A hotshot crew is a 20-person crew sent to the hardest parts of big fires. The Los Padres Hotshots are a U.S. Forest Service hotshot crew based in Santa Barbara, California, on the Los Padres National Forest.
Hotshot crews usually want one or two seasons on another crew first. See the jobs that need no experience →
Source: the Forest Service hotshot crew contact page. The Forest Service last updated that page on April 10, 2026. We read it on October 12, 2026.
The map shows the town of Santa Barbara. See the Forest Service buildings, hiring history, and fires near Santa Barbara.
The official page lists 3 crew leaders, with a work email for each. Enter your email below to see the 3 names and emails. You get the free guide too.
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Inside: the pay breakdown, a resume template, a training plan for the fitness (pack) test, and the hiring timeline.
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No fire job is open in Santa Barbara today. A job ad names the town, not the crew. To ask when the crew hires, call the station at 805-724-0079. See all open jobs.
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