Federal Fire Crews Bring Expertise to Huge West Texas Fire

In firefighting circles, they are considered the best of the best. Hotshots, they’re called — a specially trained assortment of federal firefighters tasked with battling the most stubborn blazes in the most rugged terrain. Armed with chainsaws and incendiary devices, at least nine of these teams have brought their expertise to West Texas to battle one of the largest wildfires in the state’s history. Fueled by strong winds and extreme drought conditions, the Rock House Fire has burned more than 485 square miles in three weeks and destroyed at least 41 homes and businesses.