At Curtis, we offer a wide range of wildland firefighting gear to outfit yourself and your crew.

Types of fires appear on a seasonal basis, and brush or forestry fires are no different. House fires often occur during the winter months, but summer sees a dramatic increase in wildland fires. While safety products exist to help firefighters in all instances of dealing with the flames, a wildland firefighter equipment list includes many items not often used for home or commercial fires.

From different types of helmets to fire shelters, knowing how to build the ideal wildland fire supply kit starts with understanding that what you wear and carry can greatly affect how you combat fires. At Curtis, we offer a wide range of wildland firefighting gear to help you outfit yourself or your crew for safe and effective wildland fire management.

Wildland Firefighting Apparel

PPE (personal protective equipment) helps you stay safe from flames, sparks, smoke, and other dangers while in a wildland fire setting. However, you also want to make sure that your wildland protective clothing allows for easy mobility, comfort, and ample space for extra equipment. The most important parts of your wildland firefighting clothing should include:

1. Wildland Pants

Dealing with a forest or brush fire means walking through everything from brambles to shrubbery, both of which can easily grab onto your pants and hinder walking. You also need wildland fire pants that won’t get singed by low-lying fires or embers, keeping you safe from the bottom up.

For men, the rugged CrewBoss Dual-Cert Elite Pants offer safety while fighting wildland fires and also look great when worn during your downtime. These pants have tighter tailoring that makes them less easy for undergrowth to snag onto, yet feel comfortable enough for maneuvering through even the roughest terrain. Made with flame-resistant materials like Nomex, other features include an internal smartphone pocket, elastic side bands, articulated knees, and pleated cargo pant pockets with drain holes.

Women firefighters can depend on the Coaxsher LL Women’s Wildland Fire Pant, specially designed to fit just right where men’s pants can’t. Besides fitting a woman’s body better, these pants use Xvent Technology to keep you cool while offering the best mobility possible. Other benefits include reinforced materials in high-stress spots and articulated areas.

2. Wildland Coat

Wildland fires can scale trees and tall brush, increasing the risk of upper body injuries to firefighters. With the proper wildland firefighting apparel, you can ensure the safety of every inch of your skin. One of the best ways to protect your upper body includes wearing the PGI Premier Forestry Firefighting Coat while you work.

This coat offers you the best protection against extreme heat, sparks, and flames while still allowing maximum mobility. Built for versatility and ease of movement, you won’t feel hindered regardless of the type of work you’re doing to put out a fire. You can also count on your Premier coat to provide plenty of pocket space for any tools and equipment you need to carry and high visibility thanks to the Scotchlite trim on the front pockets and upper back.

3. Wildland Gloves

Whether you’re building a fire line or just need protection from the intense heat, good gloves should sit high on your list of wildland fire protection equipment. You need your hands to help you accomplish various firefighting activities, so ensuring that they’re free of burns, abrasions, and other damage helps you maintain a level of comfort during an extremely stressful event. Shelby 5002F Gauntlet Wildland Firefighting Gloves can answer that call.

Made of pigskin, these gloves have a strong resistance against heat, flames, punctures, and other damage, making them indispensable during a wildland fire. Wildland firefighters wearing these gloves experience incredible protection, including abrasion-resistant material, double-layer thumb protection, and a design meant to ensure the best use of their hands possible.

4. Wildland Head Gear

Another requisite piece of wildland fire protection equipment consists of the proper head gear. From the top of your head to your face, extreme heat, smoke, ash, embers, and flames can all cause severe injuries if you’re not protected. You also need a barrier between your head and falling debris, such as tree branches.

Total protection should include a helmet, set of goggles, and face protector. For example, you could start with the Bullard Hat Style Wildfire Series Fire Helmet, made of thermoplastic for the best heat-resistance. The hat can fit nearly any head with its Flex-Gear ratchet suspensions, while the brim ensures that falling ash, rain, or other substances don’t land on your face directly.

Underneath the hat, you could wear the CrewBoss Oversized Cal Fire Face Protector. With a simple hook-and-loop attachment, you can throw this protector over your nose and mouth to protect against ash. Made of Sigma 4 Star twill, the material repels water and resists heat so you don’t have to worry about the material melting or burning.

Top off your wildland firefighting head gear with the ESS FirePro-1977 FS Wildland Goggles. This goggle has an open-ventilation design and coating that prevents scratches and fogging while still ensuring that you won’t get dust or ash in your eyes.

Wildland Firefighting Tools & Field Equipment

While what you wear greatly impacts your experience during a wildland fire, the tools and equipment you take with you matter just as much. When people ask, “What kind of equipment do wildland firefighters use,” they don’t realize that it’s much more than a water hose and axe. From fire shelters to shovels, the list of gear for wildland fires varies in both offensive and defensive firefighting.

1. Basic Wildland Firefighting Tools

The most basic tools that a wildland firefighter needs to carry include an axe, shovel, and hoe. Chopping up wood, tearing down brush, digging firelines, and many other firefighting activities require the use of these fundamental tools. Another tool a firefighter might choose to carry while managing wildfires includes a fire swatter, which can smother flames or exert enough control over them to change their direction.

2. Wildland Firefighting Multi-Tools

Working in tight quarters is common during a wildfire, especially if you’re in a forested area with thick growth. These conditions might require the use of multi-tools, such as the J.R. Tools Super P Pro Pulaski, which comes with a handle measuring 40 or 48 inches. With this tool, firefighters can chop, cut, or grub the ground, combining multiple basic tools into one piece that weighs less than six pounds and resists chipping.

3. Other Types of Wildland Firefighting Gear and Equipment

Fighting fires often also means looking for new burns and recording information as you go along. Binoculars like the Bushnell Powerview 2 can help you locate potential danger zones before they light up, featuring a durable metal chassis that won’t give in to extreme heat. You can record your findings in the waterproof Rite in the Rain Soft Cover Top Bound Notebook, allowing you to make notes regardless of how rainy or wet the area is.

No matter how careful you are during a wildland fire, you may find yourself in a place where the flames and smoke suddenly appear all around you. If you can’t get away safely, the Anchor Industries New Generation Fire Shelter can help by providing the best protection possible against the encroaching fire. The shelter uses layers of silica, aluminum foil, and fiberglass to create a barrier around you, giving you precious time to withstand a sudden wildland fire flare-up.

Wildland Firefighter Packs and Bags

You can have an arsenal of essential equipment ready to go, but if you don’t have a way to mobilize your wildland firefighting supplies, they’re of no use to you. That’s why many fire specialty manufacturers have spent decades testing the best materials and builds to provide wildland firefighters with durable, multi-functional carrying options.

For firefighters heading into the thick of brush or forest fires, the Mystery Ranch Hotshot TL pack can hold a variety of wildland fire gear inside and outside. Made of fire-resistant material, the pack keeps all of your items inside safe from flames, ash, water, and other elements. Features include a structured belt that works with buckle-attach accessories or MOLLE, wing pockets, dedicated fusee sleeves, and more, all combining to weigh less than six pounds.

If you’re seeking out a wildland firefighter red bag, the OK-1 Large Gear Bag with Wheels offers nearly five cubic feet of storage in a bag that can lift by its shoulder strap or roll across the ground. While not a backpack, you can fit various tools and equipment into this bag and trust that they’ll be safe from the elements while you work. The bright red color with reflective trim gives the bag high visibility, making it easier to locate when you need something out of it.

Find the Best Wildland Fire Supplies at Curtis

Keeping yourself or your crew safe while fighting wildland fires requires the best protective clothing and equipment possible. Curtis, a long-standing company with decades of firefighting equipment experience, can help you find the best wildland firefighting gear. Check out our wildfire equipment catalog, shop online, or visit your local Curtis store today.