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In recent years, wildland firefighters have organized to demand change – and have chalked up some notable successes. With longstanding pay issues still unresolved, spouses of firefighters are also starting to organize. Some of them recently formed the group Fired UP to help channel their grievances – and push for additional reforms.
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With a last-minute continuing resolution passed over the weekend, the feared wildland firefighter pay cliff has been kicked down the road to November. But with substantial pay cuts still looming, firefighter advocacy groups are going to push for a full, permanent fix, like the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act, which enjoys substantial bipartisan support.
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In the world of wildfire, hotshot crews are seen as among the most elite and capable personnel on the fireline. But those crews - and wildland firefighters of all stripes - face myriad challenges: low pay, tough conditions, mental and familial strain and all the stress that comes with being on the front lines of climate change-fueled conflagrations. In a first of its kind review, dozens of crew superintendents and other federal officials took a hard look at the program, and recently released a report that makes quite a number of recommendations.
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The physical demands on wildland firefighters is comparable to what riders in the Tour de France endure. That’s according to recent articles summarizing years of field research with Hotshots and other fire crews.
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Advocates are hopeful that a legislative fix will come in time to avoid those cuts, but for now thousands of federal firefighters are out on the line with the Sept. 30 deadline fast approaching.
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A bill that would permanently raise federal wildland firefighter pay has been introduced in the U.S. House, with bipartisan backing. While not the comprehensive reform many wanted, advocates are hopeful that the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act can be passed in time to avoid substantial pay cuts.
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Grassroots Wildland Firefighters gathered well over 13,000 signatures on a petition demanding action from Congress on the looming pay cliff for federal firefighters. There are several legislative fixes in play, but the Sept. 30 deadline is fast approaching and legislators are on recess until the middle of next month.
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Among the legislative solutions to the looming wildland firefighter pay cliff is the recently introduced Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act, which would create permanent raises. However, some advocates are concerned that even with the legislation, many firefighters could still see substantial cuts when funding for temporary raises runs out at the end of September.
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Less than three months remain before federal wildland firefighters see their pay cut substantially – unless Congress intervenes soon. To raise pressure on legislators, Grassroots Wildland Firefighters has started circulating a petition demanding swift action, and in just a few days it has already gotten nearly 8,000 signatures.
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A new study finds significant gaps between pay for federal wildland firefighters and their state counterparts. The research was done by recent graduates of the University of Washington’s MPA program, and in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station.