Welcome to the Unofficial Website of the
Lone Peak Hotshots

• An Interagency Hotshot Crew: often just called a Hotshot crew or an IHC, is a highly trained, 24-person wildland firefighting handcrew.
  Designated as Type 1, we represent the highest level of capability, experience, and physical fitness among wildland fire crews in the United States. 

  • Operating under strict federal criteria, we are fully self-sufficient (for at least 72 hours) and equipped to manage the most complex, high-risk wildfire incidents in remote and rugged terrain. We are often sent to the "worst" area of a wildfire.

  • We specialize in constructing firelines using chainsaws and hand tools, executing strategic burnout operations, and conducting rapid initial attacks on fast-moving fires.

  • We mobilize across the United States as a shared national asset, serving our Federal, State, County, and local partners in wildland fire suppression. 

• What an our IHC it is not:

  • A crew for people who are new to wildland fire. 

  • A place for the unfit and faint of heart. 

  • A crew for people looking to do one season. 

• Read all the FAQ's first!

  • This will answer a lot of the questions you may have. 

• Click this link for listings. 

• All inquiries will to go: LonePeakHotshots@utah.gov

• 18 years of age or older

• Highschool diploma or GED

• Hold a valid drivers license

• U.S. citizen or legally eligible to work in the United States

• Red Carded (see "Red Card" FAQ for more information)

No.

• Lone Peak is looking for individuals who are available and committed to the entire season with no limitations. 

• No, but it helps. 

• Our ideal candidate has some or all of the following:

  • Two years of suppression experience (handcrew experience preferred). 

  • A background in hard manual labor.

  • Experience working and living outside for extended periods of time.

  • Working in a team environment. 

  • A passion for physical fitness. 

  • Grit.

• Red Card (Interagency Qualification Card): An agency-issued document that certifies that an individual has the training, experience, and physical fitness to perform the tasks of a specified position on a wildland or prescribed fire.  

• Requirements for Red Card:

  • IC-100, Introduction to ICS

  • L-180, Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service

  • S-130, Firefighter Training

  • S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior

  • IS-700, NIMS: An Introduction

  • Pack Test: Arduous Fitness Level (45lbs, 3 miles, 45 minutes)

  • Complete field day and practical skills test  

• How to get a Red Card:

  • Below are a few paths to get you started:

    • Contact your local volunteer fire department

    • Contact your local fire warden

    • Attend a postsecondary education program or fire school that specifically certifies wildland firefighters. For example: 

      • Utah Fire and Rescue Academy (Orem, UT)

      • Colorado Firecamp (Salida, CO)

      • Rio Hondo Fire Academy (Santa Fe Springs, CA)

      • Etc.

• Start Date: Mid-April

• End Date: October 31st

  • Depending on the season, this date may be extended. 

• Below are the federal minimums. Lone Peak IHC is not interested in individuals who achieve the minimum.

  • 3 mile ruck with 45lb load in 45:00 or less

  • 1.5 mile run in 10:35 or less

  • 40 sit-ups in 60 seconds

  • 25 push-ups in 60 seconds

  • Pull-ups, based on body weight:

    • >170lbs: 4

    • 170-135lbs: 5

    • 135-110lbs: 6

    • <110lbs: 7

• Pay: As you earn NWCG certifications and complete task books, your compensation will increase incrementally. In other words, your work experience AND “time in grade” is taken into consideration regarding wage. Also, our organization’s pay scale is formulated based on the state of Utah’s economic performance which is typically robust and ranks near the top of the nation. Though not guaranteed, a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) can be an annual occurrence.

• Location of Duty Station: The Wildland Fire Operations Center (Ops Center) is located in South Salt Lake City, UT. Various housing options, outdoor recreation, and urban entertainment are all conveniently accessible. Lone Peak does not offer subsidized housing or barracks to crewmembers.

• On-Call Pay: When we are not attached to an incident, on a project, or on R&R, crewmembers are “on call” and compensated for it.

• Citizenship: You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to work with the State of Utah. We have employed several people that are citizens of other countries.

• Per Diem: The State of Utah covers all food and lodging expenses while out on assignment. There are no requirements to front money or wait for reimbursement.

• NWCG Classes: During Winter and Spring, we nominate crewmembers for NWCG courses at the Utah Fire and Rescue Academy (UFRA). Classes are fully funded by Lone Peak.

• Networking: The Ops Center is home to two Hotshot crews, two IA crews, a fuels crew, four Engines, and a helitack program. There are opportunities to cross train between these resources. Also, several Lone Peaker’s have successfully gone on to Smokejumper platforms and/or spend their off-seasons in the Southern U.S. to help various agencies with prescribed fire.

• State of Utah: No need to worry about government shutdowns, the State is always open!

• Generally, Yes.

• Your pay increases as you gain NWCG courses and more experience.

  • Lone Peak Hotshots has a partnership with the Utah Fire and Rescue Academy (UFRA) and will automatically enroll eligable crewmembers in classes to help progress your career. 

• Fire Tech 1 (Seasonal Firefighter)

  • $19.18 - $28.80/hr

• Fire Tech 2 (Lead Crewmember)

  • $21.48 - $32.26/hr

• Fire Tech 3 (Squad Leader)

  • $27.80 - $41.72/hr

This job is not for the faint of heart. A standard deployment demands 14 to 21 consecutive days of 16-hour shifts, working in some of the most arduous, unrelenting environments in the United States. You go to bed late and exhausted, sleep on the ground, and wake up early carrying the aches of the day before. Meals are poor, and showers are a luxury you forgo for weeks at a time.

It is a grueling test of endurance, but you become part of something truly special. You will operate alongside highly motivated teammates to accomplish missions that few others could ever achieve. You will see landscapes rarely witnessed by the public and earn your keep every single day. There is truly nothing else like it.