GWF News:

In the past week, both the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture have issued memoranda aimed at improving how the federal government organizes and delivers wildfire response. Grassroots Wildland Firefighters welcomes this attention to the challenges our firefighters face and recognizes these memoranda as an important and historic first step forward.

We view these memoranda as progress, and as an opportunity to build momentum, but they do not yet go far enough. Grassroots Wildland Firefighters remain committed to working with federal leaders and Congress to ensure the next step is a comprehensive, professional wildland fire service—one that gives our firefighters the support they need and provides communities the protection they deserve. A unified and professional Federal Wildland fire service, developed and led by experienced Wildland Fire operators inclusive of the entire federal wildland workforce is what right looks like.

For decades, federal firefighters have shouldered increasing risks in an environment that looks very different than when our five federal agencies were first tasked with fire suppression over a century ago. The new direction outlined by Interior and Agriculture acknowledges the need to modernize and better support those on the frontlines.

At the same time, we know the limits of what can be done through executive action alone. Lasting reform—true consolidation of our nation’s wildfire workforce under experienced fire leaders in a single, mission-driven organization—will ultimately require congressional action. Without it, we risk repeating the incremental efforts of the past, even as fire seasons grow longer, more destructive, and more costly. We also recognize that land management agencies cannot afford to lose their ability to manage landscapes, meet their broader missions, and support the non-fire portions of their workforce. We cannot ignore the legacy of public lands that the five land management agencies responsible for their stewardship have provided, and we need all of them to continue that important and relevant work.

We are committed to working collaboratively with firefighters, the Agencies, and Congress to ensure that firefighters, the American public, and our communities get what is needed; One unified and professional Federal Wildland fire service, led by experienced Wildland Fire operators inclusive of the entire federal wildland workforce.