I Just Did This. Here Is How.
I'm a sophomore at UW–Madison. In high school I rowed. Senior year I got to captain a team that finished 2nd among high school crews in the country. I was lucky to row with those guys.
After graduation, I missed it. The early mornings. The hard practices. The teammates who pushed me to be better. I wanted to put myself somewhere that would force me to be a harder worker, better under pressure, and a better teammate.
So I spent months researching wildland firefighting with zero fire experience. I did not get in alone. Two people took the time to explain how hiring works and get my name out. I am grateful for that. I got a spot on a Forest Service crew in Montana and worked the summer of 2026.
The summer changed me. I work harder, I handle pressure better, and I'm a better teammate than I was in May. It was the best decision I have made in a long time, and I'm going back next summer.
This site is me passing that on. I'm trying to help great people get into fire. Crews need them, and the country needs the crews. I wrote down how the hiring works, what it pays, and what the summer was like: the fires, the crew, the hard days, the views.
If this speaks to you, get the free guide and apply this fall. Most crews hire in fall and winter for next summer. If you have questions, ask me.
Me, working in a burned area. Summer 2026.