Forged in Flame

By Cadence Estermann, Forestry and Fire Science ‘25

Retired United States Forest Service Interagency Hotshot Crew Superintendent Shapes the Next Generation of Wildland Firefighters.

After more than 32 years with the United States Forest Service (USFS), Doug Aversano has spent the past 16 years on the front lines in the classroom as a lecturer in the Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences Department. His contributions to the Forest and Fire Sciences program have paved the way for students pursuing careers in fire and fuels management, forestry, and of course, firefighting.   

This summer, Aversano was a primary contributor for the Cal Poly Magazine feature story “Forged in Flame,” giving a detailed account of the Santa Lucia Crew 7 (Crew 7), a student-based, Type II, firefighting hand crew that has provided Cal Poly students with experience on the fire line for more than 50 years. Aversano has been involved with the crew since the early 1980s, when he started as a trainee crew boss. He later served as the Crew 7 crew supervisor from 1987 through 2001.

As a lecturer, Aversano teaches several fire-related courses including the Wildland Fire Control class, which plays a crucial role in equipping students with the hands-on training needed for careers in wildland firefighting, including the opportunity to join Crew 7. He views the feature story on Crew 7 as a “long overdue and well-deserved" recognition of both the crew’s legacy and the critical role the Forestry and Fire Sciences program plays in shaping the next generation of wildland firefighters.

Aversano describes teaching as a natural continuation of his career, explaining that it allows him to continue mentoring young firefighters. With his extensive field experience, he brings a deeper understanding of the changing dynamics within wildland fires, from changes in technology to increasingly severe wildfires. Aversano believes in expanding fire education beyond just fire science students, emphasizing that it is crucial to inform all students willing to learn, as the effects of wildfires reach far beyond the fire line.

Read the Cal Poly Magazine feature story “Forged in Flame” here.

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