US Forest Service "hotshot" firefighters emerge from the forest after setting advances fires.

Michael Laferrier, a firefighter with the Taos 5 hotshots.

A controlled burn of grassland, set to block the main fire from spreading, burns quickly and leaves trees unharmed.

Backfires set by the Crane Valley hotshots prevent the spread of the main fire along the fire containment lines.

US Forest Service firefighters carefully burn dry grass to form a fire line. Fire Service "hotshots" work along side CalFire firefighters to burn a fire line to stop the approaching forest fire.

Smoke plumes from the fire in the mountains of the Paso Robles National Park.

a firefighter with the Smokey Bear hotshots.

A US Forest Service "hotshot" firefighter sets the grass alight with a drip torch ahead of the main fire.

Firefighters man the fire line, watching for flying embers.

US Forest Service "hotshot" firefighters emerge from the forest after setting advances fires.

Backfires set by the Crane Valley hotshots prevent the spread of the main fire along the fire containment lines. The distinctive yellow and green clothing of US Forest Service firefighters is actually a special kind of fire-resistent fabric called "Nomex."

Janine Summy, Human Resource Specialist, helps firefighters work together in a complex, multiethnic, and stressful environment. Like many of the support staff at the fire camp, Summy is a former firefighter.

A smoke cloud rises above backfires lit by Crane Valley hotshots as they burn a fire line.

When high humidity stops firefighters from setting backfires by hand, a "helitorch" is called in to start the fires. Backfires set by the Crane Valley hotshots prevent the spread of the main fire along the fire containment lines.

Nicholas Cravedi, a firefighter with the Taos 5 hotshots.

The Crane Valley hotshot firefighting team sets out to backfire along the containment lines.

Fighting forest fires puts heavy wear on equipment, including the hoses that can carry water even three miles, up hill, to the front lines.

California Conservation Corps workers clean and roll hoses for the firefighters at the base camp.

Bishop Services serves up three meals a day, a total of 8,000 calories per person, out of specially designed truck trailers.

The roads in Carmel Valley are lined by sIgns from residents thanking the firefighters.