A veteran-focused fire crew in Southern Arizona has achieved the certification to be an Interagency Hotshot Crew.
The Bureau of Land Management’s Gila District announced Friday that the Aravaipa Veterans Fire Crew became the BLM’s 13th IHC nationwide.
“We’re proud of the Aravaipa crew’s accomplishments and the continued efforts to develop a workforce of veterans,” Gila District Manager Scott Feldhausen said in a press release. “This hardworking and highly skilled crew is now a part of the elite fire resources available to fight fires not only in Arizona, but nationally and abroad.”
The Aravaipa crew, located at Fort Huachuca, is one of two BLM IHCs in the nation that focuses on recruiting and developing veterans. Following the 2019 fire season, the Aravaipa crew officially elevated their status from a Type-2 Initial Attack hand crew to a Type-1 IHC.