A hand crew is an organized group made of approximately 20 trained and qualified individuals that are principally used for wild land fire operations. The primary mission of OCFA’s firefighter hand crew is to provide a safe, organized, mobile, and highly skilled workforce for all phases of wild land fire operations. The tough duties and specialized assignments required of hand crew personnel necessitate staffing, certification, training, and qualifications that are the same, and adhered to by all. The primary function of OCFA’s Firefighter Hand Crew Program is to construct fire line by hand in areas where heavy equipment cannot be used because of steep topography, rocky terrain, or areas that may be considered environmentally sensitive. The enhanced capabilities of this program allows for an all-risk workforce that changes the OCFA’s response to flood and debris flows, natural disasters, major incidents and other complex emergencies. After the 2007 Santiago Fire, the OCPFA Board of Directors concluded that a hand crew is necessary in Orange County. The recommendation for a 22 person crew was approved in March of 2008, but due to the poor economic climate no such crew has been implemented. The annual cost for 22 hand crew firefighter positions is about $1.7 million.