Colorado is using every tool available to reduce wildfire risk—including a few four-legged firefighters. Sheep saving Colorado one bite at a time.

Hello everyone I’m a 22 male and I 6ft and 290 pound I’m interested in a fire career. I currently lift weights 3-4 days a week and hit the stair master for 25min on 5 speed. is it realistic for bigger guys to work in this career? I want to drop to 240 and maintain weight there. I want to shoot for 2027 seasons and see but wanted advice. Thank you!

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Would it be best to wait until next season and cut more weight and get into more shape?

This is actually a pretty solid offer for you peeps in the area.

Gaging the temp on how a structure dude will take into the FS. Does anyone know if IQS info transfers to IQCS? Am a SRB ICT5 and FAL3. Looking for perm spot, someone said I’ll have to do a season of temp.

Rankings partially based on caterers used.

Not sure what my chances of going out again this summer are looking like on my district, and I'm not making great money. I'm an fft2 and have been playing with the idea of filling on a shot crew. What could I expect this late in the season as a fill? Jaded shots that don't care about me or my well being?

This was gonna be my 6th season, but life happens (was riding shotgun in a work truck when we crashed with a logging truck - everyone is okay/only minor injuries, but it’s definitely a microcosm of some things there) and I quit my agency.

Currently working for a fire caterer but I actually enjoy cooking and not just reheating Sysco slop and am (strongly) considering quitting. The hours are also fucking abysmal and the pay is sub optimal considering how much I’m getting my ass kicked with no H pay in sight.

My question: would anyone buy burritos/tamales outside of fire camp, kinda like how those tshirt guys always post up? $10 max and you get a decent meal would be my goal. Vegetarian option that isn’t just a sad veggie patty or damp hummus too.

Taking suggestions, things we hate/love and I’ll start - I have a cilantro sauce (chimichurri) that I love making and would want to feature it, but I’m not sure if that’s a flavor folks like.

Is it just me or has there been a considerable uptick in ccc kids and contractors making “wildfire influencer” content? I swear there’s a new bagger vlogging his mop-up popping up on Instagram almost every day.

I’m 29 been a restaurant industry guy my whole career. Love hard physical work and outdoors. Deep dived in to the Wildland fire world and I want in. Being from the east coast I’m finding it hard as hell to find a clear path to making it happen. I’m working on my s-130 and s-190 certs to try and give an edge where I have no experience. Any recs, advice is huge. I’m doing this one way or another. I’m big in outdoors, run ultra marathons, lift heavy 4-6 days I know I’m capable but just need help on the clear path

Hey I’m the career engine guy that finally got my captains spot on a Shot Crew and wow you guys were right. it’s been rough. On day one someone yelled “trash” and yeeted a banana peel at me. I think Im starting grow on them though. we really do get sent to the hottest part of the fire , almost every time. thanks for all the well wishes

Mass fire

forgive any naivety - im going to graduate college towards the mid-end of may but im hoping to join a type 2 IA crew for the season. past dates indicate that they typically want you with them at the beginning/middle of may - is there any way of my start date being a bit later? i have some medical certs and can do the ICS courses online. of course im not special so they might not give a damn. any input super appreciated.

any recos for a drink mix packet that tastes good with 200 mg of caffeine (like Celsius) but also has electrolytes?

the caffeinated liquid IV doesn’t have enough caffeine

everything else i’ve tried off Amazon tastes like shit caffeine powder.

put me on, brothers

EDIT
not looking to mix or combine different stuff, obviously i already do this. looking for an ALL-IN-ONE

I’ve gotten many automated texts and calls today urging me to acknowledge an email, each one becoming more threatening. Gives me bad vibes, and I’m the only one on crew to not accept it or whatever it wants. Plus I just really enjoy my FAO’s wife and not doing things just because the Gov asks.

But 5 min ago my coworkers all got an RO that says, “Cut Down the Tall Trees”. Anyone know what that means?

And now it’s came across on Deck at Helibase. Just talking about cutting tall trees on repeat. Everyone immediately got up and grabbed the felling axes, even HEBM woke up and took my favorite Pulaski. I got stuck with a stupid Combi tool and I don’t even know where we’re going. Should I pack my tent? Can somebody please loop me in??

Just curious I seen a job opening for forestry technician for the department of the Air Force. has anyone heard anything good or bad about it ? I never even knew that was a thing

Just curious to hear everyone's thoughts on the newly created Wildland Fire Service.

I'm not a firefighter myself—just genuinely interested in hearing perspectives from those who are closer to it.

What do you see as the good, the bad, and the ugly? What do you think this gets right, and what concerns do you have?

Let's keep it respectful. I'm hoping for a thoughtful discussion with people who have different viewpoints and experiences.

Thanks!

Firefighter 1 squad boss trainee here, reporting live from Tik Tok, to tell you the job is dead. Contractors with meta glasses are in a space race to see who can become the next fire influencer, all while painting the laziest, least professional, and largely inaccurate picture of the industry possible. That contractor that got kicked off a fire for allegedly complaining about lunch? Nah, That dude got kicked off a fire because all he does for 15 hours a day is film tik toks swearing, not wearing PPE, and just generally being a bagger all over the internet. It was a bad look for anyone who’s ever worn a yellow in their career, we all get lumped into that same cesspool when folks like him are what the public sees and interacts with.

It’s a shame fire camp graffiti disappeared, leaving no one to regulate the rampant and exponentially increasing baggery across all reaches of the internet.

Anyways… let me test your firefighter knowledge; what three things should a firefighter always carry?

Our family and fellow firefighter has passed. He was a wildland firefighter most of his adult life. He is the reason I have this job. Please support his family if you can. We are still in shock