Grab the Fire By the Tail!

By Larry Scott

“It’s a smokin’ hot summer afternoon,” says Rich Jones. “Not a cloud in the sky — just smoke. We’ve been at it since 6 a.m., 60-pound packs on our backs, chainsaws in hand, building a fire line one grueling step at a time. Sixteen-hour days. Haven’t seen my family in a

week. You don’t have to be crazy to do this job… but it might help.”

Rich Jones is Battalion Chief 7-3-2 with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. His story, and the program he serves, reveals far more than just fighting flames.

Wildland firefighting is dramatically different from structural firefighting. Teams hike deep into rugged terrain with heavy gear, clearing combustible vegetation by hand to create barriers that stop the fire’s spread. During the off-season, they perform critical fuel

reduction — removing dead trees, underbrush, and low branches to make future fires less destructive.

Arizona fields 12 such teams, sponsored by the Department of Forestry and Fire Management and the Department of Rehab and Reentry. Many team members begin as carefully selected prison

inmate volunteers. As they complete their sentences, many stay on as paid state employees.

“The program’s core values are duty, respect, integrity — and incredibly hard work,” Rich explains. “It’s changing lives. These men earn respect and become productive members of society.”

For Rich, the transformation is personal. Twelve years ago, he was incarcerated at Fort Grant, serving five years. There, through Prison Chaplain Mark Stevens and his wife Kathy, he met Christ and experienced a life-changing turnaround. He applied for the wildland fire team, trained hard, and rose through the ranks

— from team member to Team Leader to his current role as Suppression Battalion Chief.

Rich now leads “tailgate sessions,” gathering his crew around his pickup for motivational pep talks.

“This work is hard — sometimes painful — but we’re tough!

We make a difference. Put the past behind you and build a brand-new life. Never look back!”

The results speak for themselves: roughly 90 percent of participants successfully rebuild their lives. Some move into other careers; others continue as professional firefighters.

“Our teams grab the fire by the tail,” Rich says, “to save

lives, property, and — most importantly — restore hope.”