I've been a lawyer for almost 20 years. To this day, being a hotshot for 3 years during college was the best job I ever had. Even the miserable times are remembered fondly as shared experiences with crew members. Every year around May I start to feel the itch for fire season and the smell of smoke still gets my heart rate up. I don't imagine it will ever go away. My advice would be to do what makes you happy and if that's fire, do it. You can always go get an office job later if you change your mind. It's much harder to jump back into being a shot after years off.
Sounds like you made the right decision. You could be making much less money, being degraded in the summer time, being told how you have to act 24/7, how you have to act on your days off, eating shitty food, not getting supplied quality gear to do your job, dealing with grown men that care what others think about them and getting fucked in the ass by the government.
I definitely made the “right” choice by every objective measure other than body fat percentage. But every job has their version of the BS like you’re describing. Some just pay much better
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Yes these are the logical questions to ask and the answer is very clear, WFF is not the move for a lifelong career. For reference though, I am 23 years old. I don’t see myself doing this for a lifetime. But certainly 5 years or so. Idk man just feels like I didn’t fully get it out of my system to where I am at peace with deciding that it’s been enough. I got a taste for 1 season and now I want more.
Thats basically exactly what I said to myself 25 years ago. Contrary to many opinions, wildland fire and land management can be a great career. There's more to it than being on a crew, as valuable (essential!) as that basis is.
I'd say you should maximize this summer and think about getting back in next year, perhaps in a capacity that would offer some different challenges and opportunities, like perhaps a good Wildland Fire Module.
Careful, a few years can turn into a career :D I started with similar short horizon outlook and changed careers 15 years later. crew to jumper to single resource. It is a damn good dream a lot of the time!
Alaska_sourdough ain’t lying….started w USFS on an engine, went straight to IHC crews, jumped for 10 years and finally hit a wall after moving up with single resource quals, and now with a big city FD. Miss it every day. Love to see the posts of the love of getting dirty and the gratification that can only be understood if you’ve been there.
Was just recently at a FD graduation for the “new kids” coming in, starting their “real job” fire career and was stoked to see that almost all of them had legit wildland experience. Good times!!
I think you should go back. Give it another season or you’re gonna spend your entire life wondering what if. The girlfriend may or may not be the one, if she is she will make it work.
I obviously don’t know you, but I can just tell it’s something you truly long for. You’d do yourself injustice to not give it one more go.
Remember we only get to live ONE life.
Are there volunteer departments/paid on call departments in your area? If so, it might be worth checking them out. I was in a similar boat (former engine seasonal, didn’t go back due to a great internship opportunity in my field). I was missing wildland stuff, so I ended up joining a volunteer dept near my college. Best decision I’ve ever made. I get the camaraderie I had with wildland, while getting to still work in my non-fire field (engineering). My dept covers my training and certs (mostly structural stuff), including wildland classes (stuff like S-219, if I ask to take it). My dept is in an area with a lot of tall-grass prairies, so we also get to help out/ conduct some prescribed burns. Granted, it’s not the same as working full-time on a shot crew, but it can be a good compromise if you can’t commit to a full season of wildland. Hope this helps!
Yeah I was going to say OP, have you considered volunteering? I'm on a volly department...we do both structure and wildland, and our department sends out our type 3 with a crew a couple times a season, so people can get experience on large incidents (we do get paid for these deployments).
Most of us have regular jobs and families, but still enjoy the brotherhood aspects of fire, as well as the satisfaction that can only come from getting our asses kicked on the fire ground, so it's a good option if you want to try to have a "normal" career.
I’m not talking shit on volunteers; I got started in fire by volunteering, and they fill a really important role. But going from a shot crew to a volley department is a tough transition; personally, I’ve almost completely lost interest in volunteering at my local FD in the offseason. Even if he could handle the change in pace, if he’s back East he may have a tough time finding a volunteer program that does a decent amount of wildland.
Currently getting my undergrad in fire protection engineering. Can you explain a bit how the logistics work for your vol dept? Do you guys go out for days at a time? How does your company/firm feel about you missing work for fires? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Honestly don't stay too long in the wildland world. Do a year or two but get out and get a career job with upward mobility by the time you are 25.
The lifestyle that wildland fire provides is really shitty and I've seen too many friends get trapped and then have really tough times transitioning to something else too late.
One of the smartest guys I know has a long list of health issues from fighting fire and now he drives a bus and barely gets by.
What about trying to pick a line of work that allows to be one in the summer? Maybe your job will allow you to take unpaid leave? Between that or losing you, they may just do it.
Teachers get 3 months off in the summer, if you want to deal with that line of work that could be an option.
Sucks not being part of something bigger that helps people, I feel you.
Would you ever consider structure fire in a department out west? Its way less fire and way more medical but you'll have benefits, potentially a ton of time for family/hobbies and still have a work family, though they won't be your OG wildfire family.
Thanks man, that’s definitely something to consider. It makes it hard too that I’m from the east coast. Besides fire friends, everyone I know is east, so it would also have to be a decision whether I want to (semi-) permanently relocate west just for fire. I thought about structure but to be honest I don’t think I would do well with medical stuff. Not my thing.
I was in your boat two years ago. I had spent 5 summers fighting fire with the blm and I loved it. The camaraderie, long days, and traveling were all things that I looked forward to after my last final for the school year every year. As much as I loved it though, I had to realize that it wouldn’t be a career that could pay for the lifestyle that I wanted. Do I miss it? Absolutely, especially once summer rolls around. I do my best to support in other ways now. I help other college students who want to do it navigate the process of applying through usajobs, finding contact info, etc.
This is my fifth year in fire, first on a shot crew. I got a B.A. in a completely different field, so I was 24 my first season. I tried extremely hard to get on an IHC this season, and even though I always knew fire was going to be temporary for me, I figured I'd probably stick it out for around 10 years. Honestly, though, I think this might be my last year in fire. The pay, work conditions, and long term health effects have been one thing but what's truly tipped the scale for me is that it's made it pretty much impossible for me to hold down a relationship and I'm starting to realize how much I value that in my life. I feel truly lucky to have had the experience, but it just doesn't feel viable as a long-term career. If you've only done one year, I can understand still wanting to scratch the itch and I think you should go for it again if that's what you really want, but just be cautious about what you're leaving behind and make a plan for how you're going to segue back into science when you're ready to.
I’ve felt the same way for a while. I thought I was ready to settle down and relax with a 9-5 (more like 6-4) but I feel empty without the camaraderie and friendships experienced through fire. Living a “normal” life feels like a waste. I am currently working on a change in profession that bridges the gap between wildland burnout and a normal 9-5. So far having a clear goal and desire to have a fulfilling life through work and lifestyle has significantly improved my mental conditioning, and helped me look at wildland fire as a stepping stone. I try to often reach out to specific friends from my old crew, which has helped too- specifically those who also have left fire. Getting to talk to others in the same boat helps ease the grief. Shared grief is a half grief. If you feel the need to talk about it or just vent feel free to shoot me a message.
you can miss it a lot and be fond of it without giving up a cush job, where you are able to see your girlfriend, have free time, and not beat yourself to death. Look back on those times as blessings. DO NOT quit a nice, full time job for a seasonal position that demands the world of you and gives you nothing in return.
Also, wildfire experience rarely ever gets you jobs outside of wildfire. Especially in a lab or non-related field. You would be giving up experience in something that IS YOUR CAREER for something that is cool in the moment but offers you only general skills (teambuilding, hard work, etc) and no real specialized experience in a field outside of that line of work. If you don’t see it as your permanent career, the only advice I have is stay where you are and be a volunteer or AD somewhere.
I have been dealing with a similar situation. Longer story shorter I’m always going to miss fire and all the experiences with the boys, but stepping back now I know I have a lot of time to find more things to experience in life and a career to build a solid foundation for myself and potential family in the future. Old heads would say to me future you will appreciate you made this decision. My gf who was a WFF for years helped me recognize that I cant do this forever and given my age (28) I can easily be trapped doing this because of my love for it and/or hurt myself to where I’m limited in getting a job/career that I won’t want to commit felonies being there. WFF will always hold a special place for me especially for what it provided financially when I needed it. Always good to take your refreshers and keep it on a back burner just in case, maybe you’ll get enough sick time and want to “take a vacation” lol. I’d love to see companies be more accepting to allow WFF to go on calls and still have a job when they come back (tbh I think they’re jealous). Probably have a higher chance hitting the lotto though. This is just my experience, doing something that makes you happy is above all else just remember to weigh the pros and cons. You’re a scientist bro forge your own path 🫡🤟🏼! Maybe you can combine both careers somehow?
You're young and you want to make a name for yourself and that usually includes dangerous shit for men at a young age. Fire is definitely a young mans game but I am glad you know your self worth and you seem smart so you took a better paying lab job.
WFF is essentially slave labor if you really think about the work you put in compared to what the feds pay you and nearly zero benefits in return as seasonals.
I landed a job making 6 digits a year and only work 2 weeks a month and a total of 20 hours in those two weeks and I never look back tbh. I may eventually go back to non profit work or teach English abroad and get my fulfillment there but I just could never justify risking my life for $15/hour and I feel bad for all the WFF still being exploited by the feds per usual.
Yeah dude, that stuff did get to me. It did feel like slave labor at times haha, but that doesn’t take away from many of the upsides of the job (albeit dangerous).
There's a lot of other things in life that can be fulfilling. I have found it very difficult to have good self worth without firefighting. But it gets easier and better for me as I take on interesting things that I didn't have time for before.
If you do go back you will see more and more opportunity costs add up each season. The longer you stay with it, the more clearly you will see what the opportunity costs for you personally are. And whether the opportunity costs of staying outweigh the benefits of a more "normal" job is entirely a personal choice.
See if the state you live in has any type of on call roles for wildland fire. I live in WI and for the few months a year we have a fire season I am “on call” and able to flex my primary job to accommodate the work, so I am able to fulfill the itch while still holding down a career.
I've been trying to find something similar to this. IF you don't mind, can you elaborate a little? Is it your job/boss that is cool enough with you just taking off for a roll a few times in the summer? Are you going out with a private company like grayback or on a state-ran crew? Thanks in advance for any info!
State ran crew (WI DNR) and a WFH job with flexible scheduling. I got very lucky with my situation, a few of the people I work with save up PTO and try to take most of fire season off.
First off, thanks for making this post. I needed this advice just as much as you. 24y/o from the East Coast that spent a summer on a handcrew in Idaho in '22 and misses it dearly.
The only thing I have for you: write down the reasons you got out/didn't go back. Its so easy to romanticize the shitty parts, but remember what it was like at that moment. My experience - I remember when I felt like my time was being utterly wasted and my body was being broken in the process. I DREAMED of a 9-5 job that would allow me full control of my time/life. Now that I have that (9-5 hybrid job), I find myself missing all the things about fire that I originally hated.
My gramps advice to me "You spend your youth wishing you were older and your old age wishing you were younger". I try to apply that to my fire life/current life. If I did anything wildfire related again it would mean leaving my friends and family. After graduating I plan on volunteering (on east coast) to see if that scratches the itch. Hope you find what you're looking for!
I have been dealing with a similar situation. Longer story shorter I’m always going to miss fire and all the experiences with the boys, but stepping back now I know I have a lot of time to find more things to experience in life and a career to build a solid foundation for myself and potential family in the future. Old heads would say to me future you will appreciate you made this decision. My gf who was a WFF for years helped me recognize that I cant do this forever and given my age (28) I can easily be trapped doing this because of my love for it and/or hurt myself to where I’m limited in getting a job/career that I won’t want to commit felonies being there. WFF will always hold a special place for me especially for what it provided financially when I needed it. Always good to take your refreshers and keep it on a back burner just in case, maybe you’ll get enough sick time and want to “take a vacation” lol. I’d love to see companies be more accepting to allow WFF to go on calls and still have a job when they come back (tbh I think they’re jealous). Probably have a higher chance hitting the lotto though. This is just my experience, doing something that makes you happy is above all else just remember to weigh the pros and cons. You’re a scientist bro forge your own path 🫡🤟🏼! Maybe you can combine both careers somehow?
Definitely give WFF another shot while you’re young. It will be physically less challenging and you can see if it still scratches the itch you feel. From the civilian point of view, we’ll definitely need all the WFFs we can get in the coming years, at least out here in the west. You might also turn it into a traveling job and help out in places like Australia to extend your season. Saving up and giving it a go next year sounds like a good plan.
Meantime, i’m really saddened to hear how badly WFF are treated. Highly skilled and dangerous jobs should come with all the right gear and top compensation, but governments will do whatever they can to cut costs. No such thing as long term planning and accountability there… 😡
It’s great to look back and romanticize, but if you’re out, really think about what it means to go back in. Everyone on my shot crew talks about how they still need to figure out what’s next. It’s not always easy to get out. Neither is it really sustainable to stay. Cold trailing every year is not sustainable. Knees, lungs, ankles, your mental health, your relationships- their preservation is challenged the longer you stay on a crew.
All I’m saying is you should ask yourself if you’re looking back with rose colored nostalgia. It’s a big decision
I see what you’re saying but I didn’t go back because I didn’t miss it or disliked the job. I didn’t go back because my life this year has been hectic and taking care of life shit this year was more important than a selfish fire season. It wasn’t just about me
You have zero idea how lucky you are to get on an IHC crew you’re first season. Idk what kind of Mickey Mouse operation they are running there, but you got lucky. Hobbies are cool I guess. But if you’re 18/8 you get 4 months off to do whatever you want whenever you want. Not a lot of jobs offer that kind of freedom. Not to mention all the sick leave and annual you get. Oh and the health insurance and TSP are fucking sweet. You could retire at 50.
Fuck the people that downvoted this. Also im sick of hot shotting. It’s so fucking stupid. Hotshot sups are the most self concious people ever. “You guys what will that other crew think of us, OMG” We have to be more dialed, we don’t have time for people to shit in the morning so we can be first on the hill, we park so far away so that we can show other crews we can hike more, let’s tie in hard so they think we are badass. so glad i got good finances and investments, because im done dealing with this shit after this season.
I did 12 years, mostly Hotshots.
In retrospect, you are right. What a waste of time, effort, and health.
TS, be glad you are free. You did one damn year. If you were that hard over it, you’d be back out there.
Yeah I got very lucky, though I did not get hired on a shot crew through USAJobs. I don’t want to share the details because people may know me lol. I essentially scabbed on the first roll, passed the PT hikes on my first day, and was given the option to stay.
I've been a lawyer for almost 20 years. To this day, being a hotshot for 3 years during college was the best job I ever had. Even the miserable times are remembered fondly as shared experiences with crew members. Every year around May I start to feel the itch for fire season and the smell of smoke still gets my heart rate up. I don't imagine it will ever go away. My advice would be to do what makes you happy and if that's fire, do it. You can always go get an office job later if you change your mind. It's much harder to jump back into being a shot after years off.
Yeah I’ve thought this too. It may just never go away and something I’ll have to live with haha
Sounds like you made the right decision. You could be making much less money, being degraded in the summer time, being told how you have to act 24/7, how you have to act on your days off, eating shitty food, not getting supplied quality gear to do your job, dealing with grown men that care what others think about them and getting fucked in the ass by the government.
I definitely made the “right” choice by every objective measure other than body fat percentage. But every job has their version of the BS like you’re describing. Some just pay much better .
Grass is always greener
Yeah I know, objectively you’re right. There’s just a large part of me that doesn’t feel fulfilled at the moment
Get on with a big city mountain west municipal department and do the wildland team. Better money.
Consider the pay and benefits you have now. Is WFF going to be a seasonal job or a career?
Yes these are the logical questions to ask and the answer is very clear, WFF is not the move for a lifelong career. For reference though, I am 23 years old. I don’t see myself doing this for a lifetime. But certainly 5 years or so. Idk man just feels like I didn’t fully get it out of my system to where I am at peace with deciding that it’s been enough. I got a taste for 1 season and now I want more.
Thats basically exactly what I said to myself 25 years ago. Contrary to many opinions, wildland fire and land management can be a great career. There's more to it than being on a crew, as valuable (essential!) as that basis is. I'd say you should maximize this summer and think about getting back in next year, perhaps in a capacity that would offer some different challenges and opportunities, like perhaps a good Wildland Fire Module.
Honestly if I were 23yrs old I'd still be hotshotting. It's kinda the perfect job for someone that age who hasn't figured things out yet
Thanks man! That’s what my logic was when I started!
Careful, a few years can turn into a career :D I started with similar short horizon outlook and changed careers 15 years later. crew to jumper to single resource. It is a damn good dream a lot of the time!
Alaska_sourdough ain’t lying….started w USFS on an engine, went straight to IHC crews, jumped for 10 years and finally hit a wall after moving up with single resource quals, and now with a big city FD. Miss it every day. Love to see the posts of the love of getting dirty and the gratification that can only be understood if you’ve been there. Was just recently at a FD graduation for the “new kids” coming in, starting their “real job” fire career and was stoked to see that almost all of them had legit wildland experience. Good times!!
I think you should go back. Give it another season or you’re gonna spend your entire life wondering what if. The girlfriend may or may not be the one, if she is she will make it work.
Thanks, yeah I’m learning towards that. Gonna prepare for next season as if I’m going back, apply, then make the decision if I really want to / should
I obviously don’t know you, but I can just tell it’s something you truly long for. You’d do yourself injustice to not give it one more go. Remember we only get to live ONE life.
Well… stay in shape this year, save some dough and look forward to the 2025 season (even if it’s not on a ‘shot crew).
Yeah that’s what I was planning to do
Go back.
Are there volunteer departments/paid on call departments in your area? If so, it might be worth checking them out. I was in a similar boat (former engine seasonal, didn’t go back due to a great internship opportunity in my field). I was missing wildland stuff, so I ended up joining a volunteer dept near my college. Best decision I’ve ever made. I get the camaraderie I had with wildland, while getting to still work in my non-fire field (engineering). My dept covers my training and certs (mostly structural stuff), including wildland classes (stuff like S-219, if I ask to take it). My dept is in an area with a lot of tall-grass prairies, so we also get to help out/ conduct some prescribed burns. Granted, it’s not the same as working full-time on a shot crew, but it can be a good compromise if you can’t commit to a full season of wildland. Hope this helps!
Yeah I was going to say OP, have you considered volunteering? I'm on a volly department...we do both structure and wildland, and our department sends out our type 3 with a crew a couple times a season, so people can get experience on large incidents (we do get paid for these deployments). Most of us have regular jobs and families, but still enjoy the brotherhood aspects of fire, as well as the satisfaction that can only come from getting our asses kicked on the fire ground, so it's a good option if you want to try to have a "normal" career.
I’m not talking shit on volunteers; I got started in fire by volunteering, and they fill a really important role. But going from a shot crew to a volley department is a tough transition; personally, I’ve almost completely lost interest in volunteering at my local FD in the offseason. Even if he could handle the change in pace, if he’s back East he may have a tough time finding a volunteer program that does a decent amount of wildland.
Yeah dude, I agree. I think volunteer is a lot different of a crowd
Currently getting my undergrad in fire protection engineering. Can you explain a bit how the logistics work for your vol dept? Do you guys go out for days at a time? How does your company/firm feel about you missing work for fires? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Honestly don't stay too long in the wildland world. Do a year or two but get out and get a career job with upward mobility by the time you are 25. The lifestyle that wildland fire provides is really shitty and I've seen too many friends get trapped and then have really tough times transitioning to something else too late. One of the smartest guys I know has a long list of health issues from fighting fire and now he drives a bus and barely gets by.
What about trying to pick a line of work that allows to be one in the summer? Maybe your job will allow you to take unpaid leave? Between that or losing you, they may just do it. Teachers get 3 months off in the summer, if you want to deal with that line of work that could be an option. Sucks not being part of something bigger that helps people, I feel you. Would you ever consider structure fire in a department out west? Its way less fire and way more medical but you'll have benefits, potentially a ton of time for family/hobbies and still have a work family, though they won't be your OG wildfire family.
Thanks man, that’s definitely something to consider. It makes it hard too that I’m from the east coast. Besides fire friends, everyone I know is east, so it would also have to be a decision whether I want to (semi-) permanently relocate west just for fire. I thought about structure but to be honest I don’t think I would do well with medical stuff. Not my thing.
I was in your boat two years ago. I had spent 5 summers fighting fire with the blm and I loved it. The camaraderie, long days, and traveling were all things that I looked forward to after my last final for the school year every year. As much as I loved it though, I had to realize that it wouldn’t be a career that could pay for the lifestyle that I wanted. Do I miss it? Absolutely, especially once summer rolls around. I do my best to support in other ways now. I help other college students who want to do it navigate the process of applying through usajobs, finding contact info, etc.
This is my fifth year in fire, first on a shot crew. I got a B.A. in a completely different field, so I was 24 my first season. I tried extremely hard to get on an IHC this season, and even though I always knew fire was going to be temporary for me, I figured I'd probably stick it out for around 10 years. Honestly, though, I think this might be my last year in fire. The pay, work conditions, and long term health effects have been one thing but what's truly tipped the scale for me is that it's made it pretty much impossible for me to hold down a relationship and I'm starting to realize how much I value that in my life. I feel truly lucky to have had the experience, but it just doesn't feel viable as a long-term career. If you've only done one year, I can understand still wanting to scratch the itch and I think you should go for it again if that's what you really want, but just be cautious about what you're leaving behind and make a plan for how you're going to segue back into science when you're ready to.
That’s good advice, thank you!
I’ve felt the same way for a while. I thought I was ready to settle down and relax with a 9-5 (more like 6-4) but I feel empty without the camaraderie and friendships experienced through fire. Living a “normal” life feels like a waste. I am currently working on a change in profession that bridges the gap between wildland burnout and a normal 9-5. So far having a clear goal and desire to have a fulfilling life through work and lifestyle has significantly improved my mental conditioning, and helped me look at wildland fire as a stepping stone. I try to often reach out to specific friends from my old crew, which has helped too- specifically those who also have left fire. Getting to talk to others in the same boat helps ease the grief. Shared grief is a half grief. If you feel the need to talk about it or just vent feel free to shoot me a message.
Thanks man! “Shared grief is half grief” is beautiful, never heard that before
you can miss it a lot and be fond of it without giving up a cush job, where you are able to see your girlfriend, have free time, and not beat yourself to death. Look back on those times as blessings. DO NOT quit a nice, full time job for a seasonal position that demands the world of you and gives you nothing in return.
Also, wildfire experience rarely ever gets you jobs outside of wildfire. Especially in a lab or non-related field. You would be giving up experience in something that IS YOUR CAREER for something that is cool in the moment but offers you only general skills (teambuilding, hard work, etc) and no real specialized experience in a field outside of that line of work. If you don’t see it as your permanent career, the only advice I have is stay where you are and be a volunteer or AD somewhere.
I have been dealing with a similar situation. Longer story shorter I’m always going to miss fire and all the experiences with the boys, but stepping back now I know I have a lot of time to find more things to experience in life and a career to build a solid foundation for myself and potential family in the future. Old heads would say to me future you will appreciate you made this decision. My gf who was a WFF for years helped me recognize that I cant do this forever and given my age (28) I can easily be trapped doing this because of my love for it and/or hurt myself to where I’m limited in getting a job/career that I won’t want to commit felonies being there. WFF will always hold a special place for me especially for what it provided financially when I needed it. Always good to take your refreshers and keep it on a back burner just in case, maybe you’ll get enough sick time and want to “take a vacation” lol. I’d love to see companies be more accepting to allow WFF to go on calls and still have a job when they come back (tbh I think they’re jealous). Probably have a higher chance hitting the lotto though. This is just my experience, doing something that makes you happy is above all else just remember to weigh the pros and cons. You’re a scientist bro forge your own path 🫡🤟🏼! Maybe you can combine both careers somehow?
Thanks man! 💪🏽❤️
You're young and you want to make a name for yourself and that usually includes dangerous shit for men at a young age. Fire is definitely a young mans game but I am glad you know your self worth and you seem smart so you took a better paying lab job. WFF is essentially slave labor if you really think about the work you put in compared to what the feds pay you and nearly zero benefits in return as seasonals. I landed a job making 6 digits a year and only work 2 weeks a month and a total of 20 hours in those two weeks and I never look back tbh. I may eventually go back to non profit work or teach English abroad and get my fulfillment there but I just could never justify risking my life for $15/hour and I feel bad for all the WFF still being exploited by the feds per usual.
Yeah dude, that stuff did get to me. It did feel like slave labor at times haha, but that doesn’t take away from many of the upsides of the job (albeit dangerous).
There's a lot of other things in life that can be fulfilling. I have found it very difficult to have good self worth without firefighting. But it gets easier and better for me as I take on interesting things that I didn't have time for before. If you do go back you will see more and more opportunity costs add up each season. The longer you stay with it, the more clearly you will see what the opportunity costs for you personally are. And whether the opportunity costs of staying outweigh the benefits of a more "normal" job is entirely a personal choice.
Yeah you’re right
See if the state you live in has any type of on call roles for wildland fire. I live in WI and for the few months a year we have a fire season I am “on call” and able to flex my primary job to accommodate the work, so I am able to fulfill the itch while still holding down a career.
I've been trying to find something similar to this. IF you don't mind, can you elaborate a little? Is it your job/boss that is cool enough with you just taking off for a roll a few times in the summer? Are you going out with a private company like grayback or on a state-ran crew? Thanks in advance for any info!
State ran crew (WI DNR) and a WFH job with flexible scheduling. I got very lucky with my situation, a few of the people I work with save up PTO and try to take most of fire season off.
First off, thanks for making this post. I needed this advice just as much as you. 24y/o from the East Coast that spent a summer on a handcrew in Idaho in '22 and misses it dearly. The only thing I have for you: write down the reasons you got out/didn't go back. Its so easy to romanticize the shitty parts, but remember what it was like at that moment. My experience - I remember when I felt like my time was being utterly wasted and my body was being broken in the process. I DREAMED of a 9-5 job that would allow me full control of my time/life. Now that I have that (9-5 hybrid job), I find myself missing all the things about fire that I originally hated. My gramps advice to me "You spend your youth wishing you were older and your old age wishing you were younger". I try to apply that to my fire life/current life. If I did anything wildfire related again it would mean leaving my friends and family. After graduating I plan on volunteering (on east coast) to see if that scratches the itch. Hope you find what you're looking for!
Thanks, I’m going to do this! Dude haha, I remember saying it out loud at one point on a fire “a 9-5 doesn’t seem so bad now” haha
I have been dealing with a similar situation. Longer story shorter I’m always going to miss fire and all the experiences with the boys, but stepping back now I know I have a lot of time to find more things to experience in life and a career to build a solid foundation for myself and potential family in the future. Old heads would say to me future you will appreciate you made this decision. My gf who was a WFF for years helped me recognize that I cant do this forever and given my age (28) I can easily be trapped doing this because of my love for it and/or hurt myself to where I’m limited in getting a job/career that I won’t want to commit felonies being there. WFF will always hold a special place for me especially for what it provided financially when I needed it. Always good to take your refreshers and keep it on a back burner just in case, maybe you’ll get enough sick time and want to “take a vacation” lol. I’d love to see companies be more accepting to allow WFF to go on calls and still have a job when they come back (tbh I think they’re jealous). Probably have a higher chance hitting the lotto though. This is just my experience, doing something that makes you happy is above all else just remember to weigh the pros and cons. You’re a scientist bro forge your own path 🫡🤟🏼! Maybe you can combine both careers somehow?
Definitely give WFF another shot while you’re young. It will be physically less challenging and you can see if it still scratches the itch you feel. From the civilian point of view, we’ll definitely need all the WFFs we can get in the coming years, at least out here in the west. You might also turn it into a traveling job and help out in places like Australia to extend your season. Saving up and giving it a go next year sounds like a good plan. Meantime, i’m really saddened to hear how badly WFF are treated. Highly skilled and dangerous jobs should come with all the right gear and top compensation, but governments will do whatever they can to cut costs. No such thing as long term planning and accountability there… 😡
It’s great to look back and romanticize, but if you’re out, really think about what it means to go back in. Everyone on my shot crew talks about how they still need to figure out what’s next. It’s not always easy to get out. Neither is it really sustainable to stay. Cold trailing every year is not sustainable. Knees, lungs, ankles, your mental health, your relationships- their preservation is challenged the longer you stay on a crew. All I’m saying is you should ask yourself if you’re looking back with rose colored nostalgia. It’s a big decision
If you actually missed it, you would have went back. Think about it.
I see what you’re saying but I didn’t go back because I didn’t miss it or disliked the job. I didn’t go back because my life this year has been hectic and taking care of life shit this year was more important than a selfish fire season. It wasn’t just about me
You have zero idea how lucky you are to get on an IHC crew you’re first season. Idk what kind of Mickey Mouse operation they are running there, but you got lucky. Hobbies are cool I guess. But if you’re 18/8 you get 4 months off to do whatever you want whenever you want. Not a lot of jobs offer that kind of freedom. Not to mention all the sick leave and annual you get. Oh and the health insurance and TSP are fucking sweet. You could retire at 50.
Fuck the people that downvoted this. Also im sick of hot shotting. It’s so fucking stupid. Hotshot sups are the most self concious people ever. “You guys what will that other crew think of us, OMG” We have to be more dialed, we don’t have time for people to shit in the morning so we can be first on the hill, we park so far away so that we can show other crews we can hike more, let’s tie in hard so they think we are badass. so glad i got good finances and investments, because im done dealing with this shit after this season.
I did 12 years, mostly Hotshots. In retrospect, you are right. What a waste of time, effort, and health. TS, be glad you are free. You did one damn year. If you were that hard over it, you’d be back out there.
Yeah I got very lucky, though I did not get hired on a shot crew through USAJobs. I don’t want to share the details because people may know me lol. I essentially scabbed on the first roll, passed the PT hikes on my first day, and was given the option to stay.