The Hotshot Wake Up

Latest Episodes:

Fire Tech Series: We Talk to Jason Forthofer of the Missoula Fire Lab. We discuss AI in wildfire, working with Google, and the importance of on the ground operational intel. Sep 10, 2023

Show notes

On Today’s Show: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

Jason Forthofer joins us to talk about what’s happening at the Missoula Fire Sciences Lab in Montana. Jason is an Engineer, Researcher, and wildland firefighter with robust on-the-ground and operational experience.

We dive into new tools and tech coming out of the Fire Lab, how AI can be used and its shortcomings, as well as how to find a career in this field. A very illuminating and valuable conversation.

THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP - Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. It allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all the content we provide. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, entered into our giveaways, recipes, and more.

Weekly Wildfire Update: A California Arson Investigation Leads to Murder Charges. FEMA Runs Out of Money, Blames Wildfires. The strange details developing in Maui, and a full operational update. Sep 03, 2023

Show notes

On Today’s Show: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

While investigating a wildfire in California, authorities find a body.
This leads to multiple murder charges and reveals a web of crimes that led to a large wildfire.
FEMA says they have run out of money.
Demands more money as they cut off past relief to wildfire victims. They blame wildfires and an unprecedented disaster season.
Full operational update, including new details in Lahaina, Maui.
Plus more.

The Story of the Elkhorn Fire: Deployment Sites, 9 Mile Runs, Evacuations, and Rafter Rescues. An incredible story from this Idaho fire. Also, pay cliff update and my thoughts on it. Aug 27, 2023

Show notes

On Today’s Show: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

I cover the story of The Elkhorn Fire.
This fire started on July 24th in Idaho and was an incredible incident.
A story of deployment sites, point protection, fast thinking, evacuating rafters, and overcoming adversity.
This is a fascinating story of stress and success in an unforgiving environment.
Pay Cliff and legislation update.
How slow is this fire season, and why it matters.
Plus more.

THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP - Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. It allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all the content we provide. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, entered into our giveaways, recipes, and more.

Weekly Wildfire Update: Hotshot Buggy Rolls Over, Full Report. Devastation in Washington. Looting happening in Evacuated towns in Canada. Maui update. Plus more. Aug 19, 2023

Show notes

On Todays Show: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

Full operational update.
The town of Medical Lake in Washington is devastated. Up to 184 homes were lost. 1 fatality was reported.
Paradise Montana evacuated, River Road East Fire jumps the Clark Fork River.
Lahaina, Maui update.
We cover the newly released report of the Hotshot Buggy that flipped over driving down the highway.
Looting happening in towns that have been evacuated due to wildfire.
We discuss how these crimes cause homeowners not to want to evacuate during disasters.
Plus more

THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP - Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. It allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all the content we provide. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, entered into our giveaways, recipes, and more.

Weekly Wildfire Update: Hawaii, The Lahaina Fires in Maui Bring the Conspiracy Theorists Out of the Woodwork. What Actually Happened? Aug 13, 2023

Show notes

On Today’s Show: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

The mass amount of ridiculous claims surfacing on the Lahaina fires in Maui, Hawaii, have taken over the internet. I got through these and destroy them.
I discuss what the likely cause is and how the events unfolded.
The Lahaina Fire is now the most deadly and devastating wildfire in United States history.
Full operational update.
Update on the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Act.
Plus more. THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP - Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. It allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all the content we provide. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, entered into our giveaways, recipes, and more.

Weekly Wildfire Update: Full Operational Update. Southwest Goes PL4. Raising a Family While a Wildland Firefighter, One Smokejumpers Story. PG&E Stops Its Tree Trimming Program, Reduces Burying Lines. Aug 05, 2023

Show notes

On Today’s Show: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

Full operational update.
Very busy around the nation. Southwest moves to a Preparedness Level 4. New fires in the PNW and Northern Rockies. Texas and Colorado looking to be busy.
What is it like raising a family while a wildland firefighter? One Smokejumper and Hotshot’s story.
The challenges of work-life balance.
PG&E stops trimming trees around powerlines. Decides to cut the amount of lines it’ll bury.
The company says it will prioritize shutting power off instead because it’s cheaper…
Plus more.

THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP - Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. It allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all the content we provide. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, entered into our giveaways, recipes, and more.

Weekly Wildfire Update: MT and ID Pop Off, OR and WA Both Have Monster Fires. AZ and NM Still Chasing Lightning Fires. Lockheed Martin Developing AI Virtual Reality Systems for IMTs. Jul 22, 2023

Show notes

On Today’s Show: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

Oregon and Washington both have major incidents currently.
The Newell Road fire went 30,000+ acres in 24 hours.
Montana and Idaho became active this week. Colt, Hayden, Bowles, and other fire updates.
Arizona and New Mexico still have numerous lightning fires. When Monsoons?
Lockheed Martin developing and testing Artificially Intelligent VR systems for IMTs. AI will offer suggestions on how to suppress the fires.
“The ultimate goal is to have fleets of unmanned systems to autonomously suppress wildfire while managed by IMTs in Virtual Reality.”
Plus more. THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP - Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. It allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all the content we provide. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, entered into our giveaways, recipes, and more.

Weekly Wildfire Update: Welcome, Fire Season is Finally Here. Full Operational Update and Wage Legislation Update. Florida Insurers Pull Out Due to Wildfire. The Oregon Wildfire Dilemma... Jul 16, 2023

Show notes

On Today's Show: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

The wildfire season in the United States is here.
Oregon, California, and Idaho pop. The Flat Fire will be the first campaign fire in the West.
Full operational update.
Insurers in Florida pull out due to extreme weather and wildfires. As predicted…
The Oregon wildfire dilemma. The Wildfire risk map is back, along with The Council of 19.
Plus more.

THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP - Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. It allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all the content we provide. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, entered into our giveaways, recipes, and more.

Weekly Wildfire Update: Operational Update. Idaho Claims 50% of Their Firefighters are First-Year Employees. Do Nomex Contain Toxic Chemicals? PFAS and Wildfire Clothing. Jul 08, 2023

Show notes

On Today’s Show: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

Full operational update.
The Pacific Northwest sees multiple new fires. Arizona continues to burn. PL3 in the Southwest.
The State of Idaho says 50% of their wildfire workforce are first year employees.
Safety concerns arise.
An independent study says Nomex contains PFAS and PFAS-like chemicals.
We discuss this paper and what these chemicals are.
Plus more.

THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP - Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. It allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all the content we provide. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, entered into our giveaways, recipes, and more.