SBIR-STTR Award

A major problem with the pulaski, a wildfire hand tool, is its quick life due to breakage and wear. It is also a very inefficient fire tool. Of even more concern is the horrible position of use it requires of the fire fighter. Bent over with head down there is very little visibility from under a hard hat. There is only the slightest peek out at all the various components that form to set up accidents. During cross country travel the pulaski does not aid travel, it presents an awkward, and unstable article, that catches on things, and flails during slips and falls. Pulaskis are horrible tools to store safely on helicopters and to transport by any form of vehicle. Most of all, pulaskis are one of the most dangerous fire hand tools. Glances, bounces, slips and mistakes take a tremendous toll in lost time accidents to fire fighters.The proposed program is directed at the feasibility of using a novel alloy cored pulaski with fins to accept replaceable blades as they wear out. Beyond that, it is to be detachable from its handle to store safely during travel. It will be better balanced, lighter, longer, wider and be built to last an entire career.

Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications of Research:
:Successful development of a non perishable pulaski will advance the art of effective wildfire tools. Although superior in all manner of ways to the traditional pulaski, it is designed to be used less. Other tool head options for the same handle will offer greater range, and far more safety, production, accountability, versatility, and user comfort than any single function fire tool. The results will be less waste, and more for less money spent.

Traditional wildfire tools are awkward to carry. They don't aid in cross country travel to and from fires. Old single function tools, shovels, pulaskis, Mcleods, burlap bags, fire rakes, lack versatility and responsiveness to changing needs on fires. Most fire tools are short handled, require extreme back bending; hence poor efficiency and possible injury to users. Fire fighters are too expensive to equip with inferior hand tools. To harvest maximum use of the Incident Command System of fire organization, we need better tools. A wise move would be to invest one days wages in a quality hand tool system. Phase I, proved feasibility, and met all objectives. Phase II will build on these accomplishments, and bring several primary tool attachments, (pre proto types), into final versions with BLM and Forest Service cooperation. These final versions will pass Forest Service Approval and Specification standards, and make them ready for low cost production; rather than custom made, expensive tools.

Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications of Research:
Successful development of an Incident Command Hand Tool System offers greater range, depth, safety, production, accountability, versatility, responsiveness and user comfort. The concern for greater safety, and the high cost of wages/support make these advances long overdue. Commercially, global warming continues to increase, wildfire problems are growing on all the continents of the world. What's available does not address what's needed. Opportunity for leadership, and American innovation, to dominate the world market is here. This system needs to be augmented/improved by BLM, & USFS, made commercial, and available to equip the world for the tough and dangerous business of wildfire suppression