Oskaloosa Firefighter Using His Training To Help Fight Wildland Fires Out West

Fire Ops while fighting a wildland fire near Lake Tahoe. (photo by Dan Hoy)

October 29th, 2022

Oskaloosa, Iowa – During his regular shift, Oskaloosa Fire Captain Dan Hoy can be found doing his routine paperwork, maintenance duties, and more between calls.

Nearly every year, he answers another call to join other firefighters who tackle the forest fires that typically spark up in the western United States.

This year, Hoy was contracted by Cal Fire, where he worked on a wildland fire near Lake Tahoe in the Eldorado Forest.

Hoy typically plans on 21 days fighting fires but was home sooner since rain helped to snuff the blaze.

When Hoy is deployed into the fire, he and the rest of the crew head out in what is called a Type 6 Engine, which is a big pickup truck with a pump on the back.

This time, Hoy was busy using a chainsaw while they ensured the large equipment moving in didn’t start another fire.

A paycheck comes with the work, but Hoy says it’s not the money but the opportunity it gives him to spend time in places people don’t usually get to see or visit “and be surrounded by a beautiful, natural environment.”

“I get a ton of experience out there and work with different people and see how to manage those large-scale incidents where you have 1000s of people working on the fire,” said Hoy.

Hoy says it’s tough on the family with him being away from home. “Luckily, I have an amazing wife.”

“She really picks up the stuff back home,” adds Hoy. “By about day three or four, I’m missing the kids quite a bit, and they’re missing dad.”

But that sacrifice is to help strangers get back into or even save their homes from the fire. “It’s hard but necessary.”