Federal firefighters left in limbo as fire season intensifies

WASHINGTON — As the first major heat wave of the year swept across the western United States last week, putting the region on fire alert, dozens of federal fire trucks remained unmanned in the midst of an exodus of firefighters.

Across the federal government, wildland firefighters are withdrawing, frustrated by low pay, lack of support and congressional inaction, fire advocates say.

“The hiring numbers this year are dismal,” said Riva Duncan, vice president of Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, an organization that advocates for federal firefighters. “Agencies are once again struggling to fill dispatching and engine, surge crew, helicopter and jump plane positions. »

Firefighters face a Sept. 30 funding deadline that could see a $20,000 or 50% retention bonus established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act expire in 2021.

If that funding were to expire, the starting wage would return to the minimum minimum of $15 an hour for federal employees, a rate noted by the Government Accountability Office in a report “that does not reflect the risk or physical demands of the job.” work “.

Testifying before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last year, Jaelith Hall-Rivera, then deputy head of the Forest Service, warned that if this temporary increase was not permanently funded, “we could lose 30-50% of our firefighting force within the Forest Service. It would be devastating.

Since then, federal firefighters have been left in limbo by Congress, as that pay increase has been announced four times in the past nine months. Each instance was extended through last-minute continuing resolutions passed to avoid government shutdowns.

Once again, a funding deadline looms at the end of summer for the firefighters.

“It’s infuriating,” Duncan said. “Even though it was very difficult to maintain funding in each RC, the uncertainty was brutal. »

According to the National Federation of Federal Employees, a major public sector union, over the past three years, more than 1,300 Forest Service firefighters have resigned, and the movement has only accelerated over the past three years. past year. Currently, 84 California Forest Service fire trucks remain unstaffed at all times, 111 are partially staffed, and only 112 are fully staffed seven days a week. that we’re supposed to really step up,” said Max Alonzo, national representative for Federation Land Management Companies and a former firefighter. “Everyone is arriving, all the seasonal firefighters are joining us and we still can’t equip all the engines. »

Agencies are actively recruiting to try to fill vacant positions, but Alonzo notes that these new hires don't have the years of training and experience of firefighters who have already left. This low number presents risks for firefighters on the ground: “everyone is overworked and you lose the people who are watching you.”

Even an extension of the retention bonus provided for in the Infrastructure Act is not the same as a codified salary increase. The temporary bonus is not considered a salary increase, which means that the increase does not contribute to future pension payments or financial planning. Alonzo and Duncan mentioned that firefighters are meanwhile having difficulty with mortgage applications because banks count their base pay and not temporary pay.

Low pay is the most cited barrier to retention, but federal firefighters also face lengthening fire seasons, poor work-life balance, mental health crises and long-term health damage from exposure to chemicals and smoke that are not covered by the government.

The Biden administration's budget proposal includes funding for a permanent wage increase, $40 million to increase staff capacity, $20 million for physical and mental well-being, and $5 million for housing . Duncan called the program “an extremely positive step,” but similar funding requests made by the administration last year were not included in the final funding package.

Bipartisan legislation introduced by Sen. Kyrsten Simena, I-Ariz., called the Wildland Firefighters Paycheck Protection Act, would permanently fund that pay increase, provide pay for time away from home and improve rest periods. This bill has senators from most Western states as co-sponsors, including Alex Padilla D-Calif., Martin Heinrich D-N.M., John Barrasso R-Wyo., Jon Tester D-Mont. and Steve Daines R-Mont. A letter sent by the bill's co-sponsors to Senate Leaders Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell called for immediate action, arguing that an expiration of the Infrastructure Act's retention increase and the exodus that would endanger communities and pose a risk to national security.

The bill passed the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in September but has stalled with no plans for a vote in the full chamber. Similar legislation was introduced in the House by Rep. Joe Neguse D-Colo. remains in committee.

Advocates hope this bill will break the cycle of uncertainty for firefighters, but are aware of the difficulty it faces in Congress.

A lot is at stake for firefighters who hope to stay in a career they're proud of and risk their lives for, Alonzo says. “They love the work. They love agencies. But if this money is taken away from them, they will not be able to survive.”