Harder Secures Funding to Extend Wildland Firefighter Pay and Avoid Mass Resignations

WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Josh Harder (CA-9), a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, announced that he secured funding to protect wildland firefighters from major cuts to their pay and benefits in the House-passed government funding bill. Wildland firefighters made as little as $11.86 per hour – less than the living wage - before Rep. Harder secured a pay increase for them in 2021. Those new benefits were set to expire and would have triggered a mass exodus of federal firefighters from the National Forest Service.

“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. “These brave men and women should be earning a living wage. This funding will make sure our wildland firefighting force keeps their well-deserved pay and benefits so they can continue protecting our families from the ever-growing threat of wildfires.”

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.

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