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The Hotshot Wake Up

The Hotshot Wake Up
The Hotshot Wake Up
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203 episodes

  • The Hotshot Wake Up

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

    07/16/2026 | 47 mins.
    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.
  • The Hotshot Wake Up

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

    07/11/2026 | 56 mins.
    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.

    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.
  • The Hotshot Wake Up

    Full Operational Update For Wildfires Across The West: Colorado Still Very Active And Under Red Flags, Progress Being Made In The Southwest And Utah.

    07/02/2026 | 47 mins.
    On Today’s Show: To Support And Subscribe: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/
    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.
  • The Hotshot Wake Up

    Colorado Declares A State Of Emergency: Nation Moves To A Preparedness Level 4. Full Update On National Wildfires And Agency Updates On The Knowles Fire Burnover.

    06/29/2026 | 47 mins.
    On Today’s Show: To Support And Subscribe https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/
    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.
  • The Hotshot Wake Up

    Today, The Forest Service And USWFS Announce New Steps To Reduce Hazardous Exposure To Wildland Firefighters. Decontamination, Smoke Mitigation, Mask Use, And Mop-up Exposure.

    06/24/2026 | 50 mins.
    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.
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About The Hotshot Wake Up
A podcast and newsletter by firefighters about wildfire and the world. Crew Supervisor and Ex Hotshot overhead. Call it like it is. Monthly Substack subscriptions go towards supporting this content and helping firefighters in need. https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/
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