Elk Mountain Hotshots History

The Elk Mountain Hotshots is hosted by the Upper Lake Ranger District on the Mendocino National Forest in Upper Lake, California. The crew was established in 2002 under the MEL build up in Region Five. Originally a ten person crew the District fire Management officer had the choice of making the crew a twenty person crew or a dozer, and chose a twenty person crew. The crew was originally known as Mendo 49. In 2003 the name Elk Mountain Handcrew was established after a local mountain. While on forest the crew’s official name is Crew 4.

In June 2009 a regional certification team came and certified the Crew becoming Elk Mountain Hotshots.