The Hotshot Firefighters Battling California’s Biggest Wildfires

VICE News embeds with an elite crew of firefighters—the Forest Service’s Hotshot crew—in California’s El Dorado National Forest as they battle one of the worst fire seasons on record, in the middle of a pandemic. Think of them as the Navy SEALS of firefighters.

VICE News correspondent Michael Anthony Adams reports. Want to see what the frontline of wildfire looks like? Check out Adams’ segment here.

MORE:

• Want to see what the frontline of wildfire looks like? Check out Michael Anthony Adams’ video  here.
• California wildfires are burning out of control, but farmworkers are still laboring in the fields. 
• After a historic wildfire season, farmworkers in California’s famous wine region don’t qualify for federal aid because they are undocumented. 
• Dario Gurrola learned how to fight fires while he was incarcerated as a juvenile. But it’s almost impossible to get a position as a full time firefighter now that he’s a free man.

CREDITS:

This episode was produced by Julia Nutter.

VICE News Reports is produced by Jesse Alejandro Cottrell, Jen Kinney, Janice Llamoca and Julia Nutter. Our senior producers are Ashley Cleek and Adizah Eghan. Our associate producers are Sam Eagan, Sophie Kazis, and Adreanna Rodriguez. Sound design and music composition by Steve Bone and Kyle Murdock. 

 Our executive producer and VP of VICE Audio is Kate Osborn. Janet Lee is senior production manager for VICE Audio. Production coordination by Steph Brown. Fact checking by Nicole Pasulka.