HAND CREWS AND TOOLS

Transcription

1 HAND CREWS AND TOOLS

2 Positions All tools can vary in number depending on fuel! Crew leader Pointed Shovel! Sawyer Saw Brush Hook! Swamper (falling ax, dolmar, qualified to run saw)! Pulaski! McLeod! Rake! Flapper

3 Positions! Crew Boss - Shovel Shovel is good tool to scrape with, hack way through vegetation, throw dirt at fire to help reduce head of fire Usually is out ahead of the crew, spotting line and finding the edge of the fire. This person might take weather. They will be in radio comm with division giving updates as needed or requesting resources

4 Positions! Sawyer Like a team captain. Works closely with the swamper. The sawyer relies heavily on the swamper to be his/ her eyes and ears Chain saw use Always wear chaps for leg protection Eye and Ear Protection

5 Positions! Swamper Clears brush, guides the sawyer in right direction Carries fuel, oil, chains, saw parts etc..

6 Brush Hook! Used when the chainsaw is broken or not available! Large sickle type head bolted to the handle

7 Pulaski! Pulaski (varied number)! A tool that combines a grubbing end and a cutting end! Used to cut roots, stumps! Grubbing end breaks up thick duff, soil, grass! Idea is to start exposing bare mineral soil! When swinging keep tool head low! Similar tools include combi tool (shovel/pick) and super p

8 Pulaski! Sharpening the cutting edge it should be even bevel tapered 2 in! Grubbing edge should be 3/8 in at a 45 degree angle! Handle should be smooth and sanded as needed, then wiped down with boiled linseed oil

9 McLeod! A rake type tool with wide grubbing end! Tines will move large litter and pine needles! Can be used to make trench lines which catch rolling debris

10 McLeod! Handle maintained same as Pulaski! Cutting or grubbing end is sharpened at a 45 degree angle

11 Rake! Self explanatory! This person is the QC for the line! Tells the crew to widen the line, make it more narrow, etc.! Cleans the tiny pieces of shrubs off the line ensuring only thing left is dirt! The least work of the whole crew

12 Line Construction

13 Line Construction! Lines can be indirect or direct! Constructed with dozers, fire, hand tools, natural or manmade barriers

14 Fire Line Operations! Know your LCES! Know your TRA! 10 s and 18 s! Identify hazards and make sure everyone knows! When communicating with crewmembers you tell the person either in front or behind and they then pass it on

15 Line Construction! In light grass no need for a saw! Heavy fuels consider 2 saws! All other hand tools will be needed.! Line width is dependent on fuel, weather, topography, soil and indirect vs. direct! A line may be an 8 foot cut with a 2 foot scrap! Keep charred or burning material in black

16 Line Construction IRPG pg. 79

17 Line Construction! Always keep a minimum of 10 feet between members! Swing and move. Typically don t sit and grub same spot for 5 mins! Keep tool heads low A pulaski swing should be no more than 20 off the ground! Areas with potential rolling material i.e. rocks, Add more distance between crew members

18 Line Construction! When constructing line you scrape away material down to dirt and then move down the line a foot or two and scape the line again.

19 Line Construction! Build trenches on steep slopes, Catches rolling burning material

20 Trenches! When working around a constructed trench Walk in the trench or the downhill side of the spoil pile Do not walk on the spoil pile or upslope of trench Do not lay hoseline in trench Lay hoseline on the downhill side of spoil pile Remember the trench is designed to catch rolling burning material

21 Fire Line Operations! Green material stays in the green! Watch for animals that are on fire! When passing other hand crews, alert them to which side you are passing! We carry tools on the downhill side with blades down, not over the shoulder

22 Fire Line Operations! With tools we have, it will be lighter fuels! May have to cut shrubs with pulaski in place of saw! State swinging when taking large swings with pulaski! You most likely will be putting in scratch line which is small, narrow line still to bare soil

23 Fire Line Operations! Meant to be quick! Always walk single file! Crews may be split up into two groups depending on needs, each crew should have a Capt.! Crews may leap frog while cutting

24 Fire Line Operations! When clearing cut brush don t throw it right on edge of line! Causes a build up of fuel loading next to green

25 Inmate vs. Fed! Will carry out complex burns, do not put out their burn operation unless instructed to do so! May be needed to assist usually to watch the green for spots! Make clear you have a spot and get it before it takes hold

26 Inmate vs. Fed! In camp inmates are now under control of the CDC guards! All inmates wear orange nomex! These crews can and will fire out often

27 Inmate vs. Fed! Inmate crews are typically very experienced and knowledgeable, but they are still inmates! When on the line at fires only the fire Capt. is with them! All request for help go to him only

28 Inmate vs. Fed! Respectful talk with inmates is acceptable, such as Hi or have a good day, but typically no more! Fed crews can vary from hotshot crews to local type 3 crews! Shot crews do a tremendous amount or work! Most crew members have multiple seasons and leaders are permanent employees

29 Safety! Communicate with crew! Pass messages down line! Keep on each other! Watch for stump holes, often burn underground while the top look cold and hard! These can be shallow pits or waist deep! Are extremely hot and may need to be dug up during mop up! Trees burning in the middle are at risk of falling anytime! You may hear the term snag or widow maker these are braches in the trees that are hung up and loose, waiting to fall

30 Safety! Communicate with crew! Pass messages down line! Keep on each other! Watch for stump holes, often burn underground while the top look cold and hard These can be shallow pits or waist deep Are extremely hot and may need to be dug up during mop up! Trees burning in the middle are at risk of falling anytime! You may hear the term snag or widow maker these are braches in the trees that are hung up and loose, waiting to fall

31 Safety! Trees burning in the middle cat face are at risk of falling anytime! You may hear the term snag or widow maker these are braches in the trees that are hung up and loose, waiting to fall

32 Safety! Rolling rocks! Aerial drops on fixed wing aircraft are very common Often times main tanker is lead in by a spotter plane Be aware of aerial drops, retardant can cause major damage and injuries

33 Safety! Helicopters are sometimes not heard and will have a siren that they will sound if dropping close by.! Typically sounds just before dropping

34 After Fire Tasks! When utilized as a hand crew for mop up it is called dry mopping! Tools are used to dig up hot areas! Spread hot material out so it can cool faster! Use the back of your hand when need to feel areas

35 After Fire Tasks! Carry hot material deep in burn if not able to put it out! Most often the IC will designate how deep of a mop will occur off the line! Fire size, terrain, and fuel will all play a part! It may be 100% mop up or 10 feet off the line

36 10s & 18s