Even 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.