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Permalink Reply by Jana on January 7, 2008 at 8:56pm

Socks! always extra socks and underwear. Baby wipes are great for taking off some of the grime. Toothbrush and toothpaste are a must. A warm jacket or sweat shirt because temperatures can drop quickly even in July if you're in the mountains. Extra t-shirts because it feels great to put on a dry shirt at the end of the day when you're about to bed down on the ground. These are my necessities for my red bag.

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Permalink Reply by Paul H on January 7, 2008 at 10:26pm

Yeah, I got socks.. :) I use the EasiClens bath instead of baby wipes - they're dry to start so they don't dry out. Don'tcha just love having to start a fire on the fireline to stay warm?!?!?!?! :)

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Permalink Reply by Jana on January 7, 2008 at 10:37pm

Had to do it last summer. It was 100+ during the day but at night it was about 45 degrees. Then a storm rolled in and poured rain.

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Permalink Reply by Firegal77 on January 7, 2008 at 10:01pm

OK, you forgot about the MRE's...so many flavors to choose from, and in addition to what you carry, I also carry map tools, map of area, as well as my camel back, Instead of gatorade, i use emergen-c, a note pad, a lighter, a poncho, a first aid kit, a snake bite kit, mosquito head net, power bars, chewing gum, sunscreen, Moleskin, small flashlight, and a headlamp . and on the list of base camp items, I would like to think i had a towel, though time and again i forget and regret it(nothing like drying off with your t-shirt) and I like those tiger balm patches...mmmmm they are so nice to apply after a long several days on the line. On or off the line depending on the outlook I carry a sleeping bag and tent. there probably is more, but that is essentially it.

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Permalink Reply by Paul H on January 7, 2008 at 10:30pm

We get MRE's issued at check in, along with maps. I have a headlamp on my helmet at all times too. Never heard of tiger balm... Tho I do have moleskin in the first aid kit. We're also issued a tent/sleeping bag from them dept. when we deploy. They really do a very nice job of taking care of us.

Many call me crazy for carrying so much, but invariably, someone says, "OOH CRAP! I forgot _____!" and I pull one out...That's the advantage of doing so much pump and roll - if you look at my pic, you'll see our attack engine/brush engine (A32) - we have a huge storage compartment up top for our gear.

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Permalink Reply by Firegal77 on January 7, 2008 at 10:38pm

You really must check into tiger balm...it is sorta like mineral ice, except warm instead of cold...very nice! :o) It sounds like you have it pretty good! lol I carry a lot too, because as you said invariably someone needs it, and they sorta look to me for assistance...lol Though, I am more of a mule, sometimes If we are not far from the engine i will drop a few less important items, but I like to have it all when we get a few miles in..:o)

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Permalink Reply by ILDisasterEMT on February 6, 2008 at 6:15am

I do disaster deployment EMS and I never go anywhere without the biggest container of tiger balm i can get and 2 bottles of roll-on BioFreeze. I smell like an explosion in a menthol factory but nothing is better for a sore back, legs and feet. Also, if anyone knows if there is such a thing as wildland EMS...i know there is wilderness EMS, but I am thinking like EMS for wildland fire service. Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Sean McLaughlin on February 6, 2008 at 2:37pm

On some of the incidents I've been on in Cali they have had what they referred to as line medics. This was two people in a pickup per division with full paramedic training. They are handy to have around, but not always staffed. One of the sawyers on my shot crew ate the bar of her chainsaw and luckily they were available that night. I'm not sure where you would need to go for more info. CalFire is probably a good start.

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Permalink Reply by Firegal77 on February 6, 2008 at 3:29pm

Yes, there are, they are called line EMTs or there are usually staffed ambulances on fires as well.

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Permalink Reply by Jana on January 7, 2008 at 10:40pm

MREs are always on the engine with an extra in my pack. Tents are also always on the engine. I keep an extra pair of gloves and my headlamp handy in my pack. First aid kits are issued to us wit our packs. Thanks for reminding me of sunscreen. My mom has a fit if I go out fighting fire without it :-)

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Permalink Reply by Paul H on January 8, 2008 at 12:46am

Ok, no nasty comments to this one... I'm not 'vain' or metrosexual or nothin like that, but you might also consider some moisturizer as well... I was going through my pack the other day, and found a tube at the bottom, and realized I forgot to add it to the list... It helps the skin from drying out which helps reduce the nicks and cuts that invariably occur. And for the ladies (and those who care about those things) it keeps your skin from getting leathery.

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Permalink Reply by Sean McLaughlin on January 23, 2008 at 12:34am

Line Gear - MRE's, at least six quarts of water, first aid kit, radio, batteries, bandanas, headlamp, space blanket, socks, t - shirt, deet, sunscreen, knife, leatherman, gloves, safety glasses, earplugs, coffee, tin cup, field glasses, rain poncho, copenhagen, flagging, fiber tape, carabiners, gps, sweatshirt or jacket if I think I'll need it.

Shirt Pockets - emergen-c, instant coffee packets, compass, signal mirror, earplugs, copenhagen

Helmet - bugz goggles, bandana, sunglasses

Pants - man purse (IRPG, notebook, calendar, saw card, red card, medic cards, pen, travel cash), bandanas, sharpie, knife, jerky, copenhagen, hydralite, athletic tape,

Red Bag - SOCKS, underwear, t-shirts, tent, sleeping bag, hoodie, beanie, toiletries, mountain money, space blanket.

I think that's all

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