'This photo captures how we feel': Photo of firefighter in Big Sur's Willow Fire tugs at emotions

[Demovictory9]

https://www.sfgate.com/california-wildfires/article/firefighter-hotshot-Justin-Grunewald-Willow-Fire-16274671.php?IPID=SFGate-HP-CP-Spotlight

At the beginning of what's expected to be a record-breaking wildfire season in California, a photo of a firefighter who has battled flames in Big Sur's Willow Fire is becoming a symbol of the foreboding 2021 wildfire season.

Justin Grunewald, his face and clothing covered in ash, appears exhausted, resting for what was likely a brief moment amid a stream of grueling days.

Grunewald is what's known as a hotshot, a member of a U.S. Forest crew trained to battle wildfires under the most dangerous conditions. As a captain with the Mill Creek hotshots, he has been hiking miles daily to access the remote Willow Fire that has grown to nearly 3,000 acres in a week.

"In the wildland arena, the hotshots are the All Stars," said Steve Rasmussen, a spokesperson for the Willow Incident. "The Los Padres National Forest where the Willow Fire is...it's very steep, rugged terrain, inaccessible in many parts. For several days now hot shot crews were flown into remote areas to access the fire and they're also hiking in. It’s hot, it’s dry, it’s steep, it’s rugged, it’s dangerous and they train for it."


https://www.sfgate.com/california-wildfires/article/firefighter-hotshot-Justin-Grunewald-Willow-Fire-16274671.php?IPID=SFGate-HP-CP-Spotlight

[Hugh_Lebowski]

1. Hotshots FTFW! Tough, brave people ... true heroes!

[Phoenix61]

2. I knew a forest ranger in Alabama who did that.

He was out west once and was dropped out of a helicopter to get to a fire. Nice, quite guy but, in my opinion, definitely a bad ass.

[EarnestPutz]

3. President Biden is trying to get these guys more pay, which should just be a no brainer.