April 11, 2022
Last weekend, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) was proud to support the Big Bear Interagency Hotshots as they competed in the 2022 Hotshot Up Volleyball Tournament at the San Buenaventura Beach in Ventura, California. The tournament was organized by the U.S. Hotshot Association to raise funds to help accomplish its mission: to support, promote, protect, and preserve all Hotshot Crews and Hotshot Crewmembers – current, former, and future. The event was held in honor of hotshots Matthew Watt and Daniel Laird, as well as Charlie Morton, a Big Bear Squad Boss who was tragically killed fighting the El Dorado Fire in 2020.
NFFE sponsored a court at the tournament which held the championship match and covered the entry fees for Big Bear’s two teams. The teams wore special jerseys adorning the Big Bear Hotshots emblem and the NFFE Fire badge. Drinks at the tournament were served in reusable cups featuring the NFFE Fire and Hotshot Up logos. Additionally, a NFFE tent was set up alongside the court where union leaders explained the work NFFE has done and continues to do on behalf of federal wildland firefighters.
“It was awesome to be invited to participate at Hotshot Up and to sponsor the Big Bear Hotshot Crew,” said NFFE Business Representative and former wildland firefighter Max Alonzo. “Our main goal is to show the fire community that we are in the fight alongside them and that we are doing everything we can as a union to improve their situations. This event helped with that, and we look forward to seeing some of these firefighters as we visit USFS stations in the coming weeks.”
“I am very proud that NFFE was able to contribute to such an important cause and show support for our union members of the Big Bear Hotshot Crew,” said NFFE National President Randy Erwin. “The event was a huge success and we know that it will go a long way in providing support for hotshot firefighters and their families across the country. NFFE will always be here to help the U.S. Hotshot Association and our fire members in their charity efforts.”