This beautiful piece was created for The Smokey Generation by Elena Rios, a wildland firefighter with previous Dispatch, Engine, Helitack, and Hotshot experience. She is currently an Air Tanker Base Technician and has a wonderfully diverse background in a variety of industries. Elena has a Bachelors of Fine Arts and recently wrote, illustrated, and published a book titled, Mihtotiancalli – The House of the Dancer, now entered into the U.S. Library of Congress. Her work has been showcased in the U.S. Forest Service’s Washington Office and she has contributed art work for a variety of wildland fire training and prevention initiatives.
Click to watch: Fire in the Boundary Waters (Minnesota)
Brian Laird, a Hotshot Captain, talks about fighting fire in Minnesota in the Boundary Waters and reminisces about canoeing to fires, catching fish, and the unexpected fire behavior. He also talk a little bit about fighting fires in the east.
Fire in the Boundary Waters: Brian Laird, a Hotshot Captain, talks about fighting fire in Minnesota in the Boundary Waters and reminisces about canoeing to fires, catching fish, and the unexpected fire behavior. He also talk a little bit about fighting fires in the east.
Click to watch: Alligators and Lizards (Florida)
Ken Jordan, retired Hotshot Superintendent, tells about encountering alligators in Florida during a burnout operation. He also talks about catching a lizard after going several days without food on a fire early on in his career.
Alligators and Lizards: Ken Jordan, retired Hotshot Superintendent, tells about encountering alligators in Florida during a burnout operation. He also talks about catching a lizard after going several days without food on a fire early on in his career.
Click to watch: Hurricane Rita (Texas)
Ken Jordan, retired Hotshot Superintendent, describes responding to the aftermath of Hurricane Rita, including assignments passing out food and water and cutting trees from graveyards in SE Texas.
Hurricane Rita: Ken Jordan, retired Hotshot Superintendent, describes responding to the aftermath of Hurricane Rita, including assignments passing out food and water and cutting trees from graveyards in SE Texas.
Click to watch: Fires and Bears in Alaska (Alaska)
Dan Pickard, a Hotshot Squad Leader, tells a story about fighting a fire in Alaska and what happened when they had bears come into spike camp, rummaging in their food.
Fires and Bears in Alaska: Dan Pickard, a Hotshot Squad Leader, tells a story about fighting a fire in Alaska and what happened when they had bears come into spike camp, rummaging in their food.
Click to watch: Spot Fires and Scorpions (Arizona)
Nick Glatt, Hotshot Lead Firefighter, talks about a long fire assignment to Arizona where they battled scorpions and spot fires while fighting fire in multiple fuel types.
Spot Fires and Scorpions: Nick Glatt, Hotshot Lead Firefighter, talks about a long fire assignment to Arizona where they battled scorpions and spot fires while fighting fire in multiple fuel types.
Click to watch: The Fires of '87 and '88 (New Mexico, among others)
Dirk Charley, USFS Tribal Relationship Program Manager, describes several of the fires he fought during the historical 1987 fire season. He also talks about seeing different geographic areas and fuel types throughout the 1988 season.
The Fires of '87 and '88: Dirk Charley, USFS Tribal Relationship Program Manager, describes several of the fires he fought during the historical 1987 fire season. He also talks about seeing different geographic areas and fuel types throughout the 1988 season.
Click to watch: Challenging Shifts (Washington and Wyoming)
Matt Kennedy, Hotshot Superintendent, describes a particularly challenging shift that included prepping for a firing operation that was eventually thwarted by a diurnal wind shift. He also talks about his experience with the 30 Mile fatality incident and the importance of sheltering your crew from unwanted attention after such incidents.
Challenging Shifts: Matt Kennedy, Hotshot Superintendent, describes a particularly challenging shift that included prepping for a firing operation that was eventually thwarted by a diurnal wind shift. He also talks about his experience with the 30 Mile fatality incident and the importance of sheltering your crew from unwanted attention after such incidents.
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: Rafting the Rogue (Oregon)
Stephanie Rogers, a Hotshot Crewmember, describes fighting the Big Windy fire in Oregon in 2013, including the incredible experience of rafting the Rogue River to get access to a spot fire.
Rafting the Rogue: Stephanie Rogers, a Hotshot Crewmember, describes fighting the Big Windy fire in Oregon in 2013, including the incredible experience of rafting the Rogue River to get access to a spot fire.
Click to watch: Meeting Objectives (Nevada)
Adam Hernandez, a Hotshot Captain, talks about the sense of accomplishment he feels when meeting the objectives on the fireline, using a fire in western Nevada as an example.
Meeting Objectives: Adam Hernandez, a Hotshot Captain, talks about the sense of accomplishment he feels when meeting the objectives on the fireline, using a fire in western Nevada as an example.
Click to watch: A Great Burn Show (Wyoming)
Dan Pickard, a Hotshot Squad Leader, describes a firing operation on a fire in Wyoming in 2012, where the crew was able to save twelve cabins despite experiencing some of the most impressive, explosive fire behavior he's seen in his career.
A Great Burn Show: Dan Pickard, a Hotshot Squad Leader, describes a firing operation on a fire in Wyoming in 2012, where the crew was able to save twelve cabins despite experiencing some of the most impressive, explosive fire behavior he's seen in his career.
Click to watch: Fighting Fire in the Wildland Urban Interface (Colorado, among others)
Dan Mallia, Superintendent of the Redding Interagency Hotshot Crew (a developmental crew based out of Northern California), discusses what type of days are the most memorable for him - fighting fire in the Wildland Urban Interface (including the Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado).
Fighting Fire in the Wildland Urban Interface: Dan Mallia, Superintendent of the Redding Interagency Hotshot Crew (a developmental crew based out of Northern California), discusses what type of days are the most memorable for him - fighting fire in the Wildland Urban Interface (including the Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado).
Click to watch: Memorable Shifts (N. California)
Brent Corkish, a Hotshot Sawyer, describes a particularly memorable fire in Northern California and the physical challenges and discomfort that came with doing the job.
Memorable Shifts: Brent Corkish, a Hotshot Sawyer, describes a particularly memorable fire in Northern California and the physical challenges and discomfort that came with doing the job.
Click to watch: Spiking out in Yosemite (Central California)
Nick Robison, a Hotshot Squad Leader, describes a fire from early in his career where the crew flew into Yosemite via helicopter and spiked out on a fire that laid down in the cold temperatures every night and got up and moved through the timber during the day.
Spiking out in Yosemite: Nick Robison, a Hotshot Squad Leader, describes a fire from early in his career where the crew flew into Yosemite via helicopter and spiked out on a fire that laid down in the cold temperatures every night and got up and moved through the timber during the day.
Click to watch: Flash Flood (S. California)
Jeff Locke, current Hotshot Superintendent, talks about the unexpected risks that come with fighting fire. He tells a story about the circumstances around a flash flood that almost took out the crew while on a fire in central California.
Flash Flood: Jeff Locke, current Hotshot Superintendent, talks about the unexpected risks that come with fighting fire. He tells a story about the circumstances around a flash flood that almost took out the crew while on a fire in California.
Here is Elena’s description of the work:
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