The Southland Firestorm: A Special Report : The Firefighters : On The Fire Line : Outfitting the Troops

To many people, the most vivid images of Southern California’s brush fires are of soaring planes making dangerous chemical drops and helicopters delivering load after load of water. But equally dramatic is what occurs on the front lines of the fire, where hand crews armed with simple tools provide the backbone and muscle that ultimately win the battle. Here is a look at the job of these crews and the tools of their trade. Gearing Up Firefighters wear gear over their regular clothes. Layers of clothing reduce the risk of burns. Helmet Goggles Jacket of fire-resistant Nomex material Fire-resistant shroud Insulated leather gloves Backpack holds gear, personal items and flares to light backfires. Belt holds two canteens of water Pack with emergency fire shelter tent Leather chaps are worn by crew members using chain saws Fire-resistant pants Work boots Tools of the Trade Pulaski: Cuts with ax end and digs roots out with hoe or grub end McLead: Combination rake and hoe, used to remove brush from fire’s path Shovel: For throwing dirt or scraping a trail The Battle Plan The hand crews are the key element in fighting any brush fire, because they are often the first on the scene. Hand crews are either dropped in by helicopter or trucked in. Their job is to create the initial “hotline”--firebreak--by removing combustible material from the path of the fire. 1. Starting the break: Firefighters with chain saws come in first to clear out the heavy brush. 2. Slowing fire’s advance: Shovel crews, or “buckers” come in next. They do two things: throw dirt on flames to knock them down and toss the burning vegetation into the fire and the rest into non-burning area. 3. Brush clearance: Next come the crew carrying Pulaskis, which are used to cut away vegetation and dig out roots. 4. Cleaning up the firebreak: Last are the crew with McLeods, a double-action tool that scrapes and rakes. This leaves a clean firebreak.

5. Water: Engine crews hose down the area ahead of and after the hand crews arrive. Helicopters may also help wet down an area. Sources: Chief Robert MacMillan, Los Angeles City Fire Department; Capt. John P. Harris, Los Angeles County Fire Department; Wildland Firefighting.