For three days, we’ll honor our shared legacy, learn from some of the most respected voices in wildland fire, and build stronger connections across crews and generations. Whether you’re new to fire, a seasoned Grayhair, or somewhere in between – all are welcome.

The conference kicks off Thursday with US Hotshots Association member voting – your chance to help shape the future of our organization – followed by an evening mixer and icebreaker at the Crowne Plaza's outdoor bar. Friday night, we'll continue building connections at the Hotshot Reunion, hosted at Ventura Coast Brewing Company's private patio and Cabana Bar.

All registered attendees will have the opportunity to participate in the Thomas Fire Staff Ride (limited to 30 people per group, 60 total) and learn from expert presentations and personal experiences. We'll hear Jose Navarro share his experiences and insights from the South Canyon Fire, learn about fire operations from Fire Behavior Analyst Dennis Burns who was on the Thomas Fire, and discover cutting-edge technological advances from UC San Diego's Ilkay Altintas.

After the Staff Ride, we'll share a fajita dinner followed by an inspiring keynote from Brian Fennessy, Fire Chief of Orange County Fire Authority, and close with our respected Grayhair Panel, where USHA's most experienced members share their wisdom gleaned from on and off the fireline. A special thank you to our long-time sponsor, Mystery Ranch, for their continued leadership in supporting our organization. We'd also like to thank AeroFlite and True North Gear for their contributions towards the conference.

Event Overview

Date: February 13-15, 2025

Accommodation Details

Venue: Crowne Plaza, Ventura, CA
Room Block: 20 rooms reserved for US Hotshots Association Conference Attendees
Rate: $191/night (ocean front rooms available). You will receive a booking link to reserve at discounted rate once you register. You must use this link to receive the discounted rate, discount only valid for rooms reserved before January 26th, 2025.

Featured Speakers & Presentations

Randy Skelton - Welcome speech, USHA President
Chad Cook - Introduction, Deputy Chief, Ventura County Fire Department
Brian Fennessy - Keynote Speaker, Fire Chief of Orange County Fire Authority
Robert Garcia - USFS Angeles NF - Chief 1, Insights from the Eaton Fire
Dennis Burns - Fire Behavior Analyst, Thomas Fire
Ilkay Altintas - UC San Diego California Office of Wildfire Technology Research
Jose Navarro - Insights from the South Canyon Fire: Turning Scars Into Lessons
Bethany Hannah - Moderator for panel "Suppression Action as Resilience Action"
Anthony Escobar - USHA Member and Grayhair Panel Moderator

Daily Schedule

Thursday, February 13

0900-1200: US Hotshots Association (USHA) Board Meeting (officers and directors only)
1400-1700: USHA All Membership Meeting
- Open to all current members, however voting rights are reserved for members who have served a full season on a Hotshot Crew.
- Board nominations and voting
1730-2000: Hotshot Mixer and Icebreaker at Crowne Plaza outdoor bar

Friday, February 14

0900-1200: Speakers/Presentations - San Miguel Conference Room A.
1200-1300: Lunch Break (20 restaurants within walking distance)
1300-1530: Speakers/Presentations
1530-1630: Staff Ride Introduction
1700-2000: Brewery Social and Hotshot Reunion
- Location: Ventura Coast Brewing Company
- Private patio and Cabana Bar reserved
- Happy Place Eatery Food Truck (SmashBurgers) on-site

Saturday, February 15

Staff Ride Groups A & B: Off Site
- Group A: 0800-1430
- Group B: 0900-1530
Evening Events (San Miguel Conference Room A):
- 1730-1830: Fajita Buffet
- 1830: Keynote Speaker Brian Fennessy, Fire Chief of Orange County Fire Authority
- 1900-2000: Grayhair Panel with moderator Anthony Escobar

Staff Ride Information

Staff rides are a proven effective technique for experiential learning in the wildland fire service. By immersing fire professionals in the actual locations of past fire events, staff rides provide a unique opportunity to study fire behavior, analyze decision-making processes, and apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. Note: If you tried to register for the Conference registration + Staff Ride option and were unable, we have reached max capacity. If you'd still like to attend the conference, please register for the No Staff Ride option.

This educational event requires:

Pre-study material review (to be distributed week of Feb 3rd via email)
Participation in one of two scheduled groups on February 15th
Transportation to/from Staff Ride is provided
Come prepared for hiking in the elements. There will be a .75 mile hike (roundtrip).
Limited to 30 participants per group, 2 groups total.

Registration fees are charged to cover venue rental and food provisions only. No fees are being collected for participation in the Staff Ride. If you'd like to support the legacy of fallen firefighter Corey Iverson, we invite you to visit the Iverson Foundation of Active Awareness to make a donation.

2025 USHA Conference

Join us in Ventura, California Feb 13-15th, 2025!

Team Members