Vision
Develop and maintain a cohesive, highly skilled crew focused on safety, hard work, and building leaders in fire. Continually train and evolve to meet and exceed the past, present, and future needs of the USWFS. Improvise, adapt, and overcome challenges. Create an atmosphere that fosters personal growth, team growth, and overcoming of physical and mental challenges.
Mission
The Spokane Veteran Type 2 IA Crew aims to provide veterans an opportunity to transition their skills from the military to wildland firefighting. The crew builds a solid base of skills and experience with emphasis on teamwork, respect and integrity. The crew is dedicated to professional grade firefighting on our nation's public lands, safely responding to hazards with speed, professionalism, dedication and a service mindset.
Crew Duties
The crew maintains a state of initial attack readiness from beginning of May to end of October, responding primarily to wildfires across the entire Upper Columbia Unit of Washington, but also throughout the entire Oregon/Washington region. Working well with cooperators is critical; often crewmembers act as "force multipliers," fitting into existing firefighting response efforts already on scene. Crewmembers become experts in creating order from chaos, building direct & indirect line, performing burnouts, and conducting late-stage mopup. Fuel types across the USWFS Upper Columbia Unit response area vary from grass/sage to timber. When not on incidents, crewmembers engage in a variety of district project work and various fuels reduction projects.
Crew Station
The Spokane Veteran Type 2 IA Crew is located at 1103 N Fancher Rd, Spokane Valley, WA, 99212. Currently there is no official government housing for the crew. However, the office is located within close proximity to housing options in Spokane, WA. More details on housing opportunities can be provided by the crew supervisor. The office includes a fire cache, laundry, kitchen, showers and a new gym.
Training
At the beginning of each season, the crew engages in 80 hours of critical training including a variety of intro-level suppression courses dependent upon the needs of the work force. Courses include chainsaw training, safety trainings, driver training and unit orientation. Emphasis is given to training in strategy, tactics, hazards, radios, medical scenarios, and orienteering as time allows. The crew also follows a rigorous physical training program, which is prioritized daily; crew members are encouraged to push one another to improve as a team. Crew culture highly values training both in the classroom and in the field with the goal of creating safe, well-informed and competent firefighters.
We are a Veteran Type 2 IA Crew. As such, we spend most of our days digging line, burning out, holding and mopping up. The expansive nature of the Upper Columbia Unit ensures that we add value to each and every fire with the potential to be gone for 14 days at a moment's notice. The nature of a hand crew means that we hike the rugged terrain.
Job announcements/Crew Specific Hiring
Permanent seasonal positions usually fly in October. Temporary seasonal positions usually fly in November. Contact us either by phone or e-mail to inquire about open positions (see "Contact" below). Be sure to check USAJOBS for announcements. Use the key word "fire" and the location "Spokane, WA."
Physical Requirements
Being physically fit is one of the most important ways to help prepare yourself to be a wildland firefighter. This is one of the most effective ways to prevent heat related illness while working in hot and dry conditions. We are committed to each individual firefighter maintaining a high level of fitness to ensure safety and overall readiness to get called at a moment's notice. Our PT program consists of running, hiking, HIIT circuits and weightlifting. Expect to PT together as a crew for one to two hours a day when not on the fire line.
Crew History
The crew was originally formed in 2012 as the Spokane Veteran IA Module, a ten-person quick-response resource within BLM Fire in Washington. As of 2026, the crew has become a 20-person Veteran Type 2 IA Crew within the U.S. Wildland Fire Service in the Upper Columbia Unit. The crew has earned an excellent reputation for professionalism, safety and effectiveness. We are recognized and welcomed by state and local cooperators, depended upon to do good and thorough work without oversight, and eagerly take on difficult and uncomfortable tasks. Over the last 11 years the crew has built a sterling reputation in the region for hard work, integrity, competence and expertise. It is the duty and expectation of every individual employed on the crew to uphold and enhance that reputation.
Contact
Crew Superintendent: Shawn Rambo, 509-953-4586, srambo@blm.gov
Squad Leader: Jon Eibling, 720-799-4446, jeibling@blm.gov
Crew Lead: Connor Williams, 303-513-1993, connorwilliams@blm.gov
