Docsity
Docsity

Prepare for your exams
Prepare for your exams

Study with the several resources on Docsity


Earn points to download
Earn points to download

Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan


Guidelines and tips
Guidelines and tips

S-130 Wildland Hand Tools Questions and Verified Answers Graded A 2025, Exams of Safety and Fire Engineering

S-130 Wildland Hand Tools Questions and Verified Answers Graded A 2025

Typology: Exams

2024/2025

Available from 07/03/2025

ChitCode
ChitCode 🇬🇧

3.6K documents

1 / 8

Toggle sidebar

This page cannot be seen from the preview

Don't miss anything!

bg1
1
S-130 Wildland Hand Tools Questions
and Verified Answers Graded A 2025
Axes - ANS Axes are effective in mop-up operations for felling snags,
chopping stumps and logs, and driving wedges (single-bit axes only).
Axe handles are made of wood or fiberglass. Two common types of axes
used in wildland fire fighting are:
- Single-bit: Has a cutting edge on one side of the head and a flat, striking
surface on the opposite side.
- Double-bit: Has cutting edges on both sides of the head.
Whether it's a single-bit or double-bit, swing the axe in a downward motion
at a 45-degree angle.
Benefits of a Sharp Blade - ANSHowever, a tool with a sharp blade benefits
you because it:
- Is easier and safer to use than a tool with a dull blade.
- Cuts more effectively than a dull one.
- Allows you to use short, sharp cutting strokes.
- Reduces the need for you to raise a tool above your head.
All these benefits translate into less fatigue when you use the tool. And
because fatigue is a leading contributor to fireline accidents, a sharp tool is
a safer tool.
pf3
pf4
pf5
pf8

Partial preview of the text

Download S-130 Wildland Hand Tools Questions and Verified Answers Graded A 2025 and more Exams Safety and Fire Engineering in PDF only on Docsity!

S-130 Wildland Hand Tools Questions

and Verified Answers Graded A 2025

Axes - ANS Axes are effective in mop-up operations for felling snags, chopping stumps and logs, and driving wedges (single-bit axes only). Axe handles are made of wood or fiberglass. Two common types of axes used in wildland fire fighting are:

  • Single-bit: Has a cutting edge on one side of the head and a flat, striking surface on the opposite side.
  • Double-bit: Has cutting edges on both sides of the head. Whether it's a single-bit or double-bit, swing the axe in a downward motion at a 45-degree angle. Benefits of a Sharp Blade - ANSHowever, a tool with a sharp blade benefits you because it:
  • Is easier and safer to use than a tool with a dull blade.
  • Cuts more effectively than a dull one.
  • Allows you to use short, sharp cutting strokes.
  • Reduces the need for you to raise a tool above your head. All these benefits translate into less fatigue when you use the tool. And because fatigue is a leading contributor to fireline accidents, a sharp tool is a safer tool.

Brush Hook - ANSUse a brush hook, sometimes called a brush ax, to cut down:

  • Small shrubs
  • Small trees
  • Tall grasses The brush hook handle is very similar to a standard ax, and you'll swing it like an ax when you're cutting. However, unlike an ax, the head of the brush hook is in the shape of a J. Combination Tool - ANSA tool you may find very useful is the combination tool. It is a versatile long-handled implement with a two-part, multi-position head. With the release of the locking collar, you can change the configuration of the head and use the tool as:
  • Shovel
  • Pick—do not use as a prying tool
  • Hoe
  • Various combinations of these modes Sharpen the shovel blade of your combination tool like you would a shovel. Sharpen the pick to 45 degrees using the 12-inch flat mill bastard file. Fire Rakes - ANSFire rakes resemble standard garden rakes except that the tines are broader and more triangular.

Hoes - ANSOne type of hoe you'll often use has a flat blade on one side of the head and may have two or three tines on the opposite side. Your agency or organization may prefer another type of hoe, the hazel hoe (also called adz hoe ) for wildland fire fighting operations because it is a heavy-duty tool that is well suited for grubbing through deep duff and use in rocky soil. Use and maintain your hoe just like you would a McLeod tool. Maintaining Tool Heads - ANSTo prevent accidents and injuries:

  • Ensure tool heads are not broken or cracked
  • Sharpen damaged or dull cutting edges using a hand file—this will actually reduce fatigue when you are using a tool
  • Give all tool heads a light coating of oil and keep them free of paint or rust When you are back at the station and using a grinder to sharpen a blade, be careful not to do it too fast. Grinding too fast will turn the steel blue and temper it, making file sharpening more difficult. Mcleod - ANSThere are two sides to the McLeod:
  • Hoe blade: One side of the head consists of a solid hoe blade for cutting grass, deep litter, and light brush. You can also use the hoe portion for trenching and grubbing
  • Tines: One side of the head consists of a rake with 5 to 7 long tines. The rake tines are effective in raking pine needles, duff, and leaf mold, or to dig into a burning log.

Sharpening: The hoe blade portion of the McLeod should be beveled to 45- degree angle with the 12-inch flat bastard file on the outside face of the blade making sure the blade stays straight. Pulaskis - ANSPulaskis are effective when cutting firelines and in mop-up operations. These tools are dual-purpose tools with two different types of bits on the head:

  • One side is a cutting edge similar to an ax blade for chopping stumps and logs.
  • The other edge, called the grubbing edge, is used to dig out roots and cut trenches. Safely Carrying Hand Tools - ANSFor safety while carrying hand tools:
  • Do not run with hand tools
  • Walk and work 10 feet (3 m) apart from other firefighters
  • Hold the tool at its balance point
  • Keep the tool at your side and close to your body, not on your shoulder
  • Position the cutting edges away from your body
  • Situate the tool on the downhill side when walking across a slope
  • Pass other workers by signaling and waiting for the right-of-way
  • Transfer the tool handle first when passing the tool to others Safely Using Hand Tools - ANSFor safety while using hand tools:
  • Keep your eyes on what is being cut

Sharpening Axes - ANS1. Sharpen the cutting edges with the proper tool, such as a 12-inch flat mill bastard file. Grind or file the edges on an even taper about 2 1/2 inches (65 mm) back from the cutting edge. Make sure you have an even bevel on each side.

  1. Ensure the cutting edge is in direct line with the handle. Shovels - ANSUse shovels for: Digging Scraping Smothering Beating (tamping) Cutting light fuels Throwing dirt Sharpening: Sharpen the blade of a shovel starting 1.5 inch (38 mm) from the heel on each side of the blade until a subtle point is formed at the tip of the blade. Do the same number of strokes—and with the same amount of pressure—with a 12-inch flat bastard file on each side so that the shovel point does not drift from the center line. Storing Tools - ANSMake sure your tools are easily accessible, protected from damage, and don't pose a hazard to anyone by following these tips:
  • Use guards for tools with sharp cutting edges or pointed heads
  • Store all tools in their mounting brackets on the apparatus
  • Arrange tools in an orderly manner when they are stored in compartments instead of mounting brackets

Never ride with loose tools or equipment in the cab or crew compartment. Secure all tools in brackets or store them in compartments. Wire Broom - ANSSome wire brooms resemble push brooms; others resemble ordinary straw brooms with wire bristles. The wire broom is a tool designed for use in the following types of fuels:

  • Leaf litter
  • Grass
  • Grain
  • Moss You'll find the wire broom is especially effective in volcanic areas where light, sparse grasses protrude through a layer of small lava rocks. You can literally sweep away grasses to create an effective fireline.