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