Fireline Pack Retrofit
The two layers of material in the new generation shelter have increased the shelter's bulk. In the past, the folded fire shelter fit inside a hard plastic liner that measured 9 by 5 ¾ by 3 ¼ inches. The liner for the new shelter is an extra 1 ¼ inches deep. The new liner is too large for many of the field pack sleeves that were designed for the standard shelter. If you have not received a new shelter, you can test the fire shelter sleeve on your field pack by cutting a block of lumber to the dimensions of the new hard plastic liner (9 by 5 ¾ by 4 ½ inches) and trying to push the block into the pocket.
The new shelter will come with a case that can be worn on a belt or on a chest harness. A new fireline pack that will accommodate the new generation fire shelter will be available for purchase through the GSA Wildfire Protection Equipment and Supplies catalog. Fireline packs that do not accommodate the new shelter can be retrofitted. Some field pack manufacturers will retrofit their packs. Another option is to retrofit your own field pack.
A common field pack design includes a fire shelter sleeve that is sewn to the bottom of the pack. Here is a simple way to retrofit such a pack.
Step 1: Cut lengthwise through the middle section of the fire shelter sleeve, 5 inches from the seams that attach the sleeve to the main body of the pack, and remove old Velcro.
Step 2: Cut a piece of nylon duck material (such as Cordura) 6 ¾ by 14 inches. Stitch a ½-inch hem along the 6 ¾-inch edges of the material. Attach a 2- by 5 ½-inch piece of Velcro pile along each of the 6 ¾-inch edges.
Step 3: Stitch the replacement panel to the side of the sleeve closest to the back pad.
Step 4: Fold and top stitch.
Step 5: Fold over ½ inch of the replacement panel and sleeve as shown and top stitch with two lines of stitching.
Step 6: Push the hard plastic liner into the sleeve and insert the fire shelter into the liner. Press the Velcro strip on the shelter's pull strap against the Velcro on the pack's sleeve. Close the flap so that the Velcro of the flap and sleeve are attached to the Velcro of the pull strap. This arrangement allows one pull on the strap to open the pocket and pull out the shelter.
If you have questions about retrofitting fireline packs, contact Tony Petrilli, MTDC, 406–329–3900.
| Ordering Information |
The new fire shelter and practice fire shelter are available through the GSA Wildfire Protection Equipment and Supplies catalog beginning in June 2003. |
|
|---|---|---|
| Training Video, DVD, and Pamphlet | New practice fire shelter | New fire shelter |
| The New Generation Fire Shelter (video)—NFES 2711 | New practice fire shelter complete: (NSN 6930–01– 499–0605, NFES 2678) Price: $65.23 |
New fire shelter complete: (NSN 4240–01–498–3194, NFES 0925) Price: $256.74 |
| The New Generation Fire Shelter (DVD)—NFES 2712 |
Practice fire shelter only: (NSN 6930–01–499–0608, NFES 2679) Price: est. $50.00 |
Shelter only: (NSN 4240–01–498–3184, NFES 0926) Price: $226.69 |
| The New Generation Fire Shelter (pamphlet)—NFES 2710 |
Practice shelter case: (NSN 6930–01–499–0614, NFES 2680) Price: $14.07 |
Case: (NSN 8465–01–498–3190, NFES 0927) Price: $14.07 |
These items are available through National Interagency Fire Center |
Practice shelter PVC bag only: (NSN 6930–01–499–0618, NFES 2681) Price: est. $20.00 |
Liner: (NSN 8465–01–498–3191, NFES 0928) Price: $2.95 |
| Liner: (NSN 8465–01–498–3191, NFES 0928) Price: $2.95 |
||
About the Authors
Leslie Anderson has been an equipment specialist at MTDC since 1997. She is a project leader for projects involving fire shelters and fire-resistant clothing. Anderson has a bachelor's degree in forestry from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master's degree in forestry from the University of Montana. She began working in wildland fire in 1979. Anderson was a smokejumper from 1984 to 1989 in Missoula, MT. From 1989 to 1991, she worked in fire management with the Costa Rican National Park Service as a Peace Corps volunteer. Anderson worked as an assistant district fire management officer on the Bitterroot National Forest from 1992 to 1997.
Tony Petrilli is an equipment specialist in the fire and aviation, and safety and health programs at MTDC. Petrilli began working at MTDC over the winters in 1992. He joined the center full time in 2000. He has spent more than 17 years as a firefighter for ranger districts on the Lewis and Clark and Beaverhead National Forests and as a smokejumper for the Northern Region. He is qualified as a division/group supervisor. He is a master parachute rigger and understands textiles and their uses in firefighting.Additional single copies of this document may be
ordered from:
USDA Forest Service
Missoula Technology and Development Center
5785 Hwy. 10 West
Missoula, MT 59808–9361
Phone: 406–329–3978
Fax: 406–329–3719
E-mail: wo_mtdc_pubs@fs.fed.us
For additional technical information, contact Leslie
Anderson or Tony Petrilli at MTDC.
Phone: 406–329–3900
Fax: 406–329–3719
E-mail: landerson@fs.fed.us or apetrilli@fs.fed.us
Electronic copies of MTDC's documents are
available on the Internet at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d
