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Plumas Interagency Hotshot Crew Plumas National Forest, Region 5 |
The Plumas Hotshot Crew was formed in July of 1974. As the name implies the Plumas Hotshots are stationed on the Plumas National Forest in Region 5. During the seasons of 1974 and 1975, the crew was split on two separate districts and pulled together as one unit upon request. These hosting districts were the Greenville and Quincy Districts. Jim Hogg supervised the Quincy half of the crew with J.D. Killick as his assistant and Charlie Earhart (Acting Superintendent) supervised the Greenville half. Near the end of that first 1974 season, Dan Swearingen was named the Hotshot Superintendent. Upon Dan’s arrival Earhart stepped down and Swearingen was stationed at Greenville. Dan remained in the Superintendent position through the 1975 season. In 1976, Jim Hogg was named the Superintendent with the entire crew bonding together at the Quincy work center location. Jim remained in this position for the 1976-1978 seasons. The 1978 season came to a quick end in late August as the Plumas Hotshots along with several other Hotshot crews lost their funding. The crew remained together for the remainder of the 1978 season but worked out of other function dollars. Jim is still active in the fire world as a Logistics Section Chief with a California Type 1 IMT. In 1979 the Plumas Hotshots were non-existent, as the previous years peril of lack of dollars did not allow for the funding. In 1980, Tom Hatcher was named Superintendent, with David Ross and Larry Vogan as his foremen, Tom held this position through 1987. In March of 1988 Tom was offered a promotion to a Fuels ADFMO position and left the crew. David Ross was detailed as Superintendent at this time until July of 1988. Tom retired in 2006 after working his way up to Assistant Director of Region 5 Fire and Aviation for Northern California. In 1988 Kent Swartzlander was named Superintendent with David Ross as foreman and the other foreman was vacant. In 1989, Jonathan Lee filled the other vacant foreman position. Kent was offered a Fuels position and left the Hotshots after the 1999 season. He is currently Forest FMO (Chief 1) on the Six Rivers NF. In 2000, Jack Sevelson returned to the crew as Superintendent. 2001 saw more changes. Jon Lee moved to Cedar City, Utah as Superintendent of the new Dixie Hotshot Crew. Pete Duncan became a Captain in Jon’s place. The permanent organization was further increased to include 2 GS-5 Senior Firefighters. Mike Sherman and Fred Brewster became the GS-6 Squad Leaders with Ryan Bauer serving as Senior Firefighter. Organizational changes again occurred in 2002. Mike Sherman and Fred Brewster moved on to promotions on other modules. Ryan Bauer promoted to Squad Leader. Walt Eggers, a veteran of both the Klamath and Diamond Mountain Hotshots, filled the other Squad Leader position. Donald DeVriendt joined the crew as a Senior Firefighter. 2003 began with more organizational changes as Dave Ross announced his retirement after 22-years as a Plumas Hotshot in a career started in 1972. Fred Brewster returned to the crew as the new Captain 13B. Pete Duncan promoted to a Fuels Battalion detail after many years with the crew and Mike Sherman detailed as Captain 13A. Walt Eggers returned to the Diamond Mountain Hotshots and was replaced by Brandon Hostetter as Squad Leader. During 2004 Pete Duncan, who had returned for part of the season, was selected to permanently fill the District Fuels Battalion position. His many seasons of service to the crew drew to a close while on fire assignment in R-1 during August, his send off being when the Plumas and Tahoe IHCs had an impromptu spike out “Hotshot Olympics” (the cracker challenge, rapid mre, and 4-4-40). Following in Pete’s footsteps for the remainder of the season was Ryan Bauer. FFT1 Don DeVriendt moved to the Monterey RD of the Los Padres to begin a handcrew Squadleader position. After many years with the crew and starting as a crewmember, Ryan Bauer was promoted to a Captain’s position in 2005. This season also saw the addition of Tye Erwin and Kevin Grant as Squadleaders. Converting apprentices Donavon Beatty and Steve Tolen joined as Senior Firefighters. The destructive hurricanes of this year brought the crew to Texas late in the season. Hurricane Rita Support was our first non-traditional assignment. The 2007 season began with the conversion of firefighter apprentice Marty Senter into the Senior Firefighter position. Marty worked as a Plumas Hotshot during his apprenticeship in the 2005 fire season, and now returns to the crew vice Donavon Beatty who has left the agency to manage his family’s construction company. Kevin Grant was promoted to a Captain position on the Texas Canyon Hotshots in July of ’07, a big gain for TC. May saw the crew assigned to an incident in Northern Minnesota, a return trip for the crew having been there in 1976 as well. This was an interesting trip with the addition of also driving to the incident. Canoeing to the work areas was a highlight. Mike Sherman rejoined the crew before 2008’s fire season got underway. Joel Schilling was hired from the Eldorado NF to serve as Squad Leader. Chris Marson, a converting apprentice, began with the crew as a Senior Firefighter. Ryan Bauer promoted to a Battalion Chief- Fuels position and Steve Tolen took the step of moving to an AFEO job. Hotshot Crew Superintendents
Jim Hogg – Charlie Earhart 1974/1975 Dan Swearingen – 1974/1975 Jim Hogg – 1976 to 1978 Tom Hatcher – 1980 to 1987 David Ross – 1988, 1996 Kent Swartzlander – 1988 to 1999 Jack Sevelson – 2000 to Present Captains
J.D. Killick – 1976 to 1978 David Ross – 1980 to 2003 Larry Vogan – 1980 to 1986 Jon Lee – 1989 to 2000 Pete Duncan – 2001 to 2004 Ryan Bauer – 2005 - 2007 Fred Brewster – 2003 to present Mike Sherman – 2008 to present Captain Detailers
Larry Craggs - 1986
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