Housing and Recreation

The Arrowhead Hotshots are based at the Swale Work Center in Grant Grove.

 

It sometimes snows as late as May or even June in Grant Grove!

The Arrowhead Hotshots are based in the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park, within the mixed conifer forest, at an elevation of 6240 feet. During the typical May – October season, temperatures can range from the 20s to the 80s.

Crew members are housed in cabins with one to two roommates. The cabins have electricity and woodstove heating. Individual storage space is limited. There are campsites at the station for visiting friends and relatives. Food is prepared and served in a communal kitchen. There are no individual cooking accommodations.

 

Firefighters, park staff, and others at Swale Work Center for the Grant West Staff Ride in 2018

Between the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service land nearby, crew members have a bounty of outdoor recreation options. Activities in the surrounding area include swimming, fishing, boating, mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking, wildlife viewing, hunting, and 4WD trails. There are some facilities within walking distance of crew housing, including a small store, a post office, a restaurant, and the Kings Canyon Visitor Center. The hotshot duty station has facilities for volleyball, basketball, horseshoes, weight lifting, a TV/DVD with a satellite (no streaming), a pool table, and a sauna.