Wildland firefighters

A bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate that would remove overtime pay caps for wildland firefighters who work for the departments of Interior and Agriculture.

Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego is asking the U.S. Department of Defense how it might be planning to step in to assist states impacted by possible wildland firefighter pay cuts.

A yearlong effort to craft recommendations for federal fire policy comes to a close today. The new report, submitted to Congress, focuses on ways to step up so-called “beneficial fire” that is managed for ecological health. KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny spoke with one of the authors, Neil Chapman of the Flagstaff Fire Department.

At the end of the week, federal wildland firefighters could take steep, across-the-board pay cuts without action from Congress, which advocates and officials fear could trigger mass resignations within the workforce.

The deadline to prevent steep, across-the-board pay cuts to federal wildland firefighters is Oct. 1.

Advocates for wildland firefighters are urging Congress to pass a bill that would prevent across-the-board pay cuts.

A bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate that would make federal wildland firefighter pay increases from the 2021 infrastructure law permanent.

A partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and historically Black colleges and universities is aimed at creating more firefighting opportunities for students of color.

Friday marks the 10th anniversary of one of the grimmest days in wildland firefighting history—when 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots died fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire. Only one crew member survived. The news was unbearable; the magnitude of it nearly impossible to absorb. Those closest to the fallen firefighters will reckon with it for the rest of their lives. For some, the last decade has been about confronting deep PTSD and focusing on mental health.

A bill introduced in Congress would permanently raise pay and other benefits for wildland firefighters. It comes as temporary increases are set to expire in the coming months.