Wildland Fire Gear Checklist: What to Pack for the Fireline
Preparing for a wildland fire assignment means having the right protective equipment, fireline essentials and personal gear ready before you leave. A basic wildland fire gear checklist can include flame-resistant clothing, a helmet, gloves, protective boots, eye protection, a fire shelter, a fireline pack, water, a first-aid kit, lighting, required communication equipment and personal supplies.
The exact gear you need depends on your position, agency and assignment. Use this checklist as a starting point, then confirm your specific requirements with your agency or supervisor before heading to the fireline.
Wildland Fire Gear Checklist
Before an assignment, review these major categories:
- Required personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Fire shelter
- Fireline pack
- Water and hydration equipment
- First-aid supplies
- Communication equipment
- Lighting
- Navigation and weather equipment when assigned
- Tools and task-specific PPE
- Personal clothing and hygiene items
- Sleeping and camp gear when required
- Replacement and backup essentials
Having the right equipment is only part of being prepared. Gear should also be inspected, properly fitted and organized so critical items can be accessed when needed.
The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) publishes a Packing List for Wildland Fire Fireline Personnel that can serve as a baseline when preparing for an assignment.
What PPE Should a Wildland Firefighter Pack?
PPE should be one of the first things checked before an assignment.
Depending on agency and position requirements, wildland firefighter PPE may include:
- Flame-resistant shirt
- Flame-resistant pants
- Wildland fire helmet or hard hat
- Protective gloves
- Protective footwear
- Eye protection
- Hearing protection when required
- Face or neck shroud when required
- Fire shelter
- Chainsaw chaps for applicable saw operations
Each piece serves a different purpose, and requirements can vary by assignment.
If you need to replace multiple pieces of protective equipment, Wildland Warehouse offers wildland clothing and PPE packages with several combinations of clothing, helmets, gloves and other equipment.
For a closer look at protective equipment specifically, see our guide to wildland firefighter PPE.
What Goes in a Wildland Fireline Pack?
A fireline pack needs to carry important equipment while still allowing the firefighter to move and work effectively.
The contents depend on the assignment, but common fireline equipment can include:
- Fire shelter
- Water
- First-aid supplies
- Food or energy snacks
- Portable radio when assigned
- Weather equipment when required
- Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG)
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Spare batteries
- Fusees when assigned
- Other position-specific equipment
Organization matters. Emergency equipment should not be buried underneath less important supplies.
Browse wildland fire line gear for packs, PPE and other equipment designed for wildland operations.
How Much Water Should You Carry on the Fireline?
Hydration is essential during wildland firefighting because firefighters can spend long periods performing strenuous work in hot conditions.
NWCG training materials identify water as an essential item for wildland firefighters, and NWCG’s fire shelter guidance stresses the importance of staying well hydrated while fighting fire.
The amount and method of carrying water should follow your agency’s requirements and the expected conditions of the assignment. Depending on your setup, water may be carried in canteens, bottles, reservoirs or compatible hydration systems.
Hydration equipment should be inspected before deployment for leaks, damaged caps, worn tubing and other problems that could make it unreliable in the field.
Do Wildland Firefighters Carry a Fire Shelter?
For federal wildland firefighters, a fire shelter is required PPE and must be carried on the fireline on federal wildfires. State, local and rural fire departments may have different policies.
A fire shelter should never simply be packed away and forgotten. Firefighters need appropriate training in its use and should inspect their shelters according to applicable requirements.
NWCG recommends inspecting shelters when issued and frequently throughout the fire season. Shelters or carrying components that fail inspection criteria should be removed from service.
Review the NWCG Standards for M-2002 Fire Shelters for current guidance on inspection, training, deployment and care.
What First-Aid and Emergency Items Belong in Your Gear?
First-aid supplies should be appropriate for the assignment and agency requirements.
Depending on your role and issued equipment, your fireline pack may include a first-aid kit or other emergency supplies. Personal necessities such as prescription medications also need to be accounted for when preparing for an extended assignment.
Before leaving, inspect packaged medical supplies and replace anything that is damaged, missing or past its usable date.
Emergency equipment should also be stored where it can be accessed quickly instead of being buried at the bottom of a pack.
What Lighting Should You Pack?
Wildland assignments can continue after dark, making reliable lighting important.
A headlamp can be especially useful because it keeps both hands available while walking, organizing gear or performing other tasks. A handheld flashlight can provide a useful backup.
Before an assignment:
- Test your headlamp and flashlight
- Install fresh or adequately charged batteries
- Carry appropriate spare batteries
- Inspect straps and closures
- Make sure lighting equipment is accessible
Explore wildland firefighting equipment for additional equipment used in fireline operations.
What Communication Equipment Do Wildland Firefighters Need?
Communication equipment depends heavily on position and assignment.
Portable radios may be carried as part of fireline gear when assigned. A radio harness can help keep the radio secure and accessible while leaving room for other required equipment.
Before heading out, firefighters should make sure assigned communication equipment is operational and set up according to their incident or agency procedures.
Never assume that carrying a radio alone is enough. Firefighters need to understand the applicable communication plan, assigned channels and procedures for their incident.
Do Sawyers Need Additional Gear?
Sawyers may need additional PPE and equipment beyond a standard firefighter gear list.
Chainsaw operations can require items such as:
- Chainsaw chaps
- Eye protection
- Hearing protection
- Gloves
- Appropriate footwear
- Files and other saw-maintenance equipment
Requirements should be confirmed with the applicable agency and assignment.
Chainsaw chaps are task-specific protective equipment and should be inspected for damage before use. Do not substitute ordinary clothing for required saw protection.
What Personal Gear Should You Bring on a Wildland Fire Assignment?
Fireline gear is only one part of preparing for an assignment. Extended incidents can also require enough personal equipment for days away from home.
Depending on the assignment, useful personal items may include:
- Extra shirts and pants
- Extra socks
- Underwear
- Rain gear
- Jacket or other appropriate layers
- Spare boot laces
- Personal medications
- Prescription glasses or contact supplies
- Toiletries
- Sunscreen
- Towel
- Shower shoes
- Sleeping bag
- Tent and ground cloth
- Camp clothing and footwear
Your agency may provide a specific packing list, and assignment conditions can change what is appropriate. Follow official instructions rather than assuming every incident requires the same personal loadout.
How Should You Organize Wildland Fire Gear?
Separate equipment according to when and where you need it.
Your fireline pack should contain the equipment required while working on the line. Personal clothing, camp equipment and supplies that do not need to be carried during operations can be stored separately.
A dedicated gear bag makes it easier to keep PPE, boots and other equipment together while traveling to and from an assignment.
Wildland Warehouse’s Wildland Gear Bag is designed to hold a full set of wildland gear and includes a separate mesh boot compartment.
Whatever bag or pack you use, organize it consistently. Knowing where an item is located can save time when you need it.
What Should You Inspect Before Leaving for an Assignment?
A packing checklist should also be an inspection checklist.
Before leaving, inspect your equipment for:
- Tears, holes and excessive wear
- Broken buckles or closures
- Damaged straps
- Missing equipment
- Poorly fitting PPE
- Worn gloves
- Damaged eye protection
- Helmet damage
- Worn or unsuitable footwear
- Fire shelter or carrying-case damage
- Leaking hydration equipment
- Dead or weak batteries
- Damaged communication equipment
Pay particular attention to life-safety equipment. NWCG states that only serviceable fire shelters should be taken to the fireline and recommends inspecting shelters when issued and throughout the fire season.
Replacing damaged equipment before an assignment is far easier than discovering a problem when you’re already on the line.
Don’t Forget Position- and Agency-Specific Gear
There is no single packing list that covers every wildland fire assignment.
A firefighter, sawyer, engine crew member and other incident personnel can have different equipment requirements. Geography, weather, assignment duration and agency policy can also change what needs to be packed.
Use this wildland fire gear checklist as a preparation tool—not as a replacement for an official agency packing list.
Before leaving, confirm:
- What PPE is required for your position
- What equipment your agency provides
- What equipment you are responsible for bringing
- How long you should be prepared to remain on assignment
- What camp and personal gear is required
- Whether your PPE and emergency equipment are serviceable
Get Your Wildland Fire Gear Ready
Good preparation starts before you reach the fireline. Check your PPE, inspect critical equipment, organize your pack and make sure required supplies are accounted for before deployment.
If worn, damaged or missing equipment turns up during your pre-assignment inspection, Wildland Warehouse carries wildland firefighting equipment for firefighters and crews, including protective gear, packs and other fireline essentials.
Frequently Asked Questions
What gear should a wildland firefighter carry?
The exact equipment varies by position and agency, but wildland firefighters commonly need required PPE, a fire shelter where applicable, water, a fireline pack, first-aid supplies and assigned communication equipment. Additional tools and PPE depend on the firefighter’s job.
What should I pack for a wildland fire assignment?
In addition to required fireline gear, an assignment may require extra clothing, socks, rain gear, personal medications, toiletries, sleeping equipment and other personal supplies. Follow your agency’s official packing list and assignment instructions.
What should be in a wildland fireline pack?
Contents vary by assignment, but a fireline pack can carry items such as a fire shelter, water, first-aid supplies, food, an assigned portable radio, lighting, weather equipment and other position-specific gear.
How often should I inspect my fire shelter?
NWCG says shelters should be inspected when issued and frequently throughout the fire season. Only serviceable fire shelters should be taken to the fireline.
Do wildland firefighters need chainsaw chaps?
Chainsaw chaps are task-specific PPE for applicable chainsaw operations. Firefighters assigned saw work should follow their agency’s requirements for chaps and other required sawyer PPE.
