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    1. Operations & Training

    Tools & Tactics In The War Against Wildland Fires

    July 1, 1998
    SPECIALIZED APPARATUS
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    Photo by Robert M. Winston The Marion, MA, brush breaker in the foreground displays one of the largest breaker/push bars in the fire service.
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    Photo by Robert M. Winston A Bush Fire Unit from the Hampshire Fire Brigade in England.
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    Photo by Robert M. Winston A 1973 Jeep/brush buggie operated by the Center Township Volunteer Fire Department in LaPorte, IN.
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    Photo by Robert M. Winston An Oakland, CA, Fire Department brushfire unit sits in front of homes in the Oakland Hills. These homes are still surrounded by highly combustible fuels years after "The Big One" devastated portions of the Oakland Hills area.
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    Photo by Robert M. Winston A typical U.S. Forest Service wildland fire crew with its engine.
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    Photo by Robert M. Winston A brush breaker is moved into position to stop a head fire on Cape Cod, MA.
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    Photo by Robert M. Winston A Kingston, MA, Fire/Rescue brush breaker.

    SCENES FROM WILDLAND FIRES

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    Photo by Robert M. Winston It burns like gasoline but it's 10-foot-high "elephant grass" in Massachusetts.
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    Photo by Robert M. Winston More "elephant grass".
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    Photo by Robert M. Winston As damp as it is in England, the bush still burns intensely.
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    Photo courtesy of New Jersey State Forest Service A wildfire in the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
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    Photo courtesy of New Jersey State Forest Service Another wildfire in New Jersey
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    Photo by Robert M. Winston "There's nothin' easy about fightin' brushfires!"
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    Photo by Robert M. Winston "Hey! Wait up! I can't run fast because I've got blisters on my feet." Wearing the correct personal protective clothing at structural wildland interzone fires is very important.

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    Photo by Robert M. Winston Heavy rubber boots have no place at a brushfire. Working under live electric wires is risky business even when wearing personal protective clothing - but how about with no PPC worn!?
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    Photo by Robert M. Winston A Colorado firefighter operates a "Terra-Torch," - just one more tool being used to fight fire with fire.Robert M. Winston, a Firehouse® contributing editor, is a district fire chief in the Boston Fire Department with extensive experience and training in wildland and SWI protection. Questions and comments may be sent to him via e-mail at [email protected]

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