Handcrew
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Handcrews are diverse teams of career and temporary
Depending on their qualifications and skill levels, crews may be divided into squads (4 or 5 firefighters each). The more qualified crews will have specialized personnel such as sawyers and EMTs. Crews and managers must always monitor the fire and consider safety. They will often designate one or two crew members to act as a lookout. This person generally has a few years of experience and is placed at a location where they can see a large portion of the fire. For larger fires there are multiple lookouts positioned around the entire fire. They watch for spot fires (fire that crosses the fireline) and take weather readings using a sling psychrometer or a kestrel typically every hour and relaying them up the chain of command. Aircraft can also serve as lookouts at times, but this is not the preferred option.
A crew's day may start at any hour of the day. After breaking
Some handcrews work on an on-call basis meaning members do not work unless they are specifically called to work. Other handcrews may spend time clearing brush, prescription burning, or doing other chores while waiting for fire assignments.
Types
- Type I Interagency Hotshot Crew
- Type II Initial-Attack (IA) Crew
- Type II Crew
- Type III Crew
See also
- Incarcerated handcrews in California fire camps