Mopping Up & Chopping Trees | Wildland Firefighting | First Engine Roll 14 Days Pt 2 California

First engine assignment, in Northern California on a type 6 engine. 14 day roll, Part 2. Ff2. Feller3. Severity assignment. No chainsaw use on a contract engine unless it’s to get your hose into somewhere. Otherwise I wouldn’t have limbed the trees with a Pulaski.
Working for a contractor out of Missoula, Montana.
Season 1 Episode 3.
Wildland firefighting.

[@user-qz3pp9rg5b]

Thank you for your service

[@TheotherAndrewHuberman]

I'm completely dumb to this but it looks to me like simply using more water to flood the area would save you a lot of extra work?

[@brandonbudshores]

You’ve got a point there. We had to be cheap about the water usage because we were relying solely on tenders to fill us up. No local water sources

[@user-sd6mr6le7m]

Hitting the hot spots with a knapsack or where you using a hose?

[@brandonbudshores]

Mixture of hose and bladder bag

[@user-sd6mr6le7m]

​@@brandonbudshoreslekker man 🤙

[@mountdesertrock]

Why is there no chainsaw use on contracted engines?

[@brandonbudshores]

Great question! Most people agree whether they’re the feds or not, that the chainsaw is a necessary tool for getting the job done. However, the Vipr contracts state that you cannot use the saw UNLESS you need to get your hose into a spot. I believe it has to do with liability, as I’ve heard stories of federal task force and division leaders who gave the okay for the contractors to use the saw for other reason than stated in the contract and lost their position (got demoted). It isn’t uncommon though for a task force leader to see that a contractor has their 212 and will be asked to cut limbs, brush, etc while knowing the rule. Some are cool with it, some aren’t. This doesn’t apply to hand crews though as I’m sure you know based upon your specifically posted question.

[@user-tv4od3dn2i]

Very bad photography, not worth following and liking!!

[@brandonbudshores]

Thanks for your comment! Appreciate the engagement