A chainsaw comprising: a power unit configured to operate at least in part in response to actuation of a trigger; a bar; a chain operably coupled to the bar to rotate around the bar responsive to drive power from the power unit when the trigger is actuated; and a hand guard configured to be actuated responsive to contact with a hand of an operator of the chainsaw or inertia to activate a brake assembly of the chainsaw to stop rotation of the chain, wherein the brake assembly includes a drum and a band, wherein the band is arranged to receive at a first end at least two different forces to be applied to a friction surface of the drum coupled to the power unit, a first force applied responsive to actuation of the hand guard and a second force applied responsive to release of the trigger, and wherein the brake assembly further includes a slide and a pivot bracket, the slide being configured to move in a first direction to apply the first force to the band and in a second direction that is opposite the first direction to relieve or release force on the band, characterized in that the pivot bracket is mounted to the slide to apply the second force to the band and the trigger is operably coupled to the slide via a trigger linkage that contacts a switch lever responsive to actuation of the trigger to activate a switch to apply power to the power unit, wherein the switch lever includes a notch, the trigger linkage being configured to move relative to the trigger responsive to activation of the hand guard to position a detent on the trigger linkage in the notch to enable the switch lever to rotate and deactivate the switch while the trigger remains actuated. a power unit configured to operate at least in part in response to actuation of a trigger; a bar; a chain operably coupled to the bar to rotate around the bar responsive to drive power from the power unit when the trigger is actuated; and a hand guard configured to be actuated responsive to contact with a hand of an operator of the chainsaw or inertia to activate a brake assembly of the chainsaw to stop rotation of the chain, wherein the brake assembly includes a drum and a band, wherein the band is arranged to receive at a first end at least two different forces to be applied to a friction surface of the drum coupled to the power unit, a first force applied responsive to actuation of the hand guard and a second force applied responsive to release of the trigger, and wherein the brake assembly further includes a slide and a pivot bracket, the slide being configured to move in a first direction to apply the first force to the band and in a second direction that is opposite the first direction to relieve or release force on the band, characterized in that the pivot bracket is mounted to the slide to apply the second force to the band and the trigger is operably coupled to the slide via a trigger linkage that contacts a switch lever responsive to actuation of the trigger to activate a switch to apply power to the power unit, wherein the switch lever includes a notch, the trigger linkage being configured to move relative to the trigger responsive to activation of the hand guard to position a detent on the trigger linkage in the notch to enable the switch lever to rotate and deactivate the switch while the trigger remains actuated.