Barir's World
Humanity To Others;Knowledge Is Not Ours To Keep Alone;Your Mind Is Your Most Precious Resource
This Is My Job - Hotshot Fire Crew Member
When wildfires burned through 6000 acres of pinion-juniper forest in Winter Valley, Colo., a few years back, most residents fled the lung-choking scene. John Markalunas headed into it. As assistant superintendent of a Hotshot crew, he took responsibility for the lives of an elite unit called in to hold the line against the country's most dangerous blazes--fires such as the swift-moving inferno that killed 14 Hotshots at Colorado's Storm King Mountain in 1996. Markalunas recently moved on to a job setting fires for controlled burns, but still feels the pull of high-adrenaline days spent grappling with hazards from falling trees to helicopter drops. "Dealing with one after another is pretty much a giant game of whack-a-mole," he says. "It's intense."Interviewed by Jennifer Bogo, Photograph by Kari Greer Published in the May 2005 issue.
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1--SURVIVAL PACK
A 35-pound backpack holds Hotshot staples: a fire shelter, flagging,
extra water, chain saw oil and gas, rain gear, warm clothes, a
first-aid kit, Meals Ready to Eat--and a hearty lunch. Hotshots burn
about 4000 calories a day.
2--ALL-PURPOSE TOOL
Markalunas's Leatherman has done everything from opening meal bags and
cutting barbwire to fixing portable pumps. Two years ago he wedged it
into a sprinkler head that had turned on in the night, spraying a
sleeping crew.
3--PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
Yellow is the trademark color of Hotshots thanks to flame-resistant
Nomex shirts. When working right up against a blaze, the air
temperature can range from a scorching 400° to 1500°F.
4--SHOULDER LOAD
The Pulaski, a combination hoe/ax, can cut line and chop down trees.
Here, it supports a 40-pound "qb"--a box that holds 5 gal. of water and
is typically dropped in by helicopter. Hotshots drink 2 to 3 gal. a day.
5--CHEST HARNESS
Strapped on for quick access are tools needed to navigate--a compass,
GPS unit and maps--and to communicate with ground and air support. Crew
leaders may follow five conversations on their two-way radios.
WORKPLACE SAFETY
"You can get calloused to the fact that you're not just going on a hike
in the woods with your lunch in your pack. It sounds like a good
weekend--except that the woods are on fire. You have to be aware of
danger all the time."