Forest Service Hotshot Heidi Esh “Jumps” to New Job

Heidi Esh couldn’t have asked for better training in her efforts to become a Federal Smokejumper. For the last seven years, she proudly served as a Del Rosa Hotshot. The Del Rosa Hotshots are America’s original hotshot crew, established in 1946. Hotshot crews are the backbone of wildland fire suppression; digging line, laying hose lines and hiking up steep rugged terrain all in the attempt to preserve life, property and natural resources during a wildland fire. Esh begins her new adventure next month, starting with smokejumper training as a rookie candidate in Boise, Idaho. Smokejumpers are federal wildland firefighters who parachute into a remote area to combat wildfires. Smokejumpers are most often deployed to fires that are extremely remote. A Southern California native, Esh was born and raised in Torrance, California, the second of six children. She attended the University of Redlands, where she earned her bachelor of science in environmental science and went on to receive her master of science in geographic information systems (GIS). Esh joined the Forest Service as a hotshot in 2009, coming from ESRI, in nearby Redlands, where she was part of a nautical solution team to develop software for hydrographic offices for various agencies. “I came to the Forest Service for the adventures I knew I would experience, but also because I wanted something to challenge me not only mentally but physically,” Heidi explains. “Being with Del Rosa has given me many opportunities to grow and learn. The Forest Service leadership allows us to go out and experience different parts of the organization.” “Heidi’s success on the Del Rosa Hotshots is her lifestyle of being healthy, physically fit, willingness to take on challenges, positive mental attitude, and her never give up ethos,” described Neil Gamboa, superintendent for the Del Rosa Interagency Hotshots. Nationwide, there are approximately 300 personnel serving on the elite federal resource known as smokejumpers, out of approximately 10,000 federal wildland firefighters. Heidi set her goals to achieve this distinction and excited about her next career adventure. When asked what it takes to make it here, Esh explains, “You have to be physically fit. That encompasses all portions of fitness endurance and strength – you will need both to make it up the hill with 45 pounds on your back in the summer time.” “Heidi has talents beyond the physical demands of the job,” said Superintendent Gamboa. “She is physically strong, mentally tough, has a bright spirit, and is highly educated,” Esh maintains that attitude is everything. “Even if you find yourself very fatigued at times, you have to stay positive,” said Heidi. “Out of all the advice I can really give is to always stay true to yourself, and have respect for yourself and your crew.” Interested in a career with the U.S. Forest Service? Apply on-line at www.usajobs.gov The program is a division of the U.S. Forest Service whose mission is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the U.S. Forest Service manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the nation's clean water supply, a value estimated at $7.2 billion per year. The agency has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of the 850 million forested acres within the United States, of which 100 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live. Learn more at http://www.fs.usda.gov/sbnf