Interagency Hotshot Crew Programmatic Review

In March 2021, the National Interagency Hotshot Crew Steering Committee requested a programmatic review, highlighting several opportunities around the “need to better contextualize and quantify the interagency hotshot crew program in totality to develop a more modern and relevant model to meet the needs of the agency, and the employees in the program” (Acosta and Betty 2021).

The Interagency Hotshot Crew Programmatic Review (PDF) (22 MB) (released September 2023)

Acosta, J.; Betty, K. 2021. Request for interagency hotshot crew programmatic review. On file with: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington Office, Fire and Aviation Management. 3 p.

IHC Review Implementation Status Update #1 – February 2, 2024

When the National Interagency Hotshot Crew Steering Committee requested a programmatic review of the overall Hotshot program in 2021, a 31-member interagency committee got to work. They surveyed and interviewed hotshots, fire leadership, line officers and others, collecting over 98,000 data points from hundreds of respondents across the country. Their aim was to understand how the environment in which hotshot crews work has changed since the program’s start 80 years ago. 

Eight themes emerged from their insights into the inner workings and challenges of hotshot crews – pay, wellbeing, facilities, hiring process, mission, organizational structure, crew organization and staff, and vehicles. The review team didn’t just submit a list of problems. They also came up with 50 recommendations to solve these challenges.

Now, the Forest Service has convened eight working groups to implement those recommendations. Made up of representatives from Hotshot superintendents and firefighters to agency leadership and fire managers, the Review Implementation Working Groups will first ensure they fully understand the intent behind the recommendations. Some issues have already been solved and others have momentum at the highest levels of government. The working groups will review what’s been done and what remains to be done and determine requirements for implementation. There may be things that can be resolved relatively quickly. For the rest, the working groups plan to develop a Hotshot Crew Work Environment Improvement Action Plan by November 2024.

If you would like to submit questions or comments about the Interagency Hotshot Crew Programmatic Review and/or the updates, there are two Options available.

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Scan the QR Code provided below, enter in all the requested information, and Submit.

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If the QR Code above (Option 1) isn't working on the device you are using, an alternative way to access the form is selecting the IHC Review Implementation Questions / Comments Form.