Conference Summary

For three days, we’ll honor our shared legacy, learn from some of the most respected voices in wildland fire, and build stronger connections across crews and generations. Whether you’re new to fire, a seasoned Grayhair, or somewhere in between – all are welcome.

The conference kicks off Thursday with US Hotshots Association member voting – your chance to help shape the future of our organization – followed by an evening mixer and icebreaker at the Crowne Plaza's outdoor bar. Friday night, we'll continue building connections at the Hotshot Reunion, hosted at Ventura Coast Brewing Company's private patio and Cabana Bar.

All registered attendees will have the opportunity to participate in the Thomas Fire Staff Ride (limited to 30 people per group, 60 total) and learn from expert presentations and personal experiences. We'll hear Jose Navarro share his experiences and insights from the South Canyon Fire, learn about fire operations from Fire Behavior Analyst Dennis Burns who was on the Thomas Fire, and discover cutting-edge technological advances from UC San Diego's Ilkay Altintas.

After the Staff Ride, we'll share a fajita dinner followed by an inspiring keynote from Brian Fennessy, Fire Chief of Orange County Fire Authority, and close with our respected Grayhair Panel, where USHA's most experienced members share their wisdom gleaned from on and off the fireline.

Featured Speakers

• Randy Skelton - Welcome speech, US Hotshots Association President

• Brian Fennessy - Keynote Speaker, Fire Chief of Orange County Fire Authority

• Chad Cook - Introduction, Deputy Chief, Ventura County Fire Department

• JW Allendorf - YOU are the most important part of your long-term safety: PTSD and addiction recovery in the fire service

• Dennis Burns - Fire Behavior Analyst from the Thomas Fire

• Ilkay Altintas, Ph.D - UC San Diego Super Computer Center

• Jose Navarro - Insights from the South Canyon Fire

• Bethany Hannah (Moderator)- American Wildfire Experience Executive Director and USHA Board Member

• Anthony Escobar (Moderator) - US Hotshots Association Member and Grayhair Panel Moderator
  
  

Reshaping the Wildland Fire Workforce

Keynote Speaker: Brian Fennessy

Brian Fennessy serves as Fire Chief of the Orange County Fire Authority, overseeing 2,000+ personnel serving 2 million residents. With over 40 years of experience starting in federal wildland firefighting, he previously led San Diego Fire-Rescue before joining OCFA in 2018. He holds key leadership positions in state and national fire organizations and has received prestigious awards including IAFC Career Fire Chief of the Year in 2023.

Turning Scars Into Lessons and Tears Into Triumph

Jose Luis Navarro IV

Join Jose Navarro as he shares his unique perspective as a GS-4 firefighter who survived the 1994 South Canyon Fire in Colorado. He will share how he synthesized the world around him in an effort to turn his scars into lessons, becoming a recently awarded California Teacher of the Year.

YOU Are The Most Important Part Of Your Long-term Safety

JW Allendorf

Hard hats, Nomex, gloves, WILL NOT protect your soul, mind, spirit that  carry you through a healthy & productive life. It is up to each of us as individuals to face up to, address, and seek out sources available to prevent destruction from creeping into our lives, and those close to us.

Suppression Action as Resilience Action

Bethany Hannah (Moderator)

Panelists - Hotshot Superintendents

Our fire environment has changed dramatically in recent decades. As a result, suppression actions must not only stop fires but also build ecological and community resilience. This panel, featuring current and former Hotshot superintendents and moderated by USHA Board Member Bethany Hannah, will explore how Hotshot crews can and should be at the forefront of developing adaptive fire strategies—treating suppression as an opportunity to build long-term resilience to wildfire. Panelists will share fireline insights, emphasizing tactics that balance aggressive suppression with ecosystem recovery and long-term risk reduction

Tales from a Fire Behavior Analyst who has a Facebook Fan Club (not joking)

Dennis Burns

You may have seen him out on the fireline or perhaps you’ve joined the Facebook Fan Club (Yes, we’re being serious), Dennis is one of the few Fire Behavior Analysts (FBAN) that even the most uninterested firefighters will pay attention to during morning briefings. Dennis Burns has been a Fire Behavior Analyst on California incident management teams for the last 25 years. He has served in the ranks from firefighter to Battalion Chief and is retired from the Livermore Pleasanton Fire Department. Dennis is a member of the S-590 Steering Committee, Co-Chair of the S-490 Steering Committee and a member of the NWCG Fire Weather Subcommittee. Dennis was FBAN for the last 2 weeks of Thomas Fire and will be sharing his accounts of fire behavior on this wind driven event.

Thomas Fire Staff Ride: An Experiential Learning Opportunity

We are teaming up with Ventura County Fire Department to conduct a Staff Ride. Staff rides are a proven effective technique for experiential learning in the wildland fire service. By immersing fire professionals in the actual locations of past fire events, staff rides provide a unique opportunity to study fire behavior, analyze decision-making processes, and apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. The Staff Ride is open to anyone attending the conference, regardless if you’re a Hotshot. All are Welcome!

Note: You do not have to participate in the Staff Ride to attend the conference. Upon registering, you’ll have the option to sign-up for the “Conference & No Staff Ride” option. If you do want to participate, there are only 60 spots available, so register quick. **If you tried to register for the Conference registration + Staff Ride option and were unable, we have reached max capacity.

Accommodation Details

• Venue: Crowne Plaza, Ventura, CA

• Room Block: 20 rooms reserved for USHA Conference Attendees

• Rate: $191/night (ocean front rooms available)

• A booking link will be sent with your registration confirmation. Room discount is only available until Jan 26th, 2025.

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