About Us
Mission Statement:
To provide Northwest District Fire and Aviation and the National Interagency Hotshot Crew (IHC) Organization with a Type One IHC that embodies professionalism, pride, and humility, as well as a crew that personifies duty, respect, and integrity.
Crew Values:
Know what is expected of you and take the initiative to get it done. Treat others with respect and work as a positive part of this team. Continue learning and improve your technical competence. Take responsibility for firefighter safety. ALWAYS be aware of your situation. NEVER compromise escape and safety.
Crew station/facilities:
Craig IHC is stationed at the BLM Northwest District – Little Snake Field Office. We have our own modern facility with a bunkhouse on-site for seasonal employee living. Facility amenities include office space, training room, gym, showers, personal lockers, fire cache, saw shop, and fabrication room.
Training:
Each season begins with a minimum of 80 hours of Operational Preparedness Training to build team cohesion, refresh on fire safety and operations, and ensure our physical capabilities align with the expectations of an IHC. Additional training is conducted daily through classroom or on-the-job training. Our goal is for every member of the crew to leave each season better than they came.
Daily operations:
When not assigned to large, campaign wildfires Craig IHC normally stays busy with initial attack on small fires throughout Western Colorado. If we are available at base, we will always be training, refurbishing of equipment, or working with Field Office or Fire Unit staff to find project work that is mutually beneficial.
Recruitment and Hiring
Job announcements:
Crew specific hiring/recruitment information:
You must apply to the duty station of Craig, CO prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement to be considered for hiring.
Hiring or outreach events:
Physical Fitness
At Craig IHC we believe that physical fitness directly corresponds to our safety and therefore, we take it seriously. We will strive to promote a well-rounded physical training program, focusing on cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, and flexibility while also ensuring we are training to perform the duties of our positions. The crew hikes, runs, does specific stretching, and several other activities for pt. Crewmembers are expected to show a commitment to the position and crew and arrive in shape on their first day of work. It is not our job to get you in shape, rather to ensure we maintain a high physical fitness standard for the entire crew. This means being at your best prior to arrival. Craig IHC also participates in the BLM Fitness Challenge annually.
History
The Craig Interagency Hotshot Crew is based in Craig, CO on the Northwest District Fire and Aviation Unit. The crew was founded in the spring of 2001, along with numerous other hotshot crews, as a result of the National Fire Plan.
The crew contributes their diverse expertise to fires across the United States, as well as all-risk incidents, such as Hurricane Katrina relief. In addition to national assignments, the crew often spends several weeks per season assisting the local district in handling the significant initial attack load experienced within the dispatch area.
The Craig IHC leadership structure has been run consistently under the 1-2-2 system, with a few exceptions over the last two decades. The crew Superintendents are listed below.
Stuart Gore – 2001-2003
Shawn Telford – 2004-2014
Sean Carey – 2014-2017
Caleb Meyer (Detailed) – 2018
Logan Blankenship – 2019-2023
Clay Harvey (Detailed) - 2023 - Present
In August of 2022, on the Big Swamp Fire on the Willamette National Forest in Oregon, we lost our crewmember and brother Collin Hagan. Collin exemplified the best of what it meant to be a Craig Hotshot and will always be a part of the crew.
Contact Us
Clay Harvey, Superintendent (Detailed)
- (970) 826-5066 (Desk)
- (970) 531-4400 (Cell)
- jcharvey@blm.gov
Joe Pintaudi, Assistant Superintendent
- (970) 826-5110 (Desk)
- (970) 620-1656
- jpintaudi@blm.gov
