- Forestry Technicians with the US Forest Service are performing the job of Wildland Firefighter
- Does job classifications and benefits accurately reflect the demand and duties of Forestry Technicians?
- Health and safety concerns amidst the growing need for firefighting resources
Currently, the US Forest Service employs “Forestry Technicians”, yet their primary duty is wildland firefighting. It is argued that this is a serious misclassification, due to exponential levels of physical and mental stress, exposure to significant hazards in the wildfire environment, in addition to staggering discrepancies in pay and comprehensive benefits, in comparison to other agencies who employ Firefighters. The demand for an elite firefighting workforce is greater than ever before, yet it is in danger of collapse. The sustainability and longevity of the Forestry Technician job series are just as threatened as the western wildland landscapes themselves.
