The Hotshot Wake Up

Latest Episodes:

State Of Emergency Declared In CA, Line Fire Under Investigation. Hotshot Crews Demobed On A Fire For Declining Assignment Due to Safety. Sep 08, 2024

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A state of emergency has been declared due to the Line Fire in San Bernardino County.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, with a few clues available.
Unreal story of multiple Hotshot Crews declining an assignment due to safety concerns, then demobed.
Other crews were brought in after the fact to complete the same declined assignment. They also refused and were asked to leave the Team Fire.
“This is the plan! If you don’t like it, you can go home”
Full operational update.
Plus more.

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Full Review Of The Little Twist Fire Tree Strike. Two States Ban PFAS In Firefighter Nomex. Fire Weather Moves Back In. Major wildfire fatality event in Portugal. Sep 01, 2024

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Full Operational Update
I go through the entire report released on the Little Twist Fire tree strike in Utah that left a Bonneville Hotshot pinned under a tree and severely injured.
We get his perspective on the incident and how he stayed calm to calm his crew down.
Two states, Massachusetts and Connecticut, have banned PFAS forever chemicals in firefighter Nomex. California had a similar bill this week but failed after the chemical and firefighter gear lobby got it thrown out.
A $5 Billion industry.
5 wildland firefighters are feared dead after a helicopter crashed into a river in Portugal.
Mass Arson arrests in Brazil after many wildfires ravaged the country.
Fire weather moves back in as Snaptember starts.
Plus more.

FS Chief Moore Calls Out Hypocrisy With Cost Of Living Increases. Says The Feds Are Not Doing Enough. FS Has A $740M Budget Hole. Cal Fire arrests another arsonist after wildfire destroys 13 homes. Aug 24, 2024

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Chief Moore has strong words for the Feds regarding the increased cost of living and falling behind on inflation costs. Updates the rent rebates.
He says there is hypocrisy in the system as BLM firefighters are getting cost of living increases, but FS employees living in the same building are not.
Forest Service has a massive hole in their budget… nearing 3\4 of a billion dollars.
Cal Fire arrests another arsonist after starting the Thompson Fire, which burned up 13 homes and evacuated thousands.
The DOJ sued An excavator company in California because their machines hit a rock, and sparks started a fire. This will set a very consequential precedent.
Full operational update: it’s snowing in California!
Plus more.

Balloons Over Boise Fires, It's Not UFOs. More Arson Fires In CA. A Small Lull, But Fire Weather Moving In. Also, how to get hired on a Hotshot Crew. Aug 17, 2024

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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.

1 Civilian Fatality\4 Firefighters Injured On Colorado Fires. 143 Structures Lost On Idaho Fire. 3 Injured On Pioneer Fire After UTV Crash. Aug 02, 2024

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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.

Park Fire Arsonist Arrested In California. Oregon Begs Feds For Help. 2 Aviation Fatalities In CA. Wildfire in Alberta burns down half of the town of Jasper. Jul 26, 2024

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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.

American River Hotshot, Bobby Blaine, And His Hike Across America. Mental and physical toughness, camaraderie, and the positives of being a Hotshot. Jul 20, 2024

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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.

Injuries And Tree Strikes Across Multiple Fires. Wildfire Activity Explodes Across North America. Reports on the 2 fatalities this week, and full operational update. Jul 12, 2024

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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

CalFire Engine Rollover, Multiple Injuries. The Forest Service “Reply All” Heard Around The World. There is a lot of bitterness… plus full operational update. Jul 04, 2024

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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

Firefighters Robbed In Oregon While Assigned To A Wildfire. Permanent Wildfire Pay Solution Introduced This Morning. Forest Service announces hiring mess, offers rescinded. Jun 28, 2024

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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.

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