With the arrival of fall after a demanding fire year, I know this work has asked a lot of you. We carry with us the long hours, time away from home and the weight of losses.

As the chief fire and safety officer, I have a responsibility and commitment to make sure firefighters have the support and resources they need to keep doing the job safely and sustainably. That’s why I want to share some important updates.

Pay Update

First, the pay cap for wildland firefighters has been waived through the end of calendar year 2027 [internal link]. This provides stability and certainty for our workforce as we continue to respond to a growing and complex wildland fire workload.

Beginning on September 20, 2026, qualifying prescribed fire duties will be eligible for hazardous duty pay or environmental pay differentials. This change is an important milestone we have been working on for several years with the Office of Personnel Management. It recognizes that when our employees are directly implementing prescribed fires, they are performing work that exposes them to real hazards that can’t always be eliminated.

There are specific eligibility and documentation requirements, like when working on a wildfire, so please review the guidance and FAQs to understand how this applies to your work and how to properly document qualifying hours. Human Resources Management also sent guidance on timesheet coding [internal link].

Pay and compensation is just one part of taking care of employees, and I’m also pleased to provide an update on the Federal Wildland Fire Health and Wellbeing Program.

Wildland Fire Therapy Service Update

We recently began the second year of our Wildland Fire Therapy Service with the Department of the Interior.

Over the past year, more employees have been reaching out for support. From January through July, the Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Program’s Behavioral Health Office provided 167 engagement sessions, which included group outreach and individual wellness consultations. The Wildland Fire Therapy Service also continued to grow, with 339 employees referred to services so far this year. Our average wait time for an appointment remains just under four days, far below the national average of 48 days, to see a provider.

This is exactly what we hoped would happen and as part of our commitment to taking care of people, I’m pleased to share we are expanding these services from 16 to 20 free therapy sessions each year for wildland firefighters, dispatchers and those who directly support wildland fire operations.

This expansion reflects our commitment to taking care of people. These services are confidential, accessible and designed specifically around the realities of emergency response work.

Sometimes we arrive home and everything is fine. Sometimes experiences can stay with us long after an assignment ends. I also know that not every impact is visible; often there is a level of unknown about when and how the experiences truly affect someone. It’s important to know about the resources available before you, your friends or your employees may need them.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. I don’t want to turn that into another awareness campaign that comes and goes.

I do want us to use this month as a reminder that we can all create a workplace where people look out for each other and are comfortable asking for help. As the most active part of the fire year winds down, please pay attention when someone is struggling.

Taking care of ourselves and each other is part of our readiness. It is part of being able to reset after an assignment, be with the people we care about and continue doing this work for the long haul. It is part of the mission.  

I will continue looking for ways to strengthen these resources and make sure wildland firefighters have the support they need.  If you haven’t connected with our programs yet, I encourage you to explore what’s available.

Thank you for what you do, for how you show up for one another, and for the humble professionalism you bring to this work.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You do not have to face a crisis alone.

Delivering on Secretary Rollins’ fire memo: New hazardous exposure mitigations for fireline personnel

June 24, 2026

As we enter the height of the 2026 fire season, I want to share that we are taking immediate action to reduce smoke and contaminant exposure for wildland firefighters, reflecting our priority of safety at the core of operations.  

Since becoming Deputy Chief and unifying Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management under a single executive, one of the most consistent messages I’ve heard from employees is that we need to keep making progress on firefighter health protections. This has been a priority for many in the fire community and is a priority for me.  

In alignment with Secretary Rollins’ direction to proactively address occupational and environmental health hazards facing wildland firefighters, we are implementing several measures for the 2026 fire season:  

• Effective immediately, N95 respirators are authorized for use by federal employees on the fireline and in incident camps as an interim measure while work continues toward a broader respiratory protection program.

• A new foundational respiratory protection training, N95 Respirator Interim Use for Wildland Fire Personnel, is now available through the Wildland Fire Learning Portal to improve awareness of inhalation hazards, health impacts and field mitigation measures.

• We are also implementing interim decontamination and exposure reduction measures this season to help firefighters clean contaminated gear, remove polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from skin, and reduce exposure where operationally feasible.

Wildland firefighting has changed and how we manage risk must change with it. Our understanding of long-term impacts and exposure to hazards over the course of a career continues to evolve. That's why, together with the Department of the Interior, we are taking these steps towards a future where the management of long-term health risks is a normal part of what we do.

The details of these new hazardous exposure mitigations are in direction I sent to geographic area fire directors and forest supervisors today.

I don’t expect these mitigations to be perfect. These new mitigations and tools will need to be incorporated into risk-informed decision-making processes to understand trade-offs or the possibility of introducing or increasing new hazards or safety risks. I fully expect to continue evolving, but we aren’t going to wait any longer for a perfect solution that doesn’t exist. Feedback gathered from employees during the 2026-fire season will inform future improvements. This is about moving the entire interagency community forward.

Our responsibility is to keep improving and prioritizing firefighter safety while carrying out the mission.

Thank you for your service, humble professionalism and continued leadership.

Additional information

Letter: Interim Respiratory Protection and Exposure Mitigation Measures for Wildland Firefighters

N95 Respirator Interim Use for Wildland Fire Personnel (log in, search N95 in course catalog)

Health and Wellbeing Program update: New services available

June 18, 2025

For years, we’ve talked about the strength, grit and resilience of wildland firefighters and dispatchers. At the same time, we are all very aware of the toll this work can take – physically, emotionally and mentally. Over time, the exposure to trauma, the long hours away from home and the strain of ever-longer fire seasons all add up.  

The toll inflicted on our firefighters has been the subject of research. According to one study, wildland firefighters reported symptoms consistent with depression and generalized anxiety disorder at a rate of about two to three times higher than general populations and probable post-traumatic stress at four times the rate of the general populations. For too long, health and wellbeing support have fallen short of the demands of the job.

As an important step to address this shortfall, Secretary Rollins and Secretary Burgum announced a new national interagency clinical health services as part of the Joint Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Program.

In partnership with the Department of the Interior and through our external provider, Magellan Federal, therapy services will be available in every state. These services are free, confidential and tailored to the needs of wildland firefighters and dispatchers.

Federal employees can use the therapy service to address acute stress reactions, anxiety, complex grief, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or substance use concerns related to traumatic events or cumulative emotional and psychological strain from working in wildland fire.

I called the number below to experience the call center for myself. In just 15 minutes between other commitments, I spoke with a licensed clinician at Magellan Federal’s call center. I left the call with a clear understanding of the health options available to me, which were both non-invasive and straightforward.    

This new service is a cornerstone of our broader, long-term effort to build a healthier, more resilient workforce. We know it’s been a long time coming. Let’s continue building a workplace where health and resilience are part of the culture and where no one has to bear the weight of this job alone.  

You can receive an initial assessment and up to 16 therapy sessions per year. While in-person treatment will be prioritized to establish rapport and effectively align treatment goals and plans, telehealth appointments may also be provided depending on your preference, the distance to the provider and the availability of both in-person and virtual appointments. The services have been designed to fill the gaps in your federal employee health benefits and Employee Assistance Program, creating a comprehensive network of services.

If you need assistance, please do not hesitate to call Magellan Federal directly at 1-800-424-4051. The initial call with a licensed clinician will take about 15 minutes and help match you with services that meet your needs.  

To those leading crews and dispatch centers, your role in helping employees access these services is crucial. The cultures you foster set the tone for your teams. Talk about this new resource. Normalize using it. Encourage your employees to reach out before they need help. And take care of yourself, too. You are the first line of support for our fire community. When you lead with compassion and openness, you set a model for others to follow, inspiring them to be compassionate and open.

Thanks to each of you for your continued service and for keeping safety – both physical and mental – at the forefront throughout the fire year. 

Permanent firefighter pay update: Part 2

April 11, 2025

I want to share the latest on implementing firefighter pay reform. Fire and Aviation Management, Human Resources Management, the USDA National Finance Center and the Office of Personnel Management have worked tirelessly to quickly implement these changes. I know that change, especially when it comes to pay, brings questions, and I will continue to provide clarity, address concerns and ensure a smooth and quick transition.

A new special base rate table for GS employees is now available on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management website. A new pay table for wage grade employees is coming soon and will be posted on the Forest Service website.

The new base rate table will take effect no later than pay period 8, which runs from April 22 to May 5, 2025, and employees will receive payment by Monday, May 12, 2025. Your paycheck for pay period 8 will also automatically include back pay to March 23, 2025, when the previous pay supplement ended. Corrected time sheets will not be necessary.

We are still working with the USDA National Finance Center to determine the implementation date for the incident response premium pay. In the interim, employees who qualify for this premium pay need to use Transaction Code “IR” for each qualifying day. This is a temporary measure to account for your incident response premium pay that will not pay out the premium in your earnings yet. Human Resources Management will provide additional guidance for submitting corrected timesheets, if needed, once incident premium pay is fully implemented with the USDA National Finance Center.

In response to the many questions received during the regional firefighter pay informational webinars, Fire and Aviation Management and Human Resources Management developed a set of frequently asked questions. You must log on to VPN to access this document, which will be updated as additional guidance is determined.

Thank you for your patience throughout this process. I encourage you to ask questions, share feedback and take advantage of the resources available to help you understand these changes. This is a step forward for all of us. It reflects the value of your work, helps us remain competitive and supports both individual and agency success into the future. During periods of change, I believe it is important to communicate often, and I will continue to provide additional updates here as soon as they become available.

Permanent firefighter pay update: Part 1

March 21, 2025

Thanks to bipartisan support, the continuing resolution has given federal wildland firefighters permanent pay reform. This update shares what we know and will be followed with more information as soon as it is available.

The new pay provisions provide:

• A new special base rate table for all federal wildland firefighters increasing base pay by a percentage for each grade, from 42% for GS-1 to 1.5% for GS-15

• New incident response premium pay for all incident responders, including militia, on suppression, prescribed fire and severity assignments

Overtime and hazard pay were not changed in the legislation. However, overtime rates will increase due to the new special base rate table.

The combination of increasing base pay and new incident response premium pay will provide approximately the same amount as the previous supplement. Most importantly, the permanent base pay increase will count towards employees’ retirement calculations while the previous supplement did not.

The Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture are working diligently to develop an implementation plan as we transition to the new pay tables and incident response pay mode. Early next week, Fire and Aviation Management staff will host webinars in all regions to explain the changes and answer questions. Watch your inbox for regional invitations. We also will provide more information through these updates as soon as possible.

Editor's note: If you are looking for older messages visit our firefighter pay updates archive.