Key facts
- The US Forest Service is experiencing a critical shortage of firefighters, with current crews facing unsustainable workloads and significant overtime.
- Firefighters anonymously report that the agency is understaffed and unable to effectively combat the increasing number of wildfires.
- USFS Chief Tom Schultz has publicly stated the agency is fully staffed and its firefighting workforce is stronger than in recent years.
- The agency has struggled with recruitment and retention, losing nearly half of its permanent employees between 2021 and 2024.
- Gaps in experienced leadership positions are hindering effective coordination and safety during large-scale fire suppression efforts.
The US Forest Service (USFS) is grappling with a severe shortage of firefighters this summer, pushing existing crews to their limits amidst a surge in wildfires across the country. Despite assurances from USFS Chief Tom Schultz that the agency is fully staffed and its workforce is stronger than ever, nine anonymous firefighters speaking to The Guardian described a system strained to the breaking point.
These firefighters detailed unsustainable pressure on skeleton crews, with many working over 1,000 hours of overtime last year, a situation expected to worsen. They highlighted significant gaps in crucial leadership roles, which impede the effective coordination of large-scale fire suppression operations. One federal fire captain noted the dire lack of personnel means houses are burning when they cannot be adequately protected.
The agency has faced recruitment and retention challenges for years, exacerbated by the climate crisis fueling more dangerous fire conditions. While a pay increase was finalized for 2025, it comes after significant losses; the USFS lost nearly half of its permanent employees between 2021 and 2024. An additional 20% of the workforce was affected by a hiring freeze during the Trump administration.
Firefighters argue that the USFS's stated hiring goal of 11,300 positions, which has remained flat, does not reflect the actual operational needs. The disparity between public statements and the reality on the ground is reportedly adding to the stress of exhausted crews, with concerns about leadership lying about capacity while firefighters die.
The situation is compounded by a decline in experienced middle management, essential for coordinating thousands of deployed personnel. This shortage has led to instances where private contract resources were unusable due to a lack of qualified supervisors. The USFS has seen a reduction in inter-agency complex-incident management teams from 46 in 2023 to 38.
As of Tuesday, over 49,200 wildfires have erupted nationwide this year, burning more than 7.2 million acres, surpassing 10-year averages. The country has been at the highest preparedness level (level 5) since July 18, indicating that new requests for support may go unanswered.