The Hotshot Wake Up

Latest Episodes:

Alberta, Canada Gets Nuked with Lightning and Wildfires. 10's of Thousands Evacuated. Suspect Caught in Incendiary Shooting in AZ. I Interview JJ Shelley, Who is Studying Type 1 Fire Nutrition. May 06, 2023

Show notes

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

Alberta is a warzone.
A massive lightning bust starts numerous fires and forces the evacuation of thousands.

Update on the tanker crash in Australia.
New Mexico and Arizona see increased starts.
Suspect caught in Arizona shooting range fire.
A new study on wildfire meals, catering, and nutrition.
An interview with James Shelly. Study link:
Email jshelley2@alaska.edu if you are on a Hotshot Crew and want to participate.
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 Monday morning workouts, article achieves, more podcast episodes, recipes, and more.

Western States Move to be Less Reliant on Fed Resources. Montana Votes on $186M to Stage Resources Locally. Idaho Trains its Loggers to Fight Fire. $1.6B Wildfire Lawsuit Moves Forward in Oregon. Apr 30, 2023

Show notes

On today’s show: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

Idaho starts training its loggers to fight wildfires. Governor looking to bolster its ranks and heavy equipment contracts.
Massive $1.6B wildfire lawsuit against PacifiCorp moves forward in Oregon.
Parent company Berkshire Hathaway is back in familiar territory.

Montana votes on House Bill 883 to allocate $186M to stage resources locally.
Sponsors of the Bill say it’s needed because the Feds are slow to suppress and bring in resources. Huge implications for Montana firefighting companies.

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 Monday morning workouts, article achieves, more podcast episodes, recipes, and more.

Weekly Wildfire Update: Ops Update. The East Coast Gets Slammed, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Kansas Declare Emergencies. A Caterer Crisis. The Forest Service Chooses Caterers by Cheapest, Not Closest... Apr 15, 2023

Show notes

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

Full operational update
Multiple States declare Statewide emergencies for wildfires.
From Wisconsin to Rhode Island, wildfires rip.
When ordering a food unit, the Forest Service prioritizes the cheapest, not the closest.
This may incentivize caterers to cut costs and quality.
Government Accountability Office audits wildfire agencies. Finds major policy and financial issues.
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 Monday morning workouts, article achieves, more podcast episodes, recipes, and more.

Weekly Wildfire Update: Operation Update, Region 3 Goes PL2, and the South Gets Busy. Forest Service\BLM Give Job Series\Wage Update. New Clean Air Rule Restricts Prescribed Burns Apr 09, 2023

Show notes

On Today's Show: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ Spring fire season is here. The East Coast, Florida, and the South get busy.

The Southwest, Region 3, goes PL2.

Forest Service gives job series and wage increase updates.

Department of Interior is moving forward with series implementation before FS.

A new clear air rule makes prescribed fire more difficult.

More Exemptions are needed to conduct burns if implemented.

An Agency VS Agency battle.

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 Monday morning workouts, article achieves, more podcast episodes, recipes, and more.

Weekly Wildfire Update: Spring Fire Season is Here. Busy Day in Colorado, Oklahoma Rips, and New Mexico Sees New Starts. New Bill Introduced to Limit Wildfire Funds. What We Know. Apr 01, 2023

Show notes

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

Full Operational Update
Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado see a busy week of wildfire.
New Mexico pops a 300-acre fire.
A new Bill was introduced to limit the number of funds available to the Forest Service for wildfire management. We provide details.
Secretary of DOI told to “do more with less.”
Plus, much more.

SPECIAL GUEST: Flagstaff Hotshot and Current Smokejumper Olivia Gagliardi. Olivia Discusses the Upcoming Women In Wildland Fire Event and Her Career Path. Wyoming Left Out of Wildfire Funding Bill... Mar 18, 2023

Show notes

On today’s show: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

Olivia Gagliardi joins us to discuss the Women in Wildland Fire Event Coming up. EVENT LINK
We also discuss Olivia’s career path from the Conservation Corps to the Flagstaff Hotshots and now Smokejumping in Missoula.
- Wyoming questions the USDA and Forest Service for being the only Western State left out of the recent wildfire funding.
- We cover this strange exclusion and what comes out of it.
- A Full operational update.
- Plus more.
THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP: Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. It allows us to donate to firefighter charities generously and supports all our content. You also receive our Monday morning workouts, article achieves, more podcast episodes, recipes, and more.

Dani Shedden of Close The Gap Wellness Joins Us. We Discuss Relationships Going Into the Fire Season and Communicating in Those Relationships. We also Talk Mental Health, Self Care, and the Big 3 Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

On today’s show: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

I talked to Dani Shedden, of Close the Gap Wellness. We cover a full array of topics that many firefighters, first responders, and even their loved ones experience in these professions. With the beginning of the fire season coming, it’s well-known that this is the time of year when relationships start to hit a rocky point. We talk about communicating these issues and discussing expectations, and how to alleviate assumptions.

We also talk about substance abuse in these professions, and one that’s not talked about very often, which is body dysmorphia in firefighters and first responders.

An excellent show all around.

THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP: Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. It allows us to donate to firefighter charities generously and supports all our content. You also receive our Monday morning workouts, article achieves, more podcast episodes, recipes, and more.

Weekly Wildfire Update: The 2022 Accident and Fatality Summary. Swamper Injuries Significantly Up and Fatalities Up on the 10-Year Average. Aviation Fatalities WAY Up. Mar 04, 2023

Show notes

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

On Today’s Show:

We cover the 2022 Fire Season Accident and Fatality summary.
Many categories are up.
As we have discussed frequently, aviation and helicopter accidents and fatalities are drastically up.
Swamper injuries surpass sawyer injuries. Very abnormal.
On a 10-year average, overall fatalities are up.
Full operational update.
Plus more.

Podcast: Brian Crowley, Captain of Cañon Helitak. We Discuss Aviation, Search and Rescue, Brian's Experience Riding Out Wildfire in a Shelter, How That Affected Him and His Crew, and so much more. Feb 27, 2023

Show notes

On today’s episode: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

I talk to Brian Crowley, Captain of Cañon Helitak. We discuss helitak and drones on prescribed fire, their role in search and rescue, and the qualifications needed. We get into just how many people actually go missing in our forests and parks every year. We also talk about Brian’s experience on the Bridger Foothills fire, where he and his crew had to deploy and ride out the wildfire from inside their shelters. This story is amazing and offers us perspective on what it’s actually like, how it affects you mentally, and the aftermath when the fire is still burning.

I got goosebumps.

Weekly Wildfire Update: Southern Area (R8) has 396 New Fires. Lost Hiker Who Started Fire Ordered to Pay $200 a Month for 122 Years. Firefighter Tracking is Here, Implementation Coming. Feb 25, 2023

Show notes

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

First Operational Update of 2023.
Lost hiker charged for starting a wildfire to get rescued.
Firefighter tracking is here. Systems are being implemented to handle the bandwidth.
We cover the Presidential report on Modernizing Wildland Firefighting to Protect Our Firefighters. Drones, autonomous helicopters, blimps, balloons, and tracking tech.
The Justice 40 Initiative is using the widely criticized wildfire risk map to allocate emergency funds.
Plus more.

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