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▲ 14 r/USForestService

For those RO people filling positions 2 to 3 grades above your level.

I'm in a group where all of my colleagues left (Yes, I know i could be the problem) via VERA/DRP/lateral transfer. Out of 6 people I'm the last one left and I've had to be the Program Manager (GS-13) even though I'm a GS-9 (doing my normal job) and learn about budgets, ageeements, coordination with other agencies, etc. I did receive a TLP but that's expired. For those with a similar story do you have any hope you'll get a chance to officially fill the GS level you've been operating in? I'm feeling frustrated that the GS14/15 thing keeps going and forest positions are getting filled but the RO type positions (i know we are going to a non RO structure) seem unaccounted for in Frenchy Poo's meetings and in the region calls.

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u/rasheed3030 — 2 days ago
▲ 52 r/USForestService

Top Trump official asked for more aircraft to fight a small fire near his Idaho ranch

New from me (Brianna) at the Post:

Undersecretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment Michael Boren, who oversees the U.S. Forest Service, asked agency staff last month to escalate the amount of aircraft at a seven-acre fire that had started near his mega-ranch in Idaho’s Sawtooth National Forest, according to two Forest Service officials familiar with the matter.

Boren, a tech billionaire and Trump appointee, oversees about 200 million acres of national forest and public land. He also owns thousands of acres in Idaho, including the 480-acre Hell Roaring Ranch situated within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.

On July 12, what began as an unattended campfire grew into the Cabin Creek Fire, which spread to a few acres on a ridge in the Sawtooth National Forest. While at his ranch, Boren called Forest Service officials in the Sawtooth National Forest at the regional level and national operations in Washington multiple times to question why there weren’t more aircraft battling the fire, according to one Forest Service official with knowledge of the situation. This official, who like several others interviewed for this article spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation, said Boren asked when more assets would arrive. Two other agency officials said he called those offices, including at least once in the middle of the night.

Six current and former Forest Service officials said the response was greater than what is typical for a fire of that scale that did not pose a significant threat to life or property

In those calls, according to the Forest Service official with knowledge of the situation, Boren pushed for more aircraft to fight the fire even though “it was easily accessible by ground,” the official said.

He “was on the phone calling people that day asking why there weren’t more resources on the fire and when there was going to be more,” the official said.

Communications reviewed by The Washington Post sent during the response to the blaze corroborate that Boren personally asked Forest Service staff about the Cabin Creek Fire.

In total, about nine aircraft, including helicopters, air tankers and tactical planes, responded to the blaze on July 12, according to a Post analysis of flight paths, part of an effort that lasted a few hours and cost nearly $115,000 in federal money. The Post analysis found that these assets traveled from across the West to Idaho’s Alturas Lake, near where the Cabin Creek Fire was burning. At least some of the aircraft were diverted from efforts to contain fires elsewhere in the state, according to two agency officials and the Post analysis of the flight paths.

More here: https://wapo.st/4wZEqPD

u/International_Yak315 — 6 days ago
▲ 21 r/USForestService

Emergency Fire Order

It is my understanding that U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy from Montana has drafted an Emergency Order for the President to immediately make changes to the current wildland fire system, including consolidating all fire response under USDOI – Wildland Fire Service (USWFS). My concern with Senator Sheehy's proposal to consolidate wildland firefighting resources now is straightforward: major organizational change during the height of fire season could create more problems than it solves.

The nation is at Planning Level 5—the highest national preparedness level—with firefighting resources heavily committed across the country.

At the same time, an independent feasibility study ordered by Congress is already underway to examine the operational, financial, structural and workforce impacts of transferring the Forest Service Fire and Aviation program to DOI. That study is expected to be completed in February 2027.

Why make sweeping changes before that work is complete?

There are significant unanswered questions about resource mobilization, reimbursement of local fire departments, interagency coordination and the future of the thousands of non-primary Forest Service employees who provide critical wildfire response capacity.
The current system isn’t perfect. It should continue to evolve and improve.

But effective wildfire response has always depended on cooperation among federal, state, tribal, local and private partners. Any reform should strengthen those relationships—not jeopardize them.

Recent proposals from Senator Tim Sheehy have highlighted real challenges facing wildfire response—bureaucratic delays, complicated contracting and ordering systems, difficulties mobilizing additional resources, and the need to get qualified people and equipment where they are needed faster.

During a demanding fire season, our focus should remain where it belongs: firefighter safety, public safety and effective wildfire response.

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u/bigfoot11296 — 6 days ago
▲ 9 r/USForestService

Rumors of hiring?

I work for a different agency within USDA that's currently working through a reorganization. We've been told that later this month we'll have "critical vacancies" open for people to apply to internally and that sometime later this year the agency will start advertising open positions to the public. I'll believe it when I see it but it would be nice to go back to pre-DOGE staffing levels like they're telling us the plan is.

I would be interested in shifting to the Forest Service in the future. Have there been any similar rumors that they might get to start hiring soon?

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u/wolfy2449 — 7 days ago
▲ 1.1k r/USForestService+2 crossposts

USFS Firefiighters pulled from fire due to threats

Firefighters pulled from Oregon-Idaho area wildfire over alleged rancher threats

>Firefighters were pulled Aug. 4 from a wildfire on the Oregon-Idaho state line because of confrontations with local ranchers trying to protect their land.

>Ranchers disagreed with firefighting tactics on the Tartar Fire burning 30 miles southeast of Baker City and allegedly issued threats to U.S Forest Service crews. 

But hey, II guess they didn't kidnap anyone this time....

u/crescent-v2 — 12 days ago
▲ 7 r/USForestService

Incident Buying Teams

I heard a rumor that buying teams for wildfires were being disbanded/dissolved. Is this true or more of a function of the number of purchase cards for militia being slashed? Would be interested to hear if this is having any effect on folks working on fires this year?

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u/lightswitchpartyrave — 8 days ago