Las Vegas wildland firefighting crew provides career avenues for veterans

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - From the front lines to the fire line.

A local wildland firefighting crew is provides a transition for veterans into civilian service. They play a crucial role in protecting public lands during severe wildfire seasons.

The Vegas Valley Veterans Hand Crew has a common trait: military service. The 20-person crew was established in 2012 and is one of the first three BLM veteran crews to be commissioned.

“The primary mission that the crew has is to transition veterans from the military service into civilian service and provide them a glide path into federal service, employment opportunities and allow them to seek permanent employment if they choose that route,” JP Blair, the superintendent of the Vegas Valley Hand Crew said.

Blair says the role has changed his life after serving in the military.

“Have a rough chain of command that kind of resembles the military, we have a physical regime that is very similar to the challenges of teamwork, that are very much the same,” he said.

Vegas Valley is based out of the Red Rock Fire Station in the Red Rock National Conservation Area. This type 2 initial attack hand crew is responsible for constructing fire lines with hand tools and also wildfire suppression actions.

“We mostly support large fire efforts throughout the western states, we are available anywhere in the nation for fire support including Alaska,” Blair added.

There are eight veterans crews stationed across western states.

• Arivaipa Hotshots in Sierra Vista, Arizona
• Billings Hand Crew located in Billings, Montana
• Devil’s Canyon Hand Crew in Worland, Wyoming
• Folsom Lake Hand Crew stationed near Folsom, California
• Lakeview Hotshots in Klamath Falls, Oregon
• Medford Hand Crew in Medford, Oregon
• Spokane Hand Crew in Spokane, Washington
• Vegas Valley Hand Crew located in Las Vegas, Nevada

During the fire year, the crew are available for about 100 days a year.

Some of the veterans will make this a career. While other move on to different government jobs.

“We get a lot of guys that have tried other jobs in other professions that end up here because they are lacking the camaraderie, the teamwork, and the brother, sisterhood environment that we are able to provide in firefighting,” Blair said.

For JP, it’s been a meaningful role.

“A very good career, very fulfilling,” he said.

The starting salary for a BLM wildland firefighter is $45,000.

Copyright 2024 KVVU. All rights reserved.