Forest Service fire pay

[Scott Linden]

I'm writing an op-ed for the local paper and can't get a straight answer from anyone at USFS. Can anyone here help with good information on how permanent employees at USFS and BLM are paid when they work a wildfire? Overtime? "Hazard pay?" Per diem for travel/out of town work? Other compensation? On a deadline - thanks in advance!

[brad27]

Gertie may be able to help you

[SpinoneIllinois]

We're paying the salaries -- you'd think the least they could do is tell us how much.

[cjuve]

Just saw this might help:
http://www.foxreno.com/news/news/local/ ... ers/nTMCp/

[fishvik]

Wildland firefighters are paid two ways. If they are federal full time employees, permenant or temporary hires, like summer fire crews( jumpers, helitack, shot crews, engine crews, etc) and specialists (foresters, biologists, range conservationists),they are paid base wages according to the position for 40 hrs/week, then any thing over that is paid at time an a half overtime. If they are in what is considered a hazardous position (usually a on the line job on an uncontrolled fire) they also get an 1/4 of the base pay per hour worked, both for base and overtime. This is a simple explaintion and it can get a little more complicated with higher pay grades and work schedules but this is basically how full time employees

The other fire fighters are contract and are paid according to the contract.This can include contracts with state and local fire departments or with private contractors.

[Gertie]

Sorry you're having a tough time running down the answers you're after. I'm by no means an expert on the different appointments, schedules, and pay scales but I'll give it a shot. The thing is that it's a really general question and there isn't a simple answer. Turns out that pay scale is as complicated in the govm't as most things. The simplified version is that the majority of the federal folks fighting fires are either seasonal GS-03 - 05s (no benefits and work less than 6 months) or permanent seasonals GS-05 - 07s (folks who don't have to compete for their jobs every year and get benefits but only work 13-18 pay periods/year). On large fires you will see more of the upper managment type folks and they usually range from GS-09 - 11 but these folks are generally the decision makers and there aren't a whole lot of them. You can find the USDA GS scale online. As far as over-time (which is time and a half) most folks get it if they work over 40 hours/week, but not always (some upper management types and equipment operators are 'salary' and I don't know how that all works. Shifts are generally 12-14 hours/day and employees are not compensated for time off duty (this is different with some State employees who get paid from the time they leave until the time they get home). Hazard pay is 25% over base pay and is only given to those actually working on an 'uncontrolled' fire line. As far as per diem, again, it depends. If the employee is self-supporting while in travel status then they get their meals and hotels compensated for based on the per diem rate for the area they are in. I think "conus" is about $55/day for food. Most of the time if it's a crew-type situation the meals are provided and no per diem is given. Once on the fire meals are provided at the base camp.

I hope this answers your question and I really hope you're not gathering this information to somehow cast the folks who fight fires in a negative light for being compensated for the work they do. It's dirty and dangerous work and I personally have lost friends to fighting fires. I also think it's important to point out again that most of these fire folks are seasonal employees who work their tails off during the summer. I put myself through college chasing fires and sleeping in the dirt. It's a great experience for a lot of young folks and serves to teach work ethic, team work, leadership, and the importance of service to others not to mention skills that have enabled some to go on to be succcessful business owners. I'd also mention that these are folks in our community that use they money they earn to pay the rent, buy vehichles, go out to dinner, see a movie, etc. In otherwords, the money earned contributes to local economies which in turn supports local private industry.

[Cajun Casey]

I would be very interested in seeing the article when it is published. I did social media work during Creek County and stay in touch with people who did Bastrop. A lot of volunteer resources were expended there. Fire Asylum might like to see it, also.

[Scott Linden]

Thanks everyone - very useful. Finally rattled the right chains in Washington and got some helpful data as well.