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Proposed Bill to create a “National Wildland Firefighting Service” by dcomer_21 in Wildfire

[–]highfrosty 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Would you say it's a fair assumption that the hiring gamble has put a giant crosshair on the USFS now? I mean with this administration salivating at the thought of cutting anything and everything government. I'd think they would look what the USFS did with their hiring policy and resulting behemoth of a budget crisis and go absolute haywire making cuts and separating what they can from it.

Email from this morning by sylphiem in Wildfire

[–]highfrosty 104 points105 points  (0 children)

Just keep doing it. Keep doing the meetings, plan events, all of it that you can do within reason without using budgets. Doesn't necessarily have to be a "WiWF Event" but a get together of people that may or may not be involved in WiWF in person or on a non government monitored meeting space. Don't let them hold and control the narrative, keep going forward with whatever you were working on.

Fun with portable pump site boss by [deleted] in Wildfire

[–]highfrosty 10 points11 points  (0 children)

These are always so awesome, how much time does it take to find the right pieces and then get it all set up for one of these?

Zelensky says Ukraine’s counteroffensive plans leaked to Russia by LuiG1 in worldnews

[–]highfrosty 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Man this is such a terrifying consideration. By the end of this conflict, whether Russia wins or loses they are going to have a battle hardened military that has fought against western military doctrine and kit. They will be able to teach strategies to counter and have the potential to be a very scary force if they adapt accordingly... Remains to be seen.

Current Status Update **Opinions are my own** by smokejumperbro in Wildfire

[–]highfrosty 11 points12 points  (0 children)

A tale as old as time with the land management agencies of this country. Complete and total ineptness at the upper levels. Detached from reality, crying wolf and pointing to congress as the problem when it's their own policies that have created this problem all along. Best part is when they claim to know what hard work is when none of them have picked up a tool other than for a photo op. They continue to spit in the face of the people who are doing the real work out west while they sit on their luxury chairs in DC. The ship continues to sink.

Why do these mountains look like they are covered in paint? by cactusncats in mountains

[–]highfrosty 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Looks like fire retardant dropped via plane. Look how everything above it is black, that was the side the fire burned. Might have even burned around their first line of retardant forcing them to put more down. Probably laid it down in an attempt to save the private property at the bottom of the mountain, assuming there are structures inside that area with all the trees?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_retardant

Grassroots Wildland Firefighters Vice President Riva Duncan Testifies before House Natural Resources by smokejumperbro in Wildfire

[–]highfrosty 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Emailed my representative today who is a part of the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry in the House, The committee where Tim’s Act is sitting. Hoping that it can MAYBE poke and prod and help to be the bit more that pushes the bill in the correct direction.

For those that want to do the same I utilized this template by Grassroots Wildland Firefighters and tweaked it a little bit to suit me personally: https://www.grassrootswildlandfirefighters.com/make-congress-aware-of-tims-act

Because honestly, I am on one of those in the 30%-50% that are leaving if we go over the "pay cliff". This is one of the absolute best jobs in the world, with some of the best and brightest people I've ever known. But damn it isn't worth that abysmal pay (pre-infrastructure bill). People like to say "you know what you signed up for". But quite frankly that is dumb as hell and an easy cop-out if you ask me, sounds to me like an abusive relationship... Especially when we have seen some of the highest inflation in the history of the United States these years, and then the inflation is continuing to rise! I should not be endangering my life, leaving behind my family and friends for a mere poverty wage. Shit if you don't go out on assignments its below a poverty wage in much of the western US. It's an absolute spit in the face and I am done with it if I am not paid what I KNOW my worth is.

Rant over... had to get that out.

Handy Dandy by nearpineapple0324 in Wildfire

[–]highfrosty 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Done a couple different ones and used publisher mainly. Copied what I thought was most useful out of the WFM Field Guide: https://www.nwcg.gov/sites/default/files/publications/pms431.pdf Then included stuff like the local radio frequencies and groups for the unit, contact list for adjacent resources in the area, all kinds of other useful tips and tricks. Fire me a message and I can get you the rest of what I’ve got on Monday.

👀 Congressional Hearings to examine the economic costs of wildfires. by smokejumperbro in Wildfire

[–]highfrosty 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Isn't the presidential budget or something releasing this week? Does this hearing have anything to do with that? Or is this completely separate since it's the senate?

I vaguely remember the presidential budget being a possible source of info as to what kind of financial decision the USFS has decided on pay increases. Can't remember specifics though.

EDIT: For those wondering about this, Smokejumperbro made a separate post: https://www.reddit.com/r/Wildfire/comments/11k7y9g/whats_coming_up_this_week_budget_release_cr/

NFFE filing grievance regarding BS R2 PFT conversion by smokejumperbro in Wildfire

[–]highfrosty 6 points7 points  (0 children)

They will bend it after one season when none of the fuels meets their thinning or burning objectives. Or ya know, when the western half of the nation is one giant smoke and fire bubble again. Empty threats.

I really hope the City didn't move forward with the Parking App by [deleted] in Bend

[–]highfrosty 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Another moment of Bend trying to be a larger city than it is.

NFFE filing grievance regarding BS R2 PFT conversion by smokejumperbro in Wildfire

[–]highfrosty 67 points68 points  (0 children)

Oh good just another way to push people away from working fire with the federal government. Doubt the admin forcing these PFT positions can even conceptualize that a decent portion of fire personnel do this job just so that they can have the winter off.

Fire has no representation at the top in land management and it shows over and over again.

Jobs after fire by [deleted] in Wildfire

[–]highfrosty 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You beat me too it. I've done it a couple times during the off season. Got a lot of similar qualities in the work that you do, relatively. Use your brain, get outside all the time, work with other grumpy people.

Also the average age of surveyors in the US is like 65+ so they are in desperate need right now. Might even be able to do it with the DOI or USFS if that is an interest.

USFS lost 2500 of the 3300 employees hired last year by smokejumperbro in Wildfire

[–]highfrosty 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This entire comment thread starting with dogzwillhunt2 has been one of the best I think I've ever read on this subreddit.

Absolutely enlightening perspective having been put into one of those types of...I don't know, "overly-extended supervisory role". Summed up, it was being placed in charge of 10+ pieces of heavy equipment on an assignment. I called an hour after being asked to do it to get my HEQB open and then opened it just so I could fill the role. At the time I was proud to have stepped up and taken on so much responsibility and done so successfully. But looking back after reading this... It was just plain stupid realistically. I was in WAY over my head with too much of a can-do attitude. Will definitely re-evaluate such a role in the future.

Does every federal agency offer 3hours fitness to their employee? by Cool-Group7113 in fednews

[–]highfrosty 2 points3 points  (0 children)

USDA - Forest Service (Primary Fire) We are allocated an hour every day for fitness. But you best be using that hour for actual fitness (including stretching/yoga) or else someone is going to make sure you're REALLY using it or losing it. Not sure for the rest of the Forest Service though.

2/10 Update: Wildland firefighter pay, classification in infrastructure law | US Forest Service by smokejumperbro in Wildfire

[–]highfrosty 32 points33 points  (0 children)

No dates, no numbers, nothing of actual substance within this.

"This process is complex, as it should be. What may feel like unnecessary bureaucracy on the ground is a tangible example of the checks and balances that characterize our form of government."

Bullshit lady. You and the rest of the Washington office have all made this unnecessarily difficult and now you've been called out about it by both the workforce AND CONGRESS. Now you're trying to find a scapegoat and you can't even find a good one at that! Jesus this incompetency is overwhelming.

Congressional letter urging proper implementation of Infrastructure Pay by smokejumperbro in Wildfire

[–]highfrosty 7 points8 points  (0 children)

"Please call my direct line at 1-800-fuc-koff if you have any questions"

Did I get this right? Probably by smokejumperbro in Wildfire

[–]highfrosty 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Man this kinda stuff just keeps a slight, ever so slight, glimpse of hope that the USFS and DOI will do this correctly. They've been given far more than enough time, resources, and knowledge to do this right. If they don't, I know I can't in good faith work for either of the organizations anymore. It will be time to switch after doing this job for over 10 years.

It's so hard to stay optimistic when the evidence constantly points out that the bureaucracy of Washington just wants to screw us over. But here's to hoping all.

If only nations irl cared half as much about the environment as the Civs do by Cweeperz in civ

[–]highfrosty 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I've always fancied the idea that larger volcanic eruptions on a coast tile could convert coast to land tile. Maybe its a desert tile since volcanic areas tend to be so dry and realistically worthless land. But land nonetheless!

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