The Chief Mountain Hotshots are a Native American Elite firefighting crew based out of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation located at Browning, Montana with Glacier National Park as their back yard. The 1988 and 1989 fire season was the two trial years for the crew. In 1990 the crew received their Type I Hotshot Status.

 

The Chief Mountain Hotshots are known as the “Warriors of the Forest” and are well known throughout the United States and Canada. In 1999 the crew received the National Safety Award for zero lost time accidents and zero reportable vehicle accidents.

 

The crew has been in existence for 20 years as of 2008. The Chief Mountain Hotshots have recently became the first and only P.L. 93-638 certified Native American Hotshot crew in Region I and stand proud to be considered one of the best Hotshot crews in the nation.

 

The Chief Mountain Hotshots are a highly trained self-sufficient hotshot crew, working in wildland firefighting. The Hotshot crew works 15 to 20 large fire incidents and travel 10,000 to 20,000 miles a year.

 

When the crew is not on any fire incidents they will assist the Blackfeet Nation with community service. The crew helps in spring clean-up, assist local people in burn permits, obtains fire wood for elderly and for spiritual needs.

 

The Chief Mountain Hotshots are also trained and support the community when called upon. The crew also works with the Blackfeet Tribe on fuel and fire management issues.