Firefighter Chainsaw Safety
- dj0845
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read

Are you practiced and ready? Looking for practical hands-on safety training?
Arboriculture Canada's specialized training programs in chainsaw safety, tree felling, and hazard tree removal techniques will ensure emergency readiness for firefighters working with chainsaws.
ArborCanada has been a leading resource for over 15 years, emphasizing practical skills and safety protocols. Our training modules are adaptable and can be tailored to fit the specific needs of every customer including competency testing and Train the Trainer. We work closely with clients to ensure a perfect fit.
We have provided this training for various organizations across Canada, some of which are:
Government of Yukon
Parks Canada
New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources
Yukon First Nations Wildfire
Many expert lead instructors with ArborCanada have work experience and backgrounds with firefighting operations. Our strong collaboration with wildfire services, forestry and municipal fire enables us to provide uniquely tailored training that prioritizes operator safety and enhances the effectiveness of professional emergency response operations.
If you think we can help you contact us, and we would be happy to answer any of your questions.
More about Chainsaw Operations for Firefighters
Many workers are often required to use chainsaws in high-risk environments such as during or after forest fires and/or storms. These same workers are often required to cut trees that are toppled, uprooted or that are caught and suspended on buildings, power lines or other trees. Coaching and hands-on time and practice is a vital component to avoiding an accident or injury. Participants are educated in risk assessment and work plan strategies designed to ensure worker safety through work planning, teamwork and specialty cutting techniques and equipment. Explanation, demonstration, and practice using ropes, P.M.P.s and mechanical advantage are examples of some of the integral parts of this programing for fire operations.
Participants will learn about the techniques related to felling and cutting trees, and about the unique challenges presented by felling trees during fire operations. Assessing risks and hazards, safe chainsaw use, maintenance, limbing and bucking, dealing with spring poles and understanding compression and tension are all components of this programing.
Advanced skills are required when individuals need to meet the challenges that are a part of high-risk environments. This can include:
Installation and use of pull lines
Guying and anchoring techniques
Bore cutting and specialized chainsaw safety operation
Key Notch, Miss-Match and Controlled Knee Hinge

Employing highly skilled and competent trainers in your organization can be difficult. Being a trainer can be one of the most exciting and fulfilling occupations on the planet. However, if trainers are missing some critical knowledge and skills, it can be a major struggle and create a high stress environment on your team.
The secret to success is to learn from the masters in the arena of training in the field of arboriculture – people who educate and train in hands-on skills areas repeatedly around North America. At Arboriculture Canada, we believe that there are certain organizations that may require high level training of their key trainers in order for them to meet their human resources and budgetary goals.
This program is available only to organizations that require this specialized training for a small group of their own in-house trainers.
This Train the Trainer Qualification program will increase your confidence in the training arena by a thousand-fold. You’ll be shocked at what your trainers can achieve in your organizations once they have been properly educated in the intricacies of this field.
Here is just a portion of what trainers will learn:
Implementing a powerful program in the skill area of focus.
How to control the energy and mood in the group.
How to use “Accelerated Learning” techniques for adult learners so your participants learn faster and remember more.
This program will change your organization. It will be conducted for groups of nine or less by two qualified trainers. This qualification will expire every three years. We recommend retraining every three years in order to stay current in the specific skill area, as well as improvement in training skills.

Operator safety is always number one in the field. Here are two proven ways to improve operator safety.
Formally assess and document scene hazards and how to tactically mitigate risk.
Implement competency testing into your programing to ensure skills and knowledge retention of operators.

Individuals must assess and qualify risks associated with danger tree situations in order to tactically reduce risks, meet thresholds document and report residual risks following mitigation. Reporting procedures are examined and developed in class and practiced in the field using a three-pronged process made up of qualitative risk assessment, mitigation tactics and residual risk determination.
Course related topics for tree risk management include:
Qualitative Wildland Tree Risk Assessment
Qualitative versus quantitative
Site and Work risk determination
Matrix, matrices
Tactical development and mitigation
Residual Risk
Documentation, records and forms
Advanced Hazard and Danger Tree Mitigation Tactics
Dealing with hazard and danger trees
Work planning and the six step cutting plan
Communication and deployment
Specialty cuts and techniques
Advanced tools and equipment
If you are interested in training or learning more, don't hesitate to reach out to our office. We will make sure to respond and help you in any way we can.
ArborCanada, Standing By.
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