Life on the Fire Line BY SAMANTHA STETZER
Deon Berner first experienced the rush of defeating fire when he worked on a firefighting crew as a young man. “[We] got this fire before it went to houses,” Berner says. “It was that sense of catching a fire before it could do anything bad.” He’s been chasing that feeling and fires ever since. After more than 30 years of fighting fires, Berner now heads the Boise Interagency Hotshot Crew as superintendent. He hates the spotlight, often speaking with a quiet, humble tone, but the dedication of Berner and his crew can’t be ignored as wildfire seasons get longer, hotter, and drier every year. The Boise Hotshots are just one crew in a federal network of Hotshots teams 16
across the nation. Each is made up of a few dozen trained experts, including permanent and seasonal firefighters. Often, their work encompasses an exhausting 16 hours a day and can vary from trenching to prevent fire spread to assisting with medical rescues to fire suppression. It’s physically demanding, too, as teams frequently traverse crumbling mountains with shovels, axes, and camping gear, relying on one another for support and motivation. “You’re doing it with 19 other folks,” says Boise Hotshots Captain David Rogan. “They’re pushing themselves both physically and mentally. It’s up to everybody to put that effort into it.” As a result, this Herculean position requires swift thinking, continuous physical training, medical knowledge, and
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time away from family for 14-day tours (travel not included) — in addition to being a trained fire expert. The job has changed a lot over the years, Berner explains. He began with the Hotshots in 1992, and back then, the crews worked until they were called off, enjoying a few days leave at home before being called up again. Today, Hotshots are required to take two days off after 14 days of work. That can still be difficult with a family at home, Berner says. In addition to being a captain, Rogan is also a husband and the father of a four-year-old. In the summer, he’s often away from home for 17-18 days at a time, so not a moment is wasted when he has cell service or when he is on two days of leave.
