Wildland fire trainee exchange lends hand to global firefighting efforts 

By Philip Oviatt, Central California District Public Affairs Officer 

In 2022, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Kern Valley Hotshots handcrew assisted the US Forest Service’s Office of International Programs on wildfires. One of the programs under the US Forest Service, the Latin America, Caribbean and Canada Fire Management Program, works with Latin American counterparts to strengthen capacity in fire management through training, technical exchanges, workshops, conferences, and field assessments. This international program, in coordination with the National Interagency Hotshot Crews Steering Committee, identifies hotshot crews willing to host trainee exchanges. Although this activity is traditionally carried out with US Forest Service crews, the BLM’s Kern Valley Hotshots requested to participate that year. The BLM’s Kern Valley Hotshots were excited to host three firefighters from Mexico to embed into their team.  

It began in August, Ricardo Gamaliel Jimenez Banuelos, Alma Lury Trujillo Montejo and Dany Walter Cruz Cruz arrived in Bakersfield, California. From the very first day the three firefighters were immersed in the strong traditions and work ethics that the Kern Valley Hotshots are known for. “I understood that being here would not be easy at all. Everything was different, and that’s what made it interesting,” said Jimenez Banuelos. “This experience far exceeded what I thought I would learn.” 

The three firefighters were put through rigorous physical training and attended wildland fire courses, along with practical hands-on training with the hotshot crew. “I had the desire to learn more, to view forest firefighting through a distinct perspective, and to push my limits,” stated Trujillo Montejo. “My expectations were to find myself in a crew that is highly capable, disciplined, and with rich standards. This is exactly what I encountered!” 

One of the missions of the Kern Valley Hotshot Crew is to hire, develop and retain fit, motivated, high-performing individuals, and equip them with the best tools and training available so they can perform their jobs with remarkable precision, speed, and efficiency. Training for the firefighters included cutting hand line, backfiring, communicating with air support, and sizing up spot fires. 

“They fit right into our program,” said Central California District Fire Chief David Brinsfield, commending the three firefighters. “They eagerly jumped into our rigorous, physical training and on the job experience as a hotshot. “The three performed admirably and fit right in with the crew; they each showed a strong work ethic and thirst for knowledge in improving their skills in wildland firefighting,” Chief Brinsfield added. 

The Kern Valley Hotshots saw plenty of action during the 2022 Wildland Fire Year. During the 60-day tour for the three firefighters, the Kern Valley Hotshots responded to the Mesa Fire, the SRF Lightening Complex Fire, the Gulch Fire, the Aspen Fire, the Fork Fire, and the Irie Fire. All the fires the crew responded to varied in size and complexity. 

“It was an excellent experience, in which I have learned about the organization that the Kern Valley Hotshots are a part of,” Cruz Cruz said, adding he was very impressed with the level of leadership within the Hotshot crew and is interested in working toward a leadership position in the future. “I paid a lot of attention to the leadership to learn to the fullest and increase my abilities,” Cruz Cruz added.  

The three firefighters overcame many obstacles as part of the Kern Valley Hotshots. “I like to take challenges, and this was a great challenge for me. There are not many challenges like these back home, and I had to take advantage of the experience in this country,” said Jimenez Banuelos. “My experience with Kern Valley Hotshots has been my biggest and wildest experience of my life,” Trujillo Montejo said in describing her experience. “I have learned to take my heart and body to higher limits than I imagined and work with passion.”  

Cruz Cruz said, “My expectation was to integrate into the Hotshots crew, acquire the knowledge, skills and decision making that will allow me to be a better forest firefighter. I had to learn quick to work under difficult and extreme conditions.” Cruz Cruz also advised future participants in the program to prepare themselves physically and mentally before coming, and to bring a vision of self-improvement both personally and professionally. 

By the end of their tour, the three firefighters had become part of a team where lasting friendships had been forged through the united goal of battling climate change and the force of wildland fire. Cruz Cruz really enjoyed his time with the crew and “the integration that everyone has and the teamwork that they carry out, the physical training and the opportunity that each combatant has in the roles assigned to them to increase their technical capabilities and experience.”  

Jimenez Banuelos echoed those sentiments, stating “it is a very complete crew, everyone knows what they have to do and everyone has the ability to perform any task assigned to them. And what was most important to me is that it was a crew where everyone was willing to help you when you need it, to teach you and advise you. Kern Valley is a crew that from the first day integrates you into the team and makes you feel part of it.”  

Trujillo Montejo surmised her experience; “the crew integrates like a family, where there is no competition between them, instead they help one another to strengthen the links in the chain. Kern Valley has a lot of history and tradition. This enriches the culture and makes us proud to be a part of it.” 

Going forward, the three firefighters hope the BLM and the Kern Valley Hotshots continue to expand the Latin America, Caribbean and Canada Fire Management Program. Cruz Cruz suggested the Program could combine firefighters from different countries, for example: Mexico, Colombia and Brazil. This would increase the exchange of technical and cultural knowledge between the countries.  Likewise, Cruz Cruz would like to see members of the Kern Valley Hotshots participate in an event or activity related to training or combating forest fires in Mexico.  

Chief Brinsfield would like to see the program continue. “The program went really well this year,” stated Chief Brinsfield. “I would like to continue in the partnership with the US Forest Service and the Latin America, Caribbean and Canada Fire Management Program. I would welcome the opportunity for future exchanges and collaborations. Fighting wildland fire is a global effort and the BLM Kern Valley Hotshots have shown that we are a team united in our goal of combating wildland fire.” 

According to USDA Forest Service Office of International Programs Fire Program Specialist Isidoro Solis, “The Forest Service awarded the Kern Valley Hotshots with a Certificate of Merit to the crew for their professional support in making the hotshot trainee exchange a success. We look forward to the prospect of the BLM and Forest Service partnering again this year.”  

BLM California and the crew of the Kern Valley Hotshots wish to thank Ricardo Gamaliel Jimenez Banuelos, Alma Lury Trujillo Montejo and Dany Walter Cruz Cruz for their dedication and contributions to the team. We hope for their continued success as they return to Mexico to apply what they have learned about wildland firefighting during their time with the crew here in California.

A hotshot crew is an interagency crew consisting of 18-22 specially trained firefighters that provide an organized, mobile, and skilled workforce for all phases of wildland fire management. Crew members complete many hours of training, adhere to high physical standards, are extremely disciplined, and can take on the most difficult assignments. Although a hotshot crews’ focus is on wildland fire management, they also support all-risk missions, such as hurricane recovery. To learn more about the Kern Valley Hotshots, visit online at https://www.nifc.gov/kern-valley-hotshots