The Hotshot Wake Up

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If anyone knows how to navigate the political soup to pass wildfire legislation, it’s Matt Weiner, CEO and Founder of Megafire Action.

Megafire Action has worked on hazard pay for prescribed burns, the Fix Our Forests Act, and much of the wildfire legislation that recently passed in California. This includes home hardening grants, reducing litigation for prescribed burns, grants for communities in the wildland urban interface, and even a dedicated CAL FIRE unit to test and rapidly deploy emerging wildfire technology.

Before founding Megafire Action in 2022, Matt was the Executive Director of the CA Democratic Congressional Delegation (House of Representatives), Chief of Staff to State Senator Henry Stern (CA), and held various roles with the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

They are now focused on federal wildfire legislation, with many wondering what that will look like in the coming months. A great conversation.

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The Wildfire Technology Summit takes place next week in Salt Lake City, Utah, where wildfire leaders, operational subject matter experts, and technology companies will come together to discuss capabilities, systems, and requirements in the wildfire space.

It is not a traditional tech trade show, but a 4 day event to bring leaders from all across the wildfire and tech spaces to directly engage around real world operational needs, share ideas, and meaningful ways their technologies can be implemented into wildfire response, pre fire mitigation, post fire work, and more.

I welcome Chief Mark Niemeyer, CEO of the Western Fire Chiefs Association, who is helping to facilitate this summit. This is a 4 Phase process, with Phases 1 and 2 already completed. Phase 3 is this Summit, and Phase 4 will be for procurement. We will discuss the progress made so far, what’s next, and how to successfully provide tools for the operators on the ground to protect our landscapes, communities, and themselves.

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A few weeks ago, a letter went out to wildfire agency heads from the Alliance of Retired Forest Service Fire Leaders, advocating for the unification of our nation's wildland firefighters. That letter can be found here.

I reached out, and the Alliance Chair, Dan Kleinman, agreed to a conversation about the Alliance’s efforts. Dan has extensive wildfire leadership experience, rivaled by few.

Dan Kleinman retired after 40 years in the wildland fire service, including service as a detailed Deputy Regional Fire Director for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Pacific Southwest Region, and as an Operations Section Chief with the National Incident Management Organization (NIMO). He began his career with the California Division of Forestry, serving one season before spending the remainder of his career with the U.S. Forest Service.

His field and leadership experience included positions as a Firefighter and Module Leader on engine and fuels crews, 12 years on a Hotshot crew including seven years as Superintendent - five years as a Battalion Chief, and five years as a Division Chief on a wildfire-active Ranger District.

Throughout his career, Kleinman remained actively engaged in fuels management, including thinning projects and prescribed fire. He maintained prescribed-fire qualifications throughout his career and, for his final 20 years, served as a qualified Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 1.

Kleinman’s regional and national working-group experience included service on the Regional Safety FIRST Committee and the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Leadership Committee, where he chaired L-580, a leadership-development program designed for senior fire-management and organizational leaders. In 2009, L-580 delivered the first Gettysburg Staff Ride for Wildland Fire Service leaders, a program that continues to be delivered today.

Notable assignments included the crash of a top-secret F-117 Stealth Fighter and associated wildfire; the Columbia Space Shuttle recovery and investigation; the response to the Pentagon following the September 11 attacks; and the Hurricane Sandy response in New York City’s Rockaways, where he managed a welfare-check operation across multiple public apartment buildings.

At the time of his retirement, Kleinman’s incident qualifications included Incident Commander Types 1, 2, and 3; Operations Section Chief Type 1; Operations Branch Director; Division/Group Supervisor; and Agency Representative.

Kleinman remains active with two nonprofit organizations: the U.S. Hotshots Association and the Greenhorn Mountain Veterans Association. He has been married for 39 years and is the father of three adult children.

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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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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.

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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.

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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.

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The Nation remains at a PL5, and we are one lightning bust away from all out chaos again. Full operational update.

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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.

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UTV rollover report. Passenger ejected at 30MPH.

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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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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/

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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.

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 Great Basin moves to a PL5, and the Widemouth 2 Fire nears 100K acres. Full National wildfire update.

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A report about a line medic who made unconventional decisions that led to life-saving measures for a wildland firefighter in Idaho.

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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.

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Deputy Chief Sarah Fisher’s statement on the feasibility study to combine firefighters from the Forest Service into the USWFS.

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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.

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Full story of the fake paramedic on the Elk Fire in Colorado. It reads like a Tom Clancy novel.

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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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Full report released for the Lyons Ferry Fire burnover. Comprehensive report details firefighters trying to burn off around themselves before being overtaken by fire.

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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.

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The USFS and USWFS released a timeline report for the Knowles Fire Entrapment in Colorado.

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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.

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Alaska sends fire crews down to the lower 48.

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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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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.

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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.

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Wildfire smoke will blanket the eastern United States as poor air quality records are already being set.

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More Minnesota fires merge as firefighters work to access the wilderness fires.

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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.

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Starting the morning campfire in spike camp. It’s easy, but hazardous. Burn injury report.

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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.

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A lot of progress is being made on wildfires across Colorado, Utah, and the Southwest as containment rises.

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Containment drops on the Gold Mountain Fire in Colorado as a civilian drone shuts down air resources while trying to catch spot fires.

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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.

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Chainsaw and burn injury updates.

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What is the Super El Niño going to bring with it?

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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.

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

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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.

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

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

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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.

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The National Preparedness Level moves to 4.

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

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

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A conversation about current wildfire conditions on the ground.

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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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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.

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The National Preparedness Level increases to a PL3

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

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

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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.

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State of emergency declared in Oregon and Washington.

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Idaho wildfire fund runs out of money.

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

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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.

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

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

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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?

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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.