Amador County – U.S. Forest Service Hotshot fire fighter Chris Kidd took a detour through Pine Grove Conservation Camp that started his career, and earlier this summer he met with his former instructors and team leaders while they all fought the Canyon Fire in Fresno County.

Pine Grove Youth Conservation Camp Superintendent Mike Roots said Sergeant Rod Spencer and Omar Hill of the Pine Grove Conservation Camp Strike Team were working on the Canyon Fire in June when they ran into Chris Kidd, whose new team was working the same fire.

Roots said Kidd started his fire fighting career at Pine Grove Camp in 2006. He received his Graduation Equivalency Diploma and then in 2008 his High School Diploma.

After almost failing the program a couple times, Kidd made it to the top phase. He paroled from Pine Grove Camp in February 2009 on the top phase. He was the working as “first saw” on Crew 1 and at his last case conference his Fire Captain gave him a grade of “A” on crew, saying: “Chris is doing very well in the position of responsibility for the maintenance of the chainsaws for the crew.” Kidd also managed the Cal Fire Warehouse for several months.

Before Kidd paroled, his Case Manager, Richard Forster, had taken Kidd to the bank and helped him set up a bank account. He also worked with Kidd to complete his application for the USFS station in his county.

Roots said “it was great to see him working on the Canyon Fire.”

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