2008 fire season underway at various locations

FORT DEFIANCE, May 8, 2008

The 2008 fire season for the Navajo Nation's firefighters is underway.

The Navajo Hot Shots left for the South Tularosa fire on the Mescalero Apache Reservation on May 2, according to Calvin Becenti, coordinator for the Navajo Scouts.

"They were itching to go out," he said.

As of Wednesday, the South Tularosa Fire, which started on May 1, had burned 3,860 acres and was 70 percent contained.

Becenti, as part of the Navajo Region BIA Forestry Department in Fort Defiance, provides training for the Navajo Scouts.

The Navajo Hot Shots, under the leadership of Leo LaPaz, Mescalero Apache, are also trained at the BIA Forestry Department, which serves as the base camp for the Navajo Scouts and Hot Shots.

The Hot Shots, according to Navajo Scout representative Henry Watchman, "are the best of the best."

Hot Shots, who are Type I wildland firefighters, are an elite group who are trained to be at the front line of most intense fires in rigorous terrain, which often involves being airlifted near the fire where they "stake out" for days.

Staking out should not be confused with camping out. Staking out means total isolation away from hot meals, hot showers and camping areas.

Becenti said six Scout crews were out on assignment to Fort Stanton, Texas, the Trigo Fire in New Mexico's Manzano Mountains, and Canyon de Chelley.

The Canyon de Chelley assignment was for a prescribed or controlled burn.

During the Gathering of Nations Powwow in Albuquerque two weeks ago, heavy smoke from the Trigo Fire blanketed the Albuquerque area.

As of Wednesday, the Trigo Fire, which started on April 15, had burned 12,680 acres and was 60 percent contained.

Watchman noted that his crew left the Trigo Fire and went to the Jemez fire at the beginning of the week.

He said the people of Jemez Pueblo took good care of his crew.

"We're all chilied out," Watchman said with a smile and laugh. "It was our best assignment."

Watchman said the terrain at the Jemez fire forced his crew to hike three miles up Bear Head Mountain to the fire, where they did a lot of "saw work."

"They're one of the best crews I've had," said Watchman, who is going on his 19th fire season. "These guys worked as one unit. No one complained. And they showed a lot of initiative."

Becenti said the Navajo Nation's fire season started last month in Shiprock.

Last year's fire season consisted of 62 fires on and off the reservation, he said.

Information: 928-205-3459.

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