US wildland firefighting struggles after federal workforce cuts
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“The public needs to know they’re at risk... If the public knew all of this, they would lose their minds.”
Recent workforce reductions are hampering the U.S. Forest Service, particularly its firefighting capabilities, according to ta recent article on the Government Executive.
Despite exceptions for public safety staff, the termination of around 700 red-card-carrying employees—key players in firefighting support—has strained efforts to combat wildfires. These workers aid in prescribed burns and logistical support, which are considered essential for wildfire prevention and response.
Cuts and hiring freezes have delayed onboarding, training, and equipment requests, leaving the service underprepared for peak fire seasons. Issues have been exacerbated by understaffing in the legal and IT departments, further slowing environmental reviews and access to lifesaving tools.
Employees reportedly describe the changes as chaotic, with the Forest Service reportedly shifting focus away from environmental stewardship.
Reinstatement of terminated employees after a legal ruling provided temporary relief, but inefficiencies persist, fuelling concerns about the agency's ability to fulfill its mission.
Photo Credit: Public Domain photo. https://nara.getarchive.net/media/us-forest-services-wildland-firefighters-and-…
U.S. Forest Services wildland firefighters and Westover Air Reserve Base Fire Department carried out the annual controlled burn on the airfield, March 27, 2019, at Westover Air Reserve Base.
Severe consequences predicted for firefighters and communities
“There’s going to be firefighters that die because of this, there will be communities that burn,” said Steve Gutierrez, a union official who served 15 years as a firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service, according to Stateline.org.
Brian Fennessy, chief of the Orange County Fire Authority and president of the California Fire Chiefs Association, shared similar concerns, according to the site:
“The public needs to know they’re at risk... If the public knew all of this, they would lose their minds.”
In a statement to Stateline.org, the Forest Service said wildland firefighting roles are classified as public safety positions and are therefore exempt from the hiring freeze. The agency added that it is coordinating with the federal Office of Personnel Management regarding those positions. However, it did reportedly not respond to the follow-up questions about how many vacancies are currently under review.
The independent news site ProPublica recently spoke with a dozen firefighters and others involved in the federal wildfire response across various agencies and regions. They reported a series of immediate effects on a workforce already strained by longstanding budget issues.
Hiring for some seasonal positions has stalled, funding for nonprofit partners working on fuel-reduction projects has been frozen, and crews sent to support prescribed burns in Florida were turned back.
Meanwhile, teams assisting with wildfire cleanup in California encountered uncertainty about how long they could remain on the job.
“Uncertainty is at an all-time high. Morale is at an all-time low,” one federal wildland firefighter said to the site.
Photo Credit: Public Domain photo. https://nara.getarchive.net/media/us-forest-services-wildland-firefighters-and-…
U.S. Forest Services wildland firefighters and Westover Air Reserve Base Fire Department carried out the annual controlled burn on the airfield, March 27, 2019, at Westover Air Reserve Base.