People who are up for a physically and mentally demanding career may find their niche with firefighting. There’s much more to firefighting than loud sirens and iconic helmets. In fact, in wildfire firefighting alone, there are roughly seven kinds of firefighter crews. This article looks at the different types of firefighters for wildfires who dedicate their lives to protecting nature’s beauty.
Hand Crew
A firefighter that’s part of a wildfire hand crew is on the frontline of battling blazes. Hand crews utilize both direct and indirect methods of fire suppression to distinguish intense outdoor fires.
A few different approaches to combatting harsh flames that hand crews use include making fire lines, burning areas out, and restoring burned spaces. Chainsaws, drip torches, firing devices, and other hazardous hand tools contribute to a common hand crew member’s arsenal of devices.
Fuels Crew
Fuels crew firefighters aim to replenish fire-adapted environments. They home in on pre-fire and post-fire factors of these environments, counteracting dangerous fuels with appropriate chemicals and clearing them from fire-prone ecosystems. Most fuels crews contain about ten members.
Engine Crew
Of the different types of firefighters for wildfires, engine crew firefighters focus on fire suppression and monitoring. The majority of their daily tasks are physically straining, which is why apt physical fitness is a must. Engine crews utilize a lot of durable firefighter hand tools to safely tend to their responsibilities.
Hotshot Crews
Hotshot crews are a hodgepodge of multifaceted firefighters. These firefighters are well-versed in wildfire suppression, their advanced knowledge and skillset typically leading them to highly demanding firefighting responsibilities. Hotshot crews may be requested to assist with dire wildfires in different parts of the country.
Helitack Crews
Due to their utilization of helicopters, helitack crews are almost always first to arrive at the scene of a wildfire. They help transport firefighting and medical personnel, as well as essential equipment, to aid fire extinguishing.
Smokejumpers
Like helitack crews, smokejumpers are often one of the first crews to respond to a wildfire call. They drop from aircraft directly into ongoing wildfire locations to employ immediate suppression tactics. Because a smokejumper role is risky, extensive training and experience are required before pursuing the position.
Wildland Fire Module
Firefighters that comprise a wildland fire module are highly skilled. They’re tasked with a wide variety of responsibilities, from monitoring fires to planning, prepping, and executing a fire management strategy. When blazes are suppressed using various methods, it’s common for wildland fire modules to construct other firefighters due to their considerable proficiency and experience.
