"Firefighters Demand Fair Pay and Benefits Amidst Staffing Crisis"

Thousands of federal wildland firefighters employed by the U.S. Forest Service are considering leaving their jobs due to persistently low wages and poor benefits. The National Federation of Federal Employees warns that 30% to 50% of these firefighters could resign without a permanent pay increase. Many firefighters have already left for better-paying positions at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Lawmakers have introduced bills to address the issue, but without a permanent solution, the federal firefighting workforce could dwindle, exacerbating the risk of wildfires. The Forest Service has struggled to fill vacancies in recent years, and federal firefighters are paid significantly less than their state counterparts.