Resources
Santa Fe Hotshots
The Santa Fe Hotshots are a group of highly-skilled firefighters specially trained in wildland fire management.
Mission Statement
“The mission of Interagency Hotshot Crews is to provide land management agencies with a safe, professional, mobile, highly skilled, and productive wildland fire management resource.”
Candidates interested in applying to the Santa Fe Hotshots should apply online at USA Jobs.
Contact Us - Hotshots
Mailing address:
Santa Fe NF
Attn: Santa Fe Hotshots
11 Forest Lane
Santa Fe, NM 87508
Fax: (505) 471-0004
Driving directions to our office.
Base location map. The Hotshots Base is located at a separate location.
David M. Simpson, Superintendent
Email David
(505) 438-5641 (Office)
(505) 231-4831 (Cell)
VACANT, Assistant Superintendent
Keith Crain, Squad Leader - Alpha
Email Keith
(505) 670-1714 (Cell)
Joseph Soukup, Squad Leader - Bravo
Email Joe
(505) 231-7326 (Cell)
Adriano Rodriguez, Squad Leader - Charlie
Email Adriano
(505) 235-4617 (Cell)
The Santa Fe Hotshots were established in 1977. A Fire Management Officer had wanted to call the crew the Redondo Hotshots (named after a prominent peak in the Jemez Mountains). After some negotiation the crew’s name was chosen, and the Santa Fe Hotshots were formed. The crew was originally hosted by the Tesuque Ranger District, until that district combined with the Espanola Ranger District. The Santa Fe Hotshots are presently managed by the Supervisor’s Office of the Santa Fe National Forest, but have a work center/base that they operate out of in downtown Santa Fe. The crew’s current “Three Horsemen” logo represents the three dominant cultures in northern New Mexico: Native American, Anglo, and Spanish. It was originally drawn in 1997.
Santa Fe Helitack
Founded in 2001, the Santa Fe Helitack is an interagency wildland fire crew that provides operations and aviation support to wildland fire within its response area. Staffed by US Forest Service and National Park Service employees, Santa Fe Helitack has a Type-3 helicopter and a crew of 8 to 10. In addition to fire suppression, Santa Fe Helitack provides support for prescribed fire and other project work.
Mission Statement
"Santa Fe Helitack provides highly effective, efficient and safe fire and aviation management services and quality training opportunities while maintaining high professional standards."
Santa Fe Interagency Helitack - Contact Us
Mailing Address:
Santa Fe Interagency Helitack
15 Entrance Road
TA-49 Helibase
Los Alamos, NM 87544
Josh Brookshire
Helitack Superintendent
P: (505) 438-5480
C: (505) 670-9385
F: (505) 662-8810
Bonnie Bolser
Helitack Captain
P: (505) 438-5481
C: (505) 901-3521
Helibase Location
TA-49 Helibase
68 Frijoles Mesa Drive
Los Alamos, NM 87545
In the aftermath of the Cerro Grande Fire in 2001, a need for aviation resources in the area was identified and Santa Fe Helitack was established the following year. Having an early season helitack crew has proven incredibly useful to program managers, prescribed fire, and wildland fire staff. As we have a combined fire staff, Santa Fe Helitack responds to fires throughout Northern New Mexico on both the Carson and Santa Fe National Forests and adjacent National Park Service, Tribal, Federal and State lands. Our helicopter begins its season in Mid-April and goes through Mid-July, but can be extended thru September/October. Crewmembers can take individual assignments to build their experience base and qualifications, work with other Helitack crews as fillers, or continue on the crew working as Initial Attack or large fire support. Santa Fe Helitack has provided support to Teams as Air Support, Division, Task Force, Helibase and Helicopter Managers, and EMT’s. At the end of the season, it is also common for the crew to pick up a CWN helicopter to support local prescribed fire.
Santa Fe Helitack provides a highly experienced, motivated and professional crew that conducts prescribed fire operations (PSD), Initial Attack, Large Fire Support, Helitack, Project work, and when necessary, SAR/Medical Evacuation.
In the past crewmembers have worked on their skills and qualifications with Teton Helitack, Ely Helitack, Yosemite Helitack and Santa Fe Hotshots to name a few. Our Helicopter can be extended past our mid July contract ending date, but opportunities can be made available, based on the needs of the district and forest, to allow crewmembers to go out and gain experience with other crews and programs.