The Lassen Hotshots were formed in the summer of 1974.  The crew was placed at Bogard Work Center on the Eagle Lake Ranger District of the Lassen National Forest. Don Wallace was named the first superintendent of the Lassen Hotshots.  Don ran the crew until 1977, at which time Joe Carvelo took over.  Due to a budget crisis in 1978, the crew, along with numerous others, was shut down.  This was known as “Black Friday” in the hotshot world.  Due to a very active fire season in 1979, and the lack of appropriate resources to deal with the many fires, the decision was made to bring back several of the disbanded crews.

So in April of 1980, the Lassen Hotshots came back to life under the leadership of Jim “Jaime” Jimenez.  Lassen was one of the first crews to travel to Alaska in the 1980’s, and along with the El Dorado Hotshots, the first to fight fire internationally in Canada.  Also, Lassen has hosted numerous international firefighters from Chile, India and Australia. 

For twenty-two years Jaime served as the Lassen Hotshot Superintendent, training captains, squad leaders, and countless crewmembers.  Many of these hotshots returned to honor Jaime in the spring of 2003, along with friends, family and several other hotshot superintendents for his retirement party.  Throughout his long and prolific career Jaime exemplified the hotshot work ethic of never quitting, always challenging himself and those around him, and by putting honesty, duty and integrity above all else. 

In that tradition, John Bristow was chosen as the next superintendent prior to the 2003 fire season.  John service as superintendent lasted until the spring of 2007 when detailing to the Fire Management Officer position for the Almanor Ranger District, and going on to accept the position in the spring of 2008.

With the spring of 2009, we find ourselves excited to welcome Fred Brewster as the new Superintendent to carry the Lassen Hotshot tradition into the future.

Superintendents

Don Wallace –1974 to 1977

Joe Carvelho – 1977 to 1978

Jim Jimenez – 1980 to 2002 (retired in place)

Stan Kubota – 1997 (detailed)

John Bristow – 2003 to 2006

Mike Sherman - 2007 (detailed)

Allen Schultze - 2008 (detail)

Fred Brewster - 2009 to Present
 

Captains

Former crew captains include:  Joe Carvelho, Scott Vail, Rick Addy, Rod Vineyard, Tommy Tucker, Dave Sandbrook, Bob Edwards, George Schwerian, Bill Walker, Rocky Tow, Larry Vogan, Dave Ramirez, Kelley Jones, Bob Richardson, Paul Johnson, John Bristow, Chuck Lewis, Mike Sherman, Robert Moreno, Chuck Lewis, Mike Sherman, Allen Schultze, Mike Klimek, Kyle Betty.

Recruitment Information

Please Contact:

Supt. 9: Fred Brewster -fbrewster@fs.fed.us

Captain 9-1:  Kyle Betty - kbetty@fs.fed.us

Captain 9-2: Allen Schultze - allenschultze@fs.fed.us

(530) 252-5873

Also, visit Lassen Hotshots Facebook page.