Hotshot crews started in Southern California in the late 1940s on the Cleveland and Angeles National Forests (Interagency Hotshot Crews). It is no surprise how they got their name do to the fact that Hotshots are in the most dangerous and hottest part of the fire. Hotshot crews are the first ones sent into the thick of it. These crews are usually the most in shape and experienced crews that can be sent in on foot to remote areas. There are many times that these crews are also flown in or shuttled by jet boats. A Hotshot crew is usually twenty members and are often called Type 1 crews. They are really considered Type 1 Crew-Plus because they exceed the experience, training, and physical fitness required for type one (Interagency Hotshot Crews).
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A swamper works closely with the sawyer by clearing everything they cut. Usually the saw squad is the most coveted position because it requires the most specialized skill in cutting down trees for a saw line. Saw line is usually a ten foot wide clearing cut by saw squad. The crew relies on each other to correctly identify critical safety issues and demonstrating the appropriate actions to these situations. There is a major emphasis on risk management, firefighter safety, fire behavior, communications, job hazard analysis, fire shelter deployment, and field drills for various fire suppression techniques (Interagency Hotshot Crews). Even though there are field exercises, most of this learning is hands on during the fire. Each crew member must be able to pass a pack test. This test consist of a three mile hike with forty-five pounds that must be completed in forty-five minutes. Most typical crews consist of one Superintendent (GS-9), two Assistant Superintendents (GS-8), two Squad or Module Leaders (GS-6), and 15 Skilled Firefighters (GS-5) and Crew Members (GS-4) (Interagency Hotshot Crews). Every crew member has to be available twenty-four hours a day and seven days a
A swamper works closely with the sawyer by clearing everything they cut. Usually the saw squad is the most coveted position because it requires the most specialized skill in cutting down trees for a saw line. Saw line is usually a ten foot wide clearing cut by saw squad. The crew relies on each other to correctly identify critical safety issues and demonstrating the appropriate actions to these situations. There is a major emphasis on risk management, firefighter safety, fire behavior, communications, job hazard analysis, fire shelter deployment, and field drills for various fire suppression techniques (Interagency Hotshot Crews). Even though there are field exercises, most of this learning is hands on during the fire. Each crew member must be able to pass a pack test. This test consist of a three mile hike with forty-five pounds that must be completed in forty-five minutes. Most typical crews consist of one Superintendent (GS-9), two Assistant Superintendents (GS-8), two Squad or Module Leaders (GS-6), and 15 Skilled Firefighters (GS-5) and Crew Members (GS-4) (Interagency Hotshot Crews). Every crew member has to be available twenty-four hours a day and seven days a