Are you a Hotshot?
I’ve heard people make comments their job is difficult, long hours or what not. But is your job really that hard? Do you have to risk your life? Or are some of you in a air-conditioned room, with nice drinks, snacks, good company and also a good goal? Do you have clean and comfortable facilities with kind perks provided for you? Think about it. I want you to see this video and also read the short transcript to understand what rigorous work really is. And these people compassionately risk their lives for others. They choose it.
Appreciate your job and what you are doing. There is always someone with a job much more difficult than what you have.
On the 2nd of July, it came out all over the news that 19 Hotshot firefighters passed away in Arizona. They were fighting a deadly wildfire that has so far engulfed 13 square miles of land, and destroyed 100 homes. The fire is still ablaze, and nearly 600 other firefighters continues to fight the blaze. Currently, the first is contained by 80%.
The 19 men who passed away were part of a 20-men elite crew called “Hotshot firefighters”. They’re called as such as they are always in the hottest part of the fire… When everyone runs away from danger, they run towards the problem. They risk their lives to save potentially hundreds, if not thousands of people.
These Hotshot firefighters go through rigorous training, including push ups, sit ups, aerobics, cardio physical fitness routine, 3 mile hikes in 45 minutes (while carrying a 45 pound pack!), 1.5 mile run in 10.5 minutes.
They are also on call 24/7 during fire season (SIX months of the year), they sleep on the ground and if lucky, get to shower every couple of days. They are sent to harsh terrains and are constantly exposed to the most dangerous conditions… hot, dry, windy, dusty…
The job requires a lot from a Hotshot firefighter that they’re usually young, around 20-30 years old.
The Hotshot crew endures such “hardships” in order to prevent many more deaths during the fire season. People like these make society a better place… It is incredible to have such brave people who understand the dangers of the job, and yet put in their 100% all for the benefit of others.
Tsem Rinpoche
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/What-Is-A-Hot-Shot-Fighter.mp4
Transcript:
When Hotshots get the call, they head to the center of a blazing wildfire, an inferno that sometimes only sometimes they can stop, Hotshots go where equipment can’t.
These elite firefighting teams are specially trained to use chainsaws and polaskies to clear brush and cut a fire line through the dirt. A line that could stretch a mile long and it’s their job to hold that line.
John Segar is a former Hotshot.
John Segar: When the fire actually burns up to that line, the fire is going to put out embers and some of those embers actually do cross the line and the Hotshot crew or any of our fire crews will patrol the line and they look for those embers and try to get to them.
Segar likens Hotshot teams to military special ops units, he says that they are the best of the best in wildfire suppression, highly motivated and highly trained, which is why they get the toughest assignments.
John Segar: Their physical fitness training prior to the season and if it is a slow season, during the season, includes running, long endurance hikes, any type of push ups, sit ups, the whole aerobics, cardio physical fitness routine.
There’s a rigorous physical test to qualify a Hotshot, including a three mile hike in 45 minutes while carrying a 45-pound pack and a mile-and-a-half run, in 10 and a half minutes or less. Because of the physical endurance required, most Hotshots tend to be younger, in their 20s or 30s.
Randi Kaye: It’s certainly not an easy gig. Hotshot crews are on call 24/7 during fire season about six months out of the year. They’re sent to the terrain where it is most severe and weather is typically hot and dry, they’re exposed to wind and dust and all kinds of poisonous plants. Crews sleep on the ground and if they are lucky, they get to shower every couple of days.
The job keeps them away from home for several weeks at a time, working 14 days on and 2 days off. The hours are long too, often stretching into 16-hour shifts.
John Segar: They travel all over the country so it is very difficult to, it is very difficult to maintain a family life. Our firefighters adjust to that, families adjust to it, just like families in the military service adjust to it but it is not an easy life.
The US Forest Service says that the Hotshot crews began in Southern California in the late 1940s. They got their name, Hotshot, from always being in the hottest part of the fire and this isn’t the first devastating loss they have suffered. Back in 1994, nearly 20 years ago, 9 members of the Prineville Oregon, Hotshot were killed when they were trapped trying to fight a Colorado fire on Storm King Mountain. Some firefighters try to survive by wrapping themselves in fireproof shelters like these, just like the 19 killed in Arizona.
While all Hotshot team members tend to love the outdoors and thrive on a challenge, they know the dangers and what can happen when the wind shifts. Randi Kaye, CNN, Atlanta.
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Hotshot Crews are diverse teams of career and temporary agency employees who uphold a tradition of excellence and have solid reputations as multi-skilled professional firefighters.They are incrediable young unsung hero of the country,risking their lives to help others.They are specially trained in wildfire suppression tactics and are considered an elite group among wildland firefighters, They are the best of the best working tireless24 hours job ready to serve at odd time. Some of them died in line of service.
After watching the video,they are truly great hero.
I was once before my retirement on call emergency unit in a private hospital but was much better than the hotshot firefighters.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing this video of the firefighters. They are truly inspirational despite of their young age. I believe that at that age, most people will be enjoying their lives focusing more on their image and material gains. However, the young lads that joined Hotshot had been through daunting situation and places just to save lives. They put the lives of the public before theirs and work around the clock just to serve.
When we start to let go of our ego and think about others more, we can accomplish meaningful and amazing things. In puja house, we are being trained under that motto. We work around the clock to serve the needs of others by performing pujas for those who are in need of Buddha’s blessing and aids. However, we are more fortunate than Hotshot teams because we dont have to risk ourlives.
Humbly,
CHris
It incredible how much these crews been through, it really make us feels that our tiny miny problems is really not any problem at all. after I read bit more about their living condition while not working, it is even more incredible that how much dedication they have to their job, with the condition of not seeing their family often, no luxury enjoyment, not having enough sleep, but this had not been being their reason of quitting or not doing their job well, because their job nature does not allow them to have a moment of relaxing, just one second of not focusing in the rage of fire, that’s it for their life.
Even when not on fire assignments, the crew performs project work such as prescribed burning and fuels reduction.
Living conditions while on assignments can be primitive. Fresh meals, soft beds, and regular showers are not to be expected. Field assignments away from home can last several weeks with daily work shifts averaging sixteen hours, but sometimes extending up to 48–64 hours. Sleep deprivation is common, as is routine exposure to dust, smoke, poison oak, extreme weather (both heat and cold), and other environmental hazards.[citation needed]
Hotshots’ crew vehicles become their homes during the peak fire season, when Hotshots may rarely spend more than two consecutive days at their own station. These vehicles, also known as Crew Hauls, Buggies, Crummies, or simply the Box, carry Hotshots along with personal gear, tools, and everything else necessary to make the crew self-sufficient for several days.
I’m proud of them ,they are brave ,this job is high risk and dangerous, need 24 hours on call during fire season. They are totally think for others and benefit others. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing .
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this.
Salute to Hot Shots who risk their live for others. They know it’s not an easy job and endangering their life, they still go for it for the society.
I feel life is more worthy living for others. Thank you Hot Shots for risking your lifes telling us this.
May Buddha blesses you.
These Hotshot firefighters are so incredible! They are so brave with the motivation to prepare to sacrifice their lives for others in such a hush conditions. May those who have passed away in service will have swift and good rebirths to continue with their good deeds in their future lives.Om Mani Padme Hung.
It is amazing people would risk their lives in a job whereby everytime they did a job it could mean their last. Yet they do it without running away and without frills. And they put their life in to it and risk it all just for a job, it is remarkable how much responsibility and commitment they put into doing their job.
Salute and respect these people!
Regardless of danger, they committed 100% towards their job.
Always keep Rinpoche word in mind
“Appreciate your job and what you are doing. There is always someone with a job much more difficult than what you have.”
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this post !
Dear Rinpoche,
It is sad to know that 19 of the Hot Shot Team have died while doing their job fighting big, wild fires.
On a lighter note I just can’t believe how much tough training a Fire Fighter has to grow through just to become a Hot Shot.
It is true that even though many of us have such good jobs with the air-cond and such and yet we still complain about how our job is worst than other people’s.
To me All 19 of the Late Hot Shot’s should deserve a moment of Silence to thank them for all that they have done.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this very interesting article on Firefighters.
Love
Jutika
this is true, so many people complain about their great jobs when these people risk their lives to make sure that ours is okay, these people are brave people and they gave their lives to help us. i hope they have a good rebirth.
I think these hotshots are like living bodhisattvas..willing to suffer (look at the intense training ) and risk/sacrifice their lives for others and we are not even talking about what religion they are from for they give not based race or creed but on compassion for others. May their deeds never be forgotten and always cherished.May we also become more unselfish and compasionate as our Guru has always adviced
Wow, I never heard of a hotshot before, this is the first time I’m hearing this. Its amazing what they do and its incredible and inspiring what they have to do to train to become a hotshot. Going through such rigorous training just to be apart of the hotshots is insane. A 3 mile hike in 45mins with a 45 pound pack on your back is crazy! I couldn’t even do it without carrying anything haha. Listening and reading this makes me realize how many of us have it easy, whilst running away from the fire these guys live by the fire and learn to control it. I hope these men rest in peace and that their families are alright and stay strong just the way these men did. Thank you for sharing this inspirational story Rinpoche. Their deaths were a great loss but their work and efforts will not be forgotten, and that they saved many lives.
it is so hard to believe they can endure such physical training and risking their lives for their job. we are very fortunate to have such people living with us
It is very sad that they have lost their life to the wildfire. Their job requires not only physical strength and skill but more importantly mental strength. Without high moral, motivation and teamwork one can easily get killed on the job. They gave up normal life, risking their own life to protect the lives of many civilians in the towns from the wildfire. Few can give up a normal job to become a hotshot fighter. For them every wildfire assignment might be their last assignment.
Wow, this is a true harf job to be in. Its so sad that they had to die, they did not deserve to die. All they were trying to do was help people. So kind of them to risk everything, just to do this. I admire people like this, they never give up in what they do and they are compassionate in helping others.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you very much for sharing the story on Hostshot firefighters.
Many of us never appreciate our life. We tend to always moan and complain about our life ie. not having enough of everything when in fact the basic essentials are just what we need.
I salute to these Hotshot firefighters who went all the way to face these challenges and sacrifies their family time. They are trained to see beyond themselves and their aim is to save the lives of people. The tremendous amount of hardship they went through is way beyond what normal people like us goes through in our daily life and work. They literally knows the danger they would be facing to the extend of losing their life. Yet they take this uphill task and challenge to fight the blazing wildfire in the forest.
I am very grateful to know that it is important for us to be thankful for this good human rebirth as in the teachings of the Lamrim that one should have a optimum human rebirth with the 18 opportune conditions.
With this, I pray for these 19 Hotshot firefighters and future recruits for these highly hazardous job risking their lives to save hundreds if not thousands of people that they be reborn in an optimum human rebirth and meet the Dharma & 3 Jewels in their future life.
With folded hands
Rena
It is so amazing that the Hotshot team members are so passionate about their job. They are willing to risk and sacrifice their lives for others. It is so sad that so many died while in service to help others. May they take a good rebirth and continue their good deeds in serving others.
Thank you, Rinpoche, for sharing
These people are amazing! You would never ever dare complain about your job ever. Look at what they have to go through and how much they would happily endure the heat, the no relationships or have distance one, no luxury, sleeping in comfy beds etc. and all this for their passion in saving many lives. I am humbled by their courage and their dedication in serving others.
These are real heroes we should honour… some have even died while doing their job in serving others. What a meaningful and purposeful life to live for others. Amazing, just simply amazing. So the next time you wanna complain and whine about your hard depressing life… take a look at this!
Incredible people… these hotshot firemen are incredible!
It’s sad that so many of them passed away in the line of duty.
It’s amazing what people can go through, the difficulties and also the ‘suffering’ they know they will experience when they understand fully the importance and effects when they take their job seriously or not. What these people do are amazing… when they are not at the face of danger, even facing death, they will be training their body vigorously to prepare themselves for an assignment…. these really take strong will and determination.
True… why are we even unsatisfied with out lives or even our comfortable jobs when there are people out there that risk their lives daily in a job. Time to rethink and be thankful of how fortunate we are.
It is amazing and very inspirational to read stories like this. It is inspirational because these are ordinary people who decided to make their life extraordinary by living for others. And it is all a CHOICE and nobody put a gun on their head to decide, they were in CONTROL.
With the world these days, when u choose a career which benefit others, people around us will often said that we are brain washed, possessed or we are stupid. But if we let these people affect us, there will not be any hotshots, public doctors, firemen, people working in religious organisation, heroes, politician who wants to make a different & etc. There will not be any Tsem Rinpoche or even Mother Teresa. So it is all your choice.
Dear Rinpoche thanks for sharing this article to us…
I feel that we can be Hotshot in our current job, assignment, position or our own life also. Its due to if we focus and able to take 100% responsibility then we are not much inner different with Hotshot…
May we gain more Merits and Wisdoms that able to be Dharma Hotshot that able to help Rinpoche to spread Dharma to ten directions to benefits more and more people…
After reading Rinpoche’s words and watching the video, I’ve realised that love, kindness and compassion do not stay within the boundary of “Religion”. There are people living on earth that look like ordinary me who put themselves into very difficult situations for their love and passion of nature in this case, often to benefit others and in return themselves. By doing so, they are willing and ready to sacrifice their lives for it!
We can sit in our comfortable home and office to whine about how “difficult” our jobs are or be inspired by these people who put their love and passion into actions to make things happen. Being inspired is important, but making it an action is even better! We can never wait for others to do the work for us and kept thinking that it is ok for not being part of any good thing that will eventually contribute towards positive change of the world. If others think the same, nothing will happen, will there?
It’s very rare to find such passionate people who are more concerned about the welfare of others than themselves. These people really go all out and even risk their lives for others. Truly amazing, it makes me think why we are always constantly complaining about our little inept surroundings etc.
Once we realize that someone else is experiencing more sufferings and intense situations out there, our “sufferings” and its wrong perceptions will melt away.
I pray that these firefighters may find a better life in the next life to continue their good deed and further mature their altruistic mind.
It’s very very sad story! And Tribute to the Hotshot firefighter warriors! We must be happy and feel contented what we have at our work. Rinpoche always make sure his students have a good environment to work and make sure we have enough food in the office. But yet many of us still have so many complaints and unsatisfaction! And the worst is take it for granted. After I have volunteer at KFR and working together with the foreign workers, I find myself is sooooo fortunate to have such a working environment. I have appreciate more than before and is a blessing from Rinpoche that we work under such a caring environment. Thank you Rinpoche for this post and make us realise how fortunate we are.
It is incredible to have such brave people who understand the dangers of the job, and yet put in their 100% all for the benefit of others.
This is like what Rinpoche doing, benefit more people and spread the dharma round the world to benefit more and more people.
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.