The Pulaski Axe: A Firefighter’s Legacy Forged in the Flames
On this very week in August of 1910, one of the most devastating wildfires in American history swept across the inland Northwest. Known as The Great Fire, it consumed more than three million acres across Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Oregon. Entire towns were reduced to ash, and scores of firefighters battled to contain the inferno under impossible conditions.
Amid the chaos, one ranger’s actions became legend. Edward “Big Ed” Pulaski of the U.S. Forest Service led 45 of his men to safety inside an abandoned mine shaft. As panic set in, Pulaski reportedly stood at the entrance, revolver in hand, warning the men that leaving meant certain death. Thanks to his leadership, most of the crew survived.
But Pulaski’s legacy extends beyond that harrowing day. In the aftermath of the fire, he began experimenting with forestry tools, refining a design that would soon become indispensable in wildland firefighting. The result was the Pulaski axe — a rugged, dual-purpose tool that combined an axe blade on one side with a mattock (hoe-like blade) on the other.
From Prototype to Standard Issue
Although similar axe-hoe hybrids had been seen as early as the 1870s, it was Pulaski’s refinements after the 1910 fire that set his version apart. Balanced, efficient, and tough enough for fireline work, the tool quickly gained traction among crews in the Rocky Mountain region.
By the 1920s, the Pulaski was standard issue for wildland firefighters, valued for its versatility in chopping wood, digging soil, and cutting through roots while building firebreaks. It wasn’t just another tool — it was a lifeline in the battle against wildfire.
A Tool That Endures
More than a century later, the Pulaski remains a firefighting staple. At Council Tool, we’re proud to continue producing the Pulaski axe to the same high standards that have guided generations of fire crews.
Today, its usefulness extends beyond the fireline. The Pulaski is trusted by trail builders, land managers, and backcountry crews who rely on its unique blend of chopping and digging power. Whether carving new paths through rugged terrain or reinforcing firelines in remote forests, the Pulaski continues to prove its worth.
Innovation Through Necessity
The story of the Pulaski is a reminder that great tools are born from real problems. The 1910 fires demanded innovation, and through Pulaski’s vision — and years of refinement by those who wielded it — the axe has endured as a symbol of resilience, ingenuity, and service.
From Big Ed’s prototype to the racks of brand-new Council Pulaskis shipped out today, the spirit of innovation lives on — forged in fire and carried forward by those who continue to fight it.
Credit: Wildfire Today- The True Story of the Pulaski Fire Tool