Initial attack crews are a traditional and integral component of most fire control organizations; providing rapid, aggressive suppression capabilities while fires are small. This paper describes the methodology and results of a three-year study designed to assess the production rates of initial attack crews over a range of fuel resistance and fire intensity categories. Eighteen experimental fires were conducted in three major fuel types in central Alberta during the 1986, 1987, and 1988 fire seasons. In addition, two wildfires adjacent to the study area were actioned and documented. Fire behavior was closely monitored from both ground and air, and crew production was measured from time of initial attack through to the time of flame extinguishment over the entire fire perimeter. Crew equipment consisted of Pulaskis, shovels, backpack pumps, and a power saw. Hotspotting production rates ranged from 19 m/person-AA-hour to 403 m/person-hour and were a function of the fire behavior variables and fuel resistance. Topographic variation is minimal in the boreal forest region of Alberta, hence this factor was not considered in our production functions. Source: Canadian Forest Service, Northern Forestry Centre. Abstract reproduced with permission of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 1999.