Lee Co-Leads Bipartisan Legislation to Fairly Compensate Wildland Firefighters for Prescribed Burns and Training Jumps

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) announced her co-leadership of the Wildland Firefighter Hazard Pay Correction Act, joining Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (UT-02) on this bipartisan legislation to ensure federal wildland firefighters and smokejumpers receive hazard pay for all dangerous activities, including prescribed burns and training jumps.

Currently, federal wildland firefighters receive hazard pay when fighting active wildfires but not when conducting prescribed burns — despite facing similar risks from fire, smoke, and hazardous conditions. Smokejumpers, who parachute into remote fire areas, also do not receive hazard pay for regular proficiency jumps required to maintain operational readiness.

“Whether they are keeping prescribed burns under control or on the frontlines of a raging Western wildfire, federal wildland firefighters and smokejumpers regularly risk their lives to protect our communities,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “This bipartisan bill ensures that these heroes get the pay they deserve for putting themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe, including during the often dangerous training required for them to remain the best at what they do.”

"Wildland firefighters haven’t been receiving hazard pay for doing controlled burns or proficiency parachute jumps. They should be. This bill fixes that, and helps recruit and retain firefighters to do hard, hazardous jobs that are critical for land management. I look forward to working with Congresswoman Lee to get our bipartisan legislation to the President’s desk as soon as possible,” said Congresswoman Celeste Maloy.

“For far too long, Federal Wildland Firefighters have shouldered extraordinary risks without fair recognition in their paychecks. This legislation sends a powerful message that their service and sacrifice matter. I want to thank Congresswoman Maloy and Congresswoman Lee for their bipartisan leadership and for standing shoulder to shoulder with the firefighters who keep our nation safe,” said Matthew R. Brossard, National Business Representative, National Federation of Federal Employees. 

Prescribed burns are a critical tool in active forest management, helping to remove excess vegetation and lessen the intensity and spread of wildfires. These controlled burns create defensible spaces around communities, reduce hazardous fuel loads, and promote healthier forest ecosystems. Despite being carefully planned and executed, they sometimes involve burning hundreds of acres at a time and still expose firefighters to significant dangers including smoke inhalation, unpredictable fire behavior, and hazardous terrain—the same risks they face when fighting active wildfires. Additionally, smokejumpers serve an important role in combating remote wildfires by parachuting into difficult-to-access areas.

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