S-130 Hand Tools 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the correct method for sharpening the axe blade of a Pulaski tool in the field?
- Use a flat mill file stroked away from the edge at a consistent bevel angle (Correct answer)
- Use a belt grinder to rapidly restore the edge
- Rub both sides of the blade with a round chainsaw file
- Hammer the edge on a rock to re-bevel it
Correct answer: Use a flat mill file stroked away from the edge at a consistent bevel angle
A flat mill file stroked away from the edge at the manufacturer's bevel angle safely restores sharpness without overheating or damaging the steel.
Question 2: Which characteristic of a hand tool handle indicates it needs replacement before the tool is used?
- Handle has a smooth, lacquered finish
- Handle shows weathered gray color from sun exposure
- Handle is loose in the eye of the tool head (Correct answer)
- Handle is made of hickory rather than fiberglass
Correct answer: Handle is loose in the eye of the tool head
A loose head can fly off during a swing, creating a projectile hazard; the tool must be retired from service until the head is properly secured or the handle replaced.
Question 3: In the context of S-130 fireline construction, what role does the 'scratch line' serve?
- A pre-marked boundary showing property ownership
- A preliminary line quickly scraped down to mineral soil as a starting point (Correct answer)
- A final fireline that has been cold-trailed and declared safe
- A line created by air tanker retardant drops
Correct answer: A preliminary line quickly scraped down to mineral soil as a starting point
A scratch line is a rapidly constructed initial control line scraped to mineral soil that is later widened and improved into a full fireline.
Question 4: When using a McLeod to improve a fireline, the flat scraping blade should be used to accomplish what task?
- Cut through root systems below mineral soil
- Scrape surface fuels and duff down to bare mineral soil (Correct answer)
- Rake burning embers back into the black
- Break up large rocks along the fireline edge
Correct answer: Scrape surface fuels and duff down to bare mineral soil
The flat hoe side of the McLeod scrapes away surface litter and organic duff layers to expose bare mineral soil, which does not burn.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes the 'cold-trailing' technique performed with hand tools?
- Using a shovel to bury hot coals at least 6 inches deep
- Carefully feeling the fireline with bare hands or tools to detect any remaining heat (Correct answer)
- Running cold water along the fireline using a hand pump
- Dragging green brush over embers to smother them
Correct answer: Carefully feeling the fireline with bare hands or tools to detect any remaining heat
Cold-trailing involves systematically feeling along the fireline—by hand or tool—to locate and extinguish any remaining heat before patrol ends.
Question 6: A firefighter notices the adze blade of a Pulaski has a mushroomed, peened edge. What is the appropriate action?
- Grind the mushroomed metal off carefully and continue using it
- File the edge back to the original bevel and inspect for cracks
- Tag the tool out of service and report it to a supervisor (Correct answer)
- Bend the edge back into shape with a hammer on a hard surface
Correct answer: Tag the tool out of service and report it to a supervisor
A mushroomed blade edge indicates material fatigue and can produce dangerous metal fragments; the tool must be removed from service.
Question 7: What is the purpose of 'trenching' with a shovel during a wildland fire operation?
- Creating drainage ditches to redirect mop-up water runoff
- Cutting a trench below a burning slope to catch rolling debris and embers (Correct answer)
- Burying cache supplies for later retrieval
- Digging latrine facilities away from the fireline
Correct answer: Cutting a trench below a burning slope to catch rolling debris and embers
Trenching below a burning slope catches rolling burning material and embers before they can start new fires downslope.
S-130 Hand Tools 3
What is the correct method for sharpening the axe blade of a Pulaski tool in the field?