Fire service hand tools

With the time constraints facing many departments, preparation and core skills maintenance for using hand tools often take a back seat. Further complicating this is the reality that some people entering the fire service have limited exposure to tool usage. Many have not used tools prior to entering the fire service and have had minimal training and possibly less practice.

Manually operated tools are essential because they might be the only solution to a problem. During emergencies, power may not be available, or a malfunction could render power tools inoperable.

It is important to have the right tool for the job. Some members of an organization may be very comfortable using tools, while others, due to a lack of use, may not have the necessary confidence.

Departments should schedule regular reviews including hands-on practice, and training officers must evaluate proficiency. Practicing with tools is not always easy because appropriate props are not readily available.

Practicing with a pry bar or an ax requires actually using the tool to not only improve competence but learn the capabilities of each tool. There are limitations, as anyone who has wielded an ax with full turnout gear will attest.

Balance and endurance are two things to consider. There are not many opportunities to practice work with pike poles on real plaster or drywall. Organizations are challenged to get creative in their training, not just talking about how things work but actually using the tools. Developing training props and acquiring structures scheduled for demolition could be helpful. The one caveat with this is to consider environmental issues such as asbestos in the structure.

Power tools also require use to establish and maintain the right level of competence. It was obvious that he did not know what he was doing and one might question whether or not this individual had ever used this tool. I hope no one in the fire service would be this challenged, but the point is that unless people actually use something, they are not going to be proficient. Should the need to use a particular tool arise at an emergency scene, fire service leaders expect competence.

As with manually operated tools, power tools-gasoline or electric-require practice, and finding the opportunities can be challenging. The fire shelter was developed to become that last piece of equipment you choose to use when conditions and time make survival impossible during a wildfire.

The United States still makes shelters mandatory for crews - Canada has discouraged fire shelters. The new-generation M fire shelter provides increased protection from radiant and convective heat in wildland firefighter entrapment situations. Forest Service Spec NFES Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content.

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By Steve Nix Steve Nix. Industry-leading brands including Boston Leather, Fire Hooks Unlimited, Gemtor, and more top companies manufacture our firefighter hand tools. Javascript is disabled on your browser. To view this site, you must enable JavaScript or upgrade to a JavaScript-capable browser. Narrow By Products Best Rated 0.