Hotshots

Fire Season starts yesterday for you!

It is important that crew members show up already physically and mentally prepared. Our training builds on your foundation, teaching fire and other skills in order to be most effective. It is vital to crew safety, productiveness, and success that you are ready for the Hotshot training upon arrival.

*All applicants must successfully pass the Forest Service Work Capacity Test.  This test involves walking 3 miles with a 45lb pack in 45 minutes or less.

It is further recommended that the following fitness goals be met as a baseline:

• 1.5 mile run in a time of 10:35 or less
• 40 sit-ups in 60 seconds or less
• 25 pushups in 60 seconds or less
• Chin-ups, based on body weight
  • More than 170 lbs. = 4 chin-ups
  • 135-169 lbs. = 5 chin-ups
  • 110-134 lbs. = 6 chin-ups
  • Less than 110 lbs. = 7 chin-ups

Specific Physical Training Information

Hiking - Hikes will be performed wearing full personal protective equipment and line gear.  Hikes will be travelled at crew pace.  Not keeping up on hikes is an unacceptable work practice for safety reasons.

Running - Runs will be performed wearing appropriate running shoes, shorts, and shirt.  Runs will be a minimum of 3 miles and will not exceed 10 miles.

Strength Training Exercises - Strength training will consist of pushups, pull-ups, bar dips, weight lifting, yoga and core exercises.  Exercises will be performed in a manner that aids in the development of muscles more conditioned to the work performed by hotshots.

Stretching - Stretching is an integral part of any physical fitness training program.  Use stretching and proper hydration to minimize injury and promote fast recovery from the strenuous PT program.

Examples of workout training plans:

https://www.hotshotfitness.com/

Learning begins on the crew's first day.

It is important that crew members view each fire and each project as an opportunity to learn.

The initial foundation of training includes:

1. Forest Orientation
2. Crew Orientation
3. Standards for Survival
4. Look-up, Look-down, Look-around
5. Survival triangle
6. L.C.E.S.
7. Common Denominators
8. Line construction
9. Fire Shelter training
10. Communications
11. Human factors on the fireline
12. Working with inmates
13. Lessons learned
14. I.A. procedures
15. S-330 (unit V, Lessons C-D) Task Force/Strike Team Leader
16. S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior
17. Fatality review
18. Fireline Handbook
19. Civil Rights
20. Fire Fatality Scenarios
21. Downhill Line construction
22. Light hand on the land
23. First aid/CPR and HAZMAT
24. Search and Rescue

Additional training may consist of, but is not limited to:

• S-131 Advanced Firefighter Training
• S-215 Fire Operation in the Urban Interface
• S-211 Portable Pumps and Water use
• S-212 Power Saws
• S-271 Helicopter Crew Member
• S-234 Ignition Operations
• S-270 Basic Air Operations
• L-280 Followership to Leadership
• Maps and compasses

Additional training will be completed at the Superintendent’s discretion as time allows and aligned with crew needs.  Additional training will be secondary to performing duties as wildland firefighters.

Crew training exercises are tailored to develop skills for fire suppression, small unit leadership and instruction. They are conducted in the classroom, in the field, or on the fireline.

In alignment with the basic tenet of the Redding IHC Leadership Development Program; the focus of all training is at the small-unit (squad) level. All training is conducted with a stressor involved, i.e., time compression, physical exhaustion, sleep-deprivation, in front of peers, etc. Training exercises are based on proven courses from NWCG, military, corporate and other action-oriented organizations. The following skill sets are emphasized:

1. Observation/Recon

• Field Observation
• Time-Compressed Recon
• Aerial Interpretation
• Map Building / Cartography
• Nighttime Observations
• Fuel Conditions/Loading
• Proper Lookout Location

2. Orientation

• Topographic Interpretation
• Field Observation
• Navigation
• GPS Use & Interpretation
• Relay Coordinates

3. Decision Making

• Recognition-Primed / Intuitive
• Situational Awareness
• Analytical 70% Solution
• Ethical/Moral Decisions
• Sleep/Food Deprivation

4. Communication

• Leader’s Intent
• Conflict Resolution
• Technical (Radio) Operations
• Public Speaking
• Media Relations
• Spousal Relations

5. Technical Proficiency

• Saw Operations
• Tool Use
• Firing Operations
• Radio Programming
• GPS Programming
• Line Location
• Weather Observations
• Urban Interface Ops
• Computer Use

6. Training and Simulations

• STEX / TDGs
• Staff Rides
• Simulations
• OTJ Training / Taskbooks
• Professional Reading
• Pre-planning / Initial Attack Recon

7. Administrative Knowledge

• IHC Hotshot Pride & History
• Introduction to Fire & Aviation Management Policies / Concepts
• Per-Diem / Travel Regulations
• Prevention of Sexual Harassment / EEO / Civil Rights
• Hiring & Recruitment

We are always looking for updated and additional information in regard to any of the crews listed, particularly the disbanded crews. We welcome any input you may have, no matter how small it may seem and we encourage you to write to us via email.

Interregional Fire Suppression Crew History (1974)

1957 Fire Task Force Report to the Chief

"Hot Shot" Crews by Stanley Stevenson

Adapting Advanced Principles of Organization and Fireline Construction to CCC Suppression Crews

Oregon's Red Hats by George Schroeder

The 40 Man Crew

Image

Bear Divide Hotshots established 1974

1974

The Crew started in the build up years of the early 1970's. It was started in 1974 as two 10-person flight crews combined. One from the Valyermo district and one from the Tujunga district. The station is located on what is now called the Los Angeles River Ranger District of the Angeles National Forest formerly called, the Tujunga Ranger District. The Bear Divide Station , built in the late 1960's was constructed with a 12 person barracks, kitchen and 4 bay garages. Bear Divide is nestled on the Santa Clara Divide separating Santa Clarita and the LA Basin. It's location is prime for initial attack throughout the fire season.

1975

The crew became a 20-person crew and the first superintendent was Mike Dougherty. Bear Divide was one of 6 hotshot crews on the Angeles National Forest. Mike's tenure as superintendent was 1975-1979. In 1975 a barracks was added on to the existing station, to house a total of 25 personnel. During the early 1970's the station also was home to two, sevenperson engine modules. One engine module was decomissioned in 1976.

Image

1980

Richard McCombs became the new superintendent of Bear Divide Hotshots. He stayed in the job until 1982.

1982

David Conklin became superintendent and stayed in the job until 1999. In the mid 1980's a large weight room/training room, storage room and additional restrooms/showers were added to the station.

2000

Mike Alarid was promoted into the superintendent position. Alarid held the position for three years until he promoted to a Division Chief on the Angeles NF.

2013

Brian Anderson is the Bear Divide superintendent.

Big Bear Hotshots Page

1990

Image

In June a ten person fuels crew was established, on the Greenhorn Ranger District, of the Sequoia National Forest, located at the Havilah Work Center. The crew’s mission was to prep and execute prescribe burn projects on the district and respond to local fires on the forest. The crew’s first foreman was Manuel Vejar, and his assistant foreman was Raul Estrada. At the time the crew was known as Fuels 51.

2000

The crew identifier was changed to "Crew 8", which is still used as the forest identifier today.

Breckenridge Hotshots established 2002

2002

As a result of increased congressional funding for wildland fire agencies, Crew 8 was turned into a 20 person suppression crew with a goal of becoming a Regional Hotshot Crew. Steve Griffin became the first Superintendent, Adam Sanders and David “Buck” Owens were the first Captains of the 20 person crew which took on the name of Breckenridge. The crew spent its first season, and part of the second as a Type 2 crew while building an initial program.

2003

In the fall the crew received its Type 1 status from the forest.

2005

In the spring Steve Griffin requested that the crew would be considered a Type 2 Crew on the forest due to lack of qualified over head. The crew remained a Type 2 crew until October of 2006.

2006

The crew successfully underwent the Hotshot Certification Review and became known as the Breckenridge Hotshots.

Crew Superintendents

Crew Captains

Image

Agency: USDA Forest Service, Angeles National Forest- Established: 1949- Disbanded:1984

1949

First year of the Hotshot crew. Superintendent was Don Biedebach with a brand-new crew camp at Chilao.

1950

Crew Superintendent was Ray Bond. The crew foremen were: Lynn R. Biddison, Lynn Newcomb, and Jim Dolan. Ralph Jehl was the Foremen on the engine. This was a 30-man crew with George Mc Nellis as the camp cook. 10 or 12 of the crew members were Navajo or Hopi Indians from the Sherman Institute in Riverside. The balance of the crew were regular hires.

At this time there were only 5 Hotshot Crews in the nation. Those crews were Chilao, Del Rosa, Laguna, Oak Grove and Los Prietos.

Both Chilao and Del Rosa were financed by special Los Angeles River funds. The funds were ear marked by Congress for use in the L.A. river drainage. As a result, Chilao and Oak Grove could not be off forest at the same time. The resulted in the rotation of off forest assignments.

1951

Crew Superintendent at the start of the year was Ray Bond. Early in the season Ray left and Lynn Biddison became the Supt. The crew consisted primarily of Indians from Taos, New Mexico. Pete Trujillo was part of this group. The crew foremen were: Jim Murphy, Ralph Jehl, and Tommy Brumfield.

1952

This year was the beginning of a yearlong Hotshot crew at Chilao using San Quentin prisoners from the prison at Chino. The Forest Service paid the State of California prison authority $1.00 per day for each prisoner. The crew was a total of 30 inmates. In addition, there was an inmate kitchen crew at Chilao. The Forest Service had the responsibility of the inmates when we were out of camp working on fire breaks, trails, etc. In camp the state Corrections Officers were responsible for the inmates. On fires the Forest Service foremen were responsible for inmate security when we were on the line. In fire camp the Corrections Officers were responsible for inmate security. The Forest Service was supposed to count the inmates periodically when we were responsible for their security. We seldom did this and we never had an inmate escape.

The inmates became a very good Hotshot crew. They competed very well against Oak Grove, Del Rosa, Laguna, and Los Prietos. Del Rosa was the toughest competition as a good part of their crew came from the Chaffee College football team.

1953

The yearlong inmate Hotshot crew continued. Lynn Biddison was Superintendent until September when he became Assistant Ranger / FCO (Fire Control Officer) on the Arroyo Seco District. Jim Murphy became the new crew Superintendent. The crew foremen were: Jerry Hayes, Ray Trygar, and Ted Gregg.

NOTE – It was about this time that the Hotshot crew size was standardized at 20 people (crew members) plus overhead. The 30-person crew size was a holdover from the C.C.C. days when their stake side trucks had bench seats that ran across the bed of the truck. The Hotshot crews had changed this to padded tool box seats along each side of the bed of the stake side truck and across the front. This new set up did not provide seating for more than 12-14 people per truck. The main reason though for reducing crew size to 20 people was to be able to put the crew and their gear on a Forest Service DC-3 or C-54. In those days the crews seldom flew to a fire, but it was starting to happen and the crew and their gear had to fit on the airplane.

1954

This was the last year of the use of inmates for the Chilao Hotshot crew. The Superintendent was Bill Myrick. The crew foremen were: Jerry Hayes, Ray Trygar, and Jim Ruppelt.

NOTE – Ralph Johnston and Jim Murphy did much of the early pioneering with the use of helicopters on fires at Chilao. Features such as Heli-jumping were pioneered at Chilao. The use of helicopters to lay hose from a tray attached to the ship was also pioneered at Chilao.

(The 1955 through 1984 Chilao crew history is still being gathered)

More History submitted by Dennis Logue:

I was on the Chilao crew in 59, and spent a great summer there until the end of November, chasing lightning over the top of Mt Waterman and several other major fires all up and down the range of Southern Cal.  As I am now getting to be a senior citizen, I found I have some photos of the camp and crew still in my possession.  I was surprised at how well I could remember names and incidents of the season there.

I was lead Pulaski on crew 2 (Tony Romero) on the initial attack on the Woodwardia Fire and was one of those not injured when the combined Oak Grove and Chilao crews were caught in a blow up from the bottom of the canyon in the first hour of the fire, which had been started by the patrolman from the station.  (Can't remember the name of the station.)  Bill Grater (Grader?) went to prison for the fire.  In that incident we lost about a third of the combined crews, with broken bones and burns all over the place.

We helicoptered with Fred Bowen in the Sikorsky S-55 (See MASH) which could carry five as long as no one weighed over 160 lbs.  We also had the pilot who would not wear shoes or a shirt; only shorts and sunglasses.  (He had been Fidel Castro's pilot.)

For exercise, we would "run" up the hill across the road from the mess hall and spent a lot of time clearing and building trails in the Charleton Flat area.

I have never ceased to be proud of being a hotshot, especially from Chilao.

Our emblem on the hard hat was a thunderbird design painted by one of our Navajo crew men and we were still using the old spruce green trucks.  The last training film made with the old green trucks was made by our crews there in Chilao in 1959.

If there is anyone who is interested in these old pictures, or is looking for anecdotes of things during that summer, I would be glad to share all I can remember.   

Dennis Logue

Angeles Forest 1958-1972
CREW SUPERINTENDENTS

1949 - Don Biedebach

1950 - Ray Bond

1951 - Ray Bond / Lynn Biddison

1952 - Lynn Biddison

1953 - Lynn Biddison / Jim Murphy

1954 - Bill Myrick

1955 - Bill Thompson

1956 - Bill Longacre

1957 - 1958 Woody Hite

1959 - Jack Lane

1960 - 1961 Ralph Johnston

1962 - 1968 Pete Trujillo

1969 - 1974 Dick O’ Conner

1975 - 1980 Gary Raybould

1981 - 1984 Jim Ogilvie (crew was cut at the end of the 1984 fire season)

(Many thanks go to Lynn R. Biddison who provided the bulk of the Chilao crew history)

Flickr album for Chilao Hotshots

Image

Dalton Hotshots established 1953

Throughout Dalton's rich history of pride and tradition, there is a positive value that has been passed on from crew to crew.  Passed on is a great tradition of self worth, integrity and the endeavor for excellence. It is this reward that is Dalton's most valued piece of history and it is those individuals who have had the responsibility to lead, that have carried on this valuable tradition.

Dalton Canyon, was named after Henry Dalton (born in England in 1803) who came to southern California in 1843.  Mr. Dalton was an ambitious rancher and landowner.  The Dalton Hotshots' station now sits at the junction of Little and Big Dalton Canyons. The crews's emblem depicts a Nelson Desert Bighorn. The Bighorn roams freely in the Sheep Mountain Wilderness on the Angeles National Forest.

1953

The Dalton Hot Shot Crew was organized in September of 1953.  The crew organization consisted of a Foreman, Charles (Chuck) Culver, 11 Jemez and 11 Zia Indians. Harry Grace of the Angeles Forest Supervisors Office recruited the crew out of Northern New Mexico.

1954

From 1954 to 1958 the crew was stationed at the old Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) camp, on the eastside of Glendora Mountain Road and south of Big Dalton Canyon Road, in Glendora, CA.  The main CCC building served as the office, kitchen, and dining area. It also served as sleeping quarters for the foreman and squad bosses.  The crew barracks were surplus temporary barracks, which consisted of plywood.  There was also a separate building for washing and showering. There was another building with pit toilets.

From 1954 to 1956 the crew vehicle was a Chevrolet Stake-side Forest Service #1418.  The crew made modifications, i.e. wooden boxes for tool storage and combination bench seat for the crew.  The seat was hinged and the tools were stored underneath the seat.  There was also room for each crewman to stow a knapsack with personal gear.

1959

In 1959 the crew relocated at Tanbark Flats, at the San Dimas Experimental Forest.  The CCC and Conscientious Objectors constructed the buildings at Tanbark Flats.  The facility consisted of a large barracks with showers, toilet facilities, and large kitchen and dining area were in another building. There was an  additional building with quarters for the superintendent and foreman. From this location, the Dalton Hotshots have easy access to freeway systems, major airports and two nearby National Forests.

From 1957 thru 1965 the crew vehicle was a 1957 Ford stake side Forest Service #4513.  The crew again made modifications for tools, personal gear storage, and bench seats. The cushion for the bench seat consisted of a canvas cover stuffed with blankets.

1960-1964

The crew was moved back to the CCC camp at Dalton Canyon.  It was thought that the travel time from Tanbark to fires was excessive.

1965-1969

The crew again returned to Tanbark Flats.  The facilities at Dalton CCC camp were deteriorated and in an unsuitable condition to house the crew. The contract for the Dalton Barracks was awarded March 13, 1969 at a cost of $182,000, with a 7,000 square feet size, this could comfortably accommodate up to twenty people.  It contained a crew lounge, training facility, hotshot office and an engine office.  Our facility also affords crewmembers an opportunity to enhance their physical conditioning through the use of our volleyball and basketball courts, along with an extensive weight training room.

1970

Image

Finally the Dalton Hot Shots moved into this new facility on the westside of Glendora Mountain Road and south of Big Dalton Canyon Road intersection.

From 1966 to 1975 the crew vehicle was an International cab-over, Forest Service #2243.  The body was a custom-made open metal body.  Similar to the wooden construction with a major difference, the tool and bag storage access was on the exterior of the vehicle.

1976-1980

The crew had 2 vehicles.They were a 1974 Chevrolet Forest Service #3520 and #3521. These were custom metal enclosed crew bodies that had chair type seats, with tool compartments that could be accessed from the outside and personal gear storage on the roof of the crew compartment. The crew Superintendent had a pick-up truck Forest Service #3748.

2001

Dalton received International diesel turbo crew carriers. The crew has since replaced those carriers and were due for a national standard crew carrier in 2018. 

Crew Superintendents

Del Rosa Hotshots page

Image

Eldorado Hotshots established 1981

1981

On May 19, Lynn Biddison, director of Aviation and Fire Management initiated the Eldorado Hotshots.  Up until 1976, all four districts on the Eldorado National Forest maintained a ten-person fire suppression crew.  In 1977 the Amador District gave up their crew, which in turn was absorbed by the Placerville District.  The two hand crews were combined to form a single 20-person crew.  They shared common transportation and days off.  The crew was known as the Sly Park Fire Suppression Crew.  During the winter of 1980, the Eldorado National Forest proposed to Region Five to change this crew into a Type 1-fire crew; on May 19, 1981, the crew became the Eldorado Hotshot Crew, to be stationed at Sly Park on the Placerville Ranger District.  The Hotshots designed and constructed their own facility, including men’s and women’s barracks, laundry facility, office and workshop.

The first Superintendent was Milt Clark. He was detailed into the position during this first fire season.  During the fall of 1981, the Palomar Hotshots became victim to a reduction in the workforce.  Their displaced Superintendent, Barry Callenberger, found a home on the Eldorado I.H.C. for the 1982 fire season and stayed with the crew until 1988.

1989

Image

That winter Greg Keller, who had been the foreman from 1981 to 1988, became the next Superintendent.  He held the position until 1995, when he decided to move on to greener pastures in Idaho as a Battalion Chief.

1995

Mike Beckett became Superintendent. After details in the 2009 and 2010 fire season as Division Chief, Mike officially accepted the Division Chief job for the south half of the Eldorado NF in July 2010.

2010

Will Harris, who had been the Captain from 2004 to 2010, accepted the Superintendent job in November 2014. Will had previously detailed into the Superintendent position during the 2009 and 2010 fire seasons.

Crew Superintendents

Crew Captains

1960s

The Fulton Hotshot Crew was started on the Greenhorn R.D on the Sequoia N.F as a 6-person fuels crew that worked out of the Fulton Work center throughout the 1960’s. There were two other 6 person fuels crews that worked out of Davis Camp and Richbar Camp on the Greenhorn R.D of the Sequoia N.F. When a fire assignment was filled, the district combined the three crews for a total of 18 personnel and sent them to the assignment.

Image

Fulton Hotshots established 1969

1970

Bill Sandborg became the crew Foreman in or around the month of August. The district combined the three stations for a total of 15-20 personnel at Fulton.  When a fire dispatch order came to the district, the district sent the fuels crew from Fulton. At this time, Bill Sandborg called them the Fulton Hotshots while on fire assignments and was severely reprimanded by Dick Montague from the Regional Office.

Although Bill put up an outstanding fight on why they should be called the Fulton Hotshots, he never convinced Dick Montague until 1973 when the crew was assigned to the Pillikan Fire on the Eldorado N.F.

1973

Well the story goes as follows: apparently the crew had pulled five straight 24 hour shifts and picked up a large portion of the fire which was considered the highest priority on the incident. The Regional Fire Staff was visiting the incident due to its publicity. Upon the completion of Fulton’s assignment, Dick Montague visited the area of concern on the fire. At that time the Fulton crew was returning from their shift and ran into Dick Montague while walking off the line after their 5 continuous shifts. Dick Montague was so impressed that at that time he announced, congratulated and awarded Bill Sandborg and the Fulton crew as now being identified as the Fulton Hotshots Nationally.

Although all the Hotshot Crews were being established around that time frame, Fulton was a little ahead of its time in 1973.

Crew Superintendents

Golden Eagle Hotshots

Image

The “Horseshoe Meadow Crew”, has been proudly serving the U.S. Forest Service for the past 30 years. 

1974

The crew was established on the Hume Lake Ranger District of the Sequoia National Forest.  Ben Charley was the first superintendent.  The crew was stationed at Horseshoe Meadow KV (Knudsen-Vanderbilt) camp.  Originally there were 27 crew members, this allowed for seven-day-a-week staffing. In the late 70’s due to budget short falls, manpower programs such as California Indian Manpower Consortium and Young Adult Conservation Corps were used through Native American programs to hire crewmembers.  The philosophy behind this was to create diversity and develop a young, strong, workforce. It also provided the district and forest with a multiple-use resource. 

1980

The crew earned Hotshot status through a reputation of hard work and safe firefighting becoming the Horseshoe Meadow Interagency Hotshots.

1989

Ben Charley retired, but his famous line of “only two more chains! We’re almost tied in”, is still spoken as a motivational tool on Horseshoe to this day. Robert Bennett “Horseshoe Bob” took over leading Horseshoe as Supt. in August of 1989 and lead the crew until he retired.

2006

In October “Horseshoe Bob”retired, having continued the tradition that Ben started in the early 70’s by providing the Forest Service with a highly respected and hard working Interagency Hotshot Crew.

2017

After spending ten years as the Superintendent, Joe Gonzales promoted to become the District Fire Management Officer for the Hume Lake Ranger District and in 2020 became the Deputy Forest Fire Management Officer for the Sequoia National Forest.

At present, the crew is stationed at Pinehurst Work Center in Pinehurst, Ca., approximately 60 miles east of Fresno, CA.

Crew Superintendents

Our Mission and Core Values

The primary mission of a Hotshot Crew is to provide safe, organized, mobile and highly skilled handcrews for all phases of wildland fire suppression and reinforcement during natural disaster incident operations and hazardous fuels management.

Hotshot crews and the Klamath organization are dynamic and must not become stagnant. To remain an energetic program with continued support, we will continue to learn, improve our skills, refine our tactics, increase situational awareness and improve our physical fitness.

If you think you know everything about fire and stop learning, you are no longer an asset but a liability to the Crew.

The essence of this program is represented in our Core Values:

• Tradition- To uphold IHC values
• Work ethic- Making hard work come easy
• Professionalism- Integrity, Honesty, Perseverance, Camaraderie, Competence and Commitment. We stand on our line not on our mouth.
• Safety- Nothing More, Nothing Less
• Humor- If we are not having fun, we are doing something wrong.

Klamath Hotshot Vision

“Work Hard, Have Fun. A season of sacrifice for a lifetime of tradition.”

History

2001

The Klamath Hotshots were established as part of the National Fire Plan in response to the devastating fires of 2000.  The maximum efficiency level (MEL) for the Klamath National Forest called for the addition of an Interagency Hotshot Crew (IHC).  The Oak Knoll Work Center was selected as the host site.

Johnny Clem was selected as the initial Superintendent of the Klamath Hotshots.  The crew was able to gain certification as an IHC in August of the crew’s first year.

2003

The crew was able to complete the construction of two new bunkhouses with rooms for up to 18 personnel. 

2009

The overhead (leadership and support staff) moved out of the barn, which had served as the crew’s office since its inception, and into a modular office space with room for training.  Until this time all classes facilitated by the crew were held in the local Klamath River Community Hall.

2010

Two new crew hauls (transportation vehicles), as well as a new superintendent's vehicle were delivered. Those vehicles continue to log numerous miles responding to emergency incidents around the nation.

2013

The crew continued to expand with the opening of a new KIHC office on the Oak Knoll compound. It provided more space for gear storage and a new squad room hosting the Squad leaders and Senior Firefighters for working and non-formal meetings. The new building delivers a comfortable work environment year-round, with a training room available for the crew, as well as for District and Forest staff. Along with the new office there is a saw shop and welding/tool room built to accommodate the growing needs of the crew.

2019

This year was the end of an era with long-time (and the original) Superintendent, Johnny Clem accepting the position of Deputy District Ranger for the Forest's Happy Camp/Oak Knoll Ranger District. 

The Klamath Hotshot tradition continues with the hiring of Andrew Zink as the new Superintendent.  Andy, better known as "Butters", began with the crew in 2002, moving up through the ranks as Apprentice, Senior, Squad Boss, and Captain during his career.

2020

2020 was a year of many changes, challenges, and COVID-19. Adding to the depth of the overhead the crew welcomed Kyle Ownsbey as Captain to counterpart veteran Kevin Smyth.

It was a long a grueling fire season with the added of the Hotshot Review. This process is designed to “self check” the standards of an individual crew over the years, especially after a large turnover accrues, to make sure the standards, values, and traditions of the Hotshot community are being maintained.

Throughout the summer, the crew of 20 stayed close to home (the party is always found on the Klamath NF.)  Two weeks was spent on lightning fires on the Happy Camp/Oak Knoll Ranger Districts and just under eight weeks was spent in and around the Trinity Alps Wilderness where we lived on a diet of MREs. In typical Klamath spirit the whole crew stayed positive, strong, and enjoyed the work that needed to be done in order to complete the mission successfully. The crew looks forward to what the future brings!

Image

1950s

The Laguna Hotshot name was first used in the 1950's when the Descanso Ranger District financed a forest crew and based them at Camp Ole on Mount Laguna. Camp Ole was previously a CCC camp and had facilities for housing the crew and was close to areas of work. The crew was around for 4 years until funding became unavailable and the crew was disbanded. The following year the El Cariso Hotshots were founded on the Trabuco Ranger District.

1974

The Laguna Hotshots were once again established and based at Camp Ole. This became the second Hotshot Crew on the Cleveland National Forest. The Base at camp Ole was again used because it was the only place on the district that had housing, offices, and a space to accomodate a 20-person Hotshot Crew. The crew shared an office with the Laguna Engine Crew and brought in an old, dilapidated travel trailer to use as a tool room. The barracks and office were all in the same building and were from the CCC days.

Kyle Rayon, wife of 1974 crewmember Howard Rayon, designed the Oak Tree emblem of the Laguna Hotshots logo. The Oak Tree was used to reflect the Cleveland National Forest and specifically the Descanso Ranger District.

Due to the poor conditions of the old facilities at Camp Ole The Laguna Hotshots moved to the Descanso Compound with the Descanso Engine Crews in the town of Descanso.

2004

Image

the Laguna Hotshots celebrated their 30th Anniversary. To this day, the Laguna Hotshots still carry on the crew colors and traditions.

Crew Superintendents

Crew Captains

Image

Lassen Hotshots established 1974

1974

The Lassen Hotshots were formed in the summer of 1974. The crew was placed at Bogard Work Center on the Eagle Lake Ranger District of the Lassen National Forest. Don Wallace was named the first superintendent of the Lassen Hotshots. Don ran the crew until 1977, at which time Joe Carvelo took over.

1978

Due to a budget crisis in 1978, the crew, along with numerous others, was shut down. This was known as “Black Friday” in the hotshot world. Due to a very active fire season in 1979, and the lack of appropriate resources to deal with the many fires, the decision was made to bring back several of the disbanded crews.

1980

So in April of 1980, the Lassen Hotshots came back to life under the leadership of Jim “Jaime” Jimenez. Lassen was one of the first crews to travel to Alaska in the 1980’s, and along with the El Dorado Hotshots, the first to fight fire internationally in Canada. Also, Lassen has hosted numerous international firefighters from Chile, India and Australia.

For twenty-two years Jaime served as the Lassen Hotshot Superintendent, training captains, squad leaders, and countless crewmembers. Many of these hotshots returned to honor Jaime in the spring of 2003, along with friends, family and several other hotshot superintendents for his retirement party. Throughout his long and prolific career Jaime exemplified the hotshot work ethic of never quitting, always challenging himself and those around him, and by putting honesty, duty and integrity above all else.

2003

In that tradition, John Bristow was chosen as the next Superintendent prior to the 2003 fire season. John service as superintendent lasted until the spring of 2007 when detailing to the Fire Management Officer position for the Almanor Ranger District, and going on to accept the position in the spring of 2008.

2009

In the spring of 2009, Fred Brewster was selected as the next Superintendent. Fred’s dedication and service as superintendent saw the crew thru six seasons of hard work, tradition, and many fun and exciting shifts to the end of the 2014 fire season. With Fred’s long respected career as a California Hotshot behind him, Fred will continue to be a prolific leader as an Air Attack out of the Chester Air Base.

2015

With the beginning of 2015, we find Allen Schultze as the new Superintendent to carry the Lassen Hotshot tradition into the future.

The Lassen Hotshots are proud to be a part of the California Hotshot community. We continually strive for excellence and to uphold our interagency hotshot crew values.

Crew Superintendents

Crew Captains

Former crew captains include: Joe Carvelho, Scott Vail, Rick Addy, Rod Vineyard, Tommy Tucker, Dave Sandbrook, Bob Edwards, George Schwerian, Bill Walker, Rocky Tow, Larry Vogan, Dave Ramirez, Kelley Jones, Bob Richardson, Paul Johnson, John Bristow, Chuck Lewis, Robert Moreno, Mike Sherman, Allen Schultze, Mike Klimek, Kyle Betty, Fernando Estrada.

Image

Most of all hotshot crews select a symbol or some kind of identifying patch to give the crew uniqueness. The Little Tujunga Hotshots (LTHS) selected the Phoenix Bird rising out of flames and ashes as their trademark. The LTHS crew responded across the United States suppressing wildfire but while in their home quarters were in a unique situation. The foothills along the northeast end of the San Fernando Valley are considered to be one of the most valuable watersheds in the world in the 1960’s and 1970’s. More dollars were spent protecting the watershed in this location then anywhere in the world. With a population of 3-5 million people living adjacent to the forest and with fire departments like, Los Angeles County and Los Angeles City, the number of initial attack resources are one of the largest in the nation reaching several hundred personnel. Wildfires posed a unique situation, quickly spreading in and out of the forest boundary in this heavy urbanized area.

Little Tujunga Hotshots established 1970

1934

Following the devastating flood of 1934 the Flood Control Act of 1936 was enacted by the U.S. Congress to build flood control channels and structures throughout the Los Angles basin and along the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains within the L.A. River watershed of the Angeles National Forest.

1938-1948

Again in 1938 one of the worst floods in the history of L.A. County, killing 85 people and creating millions of dollars of damage, the funding was increased and expanded for decades to come. Hence the creation of certain Forest Service fire suppression crews to protect this valuable watershed in about 1948.

1970

The Little Tujunga Hot Shots and their facility were established in 1970 and funded by the L.A. River watershed initiative. Little Tujnga was on of six hotshot crews on the Angeles National Forest.

The construction of the state of the art Hot Shot facility at the existing Little Tujunga station began in 1969 and was completed in June of 1970. Rod Wrench, a crew foreman with Del Rosa Hot Shots, of the San Bernardino National Forest, was hired as the first GS-7 Superintendent on May 3, 1970. Walt Sniegowski and Gary Glotfelty were hired on June 1, 1970 as the GS-6 and GS-5 crew foremen. Twenty (20) crew members and a cook were hired on June 15, 1970. While waiting for permanent transportation the crew was first transported in a Forest Service stake side truck with metal tool bins that also served as seating for the crew. A Forest Service 20 passenger International bus with the tool storage in a separate rear compartment was soon acquired and used that fire season. The superintendent had a half ton Chevrolet pickup. Both vehicles were equipped with red lights and sirens.

The crew’s first fire was the Kashmere Fire on July 1st. It was a class C fire off the Soledad Road near Action in L.A. County jurisdiction. On July 5th the crew’s first off forest fire assignment was the Skinner Ridge Fire, a class E, in the Little Sur of the Los Padres N. F. The crew fought 20 fires in 1970. The five forest Hot Shot crews were rotated for off forest assignments. The 1970 fire season concluded on November 13th with the 70,000 acre Santa Ana wind blown Bear Fire on the San Bernardino N.F.

1971

On February 9th at 6:01 AM the 6.6 magnitude Sylmar earthquake occurred. Even though the epicenter was in Iron Canyon north of Bear Divide and shook the District violently the damage was the greatest at the Little Tujunga station with minor to moderate damage occurring to the other facilities on the District. The Hot Shot facility was severely damaged, the engine crews barracks was a total loss and the building that housed the engine, office, and shop had moderate damage. Engine 54 was moved 90 degrees and sitting sideways inside the garage. Both residence were damaged enough to make them unlivable. The two mobile homes were knocked off their piers three to four feet and the superintendent’s double wide mobile was split in half. All utilities were severely damaged and unusable. It was a mess.

For the first part of the 1971 fire season the crew worked out of the Little Tujunga engine crew’s garage and office that survived the quake well enough to allow the Hot Shot and engine crews to occupy. Later that season the crew moved up to the Big Tujunga Station where they remained until it was decided what to do with the Little Tujunga station site.

There were three alternatives considered as to what to do with the station. One was not to rebuild but to abandon the site and not have a station at all. Another was to tear every thing down and relocate the station somewhere else and the third alternative was to repair and rebuild the one year old Hot Shot facility and move the engine and its crew there also.

1972

In September, nineteen months after the earthquake, a contract was awarded to repair the structure. Prior to the contractor taking over the site for reconstruction the Little Tujunga Hot Shots and forest engineering demolished the south end of the structure,deemed unsafe and beyond repair. This is where the day room, dining room, kitchen and cooks quarters were located. Heavy equipment, dump trucks, jack hammers, cutting torches, dynamite and strong backs were used to bring down this portion of the one year old structure. When the large concrete footings were blasted, chucks of concrete debris rained down on the station trailer park, on the other side of the ridge that separated the two locations, denting roof tops. The reconstruction plan was to have two separate buildings instead of the one originally constructed. The architectural design was changed moderately for this plan.

The Engine barracks were bulldozed and the Hot Shot crew tore down the old residence at the entrance to the station and also the old Lopez station in Lopez Canyon. The Fire Control Officer’s residence, where Hugh Masterson had lived, would be repaired at a later date and used as an interpretative and fire prevention office. This building is now part of the District office.

The bids to rebuild came in $121,000 over the engineers estimate due to the cost of repairing the water and sewer system. Engineering and the district staff felt Forest Service personnel could do this for $85,000. Rod Wrench was placed in charge of repairing the utility system and he and Gary Glotfelty started the job in 1972 utilizing a closed circuit television system to locate damage in the sewer system and special plumbing parts to repair the water and sewer systems. With the help of L.A. County Camp 15’s crew they constructed a 50,000 gallon water storage tank above the station and plumbed it into the old system. A well in Merek Creek was installed and plumbed to a pump house that is located in front of the district office. The work was completed eight months later in 1973. Rod and Gary both received a Special Achievement award from the Forest for saving $50,000 and a job well done. District Fire Management Officer Cal Yarbrough was also very instrumental in the success of this project.

Due to a test trial of a district fire management re-organization in May of 1972, the Hot Shot Superintendent, Rod Wrench, was made responsible for the management and supervision of one of three geographical areas of the district. He would be the Hot Shot superintendent but in that position he would also supervise the Little Tujunga engine and fire prevention technician (FPT), the Big Tujunga engine and FPT, and the Mendenhall lookout. The Fire Prevention Officer and the Bear Divide Helitack superintendent were the other area managers. They were all responsible for the suppression, prevention, law enforcement activities, recreation site and trail maintenance in their given areas.Gary Glotfelty became the GS-6 Engine foreman at Little Tujunga.

1973

The Hot Shot crew returned to the newly repaired facility at Little Tujunga in August.

The Hot Shots were a multitask crew and utilized for just about anything and everything that needed to be done District and Forest wide. They were used as a road crew repairing and installing drains, a trail and recreation crew building and maintaining district trails and campgrounds, a fuels management crew constructing and maintaining fuel breaks, a hazard abatement crew clearing weeds along the roadside and around district facilities and recreation sites, a demolition crew taking down earthquake damaged structures, special use structures in Big Tujunga Canyon and old unwanted abandoned structures where ever they existed. After large fires they would go to the South Zone fire warehouse in Arcadia and clean, repair and reorganize fire hose, cots, headlamps, canteens and everything else at the fire cache. They were used on a number of District construction projects such as building concrete water tanks and installing the plumbing system, landscaping stations and the list goes on. All of this and still maintained their equipment, trained and fought fire with no fire or project related accidents.

In 1973 the district fire organization returned to the more traditional structure and Wrench became the GS-7 suppression assistant in October of that year. He continued to supervise and respond to off forest fire assignments with the Hot Shot crew until the end of the 1973 fire season.

1974

Walt Sniegowski became the GS-7 Little Tujunga Hot Shot superintendent

1975

In September Rod Wrench was promoted to the newly upgraded GS-9 Assistant District Fire Management Officer and in January 1980 left the district to be promoted to District Fire Management Officer on the San Jacinto Ranger District of the San Bernardino National Forest.

1976

The Hotshots were originally established as a 30-person crew and scaled back to a 20-person crew in 1976 after the realization that there was not much more benefit of having a larger (30-person) crew with the significant logistical needs to support 30 people as opposed to 20 people.

1980

In 1980 the Little Tujunga Hot Shots were disbanded for budget reasons, the facility continued to be used as the South Zone training center, currently known as the Don Biedebach Region Training Center.

2008

The crew was reactivated.

BY ROD WRENCH RETIRED DIVISION CHIEF, SAN JACINTO R.D.,SAN BERNARDINO N.F.

Crew Superintendents

Image

Los Padres Hotshots established 1948

1948

The Los Padres Hot Shot Crew was established in 1948 as an initial attack and follow up crew for the Los Padres National Forest, which stretches from Monterey, California to Los Angeles, California. In 1948 a fire engine was assigned to the crew as well as a crew truck. The Los Padres Hotshot Crew’s primary mission was to provide wild land fire protection to the Santa Ynez Watershed that provides the primary water supply for the communities of Santa Barbara, Carpenteria, Montecito, Goleta and the Santa Ynez Valley.

From 1948 to 1965 the crew was comprised of thirty-five crewmembers that provided seven-day coverage with twenty-four crewmembers. Crews were hired locally and staffed with forestry school student referrals as well as congressional referrals. This hiring procedure continued through 1965. When students returned to school, R-5, R-6, and R-1 Smokejumpers were hired to finish out the season.

1953

A three barracks complex and mess hall/office was constructed at the Los Prietos Ranger Station approximately 20 miles north of Santa Barbara.

1957

A Bell B-1 Helicopter was assigned to the crew for helitack and helishot assignments. The 'copter stayed with the crew until 1962 when it was designated as a separate unit.

1960

The chainsaw became the tool of choice and replaced the brush hook and misery whip.

1965

The crew name was changed to the Los Prietos Hotshots due to the addition of two other crews on the Forest(Monterey Hotshots & Ozena Hotshots both now disbanded). Crew strength was cut to twenty with five-day coverage to allow crews Inter-Regional mobilization by aircraft such as the DC-3 and Convair.

1974

The (now disbanded) Ojai Hotshots were added to the Forest's fire organization.

1975

In the late sixties and early seventies the crew did the first experimenta testing, in conjunction with the Missoula Technology and Development Center (MTDC), of fire line explosives. In 1975 the crew executed the first use of Fire line Explosives on a wildfire in Region 5 (California)on the Rattlesnake Fire on the Los Padres National Forest.

1976

Deanne Shulman joined the crew as the first woman hotshot in R-5. She later went on to become the first woman smokejumper. The late sixties and early seventies (the post Vietnam years) brought in a lot of veterans to the organization.

1994

The crew name was changed back to the Los Padres Hotshots, due to the fact that none of the additional hotshot crews remained.

The crew has fought fire in all of the States west of the Mississippi, Alaska and throughout Forest Service Region 8. Some of the more notable fires were the Monrovia (1958), Bel Aire (1961), Coyote (1964), Wellman (1966), Marble Cone (1977), Canyon Creek (1988) and the Paint (1990).

The crew continues to provide a professional, multi-skilled, experienced resource to all wildland fire agencies throughout the United States.

Crew Superintendents

1975 crew photo of the Mendocino Hotshots (links to a FlickR photostream)

1974

Like several other IHC’s the Mendocino Hotshots were established under the direction of Superintendent Bob Moore. During the first year the crew was split into two locations on the same district. Ten people were located in Alder Springs and ten were located approximately forty miles away, in Stonyford, due to facility constraints.

1975

All members were brought together and placed in Alder Springs, where they remained through the 1986 season.

1978

During the twelve years at Alder Springs the crew had two other men lead them. In 1978 Rusty Witwer took over as Superintendent for the 1978-79 seasons until he left to become the Hobart Hotshot Superintendent.

1980

During the remaining six seasons of the Alder Springs era the crew was led by Superintendent Jerry Barney (1980-1986).

1987

The crew was moved back to the base of the Coast Range in Stonyford, California. With the change in locations came a change in Superintendents. Larry Edwards was hired as Superintendent and remained in that position for the 1987 and part of the 1988 season.

1988

Don Will took over as Superintendent and led the crew through the remainder of its first 20 years. Don was the Superintendent for a total of six seasons and left the crew after the 1994 season.

1995

Bill Pierce was hired as the Superintendent. With this change in Superintendents came changes in the crew logo and crew colors. The Mendocino color went from blue to black in 1996. Bill remained superintendent thru the 2000 fire season.

2001

Due to lack of qualified supervision, the hotshot crew status was temporarily removed. Rich Rushforth detailed into the Superintendent position to keep the crew on and fighting fire. The traditional Mendocino Hotshot logo and colors of Navy blue were then brought back and it remains that way today.

Daren Dalrymple was hired as the Superintendent in October of 2001.

2002

Additional qualified, permanent overhead was hired before the 2002 season and the Interagency Hotshot crew status was regained with a lot of hard work and pride during the 2002 fire season.

Crew Superintendents

Mill Creek Hotshots Page

Agency: USDA Forest Service, Modoc National Forest- Established 2001

2000

The Modoc Interagency Hotshot Crew came into existence after the conclusion of the 2000 fire season.  At that time, it was decided by wildland fire managers and the United States Congress to fund national suppression efforts at the “Most Efficient Level” or MEL.

2001

The Modoc Interagency Hotshot Crew started operations on the Modoc National Forest, working out of the old Canby Ranger Station.  The old Canby Ranger District has now been absorbed into the Devils Garden Ranger District.  The crew has taken over the entire compound with adequate space for office facilities, barracks, warehouse, workshop, storage, and a physical fitness workout room.

At that time the crew worked directly for the forest fire staff.  Direct supervision came from Robert “Buck” Silva, suppression division and second level supervision came from Elizabeth Cavasso, forest fire management officer.

The original crew structure consisted of John Ryan, Superintendent, Bob Beebe and Joe Johnston, Foreman.  The crew was outfitted with the minimum compliment of tools, vehicles and equipment.  The crew was assigned as a Type I (T) crew for the season, pending crew certification.

2002

Greg Keller was brought in as Superintendent to run the crew.  The crew Foreman continued with Bob Beebe and Joe Johnston.  The crew had a productive fire season and accomplished filling out the remaining task books required for certification.  The one remaining item to be covered was individual training experience. Crew members were afforded priority status for training slots for the winter training session held at the Northern California Service Center in Redding, CA

2003

All training and task book qualifications were complete and a certification review was requested for May. The crew certification took place on May 28 and 29, 2003. The certification team was headed up by Safety First Officer, Joe Millar and consisted of Mike Beckett, Superintendent Eldorado Hotshots, and Dave Bostic, Division Chief Modoc N.F.

The crew was recognized as the Modoc Interagency Hotshot Crew on May 29th 2003.

The crew logo, flying goose, is derived from the area's world famous water fowl hunting and nesting habitat.

The crew “phrase”, Pervado Tolerantia nos Benfacta was derived from the south polar explorer, Sir Ernest Shackelton. His family coat of arms, declared “Through Endurance we Conquer”.  For our purposes, we changed it to “Through Endurance we Succeed or Benefit”. The small world part of this business became apparent with this crew logo. While working on the Aspen Fire on the Coronado N.F. in Arizona, a safety officer asked what the phrase meant.  After explaining the Sir Ernest Shackelton part, he stated that he had in fact heard of Shackelton, and that his son was dating Shackelton’s great granddaughter.

The crew consists of 3 full time positions, Superintendent and two Foreman. Two GS-6, 18-8 squad leaders, two GS-5, 13-13 lead firefighters and two apprentice positions.

Image

Plumas Hotshots established 1974

1974

The Plumas National Forest staffed its first nationally recognized Hotshot Crew in July of 1974 and for two seasons would have it split into two separate 10-person modules; one each on the Greenville and the Quincy Ranger Districts. These modules came together, upon receipt of a resource request, to form the Plumas Interagency Hotshot Crew.

For most of the first season Charlie Earhart would act as Superintendent and supervise the Greenville half of the crew with Jim Hogg supervising the Quincy module with J.D. Killick as his assistant. It wasn’t until nearly the end of that first season that Dan Swearingen would officially be hired to fill the Superintendent position. He would remain as such through the end of 1975 with Jim Hogg as his Foreman.

1976

Jim Hogg took over for Swearingen and brought the entire crew together at the Quincy Work Center location (now the Mt. Hough Ranger District Office), where they are stationed to this day. Jim would stay with the crew from ‘76 until ‘78 with J.D. Killick as his assistant throughout that time period.

1978

In late August the crew, along with several other Hotshot Crews throughout the Region, lost their national funding. Plumas was able to remain together to finish out the season, operating out of local dollars, but many crews were not so lucky.

1979

The budget crisis that began the previous season carried over through the next fiscal year and the crew was left unfunded and unstaffed. All equipment remained on the shelf and Hogg moved on to other positions on the forest and wouldn’t return to the Hotshot organization. He remained active in the wildland fire profession eventually becoming a Logistics Section Chief within a California Type 1 Incident Management Team(IMT). Killick would leave for Region 3 and would eventually retire from a Southwest Hotshot Crew.

1980

Funding was restored and Tom Hatcher became Superintendent with Dave Ross as his Foreman. Later that same year a second Foreman position was created and Larry Vogan was hired. Tom would stay in the position through 1987 and in March of 1988 he was promoted to Assistant District Fire Management Officer(Fuels), leaving the crew under Dave Ross, who acted as Superintendent until July of that year. Tom retired in 2006 from the position of Assistant Director of Fire and Aviation for Region 5 in Northern California.

1988

In July Kent Swartzlander was named Superintendent, replacing Hatcher with Dave Ross remaining as Foreman. Larry Vogan moved on to the Lassen National Forest and his position would remain vacant until 1989 when Jon Lee was hired. Kent would hold the Superintendent position for 12 seasons, from 1988 until 1999, during which time the organization was expanded to include two permanent Squad Leaders and, eventually, a single permanent Senior Firefighter.

1999

Swartzlander was promoted to Assistant District Fire Management Officer(Fuels). He retired in 2010 from the position of Forest Fire Management Officer of the Six Rivers National Forest and Incident Commander of a Type 2 Incident Management Team.

2000

Jack Sevelson came back to the crew, to replace Kent as Superintendent, with Jon Lee and Dave Ross staying on as “Captains”. Jack started on the crew in 1980 and stated that he intended "to stay on as Superintendent until they pry the tool from his cold dead fingers".

In the thirteen seasons Jack served as superintendent he oversaw many changes within the Plumas Hotshots organization. For instance; the expansion of its permanent workforce to include three more Senior Firefighter and a seemingly endless shuffle of folks to keep all the permanent positions filled.

2001

Jon Lee moved to Cedar City, UT as Superintendent of the new Dixie Hotshots, with Pete Duncan becoming a Captain (13A) in his place.

2003

Dave Ross retired from one of the Captain positions (13B) after 22 years as a Plumas Hotshot. Freddy Brewster returned to the crew to replace Dave and with 15 years on the crew, would move on to become Superintendent of the Lassen Hotshots.

2004

Pete was promoted to the Chief 2 position on the Plumas National Forest and Ryan Bauer became a captain ont he crew in his stead. Bauer later moved on to a district Fuels position in 2008 and was replaced by long time crewmember Mike Sherman. Mike entered his 15th season as a captain with Plumas Hotshots in 2012.

2005

This season saw the addition of Tye Erwin and Kevin Grant as Squadleaders. Apprentices Donavon Beatty and Steve Tolen joined as Senior Firefighters. The destructive hurricanes of this year brought the crew to Texas late in the season. Hurricane Rita Support was the crew's first non-traditional assignment.

2007

The season began with apprentice firefighter Marty Senter promoting into a Senior Firefighter position. Marty worked as a Plumas Hotshot during his apprenticeship in the 2005 fire season, and now returns to the crew to replace Donavon Beatty. Kevin Grant was promoted to a Captain position on the Texas Canyon Hotshots in July of ’07, a big gain for Texas Canyon. May saw the crew assigned to an incident in Northern Minnesota, a return trip for the crew having been there in 1976 as well. This was an interesting trip. In addition to driving to the incident, canoeing to the work areas was also a highlight.

2008

Mike Sherman rejoined the crew. Joel Schilling was hired from the Eldorado National Forest to serve as Squad Leader. Chris Marson, a firefighter apprentice, began with the crew as a Senior Firefighter. Ryan Bauer promoted to a Battalion Chief (Fuels) position and Steve Tolen took the step of moving to an Assistant Fire Engine Operator.

2009

Joel Schilling promoted from Squad Leader to Captain (13B) in the spring.

Crew Superintendents

Crew Captains

Image

Redding Hotshots established 1967

Mission: to provide concentrated fireline leadership development training nationwide by:

• Involving the crewmember in classroom training geared toward small-unit (squad) leadership and practical fieldwork in fire suppression.
• Offering the employee a well-balanced, on the ground training experience while providing a highly organized, Type 1 Interagency Hotshot Crew for wildland fire assignments.
• Providing crewmembers opportunities to become independent module leaders through supervising a squad of 3-7 crewmembers during fire suppression, prescribed fire and other emergency incidents.
• Developing the employee's instructional skills through intense classroom instruction time in front of their peers.

The structure of the Redding crew enables individual crewmembers to supervise a Type 1 hotshot crew in the role appropriate to their development (e.g. Squad Leader, Crew Boss, Task Force/Strike Team Leader, or Type 4/5 Incident Commander).

This provides an opportunity to observe and evaluate various levels of performance among peers and to understand crew production. This increases self-confidence and leadership abilities, important qualities with which crewmembers return to their home units. This enhances career progression to greater responsibilities.

The Redding Interagency Hotshot Crew was the first hotshot crew in the nation to offer a concentrated fire management training detail opportunity. Potential fire management personnel who are detailed to a crew like this at an early stage in their careers are able to gain experience and training that they might take years to receive - or never obtain at their home unit.

The location of the crew at the Northern California Service Center in Redding facilitates the accomplishment of the program's concept and goal. The North Zone Training Center offers one 7-person and two 25-person dormitories, three fully equipped classrooms, and a simulation projection/classroom complex. In addition, NCSC is located at the Redding Municipal Airport and is within easy driving distance of many highly qualified instructors.

History

1967

The program was developed and functioned as one of the Pacific Southwest Region's three Interregional (IR) Suppression Crews along with the Del Rosa IR Crew on the San Bernardino National Forest and the El Cariso IR Crew on the Cleveland. It remained an interregional crew until 1980, when the interregional concept was abolished nationwide and all category one crews were reclassified as "Interagency Hotshot Crews" or IHCs. The crew's training and career development concept was much the same in 1967 as it is today, but throughout the years it has been modified to its present concept and mission.

1967 to 1971

The crew functioned as a detail training opportunity. The crew organization consisted of one permanent full-time GS 462-7 and 19 detailers, two being recruited primarily to function in the hotshot captain positions. The primary target audiences at that time were foresters in need of large crew and large fire experience. The formalized training curriculum during that period offered the detailer a variety of fire suppression and fire management subjects geared toward preparing the individual at the Sector Boss level.

1971

The pool of available foresters fell short of the level needed to justify continuation of the program under its original concept. In 1972 the crew converted to the conventional hotshot crew concept. From 1972 to 1973 seasonal crewmembers were hired. Training was accomplished only to the extent to meet agency requirements for Category 1 Hotshot Crews. The crew performed conventional project work on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest when not assigned fire duties.

1973

After fire season fire season, the detail concept was reestablished. The original emphasis on foresters as the primary target audience was relaxed, and forestry technicians began to fill a majority of the 17 allocated positions. During this new era, the overhead structure consisted of a GS-462-7 Superintendent and two GS-462-6 Captains. Classroom and field training continued to emphasize a fire suppression curriculum but also included supervision subjects. During the winter of 1977, the superintendent and one captain position were reclassified as "Fire and Training Specialists." The reclassification increased the grade structure of the crew superintendent to a GS-462-9, and one captain to a GS-462-7. The second captain remained a GS-462-6.

1981 to 1986

Foresters filled a small percentage of the crew positions. Local North Zone Fire Management Officer's expressed the need to re-emphasize the participation of foresters who were interested in a career in fire management and who had demonstrated a potential to become future large fire managers.

1985

A steering committee was formed to assist the Redding Hotshot unit with modifying the program to include training in timber sale planning, prescribed fire management, and fire prevention. In 1991, the curriculum was updated again to better meet the needs of fire managers and the incoming crews. The adjustment in the academic curriculum deleted the training in fire prevention and prescribed fire management. In their place, Fuels Management and Ecosystem Planning, S-230 Crew Boss, S-234 Firing Boss, and S-260 Fire Business Management were added.

1992

Due to budget restrictions, the Redding crew was temporarily abolished. The crew returned in 1993, but without the training concept. As in 1972-73, the crew functioned as a conventional hotshot crew for the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, hiring a mix of career-conditional and temporary employees. In 1994, at the request of fire management in the region, the training program was reestablished, concentrating on forestry technicians in need of large crew and large fire experience. In 1995 the overhead structure changed again - to one GS-462-9 superintendent with two GS-462-7 captains. In 1997, a national reclassification changed the grade structure of the crew captains to GS-462-8. Currently the overhead structure consists of two GS-462-8 captains.

2003

The Region 5 (R5) Board of Directors (BOD) approved changing the Redding IHC training focus from Fire Program Management to Small-Unit Leadership Development. The program was developed by Robert Holt (former Redding IHC Superintendent), Patrick Lookabaugh (former Redding IHC Captain), Greg Power (former R5 Regional Training Officer), and Jim Cook (National Training Projects Coordinator), and is based on successful military, corporate, and fire service leadership development models. The tenet of the program is: decisions made in historic fireline fatalities and near misses occurred at the small unit (squad/crew) level, not at the upper management level. Therefore, developing leadership skills and increasing decision-making abilities at the small unit level should be the foundation of all operational fire training.

2006

The "detail" was dropped and the program became a "training opportunity". The overhead decided that the crewmembers in the squad leader roles would benefit more by working directly for the captains so the squad leader positions were unfilled when vacated that winter.

2012

The Redding IHC overhead and Regional Office Fire and Aviation staff recognized the need and benefit from having one squad leader position added to the overhead structure. The permanent overhead structure now consists of one GS-462-09 Superintendent, two GS-462-08 Captains and one GS-462-07 Squad Leader.

Redding Hotshots Photos

For more information on the Redding IHC, email Dan Mallia

Rio Bravo Hotshots

Image

2001

The Springville Hotshots were established in the spring of 2001 as part of the Most Efficient Level (MEL) build-up, as a Type II hand-crew. The crew, designated as Crew 9, is based out of Springville, CA on Hwy 190 about twenty miles east of Porterville, CA on the Sequoia National Forest. There had been a fuels crew based out of the Springville in the eighties, but was cut due to funding. Robert Sanders, the Superintendent who started the crew in 2001, continued with the crew until 2004 when he accepted a fuels officer position on the district.

2002

Crew 9 achieved type I status in the summer of 2002, and Hotshot Certification accomplished in October of 2003 when reviewed and certified by Safety First.

2005

Jack Medina, the current superintendent, detailed in the position directly after Robert, and officially accepted the position in August of 2005.

Although fire is our first priority, the crew has and continues to work all over the Tule River Ranger District on projects for all shops on the district, not just fire. We always extend our skills and abilities to assist where and when we can. The crew has always been engaged in Wildfire Use on the forest, and has actively participated in every one of these fires to date. The heart of the Springville Hotshots is our hard work, determination, and a continued commitment to the high standards that define R-5 Hotshot Crews.

Crew Superintendents

Crew Captains

Source

Hotshot Crew History in America. Produced by the National Interagency Hotshot Crew Steering Committee. Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (October 2017)
https://www.wildfirelessons.net/HigherLogic/System/DownloadDocumentFile…

Image

Stanislaus Hotshots established 1974

The crew averages 20-25 fires per season. Employment dates are usually from May 1st through November 15th. Crew assignments are primarily throughout the Western United States with extended tours away from the duty station.

When not fighting fire the crew focuses on training and development of Firefighter 2, Firefighter 1, and Single Resource Supervisors. We also spend time maintaining our skills cutting and maintaining fuel breaks throughout the district. We are also involved in Fire Management and forest restoration activities on the Forest.

1974

The Stanislaus Hotshot Crew was established under the direction of Charlie Gripp. The crew was based at Long Barn Elementary School through 1978.

1979

The crew moved locations under Superintendent,Greg Overacker, to Bald Mountain Heli-tack Base and remained there until 1981.

1982

The crew relocated to Long Barn Engine Station, until 1984.

1985-1990

The crew worked out of the Mi-Wok District Warehouse.

1991

The crew found a more suitable facility in Sonora, where it currently presides.

Crew Superintendents

Crew Captains

Image

1961

The Hobart Mills inmate crew (CC51) was established. Wildland suppression duties were performed by CC51. This suppression effort was overseen and supervised by USDA Forest Service employees.

1970s

The Hobart Mills inmate camp was disbanded.

1971

Fire crew foreman Bob Riley, was tasked with the project of organizing and assembling a fire crew to work out of the Hobart Mills camp. With the cooperation from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and a group effort from the Truckee Ranger District, Bob Riley assembled a 32-person crew. This crew was mostly comprised of Indian students from the Stewart Indian School in Stewart, Nevada. This crew was called the Hobart Southwest Indian Conservation Camp/Truckee Fire Crew/Hobart Crew. Forest Service engine foreman and tto’s provided the leadership and supervision for this crew.

The crew makeup of the early 1970’s included over ten different native american tribes.

Beyond adjusting to Forest Service policy and "white society", crew members had to meet the challenges presented by cultural differences and language barriers. From the beginning, the Hobart crews of the 1970’s demonstrated their intentions with accomplishments and successes in the woods and on the fireline. The Hobart Braves crew emblem was designed in 1972 but was changed when the crew acquired Hotshot status.

Tahoe Hotshots estalished 1973

1973

The Hobart Hotshot crew became the second recognized Hotshot crew in North Zone(Northern California). The Hobart shield was designed by the Indian crews of the past,and remains unchanged to this day.

1979

The partnership with BIA diminished, resulting in a more integrated Hotshot crew.

1982

Celia Howe broke the gender barrier, becoming Hobart’s first female hotshot.

1983-1985

The Hobart Hotshots worked on the west side of the Tahoe National Forest on the Downieville Ranger District. The logging industry was at an all time high. When not assigned to fire incidents, this provided funding for the crew and also helped accomplish forest targets.

1986

The crew name was changed to the Tahoe Hotshots. The Tahoe Hotshots moved the camp and duty station to the Bullards Bar Work Center on the Downieville Ranger District. The Bullards Bar Work Center was a new facility and there was an abundance of project work for the Tahoe Hotshot Crew.

1994

Tahoe Hotshot Superintendent Rusty Witwer, traveled to Washington DC to receive the Group Honor Award for Excellence from Secretary of Agriculture, Dan Glickman for outstanding heroic action and maintenance of safety standards during the busy 1994 fire season.

2000

The Tahoe Hotshots celebrated their 40th year on the line.

Crew Superintendents

Crew Foremen

Our mission is to provide a safe, professional, mobile and highly skilled hand crew for all phases of fire management and incident operations. Hard work, professionalism, high standards and unwavering commitment is the only way to maintain and build respect.

This crew will always adhere to our core values which enable us to complete each mission safely and efficiently and ensure we progress both individually and as a cohesive unit to accomplish the goals and objectives set forth by the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and the US Forest Service.

Mission Statement

The Mission of the Tallac Hotshots is to provide a safe, professional, mobile and highly skilled hand crew for all phases of fire management and incident operations. Hard work, professionalism, high standards and unwavering commitment is the only way to maintain and build respect. This crew will always adhere to our core values which enable us to complete each mission safely and efficiently and ensure we progress both individually and as a cohesive unit to accomplish the goals and objectives set forth by the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and the Forest Service.

Crew Profile

On June 19, 2014, the Tallac Hotshots completed the extensive certification process to become the first Interagency Hotshot Crew (IHC) from Lake Tahoe. Formerly, the Tallac Hand Crew, the Tallac Hotshot Crew joins an exclusive group of roughly 2,000 firefighters in the country. The Tallac Hand Crew was established in 2001 as part of a nationwide buildup of resources for a maximum efficiency level of preparedness as direct by the National fire Plan. The original intent of the crew was to perform fuels management projects along with resource management objectives and to be available for wildland fire response. The crew evolved through extensive training, recruitment, and retention of leadership to become a highly skilled 20 person crew. The crew completed the 2-day certification process, which covered all the standards for IHC operations.

Forest Organization Overview

The Tallac Hotshots are based on the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and are one of three federally funded, Forest Service 20 person, fire suppression and fuels management crews in the Tahoe Basin. There are two on call organized crews O.C 36 and O.C 37. The Lake Tahoe Basin also has four type 3 engines, four fire prevention staff, a VUFF Staff Officer, Forest Fire Management Officer (Chief 1), one Assistant Forest Fire Management Officer (Chief 2), one Fuels Battalion (Battalion Chief 42) and Fuels Division (Division 4). Everything is overseen by Forest Supervisor and Deputy Forest Supervisor. ECC Dispatch is located at Camino on the Eldorado NF.

Organizations and Qualifications

Superintendent

The Superintendent has administrative skills to conduct training, and sufficient fire experience to provide capable leadership. The Superintendent is responsible for the crew Program management, including certification and that the crew is available for an incident assignment. The Superintendent is responsible for overall safety and management of the crew. The Superintendent may serve as a incident commander or fill other positions as needed on fires.

Minimum qualifications are Task Force Leader (TFLD), Incident Commander Type (ICT4) and Ignition Specialist Type 2 (RX12)

Captains

The Captains assist the Superintendent in all aspects of crew management and must be qualified to supervise the crew in the absence of the superintendent. The captains could serve as incident commanders during initial attack configuration.

Their minimum qualifications are: Task Force Leader (TFLD), Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4).

Squad Leaders

Provide day to day leadership and direction for squad crewmembers. They keep the captains and superintendent informed on all aspects related to safe and effective crew operations. Squad leaders may fill the needs of IC on initial attack fires as a ICT4 or ICT5.

Minimum Qualifications are single resource boss (trainee), Crew boss (t) and ICT5.

Senior Firefighters

The Crew has 4 senior firefighter positions which may or not be filled due to Unit needs filling engine positions. The senior firefighters serve as lead crewmembers and set standards during crew operations. Typically they are experienced to perform more difficult duties, serve as a Squad leader as needed, and can perform with less supervision.

Minimum qualifications are Advanced Firefighter (FFT1), ICT5.

Crewmembers

All crewmembers will be minimally certified as Firefighter 2 standards (NWCG) Agency requirements. Basic 32 hour firefighter training, annual firefighter refresher for level 3 Fire shelter drills, 80 hours of supplemental training, arduous pack test completion in 46 minutes or less using a 45 pound pack or vest. Crewmembers are encouraged to bring their training certificates from other forests and make copies for their personal file.

Incident Qualifications and Certification System (IQCS) requires proof in the form of a certificate if it does not show up in the system.
 

Image

The Texas Canyon Hotshot Crew, located on the outskirts of the Santa Clarita Valley, was established in 1954.  The Texas Canyon Guard Station and Hotshot Crew were named after Texas Canyon, a tributary to Bouquet Canyon located approximately two miles south of the station.  In the late 1860s, two brothers settled a homestead on a parcel of land in an unnamed canyon, where they ran cattle and did a little prospecting. The brothers, feeling homesick, named their canyon homestead Texas Canyon after their home state. Early maps of the area indicate that in 1926, the Texas Canyon Guard Station and three other Forest Fire Guard Stations were in service on the Saugus District of the Angeles National Forest.  From about 1933 - 1942 Texas Canyon hosted a Civilian Conservation Corps. Camp, which was part of the New Deal of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. 

In the 1950s, the U.S. Forest Service received an Army Corps of Engineers contract for a stabilization and drainage project on a road under construction to the Nike Missile base at Los Pinetos (LA County Camp 9). Dick Dorn, who was superintendent of the Texas Canyon Hotshots at the time, was charged with obtaining additional manpower. Rather than hire locals, Dorn opted to recruit Native Americans from the Zuni Indian Reservation in New Mexico. In addition to performing this project work, the Zunis served as firefighters on the Texas Canyon Hotshots. The Zuni tribal symbol of the Knife Wing Kachina, (Achi ya lada:ba), became the official symbol of the Texas Canyon Hotshots.  Dick Dorn reported that one of the Zunis would sketch the symbol onto the hardhats and another would hand-paint the symbol in fine detail.  Zuni Indians served as firefighters with Texas Canyon until the 1977 fire season.  The crew has fought fire in just about every western state including Alaska and Region 8.  In 1985 the crew was sent down to Mexico City to provide humanitarian aid on behalf of the State Department for Mexico’s Earthquake Recovery and was recognized by the Embassy of The United States of America and the President of Mexico, Miguel de la Madrid. In 2009 after Eighty Three years the Texas Canyon Compound was moved with the Hotshots and the Engine.  The new station is located down Bouquet Canyon about a one-half mile where the old Saugus District Office use to stand before the Buckweed Fire burned it down in October of 2007.  The only thing left of the old station is the concrete foundation pads where the buildings used to stand. Longtime superintendent Ron Smith started his career on the Texas Canyon Hotshots in 1957. He served as the Superintendent from 1975 until his retirement on the Marre Fire in 1993. John Thomas served as a Crewman in 1977, Foreman from 1984 to 1993 and Superintendent from 1993 to 2002. John Armstrong served as Foreman from 1990 to 2002 and served as Superintendent from 2002 to 2016.

Crew Superintendents:

Ed Kolchowski                 1954-1955

Dick Dorn                        1956-1957

Bob Alvord                      1958-1960

Leoroy Hubenak               1961-1963

Bill Harper                       1964-1971

Ray Guardado                  1972-1974

Ron Smith                        1975-1993 (Retired in place)

John Thomas                   1993-2001

John Armstrong               2002-2016 (Retired in place)

Danny Breuklander           2017-Present

Image

Ukonom Hotshots established 2008

Prior to the National Fire Plan in 2000, the Six Rivers National Forest’s crew history had been comprised only of various BD (Brush Disposal) and 10-person Initial Attack crews. As part of what became known as the MEL (Most Efficient Level) build-up, the Six Rivers N.F. Fire Chief John Wendt and Deputy Forest Fire Chief Kent Swartzlander decided to replace the 4 districts’existing 10-person IA crews with Hotshot Crews.

2003

In April Six Rivers Crew 2 was formed on the Orleans/Ukonom Ranger District of the Six Rivers National Forest as a Type 2 Initial Attack (IA) crew with the goal of becoming the first certified Hotshot Crew in the History of the Six Rivers National Forest. Under the leadership of John W. Gibbons, a veteran of over 30 fire seasons, Crew 2 set upon this mission with great vigor and enthusiasm. The crew was stationed on the Orleans District of the Six Rivers, and worked out of the Oak Bottom Fire Station in Somes Bar on the Ukonom Ranger District of the Klamath N. F. which is administered by the Six Rivers N.F.

2004

The first couple of years of the crew’s development had their share of highs and lows. The crew was able to reach Type 1 status in July of 2004, but fell short on their first attempt at Hotshot certification that August. To complicate matters, the crew lost one of their founding Squad Bosses, Robert Shufelt, to a serious back injury. However, the crew never lost sight of their goals, persevered through these setbacks, and began to establish a solid reputation within the firefighting community.

2005

The decision was made to adopt the name of the Ukonom district and the crew became known as the Ukonom Handcrew. The “Coyote that steals the fire”, a prominent character in local Karuk tribal lore, was incorporated into the crew logo.

2006

Superintendent Gibbons reached mandatory retirement and left the federal service with 33 years of firefighting experience. Captain John Cataldo was then promoted to Superintendent, and Squad Boss Keith Smith was promoted to Captain, and the process of building towards Hotshot status was continued.

2008

In May, a USFS Region Five Safety First Hotshot Crew Certification Team comprised of; Team Leader Don Will, Salmon River IHC Superintendent Jimmy Allen, and subject-matter-expert Ed Merrill performed an intensive 2-day evaluation of the Ukonom Handcrew. On May 22, 2008 the Ukonom Hotshots were certified as the 1st Hotshot Crew in the history of the Six Rivers National Forest, the 15th in Northern California, the 41st in Region Five, and the 105th Hotshot Crew in the Nation.

2010

After eight years of confusion and debate within the USFS Region Five Hotshot community as to whether the Hotshot crews that were certified within the region as part of the MEL build-up were to be considered Interagency or Regional Hotshot Crews, the Washington Office issued a directive that all Hotshot crews in Region 5 are to be identified as Interagency Hotshot Crews. Ukonom IHC is dedicated to earning that designation every day through hard work and strict adherence to our core values of Safety, Duty, Respect, Integrity, and Professionalism.

The Ukonom Interagency Hotshot Crew prides itself on having an exceptional work ethic that dates back to the early days of Hotshot crews, and are always willing to put in the extra chain of line, and be first ones up and the last ones off the hill each day.

Crew Superintendents

Crew Captains

Squad Leaders

Vista Grande Hotshots Page

• American River
• Arrowhead
• Arroyo Grande
• Beckwourth
• Crane Valley
• Diamond Mountain
• El Cariso
• Feather River
• Groveland
• Kern Valley
• Inyo
• Kings River
• Palomar
• Salmon River
• Shasta lake
• Sierra
• Smith River
• Trinity
• Truckee
• Valyermo

The following Hotshot Crews have disbanded:

• Vandenberg
• Boundary Peak
• Chilao
• Converse
• Inyo (the 70's crew)
• Mill Creek (the 70's crew)
• Monterey
• Ojai
• Oak Grove
• Ozena