Episode 188: Kelly Ramsey--Life on the Fireline in the Burning American West
Podcast: Reckoning with Jason HerbertPublished On: Mon Mar 16 2026
Description: Wildfires are no longer rare disasters in the American West—they are a defining feature of the landscape. But very few people have seen them up close.In this episode, Jason Herbert speaks with Kelly Ramsey, author of Wildfire Days: A Woman, a Hotshot Crew, and the Burning American West. Ramsey spent multiple seasons on an elite wildland firefighting crew—known as hotshots—the teams sent to the most dangerous parts of massive fires.Ramsey was also the only woman on her crew, navigating a demanding and deeply male-dominated culture while battling some of the largest fires in recent Western history.Together we explore:What it actually feels like to stand on the firelineThe intense culture and camaraderie of hotshot crewsThe growing reality of megafires in the American WestGender, belonging, and earning trust in one of the toughest jobs in AmericaWhat these fires reveal about the future of the Western landscapePart adventure story, part personal reckoning, Wildfire Days offers a powerful look at life inside the fires that are reshaping the American West.
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