Jackson Hotshots sum-up season as one of success, family

Bureau of Land Management firefighters are outstanding individuals who work to save lives, property, infrastructure, and precious natural and cultural resources every year and deserve incredible gratitude for their professional skills and efforts.  

The 2024 fire season was an extraordinarily busy time for the Jackson Interagency Hotshot Crew with eight fires totaling 109,465 acres. To put into perspective just how busy the season was for the Jackson Hotshots, the 10-year average for Eastern States is 72,881 annual acres, yet this year the total acreage was 36,584 more than the average yearly acres.

The Hotshots had six full 14-day assignments, and a couple more side missions for some of the crew. 

Beginning with supporting other BLM fire units to complete a prescribed burn at Lathrop Bayou in the Florida Panhandle in early February to using direct suppression tactics and felling hazard trees at the Diamond Complex on the Umpqua National Forest in Oregon in mid-August, the Jackson Hotshots supported fire crews across BLM and agency partners bouncing from Georgia, down to Florida, over to New Mexico, up to Wyoming, then up and over to finish the season in Oregon before heading back home to Mississippi.

“This team successfully fought in some major fires throughout the season, and I can’t be more grateful and appreciative to everyone for stepping-up and stepping-in to the challenges,” said Leah Baker, Eastern States Associate State Director. “I am impressed with how the team remains focused on the mission in spite of the uncertainty and other external issues going on within the fire world such as pay, housing and that there is no longer a fire season, it is essentially year-round.”

Eastern States State Director Mitch Leverette echoed Baker’s sentiments and emphasized the importance of the fire mission for BLM and Eastern States. 

“There are so many levels of safety risks involved in carrying out this job, and we recognize the importance this crew placed on training and ensuring each crewmember was prepared for the season,” said Leverette. “Although there were staffing challenges, each crewmember went above and beyond to ensure this was a successful season without any major injuries or accidents. This speaks volumes to the overall professionalism of this team, and I couldn’t be prouder.” 

Jackson Hotshots crewmember Howard Rapp sums up the overall vibe of the 2024 season. 

“I was really proud of the crew as a whole because almost everybody was working in a position above their experience level, and we didn't have any significant injuries this year -- everybody got home safe,” Rapp said. “And we accomplished every goal and every task we were given.” 

The 2024 fire season brought new leadership opportunities for Rapp. 

“Coming into an overhead role this year was really my first opportunity to talk to other crews we were working side-by-side with, and a lot of those guys from the other crews had a lot of good things to say about our crew and our work,” Rapp said. “You always think that you're the best Hotshot crew, but just hearing other crews say, ‘Hey, man, you all did some really good work,’ or ‘We really appreciate you all coming and holding this burn for us - you all did really good’ was the highlight of my season. It was all just very cool,” he said. 

Firefighting is considered one of the most physically demanding job in the country, and firefighters are often considered among the most respected professions. It is a job unlike most because those firefighters work side-by-side with aren’t just colleagues; they are an extension of one’s family.

“The job of a firefighter is hard and can be a lot of fun, but the best part? It's all about the people,” said Dan Stone, Lead Forestry Technician (Fire) with the Jackson Hotshots. 

Bart Kicklighter, Eastern States State Fire Management Officer, agrees with Stone and stressed that it's always, always about the fire family.

"This is our family when we're away from home, so anytime we get the opportunity to get back together as a fire family, it's super rewarding to have the experience of camaraderie," Kicklighter said. "It's good for us and even better for the public and people we serve.”  

Kicklighter emphasized, “The bonds between firefighters are for life.”

Jackson Hotshots 2024 Team:  

Career Staff: Justin Chandler, Levi Creel, Miranda Malvaso, Kheyon Nadimi, Jordan Nadimi, Howard Rapp, Kyle Rogers, Benjamin Rosamond, Dan Stone, and Elijah Whitfield.  

Seasonal Staff:  John Cannon, Ben Clark, Jameson Czarnecki, Liam Halloran, Moises Jacobo, Andrew Smart, and Connor Wallace. 

Congratulations on a safe and successful season! 

Think you have what it takes to be a member of the team? 

The Jackson Hotshots Crew is currently hiring for the 2025 season. Referred to as the “Critical 80,” there is an 80-hour training requirement with applicants receiving all required agency training, refresher courses, and a lot of hard physical training sessions. To learn more, go to Hotshots.