If Wildland Firefighters Are "Essential", Why Do They Make $15/Hour? "Exodus" Underway

[2naSalit]

2. Pay structure for firefighters has to change.

I know a bunch of the USADFS wildland firefighters, smokejumpers, AIRTAC and pilots; the AIRTAC and pilots are paid well, the personnel on the ground make the same as the NPS ranger who tells you not to pet the bears or try to ride the bison.

GS05 is a slight pay grade, a single person can qualify for medicaid and SNAP while employed at that pay grade. Mind you, the national minimum wage is less than $8/hr.

The folks who are out there 12+ hrs a day for 14 dys straight (with only a 48 hour break) should make more for risking their lives to protect us and our property in such extreme conditions. They should be making as much as a House Rep., they sure as hell do 1,000 times more work and they are also civil servants.