So, You Want to Be a Hotshot?

So, You Want to Be a Hotshot?

By Brian White When I think back 20-plus years to my first introduction to being a wildland firefighter, I smile, take a deep breath, and exhale. I have the most amazing memories and, honestly, I miss it. It was the hardest work of my life. I was part of a group of...

NEWS

So, You Want to Be a Hotshot?

So, You Want to Be a Hotshot?

By Brian White When I think back 20-plus years to my first introduction to being a wildland firefighter, I smile, take a deep breath, and exhale. I have the most amazing memories and, honestly, I miss it. It was the hardest work of my life. I was part of a group of...

Officials: New York State Isn’t Ready to Fight More Wildfires

Officials: New York State Isn’t Ready to Fight More Wildfires

NATHAN PORCENG - The Press-Republican, Plattsburgh, N.Y. — This story first appeared in New York Focus, a non-profit news publication investigating New York state politics. Sign up for their stories at nysfocus.com/newsletter. Joseph Nickischer can’t remember...

Product News

Meet Nicole Wiebe – A Wildland Firefighter and MARK-3® Pump Pro!!

Meet Nicole Wiebe – A Wildland Firefighter and MARK-3® Pump Pro!!

Introducing Nicole Wiebe: A former Wildland Firefighter turned artist, Nicole brings her unique blend of experience and creativity to our special project. With seven seasons spent battling wildfires across Ontario, Quebec, BC, Alberta, and Oregon, her dedication to...

Ax Magazine Vol. 4 Is Out!

Ax Magazine Vol. 4 Is Out!

We are thrilled to announce the much-awaited release of the fourth edition of Ax Magazine! In this latest volume, we invite you to embark on an exciting journey with us as we explore intriguing stories, groundbreaking insights, and a celebration of our rich heritage...

Waterax Winner of the Innovation Award | SME 2023

Waterax Winner of the Innovation Award | SME 2023

The ADRIQ Innovation Awards 2023 shone on November 23 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal during the 33rd Innovation Awards Gala, bringing together over 575 participants. Under the dynamic leadership of Stéphane Bellavance, a distinguished personality in the...

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Product Articles

MARK-3 Mechanics Training

MARK-3 Mechanics Training

Dive Deeper into Expertise at WATERAX Pump Mechanics Factory Training! Calling all MARK-3® pump enthusiasts! Get ready for a transformative journey at the WATERAX MARK-3® & MARK-3® Watson Edition Pump Mechanics Factory Training. In this immersive 3-day training,...

Aviation

Three Firefighters Killed in Turkish Firefighting Helicopter Crash

Three Firefighters Killed in Turkish Firefighting Helicopter Crash

ISTANBUL (AP) — Underwater teams are trying to recover a helicopter that crashed in a lake over the weekend, killing three crew members, while fighting a forest fire in western Turkey, state media reported Monday. Four crew members were aboard the firefighting...

Two Pilots Walk Away from Boeing 737 Water Bomber Crash in Australia

Two Pilots Walk Away from Boeing 737 Water Bomber Crash in Australia

PERTH, Australia (AP) — Two pilots walked away with minor injuries after a Boeing 737 jet converted for firefighting crashed in Australia, officials said Tuesday. The twin-engine tanker owned by Canadian-based Coulson Aviation crashed in Fitzgerald River National Park...

CAL FIRE Helicopter Crash Injures Three Returning from Fairview Fire

CAL FIRE Helicopter Crash Injures Three Returning from Fairview Fire

A helicopter assisting with operations in the Fairview fire near Hemet crashed while attempting to land at the Banning Airport, fire officials said Saturday afternoon. The helicopter was privately owned, officials said, and crashed into a backyard just before 4 p.m....

Videos

L.A. County and Forest Service Firefighters Survive Near Miss

L.A. County and Forest Service Firefighters Survive Near Miss

On September 11, Angeles National Forest and Los Angeles County firefighters responded to a brush fire near Highway 99. Shortly after they arrived the fire and took hold on both sides of the highway. In the shifting winds the flank of the fire became the head of the...

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Bobbie on Fire

Bobbie Scopa started her career as a seasonal firefighter in 1974. After graduating from Arizona State University, she went on to work in fire and natural resource management. Eventually she left the wildand agencies to work full time for a structure fire department. She finished her Masters in Forestry at NC State then went back to the US Forest Service and BLM eventually becoming the Assistant Regional Fire Director in Region 6. Bobbie has spent many years working as a type 1 and 2 Operations Section Chief. You can listen to Bobbie tell audio stories from her long career at BobbieOnFire.com. She has also recently completed her memoir titled “Both Sides Of The Fire Line”. It will be available through Chicago Review Press late summer of 2022.

How Civil Is Your Station?

Years ago, I was at a national fire leadership meeting for the Forest Service. The fire...

What’s the Cost?

Throughout our lives and careers, there will be times that we’re asked a question or asked to do...

Habituation to Risk

Here we are during the time of year where we remember our lost friends and coworkers. Those we...

Wildland Firefighting

So, You Want to Be a Hotshot?

So, You Want to Be a Hotshot?

By Brian White When I think back 20-plus years to my first introduction to being a wildland firefighter, I smile, take a deep breath, and exhale. I have the most amazing memories and, honestly, I miss it. It was the hardest work of my life. I was part of a group of...

Features

Evacuees: Understanding the Other Side of the Fence

Evacuees: Understanding the Other Side of the Fence

By Chad Costa This job is fantastic, and I wouldn’t want to do anything else. Being able to help during someone’s worst day runs deep in all first responders’ blood. However, the past few years have put us all through the wringer. Having been involved with the...

Lessons Learned from Line-of-Duty Deaths in the Wildland

Lessons Learned from Line-of-Duty Deaths in the Wildland

By THOMAS W. AURNHAMMER After moving from New Mexico to Colorado, I must admit that I had a lot to learn about fighting fire in the wildland. I was used to having resources in my former fire department such as water and somewhat adequate staffing. Providing fire...