Forest on Fire: A Day in the Life of a Wildland Firefighter

Stories revealing how forest fires are put out typically highlight the elite fire fighting forces like the Hotshots and Smokejumpers. These men and women are highly trained, incredibly fit and truly fearless heroes who deserve the spotlight that they receive. This is not their story. The vast majority of wildland fires are eventually suppressed by hundreds of regular fire crews, made up of well qualified men and women who experience a day to day struggle climbing up and down steep rocky slopes, constantly inhaling dust and smoke, while digging endless trenches in hard rocky ground for 12 to 15 hours a day. They gradually gain control of most fires, working in concert with the elite crews mentioned above, and display an extreme mental toughness that keeps them pushing forward until the job is done. This is perhaps the most thankless job in firefighting, yet thousands of these crew members return every summer. They make some good money in those few months of the typical fire season, establish friendships that last a lifetime and save public and private lands. Here’s what really happens in a day on fire.