As Wildfires Worsen, California Firefighting Resources May Come Up Dry | WSJ

The state is increasing funding and preventative measures, but it may not be enough.

A year after one of the worst wildfire seasons in California’s history, the state is taking more preventive measures to reduce wildfire risks. But experts worry it still doesn’t have the firefighting and land management resources to adequately fight worsening blazes. Photo: Noah Berger/AP

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[jackiepaper]

$60 per hour seems reasonable considering the risks and health effects of breathing smoke.

[Honeybadger_]

First off, most of the forested land in CA is owned and managed by the US Forest Service which is a department run by the federal government. Second, part of the reason fires have become so bad over the past few years is decades of fire suppression and lack of fuel management. Believe me or not we actually need periodic, low-intensity fires including prescribed burns to help manage fuels in the forests. Yes, climate change will continue to play a role by increasing droughts and heatwaves. However, in the western US we're essentially we're sitting next to a giant tinder box of our own creation.

[LordTrayus]

At $15/hr, you can't even get college students to flip burgers. This is dumb.

[organizedchaos]

Inmates who help with firefighter should have their sentences reduce. It should count as community service and a way for prisoners to show they are making progress changing

[TomCerul]

Change the law to allow ex-cons with experience fighting wildfires to get jobs fighting wildfires?

[ropro]

$15/hr??? why tf would anyone want to fight fires for a mere $15/hr?!

[peteclarke]

Fighting wildfires is like trying to freeze melting glaciers.

[DJimiP]

Finally some sense talking among all the nonsense. It's good to see the governor being sensible about this allocating 2 billion to forest management.

[Name.is]

I don’t get why we don’t just use the national guard to help do the clearing and etc. it’s good annual training for the national guard.

[logansaxby]

Whole Foods starts at $15.00 an hour!!! Apparently that's just as important and difficult as being a firefighter...

[Runnifier]

Pay wild land firefighters enough to live comfortably in California. Those who protect your home should be able to afford one for themselves.

[zenmusic]

When you're in your early or late 20's you think it will be a cool job. But when your health goes down the tube from an injury or from PTSD from on the job wear and tear, it's not worth it. I would get into tech if you're young.

[itrthho]

In California...its called a typical Summer

[rond]

I think what Biden meant was increasing their minimum wage to $15/hr.

[jz]

Ha! The U.S Forest services is cheap with zero benefits if you’re a seasonal firefighter. You’re better off at amazon with full time/ benefits

[lurkingarachnid]

They need to be paid $35 an hour, 1 Because this is his risk job and back breaking work, 2 this is California the cost of living is ridiculous, 3 stop being cheapskate.

[nataliezanders]

$15 dollars an hour wth 🤦🏾‍♀️ are they out of their minds ? Their jobs are life threatening and they constantly put their lives on the line and for only $15 😡 that’s ludicrous

[dhmketu]

Don't these fires jump the width of a highway?

[tgafire]

It’s hard to tell potential recruits that they will be paid penny’s to do one of the hardest jobs out there. It’s too easy to flip burgers and make just as much if not more.

[deadazzz]

Doesn't help you've got people lighting fires and causing fires when they shouldn't be