Harder Leads Fight to Protect Pay Raises and Benefits for Wildland Firefighters

WASHINGTON -- Today, Representative Josh Harder introduced the bipartisan Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act to protect crucial increases in pay and health benefits for wildland firefighters that he helped to secure in 2021. Before the pay increase, wildland firefighters made as little as $11.86 per hour – less than the living wage in any state. His bill would make the increase in pay and benefits permanent.  Without the permanent extension, pay and benefit cuts would trigger a mass exodus of federal firefighters from the National Forest Service in the middle of the wildfire season this year.

“Wildland firefighters put their lives on the line and endure hellish conditions to protect our families – at the very least, they deserve a living wage and support for their mental and physical health," said Rep. Harder. “When I found out these brave men and women weren’t earning a living wage, I knew we had to do better. Wildfire season is here, and we can’t risk losing any more of our wildland firefighting force while more and more devastating wildfires put our homes at risk and make our air quality worse.”

The current increase amounts to around $20,000 or 50% of base pay and includes newly established physical and mental health benefits. Federal wildland firefighters often live in remote areas for weeks on end, are exposed to hazardous smoke, and endure temperatures of up to 1,300 degrees fahrenheit – all while working for up to 18 hours a day. In addition to the brutal physical working conditions, wildland firefighters are 12 times more likely to pass away from suicide than the general public due to the job’s serious mental health burden.

This continues Rep. Harder’s work to support local firefighters, reimburse fire departments, and manage a lengthening wildfire season.

Read the full bill here.

A companion bill, similarly titled the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act, has been introduced in the Senate.

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