Tool Type Characteristics Capabilities Sharpening/Maintenance Tips

Cutting tools
Axes Double or single bit ƒ Mop-up operations ƒ Grind or file on an even taper
ƒ Felling snags approx. 2 1/2 in. (65 mm) back from
ƒ Chopping stumps and logs cutting edge; maintain even bevel on
ƒ Driving wedges each side
ƒ Cutting edge should be in direct line
with handle
Pulaskis Cutting edge and grubbing ƒ Cutting firelines ƒ Taper cutting edge 2 in. (50 mm)
edge ƒ Mop-up operations wide with even bevel on each side
ƒ Bevel grubbing edge 3/8-in. (10
mm) wide strait across on 45° angle
on one side of the head only
Brush hooks J-shaped head ƒ Clearing small shrubs, small ƒ Sharpen cutting edge from 1 in.
trees, and tall grasses (25.4 mm) at base to 3/4 in. (19 mm)
at tip
Sandviks Replaceable Swedish steel ƒ Cutting small- and medium- ƒ Sharpen according to manufacturer’s
cutting blade sized brush and saplings recommendations or replace blade
Scraping tools
Shovels Long-handled ƒ Digging, scraping, ƒ Sharpen starting 1 in. (25 mm) from
smothering, beating (tamping) heel on each side of blade until
ƒ Cutting light fuels subtle point is formed at blade tip
ƒ Throwing dirt
McLeods Solid hoe blade and rake ƒ Cutting grass, deep litter, and ƒ Bevel hoe blade to 45° angle on
with 5 to 7 long tines light brush outside face of blade making sure the
ƒ Trenching and grubbing blade stays straight
ƒ Raking pine needles, duff, and
leaf mold
Fire rakes Tines are triangular in shape ƒ Fireline construction in ƒ Sharpen tines according to
and broader than standard deciduous leaves manufacturers’ recommendations or
garden rakes ƒ Mop-up, and burning-out replace
operations ƒ Use and store properly
Hoes Flat blade on one side and 2 ƒ Grubbing through deep duff ƒ Use and maintain hoes like McLeod
or 3 tines on opposite side or rocky soil tools
Combination Long-handled implement ƒ Shoveling ƒ Sharpen shovel blade like a regular
tools with two-part, multi- ƒ Picking shovel
position head ƒ Hoeing ƒ Sharpen pick on a 45° angle

Wire brooms Resemble push brooms or
ordinary straw brooms with
wire bristles
Fire swatters (flails) Long-handled tool with flap
attached to one end
Backpack pumps Carries water or foam/water
solution; may have rigid
tank or collapsible bladder
ƒ Use in leaf litter, grass, grain,
and moss fires
ƒ Smother fires in light fuels
ƒ Attack small fires and hot
spots
ƒ Overhaul areas out of hoseline
reach
ƒ Use and store properly
ƒ Replace flap if damaged by heavy
use
ƒ Rigid tanks may be stored either full
of water or empty
ƒ Collapsible bladders are usually
stored empty