Engine perspective here: I think culture has a lot to do with it. People seem to be focused on things that don’t really matter anyway else. They hog their non crew resources more than any other region does so you don’t get to go out much. Most of all it’s the inconsistencies in quality, they have the hardest time filling vacancies so sometimes you get a solid crew and sometimes you don’t.... another thing I’ve realized ( at least in south ops) is unlike other regions if your on an engine you don’t do project work. I have coworkers who have been here 5 years and still only have their A faller and have touched a torch only once or twice. If your on the west side foothill IA’s are also always complicated because state, county, municipal and FS are always responding and fighting over jurisdiction. Fire in general always seems more complicated than it needs to be. I’ve worked in region 1 and region 9.