``Every fire we've been on, it rained. It's been a nice quiet year,'' said Brett Loomis, a squad boss on the 20-member team.
The crew has been dispatched to blazes from Florida to Washington state this year, with the largest about 25,000 acres. Team members described it as a slow but steady summer.
``All the fires have been really low key,'' Loomis said.
Between fires, the Hotshots thin forests, do prescribed burns or train. At the beginning of the season, they spend 80 hours in training, learning about their strengths and weaknesses and developing teamwork.
``One of the best things is the camaraderie,'' said Bethany Hannah, a senior firefighter and a Hotshot for six years.
The Craig crew will be laid off in three weeks because of budget constraints. Some spend the off-season in school while others travel, teach or go skiing and snowboarding.
