Personal Protective Equipment includes fire resistant pants and shirts, a helmet, eye protection, gloves, leather boots, and fire shelter. Firefighters carry personal gear bags that contain water, rations, sleeping bag, and hand tools such as a Pulaski, shovel, or McLeod. Fire trucks carry hoses, water pumps, and fire extinguishers.
The bright-yellow shirt worn by firefighters is designed for high visibility and protection from fire.
There are a number of ways to control forest fires. One way is to create firebreaks, which are lines of cleared land that the fire cannot cross. Another way is to spray water or chemicals from planes or helicopters.
Firefighting in wildlands requires specialized training, techniques, and equipment. A firefighter’s gear can weigh up to 75 pounds. The basic gear includes a helmet, hood, pants, coat, gloves, and oxygen tank. Visibility is critical, so bright yellow shirts allow teammates, aircraft, and commanders to see firefighters from miles away.
What Do Wildland Firefighters Carry?
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Gear Bags
- Personal gear bag: contains water, food, sleeping bags, and tools like Pulaski, shovel, or McLeod.
- Fire line backpack: weighs 20 pounds.
- Travel bag: weighs 45 pounds.
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Clothing
- Fire pants and shirts
- 100% cotton undergarments
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Tools and Essentials
- Three chainsaws and folding saws for clearing brush
- Coffee for energy during 16-hour shifts
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Fire Trucks
- Hoses
- Water pumps
- Fire extinguishers
Firefighter’s Physical Load
Wildland firefighters perform arduous duty, lifting 25-50 pounds. They carry a fire line backpack and a travel bag.
Methods to Stop Fires
- Utilizing water and retardants
- Clearing vegetation to contain fires
- Firebreaks (lines of cleared land that fires cannot cross)
- Spraying water or chemicals from aircraft
Fire trucks hold hoses, pumps, and extinguishers while firefighters’ protective gear includes helmets, pants, shirts, eye protection, gloves, boots, and fire shelters. To control fire, removing heat, fuel, or oxygen is necessary, and this can be done by applying water or retardants with pumps, engines, or aircraft. Firebreaks also help control fires by containing them.