Jimmy Panetta

03/30/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/30/2021 17:20

Congressman Panetta, Senators Feinstein and Padilla Lead Call for Year-Round Wildland Fire Workforce

Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) along with Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla and Representatives Zoe Lofgren (CA-52) and Scott Peters (CA-52) are leading their California colleagues in a letter urging the Biden Administration to transition to a year-round federal firefighting workforce.

'As we have seen firsthand on the central coast of California, wildfire seasons, unfortunately, are turning into wildfire years,' said Congressman Panetta. 'My colleagues and I are trying to stay ahead of that issue with the creation of a year-round federal firefighting workforce. Such perennial and critical fire fighters will bring stability, consistency, and reliability to the efforts to not just suppress but also prevent wildfires.

'As California and the West continue to contend with historic and destructive wildfire seasons, it has become clear that we are entering a 'new normal' in which increasingly intense wildfires wreak havoc during a nearly year-round fire season,' the lawmakers wrote to Agriculture Secretary Vilsack and Interior Secretary Haaland.

'Because the federal government owns 57% of the forest land in California, and climate change all but ensures an ever-expanding fire season in the years to come, we must begin to adapt our federal resources to better align with needs on the ground,' the lawmakers continued.

In addition to Feinstein, Padilla, Lofgren, Peters and Panetta, the letter was also signed by Representatives Julia Brownley, Salud Carbajal, Jim Costa, Mark DeSaulnier, Anna G. Eshoo, John Garamendi, Jared Huffman, Sara Jacobs, Barbara Lee, Ted W. Lieu, Alan Lowenthal, Jerry McNerney, Grace F. Napolitano, Adam B. Schiff, Brad Sherman, Eric Swalwell, Juan Vargas and Pete Aguilar (all D-Calif.).

The full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Vilsack and Secretary Haaland:

Congratulations on your appointments. We look forward to working with you on the serious challenges California is facing on climate change and the environment. We write to you today to request that your agencies transition to a year round wildland fire workforce, which should include reclassifying more seasonal federal firefighter positions as permanent positions. We ask that you let us know if you need additional resources to fulfill this request.

As California and the West continue to contend with historic and destructive wildfire seasons, it has become clear that we are entering a 'new normal' in which increasingly intense wildfires wreak havoc during a nearly year-round fire season. Last year, California had over 9,900 wildfires, which burned a record-setting 4.25 million acres, killed 33 people, and destroyed nearly 10,500 homes and structures. And this year, we are already well above average for both the number of fires and acres burned. Because the federal government owns 57% of the forest land in California, and climate change all but ensures an ever-expanding fire season in the years to come, we must begin to adapt our federal resources to better align with needs on the ground.

Transitioning to a larger, full-time workforce would add immediate capacity to fight wildfires and conduct prevention work nationwide, allow for greater flexibility in shifting personnel between regions when needed, support increased staff capacity to perform actions outside of the fire season that reduce fire risk, provide more stable work opportunities and employee benefits, increase employee retention, and reduce agency costs and burdens associated with the seasonal hiring process.

We appreciate your attention to our request, and stand ready to help however we can.

Sincerely,

Dianne Feinstein

United States Senator

Alex Padilla

United States Senator

Jimmy Panetta

Member of Congress

Zoe Lofgren

Member of Congress

Scott Peters

Member of Congress

Julia Brownley

Member of Congress

Salud Carbajal

Member of Congress

Jim Costa

Member of Congress

Mark DeSaulnier

Member of Congress

Anna G. Eshoo

Member of Congress

John Garamendi

Member of Congress

Jared Huffman

Member of Congress

Sara Jacobs

Member of Congress

Barbara Lee

Member of Congress

Ted W. Lieu

Member of Congress

Alan Lowenthal

Member of Congress

Jerry McNerney

Member of Congress

Grace F. Napolitano

Member of Congress

Adam B. Schiff

Member of Congress

Brad Sherman

Member of Congress

Eric Swalwell

Member of Congress

Juan Vargas

Member of Congress

Pete Aguilar

Member of Congress