Random Ramblings: Aerial Wildland Firefighting

I have blogged about aerial wildland firefighting since 2009. I am not a firefighter and am not a pilot, just an interested bystander who wants to learn more and share what I learn here. Join me here as I blog on the aircraft and the pilots who fight wildland fires from the air in support of crews on the ground. I also blog on concerns affecting fire crews on the ground as well as other aviation and meteorology issues. Learn what it takes to do jobs that are staffed by the best of the best.

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Wildland firefighters: brief look at handtools

I wanted to take a look at some of the handtools that wildland firefighters use when building line or in mop up afterwards. I found this nice short video, courtesy of the West Metro Fire Department of Lakewood Colorado, where a few of the more common handtools are introduced: the Pulaski, McLeod, Combi Tool, Hoe, and Shovel. While I have seen references to these tools over the years that I have been doing this blog, the cavaet is that these are the tools used by the West Metro Fire Department. Wildland firefighters in your area may use some of these tools or use different tools.