The process of hiring federal firefighters involves extensive background checks, causing worries among senior firefighters like McLane that the federal firefighting force will be short-staffed for the upcoming 2025 fire season. Despite the official start being next month, the fire season has effectively become year-round.
McLane expressed frustration at the delay in hiring due to the freeze, preventing him from bringing on necessary firefighters. He emphasized the critical need for staff during training and preparation for the demanding fire season ahead.
As McLane highlighted the essential nature of firefighting work, particularly in the face of ongoing administrative challenges, he drew upon his experiences responding to wildfires across the country. Despite his advocacy for adequate staffing and resources, there has been no response from the U.S. Department of Agriculture regarding the hiring freeze’s impact.
A seasonal firefighter shared concerns about the hiring process, noting the uncertainty faced by many qualified individuals awaiting official offers. The possibility of losing skilled personnel to other job opportunities looms large, fueled by the fear of repercussions under the Department of Government Efficiency’s downsizing efforts.
Efforts to address the hiring freeze and ensure adequate staffing for the upcoming fire season remain critical to safeguarding communities and protecting natural landscapes from the threat of wildfires.
“Are you really going to leave us?” he asked. “I’ve dedicated around 400 days of my life to battling wildfires. We are experts in handling wildfires; it’s our specialty, and we excel at it. The loss of our experienced workforce is something that cannot be easily replaced.” Despite more than a dozen Democratic senators advocating for firefighters to be exempted from the hiring freeze, their efforts have not yielded results. In a letter addressed to the Trump administration last week, they emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Pausing the recruitment and training of federal seasonal firefighters during a time when historic wildfires are ravaging communities and disrupting lives in the West is not only irresponsible but also perilous.” As over 3,000 of his colleagues in the Forest Service faced layoffs recently, McLane felt compelled to speak up: “Our country’s response to wildfires goes beyond political affiliations because wildfires themselves are beyond politics. It is crucial to bring in more firefighters to ensure that the public receives the level of service they deserve and pay for.”
