The federal land management agencies are not the only agencies facing problems with retention, recruitment, and mental health issues. The staffing system for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, CAL FIRE, calls for their firefighters to work 72 hours a week. But in recent years vacant positions have sometimes led to personnel being forced to work overtime, sometimes for many days at a time, 24 hours a day.
CAL FIRE 2881 President Tim Edwards represents nearly 5,400 CAL FIRE firefighters. He told CBS13 shifts that used to be 72 hours a week have become 30, 40, or 50 days without a break. Crews, he said, are unable to be relieved because of the short staffing.
A bill has been drafted that would appropriate $220 million to increase staffing and reduce forced overtime. If passed by California’s legislature the Fixing The Firefighter Shortage Act, SB 1062, would fund more than 1,100 additional state firefighters, 18 more engine crews, and a year-long study to figure out staffing needs in the future.
A CAL FIRE spokesperson told CBS13 three weeks ago that stations would be fully staffed in a week. The spokesperson added the agency does not endorse the Fixing The Firefighter Shortage Act, and that it is only supported by CAL FIRE Local 2881.
In 2009 a series of articles about wildland fire won a Pulitzer Prize for authors Bettina Boxall and Julie Cart of the Los Angeles Times. Ms. Cart who now works for CAL MATTERS wrote a piece last week for the publication about how PTSD is affecting CAL FIRE’s workforce. The video below posted June 15 appears to be a product of their reporting.
Ms. Cart points out that about 10 percent of CAL FIRE’s workforce quit last year.
Below is an excerpt from the article.
California’s firefighting agency has been slow to react to a mounting mental health crisis within its ranks as firefighters around the state say CAL FIRE has failed to get them what they need — including a sustainable workload, easier access to workers’ comp benefits and more counselors.
While climate change is driving enduring drought and ferocious fires ravaging California, nature can’t be blamed for all of CAL FIRE’s problems: The state’s fire service, which prides itself in quickly putting out wildfires, has failed to extinguish a smoldering mental health problem among its ranks.
Many firefighters told CalMatters they are fatigued and overwhelmed, describing an epidemic of post-traumatic stress in their fire stations. Veterans say they are contemplating leaving the service, which would deplete the agency of their decades of experience. Some opened up about their suicidal thoughts, while others — an unknown number since CAL FIRE doesn’t track it — already have taken their own lives.
Mike, I was just commenting on the article at KQED. In the article they talk about rebranding and changing their culture. Yes, changing your clothes and wearing badges is rebranding, but that’s not changing the culture. In order to change your culture you need to change your behavior. I just thought it was interesting that they were saying they changed their culture, but all the leaders (except one) where all white men. I didn’t mean it to be a race thing, just an observation. If you want diversity, then you need to hire a diverse work force. If you don’t then don’t, but then you can’t say your changing your culture. But, I’m not sure why you wouldn’t want a diverse work force. But whatever, you do you. I can’t change the world, just the world around me. Later!
Poor CF staff gets paid good $ portal to portal on a roll not like the rest of us scrubs who only get 16s but says the money isnt everything and the mental issues pile up…..
Maybe the feds should pay attention before they continue further down this slippery path CF has already traveled. Some jobs are just not meant to be full time long term and this is certainly one of them.
Or, not for everyone.
Rocco, the FEDS Fire Agencies were offered the opportunity to get portal to portal many years ago and they all wanted hazard pay instead. Poor choice for all those back then. The Federal Government still hasn’t recognized you all as Firefighters and we all hope someday you will be given this because that’s who and what you are. Maybe with that will come the pay & benefits you rightfully deserve. Stay safe.
SR Really why the Race Card?
WM, I’m white.
So, What’s your point?
It had nothing to do with any of this.
There you go all you unhappy Forestry Technicians, your opportunity to have a better career is waiting for you!
I read the article about CalFire. Wearing a suit vs wearing the uniform is not changing the culture. All the leaders were white men except for one white woman. Changing the culture is more than changing your clothes its about changing your behavior.
https://www.kqed.org/science/1979560/cal-fire-fumbles-key-responsibilities-to-prevent-catastrophic-wildfires-despite-historic-budget
In Richard Wilson’s era the default definition of fire prevention was; graze, plow, clear cut, dam and inundate. It had worked reasonably well in prior generations so it was not improved upon by Wilson or his extractive forester cronies who had been Directors of CDF for a very long time. California has grown in population by about 33% since the aged rancher had his chance to look forward, a chance he missed. The ultimate Cal Fire policy decision is the California State budget. Pre-Fire efforts are not as popular budget items as the stuff of fighting fires directly but hopefully that is changing.
(I do thank Director Richard Wilson and then Governor Pete Wilson for the pay by IOU which was a significant catalyst in galvanizing the rank and file of CDF towards the goal of being recognized as the State of California’s all risk Fire Department.)
Come work for the FEDs and all yoir issues will be solved if you don’t like that money you make.
I worked for the outfit for almost 40 years, and I can say it’s not just the long hours. There are other problems going on that I really don’t believe should be aired on this forum. I can say though, that those problems are taking a big bite out of the organization. Add to it that Cal Fire always had been and still is a training ground for those moving on to other departments. About two years before I hung it up I was mentoring a young man who had three years in with Cal Fire. He was being given the standard line to just hang in there and he would be picked up permanent. I advised him to start testing with other departments. About a year after he started doing that he was picked up permanently with a mid sized BayArea department. One thing I would like to know too in regards to the BC’s comment about a 10% turnover every year now – I wonder how much of that is due to discipline problems – something else to consider
A young man we know, late 20s, just graduated from a firefighter training course at a California community college. He was offered jobs by Calfire and a smallish city (10,000 population) in a fairly rural area. The city is very close to where he had gone through the course, so he knows the area and the people. I don’t know what the respective pay offers were, but the more predictable hours of the city department made his decision pretty easy. He will probably see enough of Calfire through mutual aid that he’ll be able to make an informed decision to move if he wishes.
I am glad the firefighters will receive an increase in pay : $ 20,000 plus their traditional salary – Temporarily ! Please look at the Big Picture : Huge fires ae not going away because of climate change . Where would we be without our firefighters ? The hermits peak calf canyon fire is still a threat because of possible persistent embers under logs ( the cause of prescribed burn : calfs head fire ) no matter how many monsoons we have. Please imagine – if you can – what it would mean to you to loose Everything – and then multiply that according to your estimate – and make a contribution to the firefighters !