DeRemer condemns Forest Service plan to lay off wildland firefighters

By Oregon Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Press Release

OCTOBER 4/2024, –Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), a member of the Agriculture Committee’s Forestry Subcommittee, is expressing serious concerns with the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) plans to lay off seasonal wildland firefighters starting October 5. In a letter to USFS Chief Randy Moore, Chavez-DeRemer notes that pulling frontline firefighters amid Oregon’s most destructive wildfire season

could have devastating consequences.

“I have been informed by my constituents that all 13/13 PSEs were recently notified that their existing tours will not be extended, with some to be laid off as soon as October 5th. To add insult to injury, some of these public servants are at risk of losing their accrued annual leave, as their last fire line assignment will go until their tours conclude. In a workforce that struggles with recruitment and retention issues, the decision to penalize them for working hard all summer is misguided and indefensible,” Chavez-DeRemer wrote.

Chavez-DeRemer visited

the Redmond Smokejumper Base in August, where she learned more about the equipment they use, the conditions they face, and the long hours required. Smokejumpers are among those who would be impacted by the USFS layoffs, which the agency claims are necessary as a budgetary fix.

“While I am still learning more about the specifics of this situation, this appears to be yet another instance of mismanagement of personnel by the Forest Service. I urge you to find other ways to address these shortfalls and maintain our wildland workforce before we lose hundreds of thousands of more acres of forestland to wildfires,” Chavez-DeRemer concluded. 

The letter lays out several questions for USFS, including information requests on steps to support wildland firefighters coming off the frontlines, plans for future recruitment and retainment of wildland firefighters, and the overall impact layoffs will have on the Oregon-based workforce.

Read the full letter HERE.

Last week, the House passed legislation cosponsored by Chavez-DeRemer, the Fix Our Forests Act, to improve wildfire resiliency and restore forest health. She recently penned a guest column with Rep. Mike Simpson (ID-02), the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies chairman, highlighting the importance of finding a permanent pay solution for wildland firefighters. Additionally, Chavez-DeRemer secured wildfire prevention proposals in the bipartisan Farm Bill that has passed the Agriculture Committee.