Former Forest Service Fire Staff Officer to testify before Congress

Investing to increase the capacity of the federal workforce to plan for and respond to wildfire

Committee hearing April 29 fire wildfire

Riva Duncan, now retired from the Fire Staff Officer position on the Umpqua National Forest in Oregon, is scheduled to testify before Congress Thursday April 29.

The House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands, led by Chair Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), will host an oversight hearing titled Wildfire in a Warming World: Opportunities to Improve Community Collaboration, Climate Resilience, and Workforce Capacity.

The Subcommittee describes one of the topics of the hearing:

Congress and the Biden administration have an opportunity to better incorporate climate change into federal land and wildfire policies by protecting naturally resilient landscapes, prioritizing funding for community collaboration and protection, and investing to increase the capacity of the federal workforce to plan for and respond to wildfire.

Ms. Duncan is now the Executive Secretary of Grassroots Wildland Firefighters.

Other expected witnesses:

  • Courtney Schultz, Associate Professor of Forest & Natural Resource Policy, Director of the Public Lands Policy Group at CSU, Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University.
  • Beverly Law, Professor Emeritus, Global Change Biology & Terrestrial Systems Science, Oregon State University
  • Minority witness to be announced

When:

1 p.m. EDT, Thursday April 29

Written testimony:

Written testimony from the witnesses will be posted at the Committee’s website shortly before the hearing begins. Ms. Duncan’s is 13 pages long.

How to watch live:

You can watch it right here. When the hearing begins, click on the Play button on the YouTube screen below.

After the hearing is over, it should be possible to replay it above, or on YouTube.

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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.

5 thoughts on “Former Forest Service Fire Staff Officer to testify before Congress”

  1. I won’t be able to watch, but hope that it goes well. I know Riva well, and I know she will provide them with tons of facts, figures, and compelling statements. Thanks to all of you for your efforts.

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  2. Thanks Bill for helping us spread the word. So many people as current and former federal Wildland Firefighters have volunteered countless hours behind the scene engaging as activists working with our elected officials to address the needed reforms for updated job classification, pay parity, benefits, and long term comprehensive health and wellness support. This is long overdue and an exciting time for all of us!

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