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Redding Hotshots Agency USDA Forest Service Home Unit Northern California  Service Center

     Established 1967    

Contact Information:

Redding IHC Official Website

Redding IHC Searchable Database
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The Redding Interagency Hotshot Crew was initially developed in 1967 and functioned as one of Region Five’s three Interregional Suppression (IR) Crews (Del Rosa IR, El Cariso IR and Redding IR).  In 1980 all IR crews nationwide were reclassified as  “Interagency Hotshot Crews”.  Since its development, the Redding IHC has been located at the Northern California Service Center (NCSC).  It was the first hotshot crew in the nation to offer a concentrated fire management training detail opportunity.  The ongoing success of the opportunity has been due to its ability to provide a well-balanced classroom and on-the-ground large crew, large fire management training experience.

The training program is targeted specifically for fire management career/career conditional employees. These trainees are current or future first line supervisors, and have been recognized by their home units as having potential to excel in a fire management career.  Due to the intensive nature of this training program, it is an excellent opportunity to obtain accelerated training and experience in the area of IHC operations.

The crew is made up of fifteen detailed crewmembers, two squad leaders, two captains and the superintendent.  Candidates must be career conditional or permanent full time status to apply.  The current program strives to provide the detailer with as much exposure to as wide a variety of ideas, people, management philosophies and experiences as possible.

As with all Interagency Hotshot Crews, the Redding IHC has made many contributions and sacrifices to the fire management effort but the greatest sacrifice was in 1970 when two crewmembers, Ronald Scott and William Wales, were killed while the crew was assigned to the Coyote Fire on the Angeles National Forest in Region Five.  Ron and Bill, along with the pilot and personnel from a Type II Crew, were all killed attempting a landing on a ridge top helispot.  For some unknown reason the helicopter crashed.  There were no witnesses to the incident.  We will never forget the ultimate sacrifice they all made that day.

The Redding IHC Leadership Team is fully committed to the safety, health, and well being of all crewmembers.  Ensuring personnel safety, health, and compliance with safe firefighting practices is our primary responsibility and an integral part of the success of the crew mission.

Since 1967 the Redding Hotshots have strived for excellence and a strong work ethic.  We are proud to be a member of the California Hotshot Crew community and the distinguished record they have established on each and every major campaign they have been involved in.

Crew Superintendents:

• Charlie “No Slack” Caldwell – 1967 to 1986

• Craig “Lanky” Lechleiter – 1986 to 2002

• Robert Holt – 2002 to Present