BLM Crews

Hand crew

Hand Crews

A hand crew consists of 18-22 crewmembers and performs a variety of operations on wildland and prescribed fires. Hand crew duties primarily include constructing firelines with hand tools and chainsaws, burning out areas using drip torches and other firing devices, mop-up, and rehabilitating burned areas. Follow the links for additional information on the specific crews.

 

 

Interagency Hotshot Crews

An interagency hotshot crew consists of 18-22 specially trained firefighters that provide an organized, mobile, and skilled workforce for all phases of wildland fire management. Crew members complete many hours of training, adhere to high physical standards, and can take on the most difficult assignments. Although a hotshot crew’s main goal is wildland fire management, they also support all-risk missions, such as hurricane support.

The Bureau of Land Management has 13 interagency hotshot crews:

The Aravaipa and Lakeview Hotshot crews consist primarily of military veterans.

More information is available in the Standards for Interagency Hotshot Crew Operations.

We Are BLM Fire - Hotshot Crews

Veterans Crews

A veteran crew is used for a variety of operations on a wildland fire. Primary duties consist of constructing firelines with hand tools and chainsaws, burning out areas using drip torches and other firing devices, mop-up, and rehabilitating burned areas. 

BLM veteran crews provide job and career avenues for military veterans, allowing them to find post-military careers that provide a sense of serving and working within a team setting.

The Bureau of Land Management has veteran hand crews stationed across the western states:

More information is available in the Standards for Veterans Crew Operations.

We Are BLM Fire - Veterans Crews

 

Hear from a couple veterans about their personal experiences working in wildfire

Veteran crew to engine crew: talking with second year firefighter Katrina Arguello

Katrina Arguello, BLM engine crew member working in Las Cruces, New Mexico, talks about transitioning from the military to wildland fire. A veteran of the Marine Corps, she spent her first year fighting fires as a member of the BLM Spokane Initial Attack Suppression Module Fire Crew 6201. Now beginning her second year of firefighting, Katrina is finding out what it is like to work on a wildland fire engine. She describes her background, training, and first year of wildfire suppression experience while raising a child and pursuing a horticulture degree. Katrina also offers advice to service members looking for work. Feeling a sense of doing something meaningful, Katrina is looking forward to more career opportunities in wildland fire. June 1, 2023

Military law enforcement to wildland fire investigator: a conversation with Court Gossard

BLM Wildland Fire Investigator and Trespass Coordinator Court Gossard talks about his transition from the military to working in wildland fire. We discuss the importance of fire investigation - from examination and documentation to types of causes and what fire trespass involves…along with a little reminiscing. Court also provides advise to veterans looking for work in wildland fire management. Dec 14, 2022

 

Other Hand Crews

The Bureau of Land Management also hosts the Unaweep Wildland Fire Module in Grand Junction, Colorado and the North Star Fire Crew in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Apply for BLM Wildland Firefighting Positions

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