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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.

THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP — Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. Your support allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all of our content. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, and also entered into our giveaways, plus more.

On Today’s Show: To support and subscribe: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

• 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.

THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP — Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. Your support allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all of our content. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, and also entered into our giveaways, plus more.

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• 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.

THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP — Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. Your support allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all of our content. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, and also entered into our giveaways, plus more.

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• A full operational update of all fires across the nation.

• Colorado fires expect extreme fire behavior again today. Red flag conditions continue across much of the Region.

• Progress is being made on most of the fires across Utah and the Southwest. A breakdown of year-to-date wildfire numbers in Utah compared to last year. Less fire, more acres.

• New Mexico reports the warmest start to a year ever on record.

• The Transportation Safety Board provided an update on the cause of the wildfire aviation accident in Canada.

• New study on what keeps people from evacuating a wildfire zone, and overall preparedness.

I have been looking for fundraisers for the three firefighters killed on the Knowles Fire in Colorado. Two are available for Emily Barker and Nicholas Hutcherson, and I am still looking to see if there is another for Sydney Watson or the two others injured.

Emily Barker Fundraiser

Nicholas Hutcherson Fundraiser

THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP — Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. Your support allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all of our content. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, and also entered into our giveaways, plus more.

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• Colorado has declared a State of Emergency due to the wildfires actively burning across the State.

• The National Preparedness Level moves to 4.

• Updates from the USWFS and Forest Service on the burnover event on the Knowles Fire.

• Wildfires continue to make large runs across Utah. The Pocket Fire in Arizona increases to over 11,000 acres.

• A conversation about current wildfire conditions on the ground.

• Plus more.

THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP — Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. Your support allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all of our content. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, and also entered into our giveaways, plus more.

On Today’s Show: To support and subscribe: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, along with the Department of the Interior, today announced new steps to reduce hazardous exposure for federal wildland firefighters. These actions include expanded access to N95 respirators on the fireline, required training, and standardized decontamination protocols, such as showers and Nomex cleaning.

There is also direction on reducing exposure to extended periods of mop-up.

I welcome Erin Phelps, Deputy Director of Risk Management with the Forest Service, to discuss everything in the release. Erin is no stranger to the fireline, working on engines, Hotshot crews, and as a rappeller before taking a more direct role in policy and management.

There is a lot to cover, and plenty of questions. Deputy Director Phelps helps answer those questions and provides all the details on what it will look like moving forward.

The Hotshot Wake Up is 100% listener and reader supported. No ads, no sponsorships. Thank You.

On Today’s Show: To support and subscribe: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

The Hotshot Wake Up is 100% supported by the readers and listeners. Thank you.

• The National Preparedness Level increases to a PL3

• Wildfire bust across much of the West. Full operational update.

• Human remains found after the Upriver Fire in Spokane. Sheriff reports individuals refused to evacuate.

• Incendiary devices were found by Forest Service firefighters on a Colorado Fire. Also in Colorado, a helicopter lands after a fire in the cockpit while conducting bucket drops.

• State of emergency declared in Oregon and Washington.

• Idaho wildfire fund runs out of money.

• Reports on Rhabdo and burn injuries during the California prescribed burn.

• Watch Duty back up for Cal Fire personnel. Plus more.

THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP — Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. Your support allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all of our content. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, and also entered into our giveaways, plus more.

On Today’s Show: 100% listener and reader supported. To Subscribe: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

• Full operational update. New fires in Colorado, Utah, California, and the Southwest.

• The Forest Service has reinstated early retirement incentives as part of the reorganization plan. Both VERA and VSIP options are being offered.

• High level operators from the Forest Service have started to accept positions in the United States Wildland Fire Service leadership. What are the long term effects if unification doesn’t happen?

• Two civilian casualties after an engine responding to a wildfire collides with a civilian vehicle.

• Firefighters responding to an escaped slash pile burn in the Pacific Northwest were injured after the pile exploded.

• Plus more.

THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP — Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. Your support allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all of our content. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, and also entered into our giveaways, plus more.

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Today, I talk to Derrick Holdstock, owner and operator of Western Fire Resources. Derrick has been very proactive in the contracting and wildfire world, recently returning from a trip to D.C.

Before he started Western Fire Resources, Derrick was a wildlife biologist who practiced prescribed fire and later served as the Regional Fire Coordinator for West Texas, covering one third of the state. He also worked as a biologist for the Bureau of Land Management before venturing into the contracting world.

Derrick is highly versed in everything related to wildfire and the industry. We talk about current issues in contracting, policy, starting a company, the stereotypes, and a lot more.

THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP — Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. Your support allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all of our content. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, and also entered into our giveaways, plus more.

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

• The Sandy Fire in California is an early season wake up for the State. Urban interface fires will only increase, and fuel mitigation is a major step that residents and the state need to take seriously.

• A conversation about the harsh reality of the changing conditions, the wildland urban interface, and the pre-fire work that needs to be done. The consequences of doing nothing are greater than people realize.

• Full nationwide wildfire update: The Seven Cabins Fire in New Mexico continues to grow. California, Minnesota, Colorado, and more. California Hotshot crews are starting to shotgun out to multiple incidents.

• The wildfires in the plains of America will have greater downstream effects than most understand. (cattle production and viable grazing lands)

• Researchers at Brown University studied a wildfire in Africa that burned at an elevation of 13,000 ft, the highest wildfire in Africa in 12,000 years.

• Greece launches the first ever national wildfire satellite array. The system was brought into orbit by SpaceX.

THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP — Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. Your support allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all of our content. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, and also entered into our giveaways, plus more.