1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Congress must mandate and fund a full complement of US Forest Service wildland firefighters immediately and block any funding for office restructuring and closures. The western US is being hit by historic drought conditions heading into what is predicted to be a catastrophic fire season, yet last year massive numbers of experienced Forest Service and wildland firefighting staff either retired or were let go. Lives are being endangered by the gutting of the US Forest Service firefighting force and support crews. Firefighters on the front lines and Americans who live, work, and recreate on public lands will be put at risk by these cuts. Unprecedented wildfires cannot be fought with a skeleton crew of inexperienced personnel. Critical scientific research is also being lost. Americans need the fire behavior prediction models and policy guidance that are developed by the Forest Service, NOAA, and other agencies. These research capabilities are being dismantled at the exact moment when climate-driven fire seasons demand better forecasting and evidence-based policy. Full-year employment for wildland firefighters is needed right now, not just seasonal hiring. These professionals must be retained year-round to perform the wildfire mitigation work our forests desperately need between fire seasons. Thinning, controlled burns, and fuel reduction are what prevent catastrophic fires, but that work requires trained staff who know the land. Vote to fully fund the US Forest Service at the levels needed to protect American lives and public lands.