The Hotshot Wake Up The Hotshot Wake Up

On Today's Show: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

I have a wide-ranging conversation with the Executive Director of the United Aerial Firefighters Association, Paul Petersen. The UAFA represents the Aerial Wildland Fire Industry (Airtankers, Scoopers, Helicopters, Retardant, and aviation support) to Local, State, Federal agencies and Congress.

Before his time at UAFA, Paul served as a Firefighter, Engine Captain, Fire Operations Specialist (Battalion Chief), Assistant Fire Management Officer, Fire Management Officer, and Deputy State Fire Management Officer.

It is a fantastic conversation that covers many topics, including the current retardant issues, aviation contracting, working with the agencies, and more.


THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP — Thank you to all of our paid Substack 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: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/

I have a conversation with Dani Shedden, the woman behind Close The Gap Wellness. Dani is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Nationally Certified Counselor, and a wildland firefighter who started her counseling career with one goal in mind: to help people find balance and manage their mental health.

It’s a great conversation that expands into all things health and the realities of being a wildland firefighter, a partner or family member of one, and how to better manage those complex relationships and stressful environments.

Dani travels across the country to talk to crews and fire personnel on a weekly basis. Say what’s up if you see her!



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: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/


Canada sees multiple holdover fires rekindle.


Multiple communities evacuated as the fires jumped rivers and highways. An estimated 500k acres burned this week.


The Southwest starts bringing in IMTs to fires. The Toyo Fire in Arizona prompts a CIMT order with multiple Hotshot crews.


Region 3 starting to pick up in activity.


Washington State announced this week that during fire weather, residents should expect their power to be cut off for multiple days on end this summer.


Wyoming sees insurance rates triple due to “wildfire risk.”


Full operational update.


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: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/


Outside Magazine pushes a year-round and nationwide campfire ban as a “symbolic” way to stop human-caused starts.


Should we ban campfires nationwide? Don’t Forests already have restriction policies in place?


Power lines, railroads, vehicles, and large debris burns cause more fires than camp fires.




An April burn over and entrapment in North Carolina.


Oregon residents sue PacifiCorp Power for $30B over the 2020 Labor Day fires.


Utility Owner Warren Buffet admits it will likely lead to the power company going out of business.


Maui sues all major cellphone companies for losing service during the Lahaina fires.


Your cell phone bill is about to get more expensive…


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: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/


Operational update.


A longtime and beloved firefighter in Montana dies during a pack test. A shock to the Montana firefighting community.


Canada calls in their National Security Investigation Team after pipeline explosion causes wildlife in Alberta. Past cyber attacks have shown vulnerability to these systems.


After pulling the contract to environmentally safe retardant this month, I cover the 2021 study saying this product was dangerous to equipment and firefighters.


This study was seemingly ignored by agencies, and aviation companies penned a letter to the Forest Service Chief in 2021 saying it could cause catastrophic failure to their aircraft and health issues to their employees.


These concerns seemed to have been ignored by officials for three years. Companies said it was eating their landing gear and causing tanks to not open over wildfires, potentially leading to aircraft crashes. Insane….


Companies expressed that the “environmentally safe” labeling of retardant led to continuing its use and contracting from the agencies.


I cover the firefighter fatalities this week in Mexico.


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: https://thehotshotwakeup.substack.com/


Two years after the Hermits Peak\Calf Canyon Fire, the FEMA director in charge of the $4 Billion in relief funds has resigned.


The HPCC Fire, caused by 2 separate Forest Service prescribed burns, became the largest, most expensive, and most destructive fire in history.




Lawyers for the communities say the Agency copied and pasted relief documents from a fire back in 2000, causing even more delays and rejected claims.


Angela Gladwell has been “moved to another FEMA position” after two years of failure, and residents are still without relief.


After 3.5 months, a new director has yet to be named.


A total botch job. All agencies are on an apology tour.


Plus, full wildfire operational update.



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.

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