The Hotshot Wake Up

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

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

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?

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

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

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.

On Today’s Show: To Support and Subscribe 👉https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/
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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

On Today’s Show: To Subscribe and Support:👉 https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/
Full operational update.

Hotshot crews are still having issues securing the vehicles they need to operate at the level they are being asked to.

Reports of dozens of Type 3 Engines that remain unstaffed.

Canada cancels $106M wildfire satellite contract with American company. Trade war actions leaking into wildfire?

Wildfire aviation fuel costs are on the rise, and concerns from wildfire CEO’s about a shortage.

A rant about the irony of all the problems in wildland fire, including mental health, staffing, physical health, and the old trope of “make it work,” doesn’t help with these issues.

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.

On Today’s Show: To Support And Subscribe 👉https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/
Full wildfire update

Fires in Georgia, Florida, New Mexico, and Montana

USDA Secretary Rollins provides the 2026 wildfire secretarial memo.

It covers priorities for the 2026 fire season and directives for the Forest Service moving forward.

I go over the priorities, including initial attack, surge capacity, secondary fire positions, fuels work, prescribed fire, and more.

Senators sent a letter this week to the USDA demanding answers about the Forest Service reorganization. There are some very valid questions about R&D, clarifications on office locations, and employee duty stations.

I cover all that and 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.