Paul Gleason’s Influence Went Way Beyond Wildland Fire

Legendary Rock Climber John Long Credits Paul Gleason for His Initial Teaching and Inspiration Legendary American rock climber John Long is a founding member of the elite group known as the "Stonemasters". This group’s famed climbing exploits—from the French Alps to the North Pole—combined with Long’s popular writings, propelled the Stonemaster ethos into becoming a central …

Paul Gleason — Up Close and Personal

[This article originally appeared in The Mountain Times, a monthly newspaper that serves Oregon’s Mount Hood area where the Zigzag Ranger District is located. Paul Gleason lived there for 14 years. Paul Keller wrote this piece a few months after Gleason’s death in 2003. Keller served as a member of Gleason’s Zigzag Hotshot Crew from …

Underslung Heroes

By Travis Dotson Remember the Cerro Grande Fire in May of 2000? 230+ Homes Destroyed 18000 People Evacuated Nuclear Facility Threatened Damage Cost - One BILLION Dollars Nothing too outrageous by today’s standards I suppose. But consider this: It was an escaped prescribed fire. That's a huge deal. So, who were these clowns playing with …

Saddle Up

By Travis Dotson Alright folks, listen up. We have a tough piece of line to put in. I'm not going to lie to you, it's gonna suck. It's certainly dangerous, but that's nothing new. This chunk of ground is gnarly. Ground just like this has killed more than a few good firefighters. Looking at the …

“Just Let Me Finish”

By Travis Dotson This is about a firefighter physical training fatality. Let me tell you why this scares the crap out of me. This PT description sounds very familiar.  We get up and go for a group run fairly regularly. You might point out that this instance is different because it's a structural department. That …

Unconscious With Agonal Respirations

This is an excerpt from the 2018 "Chainsaw Training Limbing Accident Green Sheet". The instructor was diagnosed and treated at the trauma center for a concussion, head laceration, pneumothorax, broken ribs, and a C-5 vertebrae fracture. C-Faller field training on April 24, 2018 started at 0830 hours at CAL FIRE Bear Creek Fire Station in …

Engrained into My Thoughts and Actions

Redding IHC Crewmember – 2016 The South Canyon Staff Ride was without a doubt one of the most influential experiences of my wildland fire career. It is one thing to sit in a classroom and learn about a tragedy fire from PowerPoints and write-ups. However, talking to the individuals involved, putting yourself in their shoes, …

Finest Learning Experience of My Life

Redding IHC Crewmember – 2016 There are a number of aspects I consider key in becoming a proficient, knowledgeable, and accomplished wildland firefighter. Some help with professionalism or presentation, others focus on safety or cohesion. The list is as long as it is diverse. Some of the more beneficial skills are those that directly relate …

Should Be Mandatory

Redding IHC Crewmember - 2015 The South Canyon Staff Ride, as well as any other staff ride, is a tool every firefighter can benefit from. I feel it’s a valuable experience that should be mandatory. What you get out of a staff ride is so much more than what you get from any book, case …

The Beating Heart Within Us

Redding IHC Crewmember – 2016 Being a Redding Hotshot is an incredible training opportunity. That is the priority reason that I endeavored to become one. I am now into July of the 2016 fire season. I have performed training now as a firing boss (t) and as a crew boss (t). I have received a …