indina tanks and a chainsaw.
Fireline Hand Tools
Tools of the Wildland Firefighter
CUTTING TOOLS
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Brush hook: The brush hook is designed for clearing dense brush in locations difficult for attack with an ax.
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Paulaski: The main tool for a wildland firefighter. This tool has two functions one edge is used like a light ax, the other end is used for digging, cutting roots and trenching.
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Sandvik: Designed for clearing dense brush in locations difficult to reach with an ax. This is smaller and a lighter tool easier to use in tight places.
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Combi-tool: The combi is a small shovel on one end and a pick on the other. Used in cutting line and mop-up.
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Chainsaw: The chainsaw provide a fast way to open up a handline with bucking and limbing. Also to drop any burning or dead snag that pose a problem.
SCRAPING TOOLS
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Fire Rake: The fire rake is used in line construction, mob up, and burning out operations. It is the most commonly used tool in building a fire line here in Pennsylvania. It can be used effectively for scraping and trenching.
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Fire Shovel: The shovel is used for digging, scraping, smothering, cutting light fuels and throwing dirt. The fire shovel has a sharpened blade at the point used for cutting through roots and other vegetation.
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McLeod Tool:
LEAF BLOWER
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Gas Powered leaf blower: Portable leaf blowers have been used very effectively to construct a fire line, especially when the primary fuel is an accumulation of hardwood leaf litter. This tool facilitates line construction in rocky areas where it is difficult to build a line with hand tools and in situations where manpower is not readily available, it can essentially produce the same quantity of work as seven firefighters
EXTINGUISHMENT
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Backpack Tank: The backpack tank is an effective fire line tool. It is used to transport and deliver a stream of water with a trombone-type hand pump. The tank can be made of metal or plastic and has a 5 gallon capacity. Full with water these can weigh as much as 45 pounds.
Firing Tools
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Drip torches: The drip torch is used to burn out fuels along and fireline and lighting back fire. The mix usually consist of 1/3 gas and 2/3 diseal fuel
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Fusse: Fusse burn for about 15 min at about 2000 degrees.
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Personal Gear and Protective Equipment
Here is a list of things to bring on a wildland fire:
PROPER PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Proper SAFETY Equipment is a must! Safety is number one in fighting fire!!
This is a minimum list of stuff:
Nomex shirt and pants, Helmet w/ nomex face sheild, goggles, gloves, boots, eye and hearing protection, fire-line pack with canteens, headlamp, standard fire orders and 18 watch out situation, red card
Additional Equipment / Gear:
Sleeping pad and bag, jacket, spare batteries, sun glasses, first aid stuff, compass, GPS unit,camera, leatherman tool / knife, cell phone, change of all clothes, rain gear and etc.
Here a few sites to order most Wildland gear:
Proper Boots:
Boots are very important. They need to be a minum of 8 inches high with a lug sole and leather laces
Here are a few website to order boots:
bravenet.com