Wildfire Dozer in Action

I have a lot of respect for all wildland firefighters whether they be on the ground or in the air. Wildland firefighters on the ground may be operating dozers. Dozers are important in wildland firefighting. One of the important roles that dozers play are in clearing large line around a fire to help contain the wildfire. And there are other roles that dozers play in working wildfires. I know that the New Jersey Forest Fire Services operates dozers when needed to work wildfires. 

I enjoyed this twelve minute January 2026 video shot from the point of view of a dozer operator. I always learn something from videos like the one I am sharing with you today. Thanks to all wildland firefighters on the ground (on foot or in dozers) and in the air fighting wildfires. Stay safe.

Direct link to January 2026 video from Wildland_Firefighter on YouTube

Wildland Firefighting: Dozers in Action

 I have recently been thinking about the important work that dozers do in wildland firefighting operations. At the same time, I have also been thinking about wildland firefighting on the east coast of the United States. So, you guessed it, I have two short videos that I am embedding below for your viewing pleasure. I enjoyed seeing these dozers operating up and down hill. I can only imagine the skill of the dozer operators in driving their dozers.

The first video is of a dozer plowing a containment line down hill at the 2016 Bluff Mountain Fire in Tennessee.

Direct link to video from the Tennessee Division of Forestry on YouTube

In the second video from August 2022 you will see a dozer plowing uphill in support of wildfire IR mapping for the Mckinney Fire that burned near the Oregon-California border.

Direct link to video from the Siskiyou News on Youtube

Dozers working wildfires in Florida

One of the types of equipment that wildland firefighters on the ground use to fight wildfires are bull dozers. In the theory that a picture is worth a thousand words, I wanted to find some footage for you. And as I am from the east coast of the United States, I wanted to find some footage of dozers from one of the east coast states. I was in luck when I found three short videos showing dozers in action from Florida. As with any type of wildland firefighting, working a dozer is not without some risk. Kudos all dozer operators. Thanks for keeping us safe.

Direct link to video from Bill Oke

Direct link to video from First Due Fire Photography

Direct link to video from First Due Fire Photography

Dozers working the 2016 Pinnacle Fire

I wanted to find some more videos of dozers working wildfires to show. The two videos that I will share here are footage from the November 2016 Pinnacle Mountain Fire that burned over 10,000 acres.  I believe but am not certain that the Pinnacle  Mountain Fire burned in South Carolina, I think. But because I am not sure I won't post any more information on that fire. My point in sharing the videos is to show some footage of dozers. The location could be anywhere. Revised on December 19, 2018L the nine minute video that I had originally embedded is no longer available, but the direct link to the four minute video, below is still available.

Direct link to video from Honey Coop, showing wildland fire crews working the fire along with a dozer (under 4 minutes). There is no embed available, but I hope you go to the link and take the time to watch the video.

Dozer working wildfire

When you consider the ground crews that work wildfires, let us not forgot that ground crews are not only boots on the ground, but also dozers and other vehicles. I am always on the look out for good videos showing dozers working a wildfire. I became aware of this video thanks to the my friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page "Video of the Week" posted on December 15, 2017.

You will see both the dozer, and some ground crews on the fire line. Great shots of the dozer working this section of wildfire near some homes. The video that I originally embedded here is no longer available on Youtube, that happens sometimes. So, I found these two videos of dozers working wildfires to share in its place

Direct link to video on Youtube


Direct link to video on Youtube

Fighting wildfires in Western Australia

As we approach winter here in America and elsewhere in the colder climates of the northern hemisphere, summer is approaching in the southern hemisphere. And with summer in Australia comes wildfire or bushfire season. 

I literally stumbled on some wonderful videos of bushfire activity in Western Australia from the Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) in Western Australia where they have some videos showing firefighters in the air and on the ground fighting bush fires on their youtube channel.

I am embedding and sharing four videos from the DPaW here. I will supply a direct link to each video and I encourage you to use that link to go to the about page for each video and read what the DPaW says about the bushfire activity that you are seeing. The videos are not taken at the same fire.

In the first video you will see a front end loader in action. According to the description on the about page for the video, "a front end loader is being used to construct a mineral earth break along the fire edge to assist fire tankers in containing the fire." 

direct link to video

The second video shows a Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) making two drops from 80 meters (262 ft) above ground level. 

direct link to video

The final two short videos show dozers, front loaders, and other ground pounders fighting fires on the ground.

direct link to video

direct link to video

Added on Dec. 5, 2013. The SEAT in the second video is a Dromader. It was a Dromader that crashed in New South Wales Australia on Oct. 24. The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority later grounded all Dromaders, requiring passing safety checks on wings along with passing a new inspection before being deemed airworthy. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau released a preliminary report on the crash recently, I have an article with more information and a couple of links that I posted on Dec. 5, 2013.

Springs Fire (CA) - helos, a dozer, and T-44 dropping

direct link to video - helos dipping


direct link to video - helos dropping and dozer footage


direct link to video - a dozer, helos, fire footage, lead plane with smoke, T-44 dropping ( at 7:02)

I've been busy with some other work today, so I thought you'd enjoy these videos of the Springs Fire, which according to the latest update from CAL FIRE has burned 24,451 acres with 95 percent containment. Full containment is expected on May 9.

Dozers and helos work a wildfire

When I saw this video taken from inside a dozer working a remote wildfire I was reminded of the important work that all the men and women on the ground do to put out wildfires. You will want to read the info provided by judgegixxer who posted the video, here. There is some nice footage of a couple of helos at the beginning of the video including some shots from inside a helo. I enjoyed watching the footage taken from inside a dozer cutting line. Stay safe out there.

A look at Honey Prairie Fire Ops

Helo operations





dozer



tractor and plow

wildland fire crews: dozers

From the NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire Terms:

Fireline: The part of a containment or control line that is scraped or dug to mineral soil.

As you may know by now, wildland firefighting crews digfirelines, also known as hand lines by hand. They use tools such as the pulaski, mcleod and shovels. Dozers (large tractors) also dig fireline, known as dozer lines, with the blade on the front. I understand that the big dozers, such as the one in the video may come equipped with climate control and the operator wears a respirator.

The video shows LA County dozer teams working the Ranch and Santiago Fires during the Oct. 2007 fires. Enjoy!