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Wyden, local leaders say more training, staff time and modern equipment are needed to professionalize wildfire response
Summary
Participants at the press event said crews need more managers, year-round work to complete qualifications, and modern equipment; Sen. Wyden called for boosting staffing and training to reduce fatalities and improve response.
Sen. Ron Wyden and other speakers said the wildfire response workforce needs expansion and professionalization, including more middle managers and more year-round opportunities for training and mitigation work so personnel can complete qualification "task books." Wyden said task-book signoffs and long training gaps are a barrier when crews work only short seasons.
Speakers also said some equipment is outdated and that simultaneous large fires across multiple states reduce mutual-aid availability. Wyden called for investments that increase the number of qualified personnel and extend the period when they can work on prevention, training and mitigation rather than only suppression.
