In spite of sequester, BLM to hire approximately same number of temporary fire personnel as last year

BLM

BLMEven with the budget sequester reducing their budget by about five percent, the Bureau of Land Management expects to hire approximately 1,000 temporary fire and aviation personnel this fire season. According to Don Smurthwaite, a spokesperson for the BLM who provided the information, that is about the same as last year and is a result of the Department of Interior granting the BLM an exception to the hiring freeze.

How the sequestration affects aviation, engines, hotshots and fuel reduction projects remains to be seen, but those numbers should be determined over the next few weeks, Mr. Smurthwaite said.

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

3 thoughts on “In spite of sequester, BLM to hire approximately same number of temporary fire personnel as last year”

  1. I hate to see any cuts. The men and women who saved my “stuff” in the 2012 Highlands fire deserve all the support they can get in what could be a tough year ahead. My respects.

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  2. That is good news. I reported earlier that my friend at the BLM said he was not going to be able to staff his type 4 because of budget cuts. I hope that will change now. We recieve an awful lot of help from the BLM in our county and the loss of just one engine has a snowball effect in our area. If the paid guys dont show up to help, the vols have to take up the slack and spend more time away from their jobs, get burned out and everything goes to heck after that.

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