I have to say that I happen to like the design of these. I picked up two with different handle lengths for my kits. I would not like to have to rely on them for a lot of hacking, but I imagine they will work in a pinch/survival situation.
Decided to add to them by making use of the hollow handles.
For the smaller one I took a piece of paracord and doubled it over, tying knots in the doubled over end. Jammed the knotted end into the handle, keeping the loose ends hanging out of the end of the handle and pressed in a bunch of commercial fire starting cotton, followed by wooden matches in a vacuum sealed bag. A flint might be better, but I did not have one available; a magnesium block with flint striker was too big to fit into the handle. Tying off the paracord through the holes in the handle holds it all in.
For the larger one I put the fire tabs and the matches in the same vacuum sealed bag and pushed them into the handle.
The paracord helps to keep the contents of both in place. By pulling on the paracord for the smaller hatchet, the contents of the handle are retrieved. Probably best to do this with both of them.

I would not want to have to rely on them on a regular basis, but as a "back up" fire starting kit, I think it makes good use of the hollow handles.

If you happen to have this type of hatchet, making use of the hollow handle seems like a decent idea. Not sure how long the matches would last, but I would not use the hatchet on a regular basis anyway. Probably best to replace the contents once every 6 months.

If the link works, you can see them at:
Gerber fire kit

I've seen posts before (probably here) about stashing stuff in the handles of the Gerber/Fiskars hatchets. I guess if you can get it out fairly easily, and you don't mind the balance shifting around (something I came to hate in hollow-handle knives), I don't see any downside. Here's something I posted on another forum about these:
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I've had two of the Gerber (Fiskars) Sport Axes for some time, and they're pretty good- MUCH better than "hardware store" hatchets. I personally like the straight handle and tomahawk balance, and they're effective for the weight.

That having been said, I don't really "get" the Back Paxe at all. As far as I can tell, it's the same as the "Sport" but with a MUCH shorter handle. This has to reduce the effectiveness dramatically, meaning a LOT more work for the same effect, and since the handle is hollow plastic anyway, it's not saving enough weight to worry about... just a little space.

Just don't do what I did. If you get the Gerber(s), stay away from Gransfors Bruks, especially the Wildlife. So long as you don't EVER handle one of those, you'll be perfectly happy with the Gerber. <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the feedback.
The idea of having the paracord in the handle makes the retrieval very simple as well as being used to hold the contents inside.
I don't see and advantage with the short handle either except for stowing it away. But, any tool is better than no tool.

The short handle one isn't really an axe or hatchet, it is more of a splitting wedge. I have one and I use it to split wood like you would with a fixed blade knife.