/tags/firefighters Firefighters en-US Copyright Wed, 16 Apr 2025 22:43:41 GMT /politics-government/2025-04-16/yreka-to-hire-professional-firefighters-with-voter-approved-sales-tax The city of Yreka is going to hire six full-time firefighters to help its volunteer department. Wed, 16 Apr 2025 22:43:41 GMT /politics-government/2025-04-16/yreka-to-hire-professional-firefighters-with-voter-approved-sales-tax Roman Battaglia /wildfire/2025-02-12/oregon-senators-call-for-federal-firefighters-to-be-exempt-from-hiring-freeze Oregon could have far fewer firefighters ready to battle blazes on federal lands next fire season — and may do less advance work aimed at mitigating the risk of large fires — due to the Trump administration’s hiring freeze and funding cuts, according to U.S. lawmakers. Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:53:43 GMT /wildfire/2025-02-12/oregon-senators-call-for-federal-firefighters-to-be-exempt-from-hiring-freeze April Ehrlich /wildfire/2025-02-10/as-fire-season-grows-california-senators-push-for-more-year-round-firefighters Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire proposed that state firefighters work full time in place of the seasonal workforce the agency currently staffs for nine months each year. Mon, 10 Feb 2025 14:48:17 GMT /wildfire/2025-02-10/as-fire-season-grows-california-senators-push-for-more-year-round-firefighters Sameea Kamal /wildfire/2025-01-10/hundreds-of-california-prison-firefighters-join-battle-against-los-angeles-wildfires State prisoners have long been a part of California’s firefighting force. Hundreds of them now are deployed in Los Angeles County. Sat, 11 Jan 2025 07:45:04 GMT /wildfire/2025-01-10/hundreds-of-california-prison-firefighters-join-battle-against-los-angeles-wildfires Cayla Mihalovich /labor-employment/2024-12-11/wildland-firefighter-pay-raises-could-vanish-without-action-by-congress-within-days The $20,000 salary increase for wildland firefighters in the 2021 infrastructure law could be coming to an end next week if Congress doesn’t act. Thu, 12 Dec 2024 01:02:50 GMT /labor-employment/2024-12-11/wildland-firefighter-pay-raises-could-vanish-without-action-by-congress-within-days Jacob Fischler /wildfire/2024-09-11/firefighter-labor-shortage-strains-oregon-fire-crews A national firefighter labor shortage is making it harder to suppress massive wildfires across the West, with fewer federal teams that Oregon can ask for help. Wed, 11 Sep 2024 13:33:49 GMT /wildfire/2024-09-11/firefighter-labor-shortage-strains-oregon-fire-crews April Ehrlich /wildfire/2024-07-26/firefighting-pilot-killed-in-tanker-plane-crash-in-eastern-oregon A tanker plane that disappeared in eastern Oregon while fighting one of the many wildfires spreading across several Western states has been found, and the pilot on board is dead, authorities said Friday. Sat, 27 Jul 2024 00:37:59 GMT /wildfire/2024-07-26/firefighting-pilot-killed-in-tanker-plane-crash-in-eastern-oregon AP Staff /labor-employment/2024-07-05/oregon-fire-apprenticeship-program-helps-attract-more-diverse-firefighter-candidates The program has been running in Clackamas, Jackson, Klamath and Wasco counties. It recently expanded to Corvallis, Coos Bay and Umatilla County. Fri, 05 Jul 2024 13:44:31 GMT /labor-employment/2024-07-05/oregon-fire-apprenticeship-program-helps-attract-more-diverse-firefighter-candidates Gemma DiCarlo /health-and-medicine/2024-06-30/total-system-breakdown-california-firefighters-with-ptsd-face-a-workers-comp-nightmare Even when suicidal, California firefighters struggle to find medical help and navigate the workers’ comp morass to pay for it. A 2021 analysis showed their claims were more likely to involve PTSD — and were denied more often. Sun, 30 Jun 2024 15:10:55 GMT /health-and-medicine/2024-06-30/total-system-breakdown-california-firefighters-with-ptsd-face-a-workers-comp-nightmare Julie Cart /wildfire/2024-06-25/despite-mild-fire-season-forecast-agencies-tell-oregon-leaders-they-need-to-invest-in-workforce Agency officials said firefighters are hard to hire and retain, and are often left to sleep in their trucks or camp on the job due to a lack of housing. Wed, 26 Jun 2024 00:50:10 GMT /wildfire/2024-06-25/despite-mild-fire-season-forecast-agencies-tell-oregon-leaders-they-need-to-invest-in-workforce Alex Baumhardt