US to bolster firefighter ranks as wildfires burn year-round
Source: AP
By KEITH RIDLER 15 minutes ago
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — U.S. wildfire managers have started shifting from seasonal to full-time firefighting crews to deal with what has become a year-round wildfire season as climate change has made the American West warmer and drier. The crews also could remove brush and other hazardous fuels when not battling blazes.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management said Thursday that it’s adding 76 firefighters and support personnel to its 3,400-person firefighting workforce.
Additionally, 428 firefighters will change from part-time seasonal work to either full-time seasonal or permanent work with health and retirement benefits. Ultimately, the agency wants about 80% of its firefighters on permanently. The rest would be seasonal, many of whom are college students who return to class in the fall.
It comes as climate change is making weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive, scientists say. A historic drought and heat waves have made wildfires harder to fight in the West.
FILE - In this July 19, 2016 file photo a BLM firefighter walks near burning brush during a wildfire off of Idaho State Highway 21 in Boise, Idaho. U.S. wildfire managers have started shifting from seasonal to full-time firefighting crews to deal with what has become a year-round wildfire season. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management said Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021 it's adding 76 new firefighters and support personnel to its 3,400 firefighting workforce.(Kyle Green/Idaho Statesman via AP, File)
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/business-fires-environment-and-nature-climate-change-wildfires-cb0d77bccaeadc609a98d4435e1d28cd
= new reply since forum marked as read
to the remaining 666koch666 brother. Quick, before he departs to join his brother now dancin' with Old Scratch down below.
Surely Trump left a few dozen million$ to rake the forests.
