In this episode, Chelsi is joined by Lacey Keller Smith, a wildland fire wife and cofounder of Fired Up, a nonprofit supporting wildland fire families. Together, they talk about what home life really looks like in a federal wildland fire family and how those realities compare and intersect with CAL FIRE and structure fire life.

Lacey breaks down the federal wildland schedule in a way most people have never heard, including 5/8s, fire season extensions, six day weeks, and 14 day assignments that often turn into 16 to 18 days with travel. She explains why the hardest part is not always the dramatic moments, but the long stretches of daily grind where dad comes home late, kids stay up just to see him, and the family runs on fumes for weeks at a time.

Chelsi adds the CAL FIRE perspective, including the reality of split schedules, how different assignments create completely different home experiences, and why agencies struggle to support families when the job itself is unpredictable by design. Together, they dig into the “station family” gap in wildland, how inconsistent support depends on leadership, and why spouses often do not have the built-in community that firefighters have on their crews.

Lacey also shares what Fired Up is building, including a family handbook designed to fill the resource gap that currently leaves spouses and parents without guidance, from practical needs like washing wildland gear safely to the emotional reality of supporting kids when a parent is gone. This conversation is honest, deeply validating, and focused on what helps, including building local and online support, being more vocal, and giving spouses permission to acknowledge that the fire service touches the whole family.

Visit fireduppartners.org for more info.

Takeaways:

• Wildland firefighting impacts the entire family unit.

• Isolation is a common experience among fire families.

• Communication is key to maintaining family relationships during deployments.

• Building community among fire families can alleviate feelings of loneliness.

• Understanding the unique challenges of wildland firefighting is crucial for support.

• Fire families need to be vocal about their experiences to drive change.

Kewywords: wildland firefighting, fire families, community support, mental health, family dynamics, advocacy, firefighter schedules, isolation, family life

00:00 Introduction to Wildland Fire Families

02:09 The Mission of Fired Up Nonprofit

04:13 The Loneliness of Fire Families

05:57 Understanding the Wildland Fire Schedule

08:17 The Challenges of Family Time

10:15 Balancing Family and Responsibilities

12:31 The Need for Systemic Change

14:14 The Importance of Community Support

16:26 Navigating Personal Crises

18:28 The Disconnect with Leadership

20:13 The Need for Family Inclusion

22:24 The Complexity of Fire Family Experiences

24:27 The Future of Wildland Firefighting

26:13 Conclusion and Call to Action

31:19 The Importance of Community in Fire Families

32:11 Navigating Tragedy and Support Systems

32:50 Understanding the Spouse's Experience

36:17 Communication and Identity in Fire Families

39:33 Managing Family Dynamics and Expectations

40:41 Technology and Family Relationships

41:15 Building Community and Connection