Pay Disparity
We are asking for equal pay for equal work.
The federal government is the premier wildland firefighting service in the country. It employs the majority of wildland firefighters in the nation, over 10,000 employees, combating wildfires in all 50 states and internationally. In addition, the federal government provides advanced-skill units not offered by state or private entities, such as Hotshot Crews, Smokejumpers, Rappellers, Helitack Crews, and Wildland Fire Modules -- along with the engines and hand crews it staffs at higher levels than its non-federal counterparts. Every major fire in the U.S. relies on federal firefighters and the vital services their specialized crews provide.
All wildland firefighters work hard and put their lives on the line. Cal Fire, private contractors, and municipal fire departments are equal partners in managing our increasingly extreme fire seasons. We respect and value their work; we simply request equal pay for ours.
See for yourself in the graphs below. Considering the pay disparity, it's no surprise that the federal government has a costly retention problem with its wildland fire workforce.