Time to make a move on Susanville, Director. Muaha. 
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Because the young generation that is in the age range for entry level positions is pursuing careers as “entrepreneurs” and “influencers” so there is a lack of people willing to jump into the career fields considered “labor.”
While work weeks continue to get reduced on paper, in actuality we still work the same amount of days every week because positions continue to go vacant and now people just call out sick when they don’t feel like showing up to work and there are no repercussions. Performance rivals don’t mean anything, write ups do t carry merit, and those that do the job well are just rewarded with their partners piece of the labor pie.
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It’s outrageous that National Forests could only be staffed by a hard core of people who can afford it. That, a person, all on their own, would be barred from employment because they would need a second job to pay the rent for a single. That being the only reason you don’t have a Type 1 or 2 who doesn’t need the money.
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Not sure of your intent with this post
All agencies that operate copters for wildland fire control have extensive training and qualifications for different aspects of crew insertion. Most are also hoist and/or short haul qualified.
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Of course they are. Helicopters are a huge investment. So is the training and experience to operate them. If only there was so much drive to fill the crew positions to use them. Instead of waiting around month after month and year after year for ‘destiny’ and ‘fate’ to do it.
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Climbed that a lot when I worked at Camp SLO., it’s been 20 years ago. We made sure to contact the SO to ensure their range was cold. Beautiful views up there.
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Would hike the boys there and Bishop when covering Cuesta…
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This article is actually from July 9th, 2024, not September 7th.
They’re part of Cal Guard’s Joint Task Force Rattlesnake, a team made up of more than 300 guard members working on wildfire prevention and mitigation. They also act as hand crews during fires.
I’ve known for a while that TF Rattlesnake and Blaze were somewhere between 300-500 and Blaze were equipped by OES with Type 6 engines. I’m not sure if Rattlesnake is all Type 1 crews, or what.
I’m not saying we are there yet, or that it is immanent, but I’ve been speculating in the blind about just what would happen if there was a general emergency activation of the Guard, and what they bring.
Of course, there are the obvious things. Medics, heavy lift, traffic control, transport, logistics NOS, etc. The engineers bring a lot of HEQ.
In a Raw Number Go-Go, of course, you jump off a stake side, get handed a fire-resistant blouse, if available, and a tool and do the next indicated thing.
Beyond that, I suppose 300 Rattlesnakes is, like, 12-15 Type 1 Hand Crew? When you read resource orders coming down today, that doesn’t sound like a lot. So, in a dire emergency, what would it take to crash-train a rifle platoon into a Type 2 Hand Crew? 40 hours? 80?
Inaccurate statements… “stake sides and fire-resistant blouse”. There are currently 1 if not 2 battalions receiving complete and thorough basic wildland training to be deployed on 30-day assignment led by CF folks at the type-2 crew level. I believe it is called a Strike Force Package for each battalion element.
Rattlesnake Crews are all qualified (if successful) to the CF type 1 rating through spring preparedness exercises.
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Cool. I had no idea something like that was already in motion. Don’t forget, you’ve got The Film to show people who don’t like it.
And to add
Guard activation is and has been a regular thing for many years. Led by a Calfire liaison and competent experienced crew fire captains. Also they can be assigned 2 calfire ff sawyers.
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