The Hotshot Wake Up

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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.
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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.

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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.