Smokey Bear Hotshots: History

HISTORY

Before the establishment of the Smokey Bear Hotshot Crew, firefighting was done through some pretty simple techniques. In the very early years (the early 1900s through the 1950s) the Forest Service in the local area (usually just a few employees at the time) would get in a truck and go around the local towns or ranches asking for help. People would grab their shovels, cowboy boots and hats and get to work. During the time of the Civilian Conservation Corps (1933-1941 on the Lincoln), the “boys” of the CCC lent their strength to firefighting efforts in the area. These trained “teams” led to more and more development of a standing firefighting force throughout the country.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Smokey Bear Ranger District of the Lincoln National Forest utilized three six-man suppression crews. They were named Ruidoso, Eagle Creek and Bonito. At one point, there was a Ruidoso Hotshot Crew comprised of volunteer firefighters.

Finally, in 1976, the current Smokey Bear Hotshot Crew was established. Numbers and equipment have changed, but the crew has remained and continues to diligently work to protect life, property and our heritage, the Forest.

1976 Smokey Bear Hotshot Crew

OPERATIONS

The Smokey Bear Hotshots Crew was established in March 1976. The base of operations for the crew was, and continues to be, located in Ruidoso, NM at the Ranger Station Headquarters. Its first crew consisted of 28 members with 7-day coverage of 20 people every day. The Washington Office approved the use of the name “Smokey Bear” in 1976 to honor the small bear found in the Capitan Mountains in 1950 (later named Smokey Bear).

In 1976 the crew used a bunkhouse rented from the University of New Mexico, which also served as the crew’s duty station. This duty station was relocated to the Ranger Station site in 1977. No housing was provided for the firefighters until 1999. Crew facilities at the site were basic, to say the least, and consisted of a shared office converted from an old vehicle bay. The crew facility moved to a shared office in the newly constructed “fire barn” in 1988. Finally, in 2001, a fully functional and state of the art Fire Operations building was completed containing offices, cache, weight room, conference room, showers, laundry facilities, and more for the crew to use.

In 1976, the crew consisted of a permanent hotshot foreman and two temporary squad bosses, with the remaining personnel being temporary crewmembers.

Today, the crew members remain temporary (seasonal), while the positions listed below are permanent employees.

1 Superintendent
1 Assistant Superintendent
3 Squad Leaders
3 Senior Firefighters

TRANSPORTATION

In 1976 the crew transportation was a school bus. The following year, 1977, two rental vans provided transportation with fabricated plywood storage boxes affixed on top for tools and gear. From 1978 until 1984 agency vans were used. Beginning in 1984, a Superintendent Truck and two 10 person Crew Carriers have continued to be used by the hotshots.

Transportation to assignments in the 1970s and early ’80s was often accomplished by the use of a contract Convair 580, Douglas DC-3 or De Haviland Twin Otter aircraft. The crew would depart from airports in Alamogordo, Roswell, Holloman Air Force Base and Albuquerque in New Mexico and El Paso, Texas.

1976 SBHS Crew at the airport

EQUIPMENT

1976 Individual’s Equipment

1 red hard hat (assigned by the Regional Office in Albuquerque)
2 Nomex fire shirts
1 one-gallon canteen
1 cruisers vest
1 snake bite kit
1 web belt with two 1-quart canteens
1 canvas pack for personal gear
1 early version of a fire shelter work around the waist
Crew members were responsible for furnishing their own gloves

1976 Crew’s Equipment

1 pack set 4 channel radio
4 Homelite or McCulloch chainsaws

1976 SBHS crew waiting with their equipment

2019 Equipment

Today, crew members are provided a full complement of line gear and all-season overnight gear. Each crew member is assigned a project saw with multiple saws carried during incident assignments. Up to 15 handheld radios are used for assignments as well as GPS, laptops, cell phones and tablets.

WORK PROJECTS

Beyond fighting wildfires, hotshot crews are often used locally to assist with various vegetation management projects such as prescribed burns and thinning. Work projects for the first couple of years consisted primarily of a fuel break constructed on Grindstone Mesa (just west of Ruidoso), the ridge between Cedar Creek and Brady Canyon and Alfred Hale Ridge. Due to limited chainsaw availability, much of the thinning was accomplished by Pulaski and double and single-bit axes.

PHYSICAL CONDITIONING

In the early years, physical conditioning consisted of group exercises and 1 to 3 mile runs up Cedar Creek or at a track that was located where the White Mountain Middle School is now. A ¼ mile fitness trail was constructed in 1978 by the hotshot crew to help with their physical preparedness. A longer fitness trail of 1.3 miles was completed in 1980 and opened for public use. Currently, the crew runs up to 5 miles and fitness hikes are part of the PT program. The weight room is fully equipped and used daily, including days with extended runs or hikes.

1976 SBHS Crew on the line

NOTES OF INTEREST

1988: First year with a female crew member – Bequi Parsons and Cheryl Boyd
1991: The foreman position was reclassified to “Superintendent” and a permanent Assistant Superintendent position was established.
1997: Two permanent Squad Boss positions were established