Grabbing their tools, the Vandenberg Hot Shots prepare to hike in to start cutting a fire break line in the Mount St. Francis area of Colorado Springs, Colo. A team is comprised of two sawyers, who carry chainsaws, and two pullers (or swampers) who follow the sawyers and pull the brush out of the way. Next in the line, they have four tools, that they call hand tools. Their job, depending on the fuel type, is to remove the vegetation and ground cover to the bare mineral soil so it doesnÕt burn.

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Size: 4256px × 2832px
Photo credit: © LOU Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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