Handcrew

Handcrew is a term used in wildland firefighting to refer to a team of specialized firefighters who primarily use hand tools to create a firebreak around a wildfire. Handcrews are typically composed of 18 to 20 firefighters, but the number can vary depending on the specific needs of the fire situation.

Composition and Roles

A handcrew is typically led by a Crew Boss, who is responsible for the overall safety and direction of the crew. The Crew Boss is assisted by one or more Squad Bosses, who lead smaller groups within the crew. The rest of the crew is made up of firefighters, who are often divided into specific roles based on their skills and the needs of the situation. These roles can include sawyers, who use chainsaws to cut down trees and other vegetation, and swampers, who remove the cut vegetation.

Tools and Techniques

Handcrews use a variety of hand tools in their work, including Pulaskis, McLeods, and shovels. These tools are used to dig into the soil and remove vegetation, creating a firebreak that the fire cannot cross. This technique, known as line construction, is one of the primary methods used to contain wildfires.

In addition to line construction, handcrews may also use techniques such as backburning, where a controlled fire is lit to consume the fuel in the path of the main fire, and cold trailing, where crew members carefully inspect and feel with their hands to find and extinguish any remaining hot spots.

Training and Safety

Handcrew members undergo rigorous training to prepare for the physical and mental challenges of fighting wildfires. This training includes learning how to use the various tools and techniques, as well as safety procedures such as deploying fire shelters in case of emergency.

Despite these precautions, handcrew work is still considered to be one of the most dangerous jobs in firefighting due to the unpredictable nature of wildfires and the harsh conditions in which the crews often work.

See Also

• Hotshot Crew
• Smokejumper
• Wildland Fire Suppression