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Today, I welcome Dr. Luke Montrose, assistant professor of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences at Colorado State University. His work focuses on the health effects of wildfire smoke, and he studies how human behaviors and environment affect the way our bodies read DNA.

We discuss his ongoing study, which focuses directly on wildland firefighters and their reproductive health when exposed to prolonged durations of wildfire smoke.

Montrose’s lab investigates wildfire smoke effects “from cell to society” and translates findings to assist vulnerable populations in identifying mitigation strategies that limit exposure impacts. Further, the lab looks beyond the lung to understand how other sensitive organs – like the brain and reproductive system – are affected.

Montrose earned his B.S. in biology at Heidelberg University and his Ph.D. in environmental toxicology at the University of Montana. He completed his postdoctoral studies at the University of Michigan and began his career as faculty at Boise State University.

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I am honored to welcome Chief Brian Fennessy, who has a long and distinguished wildfire career that has led him to become President of the California Fire Chiefs Association (CalChiefs) and Chief of the Orange County Fire Authority.

We had a very candid conversation about the ongoing issues with the Forest Service’s aviation supervisor policy that made the news last week. Chief Fennessey lays out what he is seeing on the ground and asks the important question of why now.

We discussed how the workforce shortage, wage issues, and policy issues affect everyone in the field and the communities surrounding our forests. I also asked him about the arson fires in California, the Park Fire this year being the fourth largest in California’s history, and why we are seeing an increase in this criminal behavior.

Chief Fennessy began his career in 1978 with the US Department of Agriculture's Forest Service and the US Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management as a Hotshot crewmember, Helitack Captain, and ultimately crew superintendent.

This was an incredible conversation, and I thank Chief Fennessey for taking the time to come on the show.

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• The Wall Street Journal published an article claiming that Bridger Aerospace is being attacked by predatory short sellers and political opponents.

• I cover that story and reached out to the parties involved, Montana Senator Jon Tester and Bridger Aerospace Founder and Senate candidate Tim Sheehy, to get their comments on the matter.

• A hiker in Oregon lit multiple fires after getting lost in the forest. These turned into wildfires, and the hiker has since been charged.

• 2 California members of Congress have joined the growing list of elected officials writing the Chief of the Forest Service. They are asking for answers about recently interpreted policy that has affected wildfire efforts in California.

• There have been multiple tree strikes this month on wildfires and again during the hurricane relief efforts. There have also been other injury reports.

• Full operational update.

• Plus more.

THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP — Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. Your support allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all of our content. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, and also entered into our giveaways, plus more.

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I welcome the founders of FiredUp Partners, a wildfire advocacy group working to advance real solutions for wildland firefighters nationwide. They have recently returned from Washington, D.C., where they worked on the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act, better housing, benefits, and more. We discuss the realities of working with Congress and the Agencies right now and what the future looks like.

It’s a straightforward, candid conversation about what firefighters and their families can expect from the WFFPPA and the many hurdles to getting to where we are today. We also talk about fire families' struggles while their partners are away for the season and the very real struggles when they return home.

We get into so much, and it was great to have Janelle and Lacey on the show. They are both married to wildland firefighters and know the ups and downs of what that entails. That’s precisely why they have taken the steps to create FiredUp Partners to advocate for all the wildfire families out there.

THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP — Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. Your support allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all of our content. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, and also entered into our giveaways, plus more.

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• Extreme fire behavior continues across the United States.

• Firefighters stranded after a bridge burned over. Multiple fires had firefighters moving into safety zones due to fire behavior.

• Fires in Idaho burned 12+ miles in just hours; Wyoming fires merge, burn through subdivisions, and injure civilians.

• All while resources are limited and have begun shutting down for the season.

• Update on Orange County firefighters injured in the Airport Fire, and an injury update on Idaho firefighter struck by a tree.

• California Fire Chiefs take the Forest Service to task over aviation resources and nighttime supervisory platforms.

• They wrote to Congress and asked them to investigate. They blame tensions that remain from the Caldor Fire between the Forest Service and night-capable aviation.

• Full operational update.

• Plus more.

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Today, I welcome Jessie Thomas of Sustainable Wellness. Jesse has a wealth of knowledge and experience as a former Lolo and Flathead Hotshot turned Missoula Smokejumper of 8 years. We discuss reviving your gut health after fire season, maintaining your physical and mental health to allow for a long and successful fire career, raising kids in a fire family, and a whole lot more.

Jessie, founder of Missoula, Montana’s Sustainable Wellness, has always loved the feeling of reaching a mountain summit with her own two feet. As a former smokejumper, present day skier, and mountain-adventure-seeker, Jessie knows the health of the human body over a lifespan is determined by what we eat and how we live.

A fantastic conversation.

THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP — Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. Your support allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all of our content. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, and also entered into our giveaways, plus more.

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• While traveling after a shift on The Airport Fire, a crew buggy rolled over on a California Freeway.

• They swerved to avoid a ladder that was in the middle of their lane—8 total injuries, with six firefighters in critical condition.

• I cover the Forest Service’s all employee call this week.

• They discussed the cuts to the seasonal workforce, training budgets, and what they expect Congress to do.

• They expect significant budget cuts and are doing what they can to continue to pay current employees while making hiring cuts to non-fire employees.

• Canada lowers the age of retirement for wildland firefighters in British Columbia.

• It's a huge step forward.

• Plus more.

THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP — Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. Your support allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all of our content. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, and also entered into our giveaways, plus more.

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• Investigation into the nearly 10,000-acre Alexander Fire leads to arrest in Colorado.

• The suspect was allegedly impersonating a firefighter and law enforcement. He was pulling people over, pulling weapons, and driving around in a fake fire department truck.

• The suspect personally contacted me on social media after the fire started—an insane story.

• Firefighter found unresponsive in Oregon after found sleeping in an unventilated tent with a “heating device.”

• You fireline etiquette responses. You all have the same complaints, and I cover them.

• Plus more.

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• A state of emergency has been declared due to the Line Fire in San Bernardino County.

• The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, with a few clues available.

• Unreal story of multiple Hotshot Crews declining an assignment due to safety concerns, then demobed.

• Other crews were brought in after the fact to complete the same declined assignment. They also refused and were asked to leave the Team Fire.

• “This is the plan! If you don’t like it, you can go home”

• Full operational update.

• Plus more.

THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP — Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. Your support allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all of our content. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, and also entered into our giveaways, plus more.

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• Full Operational Update

• I go through the entire report released on the Little Twist Fire tree strike in Utah that left a Bonneville Hotshot pinned under a tree and severely injured.

• We get his perspective on the incident and how he stayed calm to calm his crew down.

• Two states, Massachusetts and Connecticut, have banned PFAS forever chemicals in firefighter Nomex. California had a similar bill this week but failed after the chemical and firefighter gear lobby got it thrown out.

• A $5 Billion industry.

• 5 wildland firefighters are feared dead after a helicopter crashed into a river in Portugal.

• Mass Arson arrests in Brazil after many wildfires ravaged the country.

• Fire weather moves back in as Snaptember starts.

• Plus more.

THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP — Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. Your support allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all of our content. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, and also entered into our giveaways, plus more.

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• Chief Moore has strong words for the Feds regarding the increased cost of living and falling behind on inflation costs. Updates the rent rebates.

• He says there is hypocrisy in the system as BLM firefighters are getting cost of living increases, but FS employees living in the same building are not.

• Forest Service has a massive hole in their budget… nearing 3\4 of a billion dollars.

• Cal Fire arrests another arsonist after starting the Thompson Fire, which burned up 13 homes and evacuated thousands.

• The DOJ sued An excavator company in California because their machines hit a rock, and sparks started a fire. This will set a very consequential precedent.

• Full operational update: it’s snowing in California!

• Plus more.

THE HOTSHOT WAKE UP — Thank you to all of our paid subscribers. Your support allows us to donate generously to firefighter charities and supports all of our content. You also receive all of our article archives, more podcast episodes, Monday morning workouts, and also entered into our giveaways, plus more.