The Hotshot Wake Up

On Today’s Show: Subscribe 👇https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ Balloons are once again flying over Idaho fires. I cover why they are there and what they are doing. An arsonist started another fire in Grass Valley, California. They were released from jail just hours before. How to get hired on a Hotshot Crew. I answer the questions people have been asking. Overhead vehicle burned on the Limepoint Fire in Idaho. Leave your keys in the truck. A Canadian territory is completely cut off after a wildfire burns up the railroad connecting it to the rest of Canada. There is a small lull in wildfire activity; no… wildfire season is not over. Full operational update. Plus more. THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP — Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. Your support allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all of our content. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, and also entered into our giveaways, plus more.

On Today’s Show: Subscribe 👇https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ Colorado pops off. At least 1 civilian fatality and 4 firefighters were injured this week on those fires. Severe UTV crash on The Pioneer Fire in Washington, 3 injuries including broken bones and spinal injuries. Autonomous drones looking to use public surveillance systems to suppress fires with “packaged water pellets.” They will use food packaging to seal water in individual “water bags” for water drops. Drone use on wildfires has tripled year over year. Dozer rollover on the Bridge Creek Fire in Washington. California class action lawsuit targets wildfire insurance policies. 143 structures were lost on the Gwen Fire in Idaho. Full operational update. THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP — Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. Your support allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all of our content. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, and also entered into our giveaways, plus more.

On Today's Show: Subscribe 👇 https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ CalFire investigators announce the arrest of an arsonist who started the Park Fire. It’s now the largest fire in California this year. Oregon and Washington continue to struggle with a huge amount of wildfire and limited resources. Ranchers and private landowners step up to help. Oregon Senators sent the Fed a letter asking for additional resources and funding. Jasper, Alberta lost up to 50% of all buildings from the large wildfire that came out of the park. There was another wildfire aviation crash this week in California. 2 Fatalities were reported. Watch Duty removed all Forest Service branding from their website this week. The Agency made the request late last week. I spoke to the CEO to get the details on the matter. Full operational update.

On Today’s Show: Subscribe 👇https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com I had a conversation with Bobby Blaine, who is hiking the 3,100 miles from Mexico to Canada on the Continental Divide Trail. Bobby is a member of the American River Hotshots, and he got his start on a trails crew before joining the apprenticeship program on a type 6 engine in the Pacific Northwest. He then joined the Elk Mountain Hotshots before finding his home on the American River. Bobby discusses his love for hiking, hotshotting, and the fire service. It’s a fantastic conversation for anyone wanting to join the fire world or who just loves hiking. Thanks to Bobby for taking the time at the 1,400-mile mark of his journey to have this chat.

On Today’s Show: Subscribe 👇 https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ There have been multiple injuries and tree strikes on wildfires in California, Alaska, and in Wyoming. One led to a C-Spine fracture. Complacency can creep in, stay dialed and keep it tight. I cover the reports on the two firefighter fatalities this week. Should we start using military helicopters for crew transports and external cargo mission? A conversation about moral when sh*t hits the fan. A full operational update. Plus more THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP — Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. Your support allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all of our content. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, and also entered into our giveaways, plus more.

On Today’s Show: Subscribe 👇 https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ CalFire engine rolls over en route to wildfire in Oroville. Multiple injuries, however, no fatalities after a horrific crash. Northern California goes PL3. Bitterness inside the Forest Service between fire and non-fire employees boils over. “Don’t reply all”… Yeeeeesh. Full operational update. Plus more THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP — Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. Your support allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all of our content. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, and also entered into our giveaways, plus more.

On Today’s Show: Subscribe 👇https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ Firefighters were robbed while working at the Upper Applegate Fire in Oregon. Gear, saws, and everything else were stolen. Police are searching for suspects. This morning, a permanent wildfire pay fix was inserted into the DOI appropriations Bill, which also includes other very interesting requests. From Subcommittee Chair Rep. Mike Simpson: "The bill also provides over $330 million to permanently address Federal wildland firefighter pay and capacity. The permanent pay fix included in this bill will improve firefighter recruitment and retention and provide financial certainty to the men and women protecting our communities from catastrophic wildfire.” Chief Moore announced hiring restrictions this morning. Hires will now be centralized, and multiple positions require approval from the Chief's office. The Forest Service has run out of money, and only critical positions will be filled. They have spared fire hire in this new strategic hiring process. Alaska goes HAM. Plus a full operational update.

On Today’s Show: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ Full update on the New Mexico fires. Official fire reports listed the fires as human-caused for 2 days. The Agency spokesperson says that was an automated computer error. CIMT spokesperson said they were told the fires were both human and lightning caused during their inbrief. The local mayor of Cloudcroft, New Mexico, is quoted as saying, “It’s my understanding these fires were intentional.” 2 confirmed fatalities, missing children. White House announces emergency declaration. Interestingly, Matthew McConaughey was filming a movie in Ruidoso about a wildfire ripping through the town back in late April. Full operational update. Plus more. THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP — Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. Your support allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all of our content. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, and also entered into our giveaways, plus more.

On Today’s Show: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ I spoke with the folks from NFFE Wildfire about The Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act, where it is in the process, their trip to D.C. next week, and everything else they have been working on. Thanks to Max Alonzo, Andy Vanderheuel, and Steve Gutierrez for the great conversation about the issues wildland firefighters are still dealing with, their wildfire background, and what the public can do to help get this legislation passed. Contact your representatives today!

On Today's Show: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ Dr. Amber Ortega is an air quality meteorologist, wildland fire smoke specialist, and atmospheric chemist with nearly two decades of experience researching, forecasting, and managing smoke. She serves as the Regional Smoke Coordinator at both the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Northwest & Alaska Forest Service Regional Offices. Driven by a desire to bridge the gap between researchers, regulators, and field operations, Amber aims to enhance fire personnel support, improve smoke fluency, and facilitate harmonious relationships with fire practitioners, air quality, and public health agencies. She's an Air Resource Advisor, aka Smoke Specialists that are dispatched to incidents to support Incident Command Teams with smoke concerns. Previously, she was the Duty Officer for the Smoke Monitoring Program at the Rocky Mountain National Fire Cache, part of the Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program. She served as a prescribed fire smoke manager and air quality meteorologist for the State of Colorado. Prior to civil service, as a Department of Energy Office of Science Fellow, she investigated the intersection of fire, weather, and air quality, focusing on smoke emissions from deferring fuel types and their interactions with the environment. Her research spans ground- and aircraft-based smoke measurements across notable locations, including USDA Missoula Fire Sciences Lab and Manitou Experimental Forest Observatory, UC-Berkeley Blodgett Forest Research Station, NASA Airborne Science DC-8 Laboratory, and US Naval Research Laboratory Scientific Development Squadron. She holds an MS/BS in Meteorology (Penn State), a Ph.D. in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences with a Specialization in Analytical Chemistry (CU-Boulder), and a PostDoc in Chemical Engineering (Uni Arizona), earning her the apropos title "Dr. Smoke." A fantastic conversation.