This map was created by Mark Lighthiser, an avid outdoorsman, father of three, and incredibly talented artist. He designed the badges by listening to the stories themselves, researching fire imagery, and by tapping into his wonderfully creative intellect. The badges are representative of both the geography and the narrative of the story. Simply click on the images within the map to view the related videos. I’ve also added a gallery of the individual badges below the map, just in case you want to get a closer look. Enjoy the talking map!
Click to watch: Influential People (Washington)
Gina Papke, current Program Specialist and former Hotshot Superintendent, talks about the people who influenced her life and early career. She also talks about her exposure to fire while working on a Brush Disposal crew on the Olympic National Forest in Washington.
Influential People: Gina Papke, current Program Specialist and former Hotshot Superintendent, talks about the people who influenced her life and early career. She also talks about her exposure to fire while working on a Brush Disposal crew on the Olympic National Forest in Washington.
Click to watch: Chainsaws and Close Calls (Oregon)
Nick Robison, a Hotshot Squad Leader, describes what it is like to become a Sawyer on a Hotshot Crew and discusses a close call with a snag that came down inbetween two crewmembers while on a fire in Oregon.
Chainsaws and Close Calls: Nick Robison, a Hotshot Squad Leader, describes what it is like to become a Sawyer on a Hotshot Crew and discusses a close call with a snag that came down inbetween two crewmembers while on a fire in Oregon.
Click to watch: A Tough Burn Show (Idaho)
Adam Hernandez, a Hotshot Captain, describes a firing operation on a fire in Idaho where the crew worked through the night to pull off a burn operation, only to have it lost during the transition to the next shift.
A Tough Burn Show: Adam Hernandez, a Hotshot Captain, describes a firing operation on a fire in Idaho where the crew worked through the night to pull off a burn operation, only to have it lost during the transition to the next shift.
Click to watch: The Great Yellowstone Fire (Wyoming)
Dirk Charley, USFS Tribal Relationship Program Manager, talks about his experience working on the Great Yellowstone Fires in 1988, including working alongside his father through some extreme fire behavior. Both the Horseshoe Meadow and Sierra Hotshots married up becoming a single 40 person crew (working as a strike team).
The Great Yellowstone Fire: Dirk Charley, USFS Tribal Relationship Program Manager, talks about his experience working on the Great Yellowstone Fires in 1988, including working alongside his father through some extreme fire behavior. Both the Horseshoe Meadow and Sierra Hotshots married up becoming a single 40 person crew (working as a strike team).
Click to watch: Favorite Place to Fight Fire (Montana)
Rigo Flores, a Lead Firefighter currently detailed into a Hotshot Squad Boss position, reveals his favorite place to fight fire and describes a memorable grass fire he fought there.
Favorite Place to Fight Fire: Rigo Flores, a Lead Firefighter currently detailed into a Hotshot Squad Boss position, reveals his favorite place to fight fire and describes a memorable grass fire he fought there.
Click to watch: Fighting Fire in Minnesota (Minnesota)
Dan Pickard, a Hotshot Squad Leader, describes a fun fire assignment in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, including capsized canoes, scenic spike camps, and the overall experience of fighting fire in a remote area surrounded by water.
Fighting Fire in Minnesota: Dan Pickard, a Hotshot Squad Leader, describes a fun fire assignment in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, including capsized canoes, scenic spike camps, and the overall experience of fighting fire in a remote area surrounded by water.
Click to watch: Shelter Deployment (Central California)
Ken Jordan, retired Hotshot Superintendent, discusses his experience deploying his fire shelter and surviving a burnover that occurred on the Big Creek Fire on the Sierra National Forest in 1994.
Shelter Deployment: Ken Jordan, retired Hotshot Superintendent, discusses his experience deploying his fire shelter and surviving a burnover that occurred on the Big Creek Fire on the Sierra National Forest in 1994.
Click to watch: Thundercells and Grass Fires (Nevada)
Erin Kimsey, Hotshot Senior Firefighter, tells about an interesting fire in Nevada that provided a variety of challenges, including several instances where the fire got the better of their tactics and a situation with a thundercell that forced the crew to double-time it out their escape route. [some explicit language]
Thundercells and Grass Fires: Erin Kimsey, Hotshot Senior Firefighter, tells about an interesting fire in Nevada that provided a variety of challenges, including several instances where the fire got the better of their tactics and a situation with a thundercell that forced the crew to double-time it out their escape route. [some explicit language]
Click to watch: An Unexpected Find (Utah)
Drew Derrick, a Hotshot Senior Firefighter, talks about finding human remains while on a fire in Utah.
An Unexpected Find: Drew Derrick, a Hotshot Senior Firefighter, talks about finding human remains while on a fire in Utah.
Click to watch: Grass Fire Initial Attack (S. California)
Brian Anderson, Hotshot Superintendent, describes an exciting initial attack grass fire the crew rolled up on while en route home from another fire.
Grass Fire Initial Attack: Brian Anderson, Hotshot Superintendent, describes an exciting initial attack grass fire the crew rolled up on while en route home from another fire.
Click to watch: South Canyon (Colorado)
Ron Garcia, District Fire Management Officer, describes his experience responding to the South Canyon Fire in 1994, where 14 firefighters lost their lives. He also describes fighting the actual fire after the fatality event.
South Canyon: Ron Garcia, District Fire Management Officer, describes his experience responding to the South Canyon Fire in 1994, where 14 firefighters lost their lives. He also describes fighting the actual fire after the fatality event.
Click to watch: Classic Shift: Man on the Moon (New Mexico)
Josh Parker, Hotshot Senior Firefighter, describes a classic shift that required utilizing a wide variety of skills in order to adapt to strategies, tactics, and fire behavior. He discusses the dynamics of working with other resources and the interesting headspaces fellow crewmembers were in during operations.
Classic Shift: Man on the Moon: Josh Parker, Hotshot Senior Firefighter, describes a classic shift that required utilizing a wide variety of skills in order to adapt to strategies, tactics, and fire behavior. He discusses the dynamics of working with other resources and the interesting headspaces fellow crewmembers were in during operations.
Click to watch: Hurricane Katrina (Texas)
Steve Griffin, current Northern California Fire Training Officer and former Hotshot Superintendent, tells about getting dispatched to assist with Hurricane Katrina response with his Hotshot crew. he talks about the sense of pride the crew got from helping with a shelter, as well as the reputation they got with the ladies...for folding a mean load of laundry.
Hurricane Katrina: Steve Griffin, current Northern California Fire Training Officer and former Hotshot Superintendent, tells about getting dispatched to assist with Hurricane Katrina response with his Hotshot crew. he talks about the sense of pride the crew got from helping with a shelter, as well as the reputation they got with the ladies...for folding a mean load of laundry.
Click to watch: Alligators and Wildfire (Florida)
Jeff Locke, current Hotshot Superintendent, describes one of his favorite stories from early on in his career - a dispatch to Florida where he encountered long shifts, a different way of fighting fire, and some critters that kept the crew on their toes.
Alligators and Wildfire: Jeff Locke, current Hotshot Superintendent, describes one of his favorite stories from early on in his career - a dispatch to Florida where he encountered long shifts, a different way of fighting fire, and some critters that kept the crew on their toes.
Click to watch: Bear in Camp
Cameron Stinchfield, Detailed Assistant Hotshot Superintendent, talks about a bear that came into spike camp on a fire in Alaska.
Bear in Camp: Cameron Stinchfield, Detailed Assistant Hotshot Superintendent, talks about a bear that came into spike camp on a fire in Alaska.
Click on the images below to get a closer look
at the fantastic artwork by Mark Lighthiser.
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