VIDEO: A South African hotshot crew was sent to fight the Howe Ridge Fire in Glacier National Park. Thanks to NCC Environmental Services for the video. | NBC Montana

To kick off their two-week critical training, the BLM Alaska Fire Service Midnight Sun Interagency Hotshot Crew (IHC) and the Chena IHC participated in the Bureau of Land Management Fire Operations Fitness Challenge on Monday, April 29. The Challenge tests hotshots in push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups and a timed run for a maximum score of 400 points with the added incentive of competing against all other BLM IHCs. AFS hosts two of the BLM’s 10 Interagency Hotshot Crews. Because these fire suppression