The Cognitive Process of Wildland Fire Chainsaw Troubleshooting: Structure, Content, and Training

Abstract

Wildland firefighting often involves the creation of a fireline (a break in vegetative fuels), an operation commonly hindered by the break-down of gas-powered chainsaws. Some firefighters may not possess the knowledge and skills needed to address break-downs quickly, which threatens productivity and safety. The Applied Cognitive Task Analysis method was used to examine the troubleshooting process of an expert wildland fire sawyer. This included elicitations of key steps in this process, specific pieces of valuable knowledge, and sources of expertise. These results show that much of the expert understanding of complex faults was developed on-the-job rather than during a formal training program. This study highlights areas where training and job aids may be improved to support wildland firefighters in chainsaw troubleshooting and provides preliminary support of ACTA as a tool for training specialists in this domain.