Santa Fe Hotshot construct line in Division V. Image: Burt Skalter
Interview with Hotshot Back from the Chileo Spike Camp.
He shares that his crew has been out for 37 days, so far. On the Station Fire, they’ve been working night shift, which means they sleep in the day. During the days it’s hot and noisy with helicopters flying in and out. “ You maybe get about three hours really good sleep.” They’re sleeping in the black, in the safety zone that’s been burned out with no vegetation left. He makes a point that he is not complaining. “It ‘s what we do.” A hotshot for three seasons, he is adamant that no one can do this work if they don’t love it. “You have to really like it or you’d just be really miserable.”
What makes it work? He says his crew is his second family when he’s away from his wife and new baby.His crew really trusts each other; they become more than a collection of 20 personalities. In this line of work, he insists, “ there is no room to not get along.” The crew have team building activities like scavenger hunts. They work on puzzles together. At their home base they have sporting events and stay connected.
The being away is a stress on some of his family, he says, but mostly they understand why he’s gone most of the summer. His crew is demobilizing for a couple days of R&R, rest and relaxation. Then they’sll be back. For More.
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