Wildland firefighters receive permanent pay increase as climate change increases disaster frequency

The decision to make this permanent is expected to address key challenges in the community.

PUBLISHED AUG 21, 2024

The Forest Service has reported surpassing its hiring goals, with over 11,000 firefighters now on board.

Phoenix, Arizona: Wildland firefighters across the United States are set to benefit from a significant and now permanent pay increase, thanks to a recent decision by the US Senate. The increase, which was initially a temporary measure introduced in 2021, has been made permanent through the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act.

The original pay boost, introduced in 2021, provided an additional $20,000 or a 50% pay increase, whichever was smaller, to eligible wildland firefighters. Hourly wages for federal firefighters were also raised from $13 to $15 per hour. Earlier this month, the Senate approved the budget that solidified these pay raises, ensuring that the enhanced compensation would remain in place moving forward.

Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and take precautions to prevent wildfires.

The decision to make these pay increases permanent is expected to address several key challenges in the firefighting community, including the need to attract and retain skilled personnel. As wildfires continue to increase in frequency and severity, the demand for experienced firefighters has grown, making competitive pay more crucial than ever.

Neil Chapman, Flagstaff wildland fire captain, told Arizona's family the importance of the pay raise, particularly in light of the heightened dangers faced by firefighters across the country. "We have enough going on and not enough resources," he stated. "Our firefighters, especially the federal ones, are being asked to do more with less."

The dry and windy conditions prevalent during the season have exacerbated the fire risk across the region.

The Forest Service has reported surpassing its hiring goals, with over 11,000 firefighters now on board, a critical achievement in the ongoing battle against wildfires.

"This is a big step," another firefighter told Arizona's Family. "We're not just showing up on a bad day, but folks are working hard to do the mitigation and prevention work."

What is the The Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act?

The Act is a legislative measure aimed at providing permanent pay increases for federal wildland firefighters. Introduced by a bipartisan group of US Senators in July 2023, this act addresses the impending "pay cliff" that threatened to cut federal wildland firefighter salaries by up to 50%, potentially reducing their pay by as much as $20,000 annually.

The legislation not only makes the temporary pay raises established in recent years permanent, but also includes provisions for specialized pay scales, premium pay for incident response, and support for critical rest and recuperation time.