Wildland firefighters are an elite group of men and women who have chosen a career in one of the most stressful, taxing, and dangerous jobs. Despite this, it’s one of the most rewarding and important jobs in the fire industry. To understand the life of a wildland firefighter, one has only to look at their most important pieces of equipment.
The Pulaski Axe and the McLeod Tool are the bread and butter of the wildland firefighter. Without access to hundreds of gallons of water, the next best option for putting out fires is removing their fuel. These two tools allow firefighters to create a fireline, a two-foot-wide trench, that separates the fire from more fuel. Think of it like an invisible barrier that keeps a fire from spreading until it eventually runs out of fuel and dies out. The Pulaski tool can cut down trees with one side and help dig a trench with the other. The McLeod tool can dig into the dirt, clearing brush and roots that could fuel the fire. This barrier is so important that, in some instances, wildland firefighters start a controlled fire to consume fuel along the fireline and strengthen the barrier.
Wildland firefighters don’t wear the heavy turnout gear most people picture when they hear the word firefighter. Instead, they wear “yellows” and “greens,” which are light, fire-resistant clothing. Wildland fires can spring up anywhere from an open grass field to jagged terrain, so firefighters need to stay light and flexible. Yellows are long-sleeve shirts that feel more like regular clothing with good airflow; greens are like cargo pants. Most of a wildland firefighter’s job is digging and maintaining the fireline, so flexible, breathable clothing matters more than increased fire resistance.
Keeping hydrated is one of the most important jobs of a wildland firefighter. Since clean water isn’t always readily available, firefighters need to carry their own. Firefighters often use a low-profile hydration pack so they don’t have to carry multiple hydration bottles. Since most firefighters don’t know whether they will be on the fireline for 8 or 18 hours, they need enough water to last a full day.
A fire shelter might be the most important item a wildland firefighter carries. Fires can be unpredictable, and an area that was safe one minute could be surrounded by flames in the next. If this happens, a firefighter’s only option is to deploy their fire shelter. When deployed, the shelter expands to provide the firefighter with a heat-resistant space with breathable air. While the shelter can’t survive contact with flames, it can protect the firefighter from heat long enough for the fire to die out.
Not anyone can be a wildland firefighter; the job is exhausting, dangerous, and often thankless. Most people wouldn’t last an hour, but those who do become part of a community that will put their lives on the line for one another.
The tools highlighted above are just the beginning of what wildland firefighters rely on every day. From hand tools and PPE to hydration systems and fire shelters, Shop Darley offers the equipment you need to stay prepared for fireline challenges. Browse our Essential Wildland Firefighting Tools and Equipment collection today.
