NPS 
NPS Interagency Hotshot Crew MissionThe primary mission of Interagency Hotshot Crews (IHCs) is to provide a safe, organized, mobile, and highly skilled hand crew for all phases of wildland fire operations. The arduous duties and specialized assignments required of IHC personnel require staffing, certification, training, equipment, communications, transportation, organization, and qualifications that are uniform, adhered to by all IHCs and ensure the redemption of IHC duties and responsibilities. Alpine Interagency Hotshot Crew VisionThrough their actions, ethics, and traditions the Alpine Hotshots exemplify the firefighter leadership core values of safety, duty, respect, integrity, and teamwork. Alpine Interagency Hotshot Crew HistoryThe Alpine Interagency Hotshot Crew was started in 1981 following the Ouzel Fire of 1978 in Rocky Mountain National Park. After this incident, the National Park Service decided to fund three hotshot crews to help contribute to national fire suppression efforts largely shouldered by the U.S. Forest Service. The three NPS hotshot crews were initially named Arrowhead #1, #2, and #3. In 1982, the crews were each individually renamed Alpine (formally Arrowhead #1), Arrowhead, and Bison. The Bison crew was disbanded in 1985 due to funding constraints, but both Alpine and Arrowhead remain to this day. Initially Alpine did not have a permanent duty station or barracks. They spent time at several park service units and other accommodations through the years. Due to this nomadic approach, they were able to pick up and move as the fires, project work, and funding shifted. In 1992, bids were submitted by several parks to become the permanent home for Alpine. Rocky Mountain National Park won this bid and by 1994 they completed construction on facilities for the crew. The park has been Alpine’s home duty station since then. Each year, though based out of Rocky Mountain National Park, Alpine spends their summer supporting national wildland fire response. This involves traveling thousands of miles, working in countless fuel and forest types, and supporting incidents both large and small. Alpine strives to provide a quality service for land managers from every agency, including state and private lands. Through these efforts, Alpine retains and continues to build a reputation for professional, effective, and service oriented work, regardless of task or land manager.
Alpine Hotshot SuperintendentsJon Larson: 1981 – 1984 John Comery: 1984 – 1987 Paul Borcherding: 1987 Jim “JP” Mattingly: 1988 – 1997 David Niemi: 1997 – 2006 Chris Kirby: 2006 - 2007 Paul Cerda 2008 – 2016 James Champ 2017- Present 
NPS Alpine Hotshots Crew PhotosWork With UsAny open vacancy announcements will be posted on www.usajobs.gov. For detailed information on these jobs and to apply, visit USAJobs, and on the homescreen search for jobs located in Estes Park, Colorado. Contact Us!
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Last updated: March 31, 2025