Emergency responders are an interesting lot. As a culture we recognize and value those who rush toward an emergency while others flee to safety. They work or volunteer as firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical workers, dispatchers and in a variety of support positions. Chances are good that you know an emergency responder. You might even serve in that capacity yourself.
What comes to mind when you think of an emergency responder? “Service” and “sacrifice” may rise to the top. Service is a value woven into the very fabric of the USDA Forest Service. And many of the agency’s fire personnel sacrifice financial stability and time with their families because entry-level firefighter pay hasn’t historically matched their state and private sector counterparts.
In June 2021, President Biden increased firefighter pay to ensure no front-line firefighter was paid less than $15 an hour, delivering more than $24 million in additional pay to 11,300 Forest Service firefighters through incentives, awards, and bonuses.
The following year, thanks to pay provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, more than 12,000 Forest Service firefighters received a pay supplement equal to an extra $20,000 per year or 50% of their base pay, whichever was less.
To date, nearly $230 million has reached firefighters’ pockets through these temporary measures. The U.S. Department of Agriculture continues to work on solutions for a permanent, competitive, and equitable pay structure, along with a support system that will address the many challenges that have plagued its wildland firefighter workforce for decades.
Service, Sacrifice and Hardship
Wildland fire responders share their stories of service, sacrifice and hardship and how the temporary pay supplements have positively impacted their lives. Their stories represent the thousands of outstanding men and women that serve in a variety of emergency responder capacities across the Forest Service.
In recognition of Public Service Recognition Week, we invite you to read their stories to understand their struggles better and see how the pay supplement has helped them and their families continue to serve as the USDA works to find a permanent solution to the challenges they face.
A wildland firefighter’s struggle to serve
Anthony “Monte” Monterroso is a recently returned senior firefighter on the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri. He previously worked for the Forest Service as a firefighter who rappelled out of helicopters into wildfires. But the pay was insufficient to support his growing family. The temporary firefighter pay supplement in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law made it financially possible for Monte to return to his “dream job.”
The story of a wildland fire dispatcher
When Congress approved a temporary supplement for wildland firefighters, dispatchers who play a central coordination role in the battle to extinguish wildfires weren’t certain they would be included. Leslie Zollinger, a USDA Forest Service dispatcher, is one example of the dedicated professionals working to protect lives and property during wildfires that can consume hundreds of thousands of acres in any given year.
A man, wildland fire and the need to make a living wage
In the heart of the Coconino National Forest in northern Arizona, Thomas “Tom” Stevens, is an engine captain on the Mogollon Rim Ranger District. He supervises a small three-to-six-man team and is a grateful recipient of the firefighter pay supplement. Stevens will be serving his eighth year with the Forest Service, 20 years as a federal employee, and 24 years total in wildland fire.
California veteran firefighter shares how pay supplement changed his family’s life
Jeffrey Schmachtenberger can almost trace a direct line from his life’s most beautiful – and most challenging – moments to his 16-year career as a firefighter. Of the many things he and his comrades have connected, one significant experience has been in the improvements the temporary wildland firefighter pay increase has made on their quality of life. Before the increase, Schmachtenberger struggled to make ends meet, living frugally and often unable to afford summer vacations, outings, and extracurricular activities for his deserving young children.
Wildland firefighter stays for the mission and people
“I got into this job because I wanted adventure.” But that’s not why he stays. Meet Ben McLane, a fire captain serving on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Southwest Washington. Mission and adventure brought McLane into his wildland firefighting career, but it’s his fellow firefighters who inspire him to stay. For the last few years, McLane has trained entry-level wildland firefighters to manage wildland fires alongside him.
Passion to serve overcomes the challenges
“It’s a calling, I guess – public service,” said fire engineering equipment operator, Soren Fleming. A 15-year fire employee, Fleming has worked six of those in federal service. It turns out, firefighters pay dearly for that calling. Their salaries – often lower than their state, municipal or private sector counterparts – are just one of the obstacles they face. Physical and mental health concerns, housing and the inability to support a family also weigh heavily on their minds.
Passion to serve overcomes the challenges
“I have enjoyed this career path I’ve chosen,” said Jay Beus, a Swan Valley Helitack senior firefighter. Unfortunately, his career path may soon have to change. Beus joined the Forest Service through an apprenticeship program and earned a permanent position within three years. Despite the Forest Service’s investments in Beus, including multi-year training and valuable certifications, he may have to move on to another agency for pay that covers his family’s basic expenses. Their primary challenge is affordable housing.
California Hotshot reflects on firefighter lifestyle and pay
Bobby Blaine works as a lead forestry technician on the American River Hotshots. He and the rest of the crew fight fire locally and across the country. When wildfire activity is high, they are ready to go in 2 hours or less - even on their days off. In 2022, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided federal firefighters with a pay supplement which increased pay by $20,000 or 50% of their salary, whichever was less.
Taking care of our own so they can take care of others
Being a wildland firefighter is hard – physically, financially and mentally. It can also be very rewarding. Zone fuels assistant fire management officer Ryle Benke loves his work.
Despite the growing need to reduce risks to communities and provide rapid emergency response, Benke has seen challenges grow across the wildland firefighting profession. To alleviate some of the challenges facing the wildland firefighter workforce, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided federal firefighters with additional pay starting in 2022. Over the past two years, firefighters like Benke have seen a temporary pay increase of up to $20,000. This temporary funding will run out in a few weeks – at the end of September.
Dousing overtime burnout
“We measure our careers in overtime,” he said. “The majority of my 20 years are hovering around the thousand-hour mark of overtime each year.” Jason Bullough is a certified helitack firefighter with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and serves on the Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Utah. Hundreds of overtime hours, hard manual labor, threat of injury or worse by fire, limited recovery and family time, and low wages all take their toll.
California firefighter shares impacts of temporary pay increase
Wildland firefighter Nicholas Brasher’s reasons for getting up every day ready to face the most challenging circumstances are simple. He loves what he does and cares about the people impacted by the thousands of wildland fires in California every year. Brasher has been a firefighter with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service for a little over 8 years, working on the San Bernardino National Forest.
Federal wildland firefighters are now at a crossroads. They’re deciding whether they can afford for their salary to go back down to pre-supplement levels or if they must work elsewhere so they can support themselves and their families.
Only Congress can avert the pay cliff. Bipartisan groups in the Senate and House support the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act of 2023 (S. 2272/H.R.5169), which would implement a permanent pay fix for federal wildland firefighters. The administration recently transmitted a supplemental funding request to Congress that includes $45 million for the Forest Service to implement wildland firefighting pay reform through fiscal year 2024, as proposed through President Biden’s 2024 budget and similar bipartisan legislation.
What happens when the calendar page turns to October? Will the Forest Service experience a mass exodus of wildland firefighters? Will federal natural resource agencies be relegated to a training ground instead of a place to make a career? What will happen to all the experienced and skilled firefighters that the American people need to manage wildfires in this country?
Only time will tell if our wildland firefighters will be able to afford the fight.
