Fire Tools

Question 0

What are some common hand tools you would use as a fire fighter

Answer 0

• Fire fighting shovel
• Pulaski or Mattock (Pick)
• Axe
• Mcleod Tool (Like a rake)
• Handtank Pump
• Drip torch
• Powersaw

Question 1

What is a backhoe referred to in Fires?

Answer 1

Dozer

Question 2

What fuel proportion is used in a driptorch?
What is it used for?
What are the dangers?

Answer 2

• Deisel gas mix - 4 Diesel to one part Gas
• Used to burn of fuels to strengthen control lines
• Be careful when fueling, mixing and lighting.

Question 3

How can you reduce the potential of a chainsaw kicking back?

Answer 3

proper maintenance (chain oil and proper fuel)

Question 4

What is the no work zone area?

Answer 4

-areas around unstable trees (2 tree lengths unless specified)

Question 5

What is a rule when working around dozers?

Answer 5

• Never work downhill

- Make eye contact with operator when you are in his work area and give him right of way.

Question 6

How far apart should you be when hiking?

Answer 6

10 feet (3m) apart in single file.

Question 7

What are some heavy equipment activities in fires?

Answer 7

• Water hauling
• Control line construction
• Landing and Staging area const.
• Road building/Access improvement/Reactivation
• Bridge installation
• Sump holes for water supply
• Control line stabilization and rehabilitation

Question 8

What is a staging area?

Answer 8

a safe area to store heavy equipment and fuels while not in use

Question 9

What are water tenders?

Answer 9

Heavy trucks for water delivery

Use drop tanks so they can release payload and stay on road

Question 10

Why are bulldozers so useful?

Answer 10

Push
Pull
Dig

Work well on gentler topography

Question 11

How would you identify a poorly maintained machine?

Answer 11

Check sprocket for wear

Question 12

What are excavators commonly called?
What is an advantage of an excavator over a dozer?
a disadvantage?

Answer 12

• Referred to as a hoe
• Can handle rough terrain more easily by pulling themselves uphill and easing themselves downhill. Less site disturbance.
• Less building capacity, slower.

Question 13

What are skidders?

What is a disadvantage?

Answer 13

Rubber tired articulating tractors for log hauling, pushing, pulling and hauling water.

Cause high damage to soils (ruts)

Question 14

What are some ways aircraft are used in fires?

Answer 14

• Move personnel and equipment
• Reconnaissance and detection
• Water bombing
• Long term retardant

Question 15

What are the two types of aircraft used?

Answer 15

Fixed wing - Airplane

Rotary Wing - Helicopter

Question 16

What are some types of fixed wing aircraft?

Answer 16

• Air tankers

- Water Scoopers

Question 17

How are helicopters rated?

Answer 17

according to lifting capacity

4 broad lift categories

Question 18

What are the 4 broad lift capacities?

Answer 18

Light Lift
-90 Gal
-$1000/hour
-1000 lbs
Intermediate lift
-150 gal
-$1400/hour
-1600 lbs
Medium lift
-350 gal
-3500 lbs
-$3500/hour
Heavy Lift
-8000-18,000 lbs
-800 - 1,650 gal 
-14,000 / hour

Question 19

Whats the biggest job of repel crews?

Answer 19

Building landing platforms

Question 20

What are some key factors in helicopter safety?

Answer 20

• Know your weight and your equipment weight
• Do not enter landing area without pilot knowing
• Avoid dust when building pads
• do not enter/exit on high side
• avoid tail rotor at all times

Question 21

Should water be used alone when water bombing?

Answer 21

No, should be combined with surfactant

Question 22

Do water bombers put out fires?

Answer 22

No, they make it possible for ground units to establish control lines

Question 23

What is the bird dog?

Answer 23

An aerial command center where air attack officers coordinate tanker action with the incident commander that is on the ground.

Question 24

What is the litres per hour concept?

Answer 24

Cooling and suppressing fire by dropping water directly on or immediately adjacent to an active fire.

Question 25

What forces effect water pumps?

Answer 25

Hydraulic forces

• Suction (or lift)
• Head (or back pressure)
• Friction Loss
• Nozzle pressure