@Righty Tighty Im in Payson right now. Many of the Forest Service resources from up here are in New Mexico on the Hermits Peak/ Calf Canyon complex. We are just covering the Pleasant Valley and Payson Districts of the Tonto NF.
Almost every single Hotshot crew has n the country is/has gotten multiple roles on the NM fire. We also have an engine in Colorado right now on a 21 day cover assignment. My engine crew started out the year in Florida then Texas. The equipment we were on had four crew swaps that did 14 day assignments each.
The grunts in the Forest Service got an early start. Some folks are getting burned out already. A friend of mine has 600 hours of overtime whereas a very busy season total is 1000 hours overtime. We are only two months into our “fire season”.
The employees have hit a wall. Many people are quitting the Federal Wildland fire service, not returning as seasonals, or are declining job offers. Pay is at the forefront and then health and work/life balance. We get paid chump change compared to other agencies and industries. A kid could go work at McDonalds and make more than fighting wildfires. People are doing 14 days on fires and coming home for their 2 days required off-time then going right back out for another 14 day fire assignment.
The Washington Office is clueless and our Agency is led by a bunch of wannabe politicians and yes-men.
I am personally thinking about leaving fire. I absolutely love my work and love traveling to our Nation’s most beautiful lands. I just can’t sustain raising 2 kids in California on $43k /yr.
