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A Wildfire Season Debrief: Director Of The United States Wildland Fire Service, Chief Brian Fennessy. A straight forward conversation about this season and what’s to come. Sep 25, 2026

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On Today’s Show: To Support and Subscribe: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

The Director of the Wildland Fire Service, Chief Brian Fennessy, started in his inaugural position just 9 months ago, but there is plenty to talk about. We chat about the busy wildfire season, the workforce, and what lies ahead.

We dive into budgets, unification, aviation, contracting, the differences between wildfire agency organizational structures, and the most capable and operationally sound wildfire workforce in the world: the wildland firefighters in the United States. What went well? What can be improved? What does the future of wildfire in the United States look like?

We cover it all.

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“The System Is Broken.” Frustrations Inside The Forest Service Boil Over As Fire Supervisors Express Fundamental Concerns. All while fire entrapments hit a 20 year record this season. Sep 10, 2026

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Frustrations have boiled over within the Forest Service as fire supervisors voice concerns about Agency direction, poor facilities, experienced firefighters leaving the ranks, and infighting with line officers.

Wildland firefighter entrapments have hit a 20 year record this season, raising further concern about experience levels in middle management. Unease remains about what the future will look like, and there is urgency to “rip the band-aid off” on plans for Agency change. I cover their concerns as they see it.

This is the time for professionals on all levels of the Agency to come together and solve these issues, which ultimately affect the boots on the ground the most. Sometimes voicing these concerns is what it takes for everyone to sit at the table and figure out how to move forward.

Change isn't simple, and this isn't an easy situation for anyone involved, but cooler heads must prevail.

The Politicization Of Wildfire: A Rant. Just Four Wildfires Have Cost Nearly $500M. Wildfire Fatality On The Hawk Fire In Nevada. UTV Rollover Ejection. Aug 28, 2026

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Putting out wildfires is hard enough, but the constant tit for tat political grandstanding is wearing on the workforce. I express what I’ve been hearing from the boots on the ground. A classic rant.
The Hawk Fire in Nevada announced a fatality this morning. A woman who sustained injuries during the initial day of the fire has passed away.
The Nation remains at a PL5, and we are one lightning bust away from all out chaos again. Full operational update.
BC wildfire says civilians are stealing their equipment used to protect homes. Alberta wildfire charged over the death of a wildland firefighter on the Jasper Fire.
UTV rollover report. Passenger ejected at 30MPH.
Plus more.

Congress Holds A Bipartisan Meeting On Wildfires Across The West. What Happens In Those Meetings, Is Progress Being Made, Will We Have Wildfire Amnesia Again? A conversation with Senator Tim Sheehy. Aug 10, 2026

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I sat down with Montana Senator Tim Sheehy to discuss the current wildfire situation across the American West. Congress recently held a bipartisan meeting to talk about the fires burning in multiple regions, the devastation in Spokane, Washington, and the need for wildland firefighter support.

I ask if this season will be a reckoning for the wildfire system, Congress, and the public, with the amount of fire currently on the ground and the tragic loss so far this year. What happens in these congressional wildfire meetings? Why does it always seem like things are delayed, or remain unchanged?

What can be done to better support the boots on the ground, and will we have wildfire amnesia again once the season comes to a close? The Senator addresses all these questions, and more. As you know, Senator Sheehy didn’t hold back. https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

USWFS Director, Chief Brian Fennessy: Unification, Initial Attack, Safety, Workforce Culture, Landscape Resilience Work, Tech, And Misconceptions. Aug 07, 2026

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On Today’s Show: To Support And Subscribe: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

Today I welcome the Director of the United States Wildland Fire Service, Chief Brian Fennessy. As we all know, it’s been very busy up until this point, and there is lots to cover.

We discuss the unification of the Department of the Interior wildland firefighters and what that looks like moving forward. Who will do the landscape work? Do we have enough firefighters and resources?

We have a conversation about initial attack, full suppression, safety, and the current fire conditions on the ground. Chief Fennessy addresses the many misconceptions about how wildland firefighters operate, and how policy is based on current and expected conditions on the ground. Could the full suppression strategy change if conditions change? Of course.

We also dive into modernizing the workforce; this includes not only using new tech, but also updating the aging comms network and dispatch communication network.

Plenty to talk about.

Great Basin Goes PL5. Line Medic Saves Life Of Wildland Firefighter In Idaho. Entrapment On Coleman Creek Fire In Oregon. Dozer Burnover In WA, Dozer Rollover In CA. Aug 06, 2026

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The Great Basin moves to a PL5, and the Widemouth 2 Fire nears 100K acres. Full National wildfire update.
A report about a line medic who made unconventional decisions that led to life-saving measures for a wildland firefighter in Idaho.
Reports on the Coleman Creek entrapment in Oregon, the dozer burnover on the Kaiser Canyon Fire in Washington, the Dozer rollover on the Gann Fire in California, and the tender rollover in Idaho.
Deputy Chief Sarah Fisher’s statement on the feasibility study to combine firefighters from the Forest Service into the USWFS.
Update on the Seven Cabins Fire in New Mexico. As I reported in May, the airplane crash that started the fire happened inside a military GPS jamming testing zone. New details confirm that military operations likely brought down the plane.
Full story of the fake paramedic on the Elk Fire in Colorado. It reads like a Tom Clancy novel.
Plus more.

Environmental Lawsuits Halted 10s Of Thousands Of Acres Of Fuels Projects In Oregon, That Are Now Burning. Lyons Fire Burnover Report. Timelines Released For Knowles Fire Entrapment. Aug 01, 2026

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Full report released for the Lyons Ferry Fire burnover. Comprehensive report details firefighters trying to burn off around themselves before being overtaken by fire.
Tens of thousands of acres of fuels treatment and wildfire mitigation projects were halted in Oregon due to environmental lawsuits. Groups sued Mt. Hood National Forest and the Forest Service, which stopped the fuel breaks and fuel reduction projects. Those same project areas are now totally burned.
The USFS and USWFS released a timeline report for the Knowles Fire Entrapment in Colorado.
France’s Interior Minister announced this week that they had arrested 162 wildfire arsonists in the last 25 days. France has now doubled the previous record for total acres burned.
Alaska sends fire crews down to the lower 48.
Full operational update.

The Eyes In The Sky Above Wildfires: Air Attack And Helicopter Coordinators, What They Do, And How To Become One. A conversation with Jon Freeman and Matt Lynde. Jul 24, 2026

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On Today’s Show: To Support And Subscribe: 👇https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

Today, Jon Freeman (USWFS) and Matt Lynde (USFS) join the show to discuss everything about wildfire aviation supervision and coordination, and, if you are interested, how to become one.

This is a big-picture job, and as they describe, the best job in the industry. As an aviation supervisor, you are basically a flying radio, or 7 radios… and it is a position that takes mental fortitude and operational clarity to keep the aviation dance going, get everyone what they need, and keep folks safe.

We also discuss the increasing danger of civilian drones over wildfires, which shut down aviation operations immediately. And lastly, what is the path an individual needs to take to achieve this in their career, the prerequisite qualifications, and classes needed.

Jon is currently working in Oregon, and Matt is headed back to California. It’ll be busy until winter.

Ontario Armageddon, Minnesota Mayhem, And The American West Continues To Burn: Wildfire Smoke Headed East, As 3 Fires Cross International Borders. Jul 16, 2026

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Three wildfires have crossed the international border of Canada and Minnesota, and hundreds of thousands of acres have burned. 183 new starts across Ontario are expected to burn for weeks.
Wildfire smoke will blanket the eastern United States as poor air quality records are already being set.
More Minnesota fires merge as firefighters work to access the wilderness fires.
Colorado, Utah, Oregon, and California are still seeing wildfire activity. Full operational update. Wildfire aircraft are now hard to come by, as demand for aviation resources continues to increase.
Starting the morning campfire in spike camp. It’s easy, but hazardous. Burn injury report.
Plus more.

New Fires In PNW And California As Southern California Moves To A PL3. Tremendous Progress On Fires In Colorado, Utah, And Southwest. Jul 11, 2026

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On Today’s Show: To Support And Subscribe: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

New wildfires are popping up in the Pacific Northwest and California. Southern California moves to a Preparedness Level 3.
A lot of progress is being made on wildfires across Colorado, Utah, and the Southwest as containment rises.
Containment drops on the Gold Mountain Fire in Colorado as a civilian drone shuts down air resources while trying to catch spot fires.
12 fatalities, 8 injuries, and 36 missing on wildfires in Spain. Authorities say many of the deceased were foreigners who ignored evacuation routes and got caught out in the open.
Chainsaw and burn injury updates.
What is the Super El Niño going to bring with it?
Full operational update.

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