press-releases Wildland firefighters are different from the structural firefighters in cities. Instead of handling burning buildings and car accidents, they most often need to put out forest fires and other fires in the wild. Doing this work requires tools designed to deal with whatever nature throws at them. Here are four important tools used by wildland firefighters that you may not have heard of.
Edward Pulaski was a famous wildland firefighter of the early 20th century. Known for his bravery and his skill at putting out blazes and conducting rescue operations, Pulaski also favored a tool that was a combination of an axe and adze, which is a blade running perpendicular rather than parallel to the handle. Pulaskis bear his name and let firefighters chop, hack, and dig through branches, soil, and more. It’s a double-use tool that the user can flip as the situation requires.
Because they work among lots of vegetation wildland firefighters run the risk of being overcome by flames at any moment. Sometimes they need to stop fighting a fire and take shelter until the worst of it passes. Unfortunately, when fuel for the fire surrounds you, it’s not always possible to find shelter nearby. In those cases, wildland firefighters use firefighting shelters. These are collapsible tents that firefighters can take out and hide under, protecting them from flames, extreme heat, and a lack of breathable air. In the event of a disaster, the shelter is a swift form of protection. It’s not a long-term product, but it can last long enough under harsh conditions to save a firefighter’s life.
Chainsaws aren’t just for loggers. Wildland firefighters use them to create firebreaks, which are stretches and patches of land where there’s nothing to burn. Chainsaws cut down trees and deadfalls, which are clusters and tangles of brush, trees, and similar natural clutter that can burn. Chainsaws can also help break into buildings on fire with blocked entryways or aid in swiftly cutting lumber to create shelters and the like.
Here’s the last of our four important tools used by wildland firefighters. Why would a wildland firefighter set a fire? No, not for job security. Forest and similar fires often start during dryer periods. Firefighters go out and look for spots that are particularly likely to catch fire, whether due to human influence, lightning strikes, or other reasons. Drip torches are full of fuel that firefighters ignite and drip onto dried vegetation for a controlled burn. Controlled burns remove potential fuel, and healthy plant life usually replaces the old plants within a week or less. The result is a lower likelihood of a new fire springing up.
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