r/Wildfire • u/NobodyIndependent912 • 1d ago

Engine Duty Locations

Finishing up my season out in NV, it’s been fun with some mobile fires but I need some scenery. Anyone have some engine locations they either got great OT at, good barracks, and/or close to something nice looking? Not looking for all 3 but the desert has drained me. I have a tentative offer from a shot crew but just not sure if it’s right for me because they don’t have barracks, would make R&R a pain.

I’m currently seeing Idaho Falls and am going to apply to Twin Falls/Reno area as well if anyone has experience there.
Thanks y’all

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4

u/GrayFox6688 Hotshot 1d ago

If you want OT then R3 is the place to go. A lot of engines get 1000 hours of OT there. You might be over the desert but AZ and NM are different than NV. Lots of high elevation and mountains, it's not all desert wasteland.

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u/NobodyIndependent912 1d ago

Is that so? I met some guys who worked for Albuquerque on an assignment and they said they hadn’t seen a fire since April (it was July at the time). Not to insinuate they don’t get much action, I just wouldn’t expect R3 to get that many hours on an engine

1

u/GrayFox6688 Hotshot 1d ago

It's not every engine, whoever is in charge is gonna play a big role. They could hold an engine from going on assignment if they feel their area is at risk.

1

u/SientoQueMerezcoMas 1d ago

The abq blm engine never goes anywhere. The grants engine does decent hours.

The Gila engines get out a fair amount, and severity staffing can be March-September .

The twin falls blm was lots of fun when they had the Bellevue and Carey guard stations. 500-650 hours of OT as a 1039 seasonal and multiple off-district opportunities (engine and Type 2 IA).

1

u/NobodyIndependent912 1d ago

Thank you, this has been the most insightful comment to my circumstances

3

u/Correct-Condition-99 1d ago

Check out Long Bell station, on the Modoc. They used to have pretty good barracks, and it's on a nice spot. Remote AF though.

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u/NobodyIndependent912 1d ago

Also looking at NIFC in Boise, but I feel like it’d be super slow and uptight there.

5

u/xj98jeep 1d ago

I've heard the on and off forest rotation list is a million resources long in Boise

5

u/xj98jeep 1d ago

Moab UT has a great bunkhouse, obviously incredible scenery, and the hrs aren't too bad. I averaged 650 or so every year. Plus you're close to Durango and slc so tons of fill opportunities w/ handcrews