Firefighter 1C Wildland Practice Exam

A Pulaski axe combines an axe with another tool. Which other tool?

1. Pick

2. An adze

3. A maul

4. A sledge

The correct answer is: An adze

The Pulaski axe is a unique hand tool specifically designed for wildland firefighting and trail building. It features a dual functionality by combining the chopping capabilities of an axe with the digging and cutting characteristics of an adze. The adze is used for shaping and digging, which is particularly useful in creating fire lines and managing vegetation. This combination allows firefighters to effectively clear brush, dig up roots, and create barriers to control the spread of wildfires. In contrast, while the other tools listed—such as a pick, maul, and sledge—are also used in various forms of manual labor or firefighting, they do not provide the same versatility as the Pulaski axe. For instance, a pick is designed primarily for breaking ground or digging in rocky soil, a maul is used for driving stakes or splitting wood, and a sledge is typically used for heavy striking tasks. None of these tools integrate the functions of chopping and digging in the same manner that an adze does when paired with an axe in the Pulaski design.