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.