The Hotshot Wakeup (again, I encourage you to subscribe) has news on his Substack about fire hiring and staff changes.
Now, regions are looking to implement new hiring policies to reduce the workforce, reduce staffing time, and turn some permanent firefighters back into seasonals for Fiscal Year 2025.
The resources that will be the most affected will be Type 2IA crews, Engines, and Wildfire Modules. However, it seems all resources will be directed to return to the old regional hiring standards and away from the “new modernization.” It is also being floated that engines will return to 5-day effective staffing.
This is basically a complete 180 from what folks were told when hiring season kicked off. These changes have not been fully disseminated, but a briefing paper is expected soon with more direction to follow.
I have talked to folks in Region 6, where this is being discussed, and folks in Region 1, who said many fire positions that were left vacant this year will not be hired for in FY25. Folks are also saying some of the positions being flown are now “ghost jobs.”
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I was told these moves are being made due to continued budgetary issues.
I have spoken to firefighters who were converted into permanent positions and actually welcome this change. They want their winters back and are going crazy sitting in an office with nothing to do.
That said, supervisors worry about the total staff reduction and the implementation of these changes late in the hiring season. Also, overall wildfire staffing across forests may take a 15-20% cut in the total workforce in FY25. One person familiar with the situation said, “It looks like we are going to fight fire with aviation, not people.”
Some firefighters even changed their lifestyles to accommodate these new permanent positions. Many moved permanently to their duty station, bought homes, and accepted positions for health and retirement benefits.
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His view is:
It’s clear the budget issues have not subsided, and instead of cutting many unnecessary and arguably useless new programs, the workforce is taking the hit: both non-fire and fire.
I’m sure there is a rationale laid out for these changes in some document somewhere.. if anyone has access to that, I would like to post it. Or even, from current employees, what you think is going on and what it means to you and your unit. I’m not criticizing because I know there is a rationale, and we just haven’t seen it, even if it’s “no money so Fire has to be impacted as well.” Maybe that’s in the forthcoming briefing paper.
As with any company or government agency,
if to resolve similar issues, management decisions will be made and adjusted to accomplish the objectives as time goes forth.
Management: “They should just feel lucky to even have a job right now.” (No matter which job it is, in the Forest Service. You are replaceable/disposable.)
When I read this the other day I just threw up my hands and said “how fine”……
I’d certainly like to see the rational for these proposed actions (a new Secretary may have other ideas), and what prompted – in detail, what led to them….
Jim, one narrative on one side is that “bad Congress (of a certain Party, whose name shall not be mentioned) didn’t give them enough money.” I’ll pretend I’m a skeptic from the other side.. “as punishment for losing the election (note timing), politicals want to increase wildfire problems and blame them on climate change.. readying talking points for 2028.” I do think that the new Senator from Montana and folks in the new Administration will be curious, and maybe we’ll find out. Or maybe they’ll make up another story.. sigh.
I’m sure the Montana reps will love the story you made up. Is any party really that evil that they want to hurt people to preserve their power? Oh … never mind.
Well, see, the thing is probably there are people mighty suspicious when stories don’t seem to add up. I’m just saying that an off-ramp to “people thinking the worst” is having a credible and coherent (dare I say “cohesive”?) narrative. That was just the most extreme one my imagination could think of.
See, I truly believe this cc narrative exists. I just don’t understand why we can’t seem to get it.
Maybe I lost the thread (and maybe this is beyond this thread), but “cc narrative” = “climate change is the reason for everything?” If so, what don’t we get?
A lot of inaccurate things being reported on HS Wake Up. And with general budget challenges – lots of spin and assumptions being made by everyone with little context or validation. I suggest someone reach to the R6 RF (Jacque Buchanan) or Associate Deputy Chief for Fire (Jeff Maraolais) and get their take. Or we can just make stuff up. That’s always fun and helpful.
OK, will do.
Wish more people realized this about the Hotshot Wake Up. It’s not facts, it’s biased feelings.
This is the same individual who openly denigrated pretty much anyone who wasn’t in a USFS fire position and that they didn’t deserve a raise, let alone a job.
Interestingly, in R5, there are a whollllle lot of of seasonal/perm federal fire folk who think that everything will get better for them in the next admin.
https://forums.wildfireintel.org/t/wildland-firefighter-entry-level-pay/7186/1399