The Hotshot Wake Up

On Today's Show: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ Arizona starts a satellite tracking program for its crews. We talk about the technology and its integration into their programs. Firefighters burned over in Idaho. Sustained burns on 65% of their body. We cover this incident and talk about common denominators. US Hotshot crews are seeing what Canadian tactics look like. Is one way better...

On Today’s Show: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ Full Operational Update. Florida has multiple large fires. Region 3 activity increases. Are chainsaw injuries on the rise?! We cover the new lessons learned. The people of New Mexico, who lost everything from the Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak Fires, still haven’t seen any of the $3.95B approved for relief. Canada is having a fire season. U.S....

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: Em...

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. Spo...

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 m...

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 c...

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. THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP -...

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 cove...

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 commu...

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...

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...

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 tec...

On today's Show:  https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ Fred covers his background and the history of the crew. We discuss fitness and endurance athletics. We get into mental health, morning meditation for the crew, and how the crew handled tragedy when it came unexpectedly. We discuss the crew’s close connections with the Veteran world and even hosting David Goggins as a crewmember. What cr...

On Today’s Show: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/ In a meeting with County Officials, Forest Service Chief Randy Moore admits 45% of the workforce has left in the last 3 years. We discuss the meeting and other admissions and comments on upcoming projects and contractor use. The Wildfire Commission releases its preliminary findings and recommendations for aviation and more. WE cover the findi...

On today's show, Dr. Robin Verble joins me to discuss the report she recently released on environmental health and mental health in wildland fire dispatchers around the nation. It’s amazing to see the similarities to the same issues that operational folks are seeing, including retention, mental health, recruitment, issues with HR, and so much more. A very enlightening conversation.

On today’s show, J Gilmore joins me to discuss all sorts of interesting topics. Her early career. Transitioning into wildfire Working with the public as a Public Information Officer. The importance of prevention work and campaigns and what that looks like. Her work with TNand8TN and helping family and partners understand the job we do. Fitness and training. What her experience has been like as a w...

On today’s show: We cover the Hotshot superintendent AAR that took place this week. We talk about the issues discussed, the information that’s coming, and the problems some folks saw last year. We get into the Hotshot pilot programs and where those are going. The standardization of all crews nationwide and also the issues that have come about with the new push for prescribed burning during the off...

On today’s episode: We talk with Shawn Borgen, Superintendent of The Flathead Hotshots. His journey into wildfire. The Crew’s history culture, and beginnings. We discuss the Deer Park incident which took place in the Sawtooth mountains of Idaho. He takes us step by step through the medical extraction that was anything but routine and the $2,500 can of chew that resulted from it. As someone heavily...

On Today’s Show:  A Senator in New Mexico introduces Bill to ban prescribed fire in the Spring. The Law, if passed, would prohibit prescribed burns from ANY Government body. Huge implications if passed. These are the ripple effects of the Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak Fires. CalFire arrests record number of arsonists in 2022. A 10% increase year over year and nearly a 100% increase in the last...

On today’s Episode: A dispatcher has admitted to starting 24 wildfires this year. He blames severe depression and “wanting to do something for the boys.” Amazing story. Rotor Technologies tests pilotless helicopter platforms specifically for wildfire operations. Says it can be used for multi-mission options. Cargo, recon, crew shuttles, and meteorology data gathering. The Wildfire cloud. Artificia...

Forest Service switching the entire fleet to electric vehicles. The test fleet is now in the field. The Good, The Bad, and the obviously fucked. Towing is a massive issue with these vehicles. Charging challenges. An arsonist arrested last night in California decked out in Smokejumper Gear… fought multiple firefighters and police officers. What’s Known, what’s still unknown. Plus more. THE HOTSHOT...

On today’s show: We discuss the balance of rest\recuperation and remaining dialed in the postseason. Stories from my experience and coworkers’ experiences of getting into trouble in the off\season. Smokejumper ends up in Mexican jail after a border incident and the updates I’ve received. Plus, much much more. THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP - Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. It allows us to donate to...

On today’s show We give a full update on new details that have emerged in the Oregon Burn Boss arrest. The Blue Mountain Eagle in Oregon received new documents that provides new details of what happened leading up to the burn and after. Operational update Plus more. THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP - Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. It allows us to generously donate to firefighter charities and suppor...

On today’s show: Tree poachers start a wildfire in the Northern Boreal Forest this week. Officials say it’s become a “rampant problem”. Kind of looks like what California’s harvest season looks like. Is your Christmas tree poached? Kansas has a 10 mile long fire. Crews moving into the South again. Obscure fires. Crackhead in Colorado starts a fire. Found shirtless flapping at the fire. Wildfire Fa...

On today’s show: A Conversation with Chief Randy Moore, Why That's Important. A Communication outside of Congressional hearings is critical to the workforce. Canadair Scooper Crashes, Two Pilot Fatalities. Aviation accidents continue to surprise this year. Are Firefighters Becoming Desensitized to Death? Operational Update. Plus more. THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP - Thank you to all of our paid subscribers....