There are many designs of chain saws, from those that handle trimming small trees to heavy demolition models. In the past, we had to adapt the off-shelf chain saws to work for us, but now there are several good fire service chain saws and chains with features specifically designed for our applications. There are new chain designs coming out all the time.

Chain saws are a vital tool for emergency responders and firefighters and are used for a variety of demolition/rescue tasks, including the following:

• Roof ventilation.
• Forcible entry.
• Clearing fire lines.
• Removing hazard trees or snags.
• Constructing shoring systems to support unstable buildings.

When selecting your chain saw, look for the following:

• Wrap-around handle.
• Large recoil starter handle for gloved hands.
• Automatic chain break and chain catcher.
• Spark arrestor.
• 16- to 20-inch bar.
• 6- to 8-horsepower (hp) range.
• Chain for demolition/forcible entry.
• Chain for tree work.

TYPES OF CHAIN SAW CHAINS

There are many different chain saw chains. Each type is made up from a configuration of the following five elements:

1. Chain pitch.
2. Chain gauge.
3. Cutter material.
4. Cutter style.
5. Chain arrangement,

You can choose some aspects of your chain saw chain based on your skill level and application. Other aspects are set by the saw. There are no universal chain saw chains, and there are more types than discussed here. We will limit ourselves to the type most common to the fire service. Buy a quality chain from a reputable manufacturer. First, let’s get to know what makes up chain saw chains.

The “pitch” and “gauge” and, to some degree, the length of the bar are determined by your chain saw.

For most of our needs, a chain with a 3⁄8-inch pitch works well. Pitch is defined by the distance between any three consecutive rivets, divided by two. The 3⁄8-inch chain offers good flexibility, adequate strength, low weight, and substantial cutting speed.

Chain saw chain gauge refers to the thickness of the drive links, which are the parts of the chain that fit into the guide bar groove. It’s a crucial measurement for ensuring proper fit and function, as the chain gauge must match the guide bar gauge.

The 3⁄8-inch chain can handle up to a 100-cc chain saw engine (approximately 8.5 hp). The bigger the chain saw bar, the more force you need to apply when driving it into the wood; you may also need a bigger engine. For this reason, manufacturers provide a recommended bar length for their chain saws.

CUTTER MATERIAL

Chain saw chains are typically made of steel alloys. The cutting teeth (cutters) are often chrome-tipped for durability and resistance to wear, while some chains use tungsten carbide or diamond tips for even greater hardness and longevity, particularly in demanding or dirty environments. For our application, I recommend steel alloy or carbide chain.

CARBIDE CHAIN

There are multiple types of cutting tips for chain saw chains. On any given day, a fire service chain saw could encounter any of the following materials: asphalt and wood shingles, light tin flashing, plywood sheeting, dimensional lumber, drywall, tree limbs, and everything in between. For all these different materials, the carbide-tipped chains work well. Carbide chains will outlast a chisel chain up to 4:1. They’re also used to cut wood with nails in it, stubborn roots and branches, and even asphalt. Made for demolition, however, it cuts a down tree (green) slower than a chipper chain. They can be resharpened by ha

A Guil-Rand Fire Department apparatus was struck by a vehicle on Interstate 74 Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, the department said in a Facebook post.

“The impact caused severe damage to the apparatus—but we are incredibly thankful to report that no one was injured,” the department said.

The Guil-Rand Fire Department is located in Archdale, North Carolina.

The post NC Fire Apparatus Struck on Interstate appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

The Baraboo Area (WI) Fire and EMS District added a new tool to its toolbox, thanks to a grant, the district said in a Facebook post.

The district’s on-duty captain’s response vehicle received a Seek Fire Pro 300 thermal imaging camera. This purchase was made possible through grant funding from Alliant Energy.

“We’re extremely grateful for (Alliant Energy)’s support,” the post said.

This upgrade from the larger, older unit allows command staff to rapidly identify fire location, heat signatures, and hazards within seconds of arrival with much higher screen resolution and details. Faster intel means faster decisions, safer crews, and more effective strategies during those first critical moments of a fire incident, the post said.

“In the future, as we can allocate additional funding, we hope to replace other large bulky older technology units with newer higher quality decision-making tools,” the post said. “These units range from $1,200 to almost $4,000 for models designed for interior fire use. When lives are on the line, the ability to see through walls and smoke can make all the difference.”

The post New Equipment Added to Captain’s Response Vehicle appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

By JOSH FUNK AP Transportation Writer336 words

Norfolk Southern railroad worked with the state of Ohio and Youngstown State University to revive plans for a $20 million first responder training center near the site of the worst derailment in a decade in East Palestine, Ohio.

Building a training center to help prepare firefighters to deal with a railroad disaster was quickly part of the plan after the derailment on Feb. 3, 2023, that forced the evacuation of roughly half the small town near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border and left residents with worries about the potential long-term health impacts.

But Norfolk Southern said last January that East Palestine officials had agreed with the railroad as part of the town’s $22 million settlement that the training center wasn’t going to be feasible because of concerns about the ongoing operating costs. The railroad even agreed to give 15 acres of land it had bought for the center to the town.

Now the railroad is going to partner with Youngstown State to build and operate the training center to help prepare first responders to deal with the unique challenges of a train derailment that can spill hazardous chemicals being carried in railcars. In East Palestine, the derailed train cars burned for days, and officials decided to blow open five tank cars of vinyl chloride because they feared those cars might explode.

“By working together, we’ve turned this vision of an economic and educational center dedicated to enhancing community safety into a sustainable reality,” railroad CEO Mark George said.

The railroad has committed more than $135 million to help the town recover from the derailment and agreed to pay $600 million in a class-action settlement with residents, though those settlement payments are on hold because of a pending appeal and accounting problems with the first company that was distributing checks.

Local East Palestine first responders will have free access to training at the facility. Mayor Trent Conaway said this will “better prepare them to serve our village and the communities in our region.”