Pay raise is just half the problem, the Forest Service needs to be torn down and rebuilt, first responders working for range management specialists, this does not work, things need to change. The Forest Service has been existing on life support on the fire and aviation budget the allocated dollars are being squandered on everything but fire suppression more would come forward but fear of reprisal keeps them from voting their conscience. DOGE this agency is low hanging fruit !!!
Your post could use some further explanation and effective punctuation for clarity ?
If you are advocating for a National Fire Service outside the USFS and Dept. of Agriculture, that is a separate debate and issue probably worth having ? Also, what type of "voting" or conscience bearing is being effected by "fear & reprisal" ?? I'm unclear to what is being referenced.
I agree that WFF pay is only part of the employee retention and recruitment issue. But you may have the allocated dollars issue a bit backwards... My understanding is that Fire and Aviation take up a larger percentage of the USFS annual budget almost each and every year, and have done so for at least 25 years ??
Regarding "DOGE" - I'm not sure my faith is high in a unaccountable, unelected duo of Billionaire's who have never seen a fireline, or even a forest up close, making the best choices for USFS efficiency....It's important to remember Musk and Ramaswamy have huge conflicts of interest and personal profits at stake in their efforts to "reform" government.
Major issues for the agency remain unaddressed as I think you've indicate - But at an annual budget of less then 10 billion dollars, the USFS allocated dollars are relative Chump Change. It is likely to be as much an after thought as it is "low hanging fruit" to those looking to dismantle government and reduce the federal workforce. At least I hope so ??
"No federal wildland firefighter should have to live out of their ear or chase thousands of hours of overtime just to make ends meet," I couldn’t agree more. Living out of your ear would be tricky.
Pay raise is just half the problem, the Forest Service needs to be torn down and rebuilt, first responders working for range management specialists, this does not work, things need to change. The Forest Service has been existing on life support on the fire and aviation budget the allocated dollars are being squandered on everything but fire suppression more would come forward but fear of reprisal keeps them from voting their conscience. DOGE this agency is low hanging fruit !!!
Your post could use some further explanation and effective punctuation for clarity ?
If you are advocating for a National Fire Service outside the USFS and Dept. of Agriculture, that is a separate debate and issue probably worth having ? Also, what type of "voting" or conscience bearing is being effected by "fear & reprisal" ?? I'm unclear to what is being referenced.
I agree that WFF pay is only part of the employee retention and recruitment issue. But you may have the allocated dollars issue a bit backwards... My understanding is that Fire and Aviation take up a larger percentage of the USFS annual budget almost each and every year, and have done so for at least 25 years ??
Regarding "DOGE" - I'm not sure my faith is high in a unaccountable, unelected duo of Billionaire's who have never seen a fireline, or even a forest up close, making the best choices for USFS efficiency....It's important to remember Musk and Ramaswamy have huge conflicts of interest and personal profits at stake in their efforts to "reform" government.
Major issues for the agency remain unaddressed as I think you've indicate - But at an annual budget of less then 10 billion dollars, the USFS allocated dollars are relative Chump Change. It is likely to be as much an after thought as it is "low hanging fruit" to those looking to dismantle government and reduce the federal workforce. At least I hope so ??
I enjoyed Congressionals of all persuasions being behind this.
"No federal wildland firefighter should have to live out of their ear or chase thousands of hours of overtime just to make ends meet," I couldn’t agree more. Living out of your ear would be tricky.