7/24/2023 0 Comments D16 cat dozer![]() ![]() They also play a key role in watching the dozer's six, and making sure the line that they just put in is holding. It is the role of the swamper to be the eyes and ears of the dozer operator, to guide him or her through fireline cutting, and to remain vigilant of all potential hazards in the area. A firefighter who acts as a scout for the dozer operator. Standard hotshot line is 3'.ĭozers operate with a swamper (technically an “Engineering Equipment Operator Helper”. Dozer blades vary, but a D6 (the most common CAL FIRE Dozer) has a blade width of about 10'. It doesn't even account for the differences in width of fireline. So, we used 2 miles of line (the average of 1-3).Īnd that's just straight distance. But under most conditions, 1-3 miles/hr of fireline can be reasonably expected. ![]() As noted above, a dozer can cut between 1-8 miles/hr of fireline. And that chart is overly generous to the hotshot crew, and conservative to the dozer. The chart above visualizes how a hotshot crew's output compares against a dozer. Those rates decline in thicker vegetation. That's considered optimal ouput according to national fireline production rates. Still - that's a lot of line! For comparison, a Type 1 handcrew (such as a hotshot crew), in short grass, should be expected to cut 1,122' of handline per hour. Needles to say, those conditions rarely exist, and line construction rates of between one and three miles an hour are more realistic. ![]() Eight miles of line in an hour?! Obviously, that sort of production only happens under ideal conditions (flat terrain and light fuels (like grass)). According to CAL FIRE, a dozer can cut line at a rate of one to eight miles an hour. But for situations where the fire is reasonably accessible by road, and the terrain is manageable, you can't beat the production of a bulldozer. And, speaking from personal experience, a handcrew can cut line on some pretty damn steep terrain. They can hike over nasty terrain, or they can be inserted via helicopter. A handcrew has the advantage of being able to get in to places where a bulldozer can't. And when it comes to cutting line, you only have two options: a handcrew or a bulldozer. If you want to catch a fire, you need personnel on the ground, getting after it. There simply are not enough air tankers and helicopters available to rely on slurry drops and bucket drops to contain wildfires. (note: if you’re working with a federal fire service, the job is formally titled “Engineering Equipment Operator.” The jobs are tough to get and competitive. On any given year in California, there might be some 200 dozer operators crawling through the mountains on CAL FIRE's 61 dozers. Still sound like a good job? Most of you are probably grinning ear-to-ear right now! "Of COURSE it sounds like a good job!" ![]() You’re operating an enormous piece of equipment, 30 tons or more, in unfamiliar terrain, often at night, right next to a raging wildfire, and oh yeah, you’re sitting on a 100+ gallons of fuel. New models start at around $1.2 million.Courtesy of CAL FIRE San Luis Obispo Unitīesides piloting an air tanker or a helicopter on a fire, serving as a dozer operator requires the next amount of training and qualifications. A used D11 Dozer can cost as little as $115,000, depending on the model year and whether or not upgrades are added. Starting at $85,000, used Cat D11 Dozers are somewhat affordable. Compared to other bulldozers, Caterpillar D11 Dozer can be used for a long time so it is more economical. It’s built to last, so there’s little need to worry about it being replaced anytime soon. Maximum penetration force (shank vertical)Ĭat D11 Dozer is rugged and durable. Reclamation Universal – Width with blade (over end bits)Ĭarry Dozer – Width with blade (over end bits) Reclamation Universal – Blade capacity (SAE J1265) Length with SU (Blade No rear attachment) Width at Outside of Track (710 mm Track Shoe) CAT D11 Dozer Specs Engine Features Brand Why let your power and speed keep you from getting the job done? Caterpillar D11 Dozer will give you the power to clear anything from a muddy field to those hard-to-blow leaves off your patio. And that’s what the Cat D11 is all about. Wherever you are in the world, you specs the best. You aren’t displacing dirt with your Dozer. ![]()
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