"85% divorce rate" is no joke. That's why I'm not fighting the dragon anymore, wife and kids had to come first. Thank you FDC for everything you do! Much respect from Eastern WA!
Yeah. I put in 2 seasons, then I decided that being away from home and not seeing the wife for 5+ months at a time (doesn't help we are on the east coast) was probably not worth it anymore. If I was single it would be a different story.
I've heard 90 percent but the shot supe i had said 100 I said how so he replied you know anybody in this field that's married with no divorces I thought about it and I actually dont lmfao
I’ve been an “unskilled labor” for eight years now. After starting a family and trying to support them on a whopping $34,000 a year I have decided that it’s not worth it anymore. I literally can’t buy a home in the town that I live in because my pay is so terrible, And that’s with 600- 800 hours of overtime. I am put in charge of a half million dollars worth of equipment as well as the health and safety of seven other people in some of the most extreme environments around but I can’t even support my family. If they don’t make some significant changes soon they will be a lot more people like me that decide to go sell insurance or some other BS.
@@spiralrose but they don’t put their neck on the chopping block or have to command and account for the lives of an entire crew or be in charge of 500K of stuff. Mad respect for wild land firefighters, you deserve so much better
They only want you to save their lives and properties, not for you to live there. Let the jumped up brats do their own emergency services and see how long they last. Property prices will soon drop, when there are no professionals equipped to save their sorry arses. The Middle class lifestyle is being found out and that is why most are throwing the teddies out of the cot.
That is an utterly appalling position to be put into. Not surprising given the way most governments don't value public sector workers, particularly those doing the messy jobs. Good luck.
My roommate is dating a guy who does that kind of work and with the skills he's acquired, he could have nearly any job he wants when he eventually has had enough.
Any job is called "unskilled" when people want to pay less or look down on someone People look at wildfire firefighters that way saying "well they only dig holes and cut down trees and I can do that" well let's see you do that and have to do it in conditions these men and women have to do it in
In good conditions any able bodied person can cut down a tree. The real catch is that cutting down an entire tree is incredibly dangerous, and people do frequently die doing it or just being nearby when an unskilled person tries it. That wildfire and bushland firefighters can pull it off without killing each other or themselves in low visibility, high stress situations under tremendous physical strain from the heat, carrying all their gear, in restrictive heavy garments, and more often than not tired as hell (plus dehydration, sweating, general discomfort) is a testament to the training they do and the skills they've developed. But the fact that they can run towards raging fires? That's not skill or training. It takes real guts to do that, day in and day out. That alone puts them head and shoulders above most professions, especially legislators, even before you look at the level of skill they have to survive what they do. (sorry for the rant, I'm an aussie and we love our firefighters) (even if our politicians don't)
Anybody can play football, but not anyone can play at the NFL level. Everyone can wear a vest and drive a car with sirens on it and pull people over and pull a trigger but you have to learn a thing or two before you do it right. How does this not compute for this guy?
These "unskilled laborors" recently saved my communitee and, a nearby nature preserve. In heat over 100 degrees, mountain terrain. Meanwhile, our " representatives" are in airconditioned offices dreaming up ways to limot my ability to vote. God bless our fire fighters and emergency response teams.
and there is one of the key issues...everything is a "nature preserve" and they/you scream "don't let that burn!" when It should every once and awhile to keep them healthy!
@@jackelracer593 if spelling is your only complaint? THEN you have no Valid-ify-ed arguments or points to make HOMIE you tube chat is not a Harvard English exam
@@bobsmith-wg9fz "because TH-cam chat" is not a valid excuse. The idea that a proper understanding of language and grammar only applies in situations considered "important" is the reason why far too many people can't write or speak properly in those "important" situations.
I have a Master's degree and am currently doing my PhD. I am confident that I can pick fruit, wash dishes, pump gas, or sweep the floor. Just as I am confident that I cannot fight a massive firestorm, or drive a multi-ton truck, or fly a rescue helicopter, or use/identify a wide variety of life-saving and life-protecting equipment, or rescue people from burning buildings. So uh, no, firefighters are not unskilled labor.
Well said. I did all the jobs you mentioned and several others (I traded fruit pickin' for buckin' hay... wish I didn't). To get my education. Before that I was in the US Navy and they trained me to fight fires shipboard. I am uniquely qualified to state: *_FIRE FIGHTING REQUIRES EXTENSIVE PHYSICAL AND INTELICTUAL SKILLS NOT EASILY MASTERED OR COMMOMLY FOUND IN SOCIETY._*
@@nautifella Well said! Now step up and say it louder, in public, to the media. That's what it will take, from many people like you, to make the difference! Thank you!
Wow man, thank you for the shout out. If the last 5 seasons have taught me anything, it's that ANYONE that goes out there, from the Hotshots on the front lines, to the cooks behind the scenes making food for 1000- plus hungry firefighters, even to the guys pumping out the toilets, deserves a level of respect. Base camps do burn over on occasion, putting ALL of these lives on the line, and just keeping up with all the day- to day tasks that this job requires is a herculean effort for ALL involved. Love your channel!
Everybody deserves a level of respect and a living wage If we don’t stand up for everybody’s right to this, then everybody’s career is going to get shit on… Case in point
@@gangreneday Ironically this is actually, by definition, true. being a Politician has literally *Zero* skill/knowledge/education requirements. The requirements for being a fast food delivery boy is higher than for being a Senator, because the delivery boy has to have a valid drivers license.
I recently went backpacking in Big Bend's High Chisos just a week after it reopened from the wildfire this spring. My first night, I had the campsite closest to where the fire started. I hiked up there with a 48 pound pack, with 24 pounds of that being my drinking water for three days. Now, granted, I was in no hurry, so I took lots of rest breaks and even a couple of naps along the trail, so it was nearly 12 hours from the Basin to SR4. Even still, I'd say that getting up there with a full pack in June was the toughest hike I've ever done. After that, I don't give a rat's ass whether they're PhDs or third grade dropouts, the firefighters who did that hike in five hours carrying all their gear before the mules were even ready to help haul the load, and then went right to work fighting the fire through cactus, yuccas and scree slopes leading to deadly dropoffs deserve a hell of a lot more pay than any politician.
It's easy man you just power walk all the way there and when you get tired you slow down a bit until you're rested and haul ass again and just make sure to remember your tool isn't a walking stick and you'll get there.
My cousin is a Wildlands Firefighter up here in BC, Canada. He's been at it for almost a decade now. The man is a straight up hero, and has worked to save lives by risking his own every goddamn year. It's an absolute pleasure to watch my great aunt (his mum) tear into people when they talk shit about them.
I would point out that even on contract there is a Federal obligation to pay overtime, extended time, travel and a base rate for being in the wild. Sounds like that's not being met since the Fed minimum is $36k a year.
There is also the issue of prisoner fire fighters. They go out work for an insanely low wage since min wage doesn't apply to them and then when they get out they can't become regular firefighters because of their criminal history
@@Jcod_ I don't want to use any form of judgement on prisoner fire fighters because I don't know what crimes they've comitted, it can be a wide range of stuff. But I do want to say that their criminal status is used as an excuse to pay them less and I think that's unfair. If they work, you gotta pay them. Minimums were set in place for a reason. Their sentence is their punishment, the setbacks they'll face after release are already very significant. This is clearly just an excuse because government instances are being greedy, using the mindset of a little child "I don't know what crime you committed or why you did it, but you're a prisoner so you must be terrible! And that means I/others get to treat you below human."
The closest they would ever get is putting on the gear during the off season in a fire house for a photo-op while declaring how much they care about the firefighters
@@tachyon8317 yup that's about it and then you get the bold ones who show up in camp wearing a suit and surrounding with press and they have a sit down with us and complain that it smells..... hmm we've been on the line for the last 36 hours working wearing a 60lb pack and punching line. No we're not going to smell like sweat and burnt marshmallows. We smell like roses did you know that 😏
I have a friend who is a Wildland Firefighter and she has share this exact sentiment and even more. Every summer she jumps from fire to fire, across the western US from Washington state to Arizona and more. Just based on the few moments she has shared I can clearly see that she is far from unskilled laborers.
Wildland firefighters are a special breed and deserve so much more respect and credit for what they do. Much love to my brothers and sisters in the field!
I'm from Germany. We don't have "wildland firefighters" here. But nonetheless, you and your kind have my utmost respect. You guys are either insane or... Well, no, you guys are insane. Just the good kind of insane ;)
I live literally in between both major fires burning here in Northern California. Today on my drive home on the Interstate 5, there was a large crew that looked like they had just finished working their hearts out and their rears off fighting the fire - selflessly risking their lives to protect people, homes and the gorgeous nature that we are blessed to live in. I pointed to them and said to my young daughter: "those are heros!" What atrocious words, from an ugly heart, to call such admirable men and women "unskilled laborers." Surely this person would be singing a different toon if they were out on the blazing front line or if their house was in danger. Great video! Thank you for all that you do, sir! You have my honor!!! Blessings!!!
As a wildland firefighter it’s good to see this issue get more attention. We are constantly looked down and not even considered professionals at what we do at the federal level. Keep up the good work and thank you for bringing attention to this issue!
Hey! Californian Representative! Here in Australia we know Bushfires are no joke and we value our firefighters: Thanks for all the U.S (many from California who exchange with our firefighters each fire seasons) and Canadian Firefighters who volunteered to come help us 2019-2020 bushfires. Lest we forget the American Aerial Firefighters Ian McBeth, Paul Clyde Hudson and Rick A DeMorgan Jr whose plane crashed and they died and 17 of our own Volunteer CFA Rural Fire Fighters. Treat your firefighters with the respect they deserve! Sincerely an Aussie.
@@AmirHS86 to put it into perspective, in just one day we had 8 startups the other day after just one storm rolled through, everything would be burned if we didn’t respond 😂
The thing that kind of angers me the most is this came l a few days after the granite mountain hotshots died on the 30th of June a few years ago and they are still known as “unskilled laborers”
I didn’t know that spending countless hours and days training, taking refresher courses and classes, and than spending all that time out in the forest and desert fighting fires was making me unskilled. Wish someone would have told me before I did all that.
This, yes! Thank you. My family's cabin has been in the path of one of the California fires in the last 2 weeks and regardless of whether it burns or stands, the gratitude my family feels for each firefighter is beyond words. Superheroes!
I couldn't agree more, Jason, I couldn't agree more. ALL firefighters, ALL first responders, should have a significant pay increase, and as for "defunding" police/law enforcement (not something you addressed, but I am), those who want to do such a stupid, idiotic, MORONIC thing should then be mandated to become law enforcement themselves, and doing so by the law and the book, not by their own broken-headed ideas of "law"! All first responders across all disciplines have my deepest respect and gratitude. Even though many of your videos encompass comedy, they get the message across about the importance of having first responders in this First World country---because, as a species in general, those idiots who "don't recognize our laws" and who think they know how the country/world "should be" run, are the very ones the rest of us (who mostly use our heads for thinking) really do appreciate having all of you dedicated individuals "out there" for us!
The US Forest Service is actually having trouble staffing its hotshot crews and engine crews this season because many of the seasonal firefighters went on to better paying jobs elsewhere. Now that is a dangerous situation as the West and Northwest move farther into fire season and the remaining crews get exhausted from long fire sieges. Take note: Even Canada is having major fires this early in the season.
I was a HOTSHOT for 10 years and left the USFS BDF because of pay disparities as did three other pieces of overhead from our crew. I would have stayed if the benefits or pay were better, those people ARE my family. We all moved on to different departments but still stay very close.
Seems to be a reoccurring problem in the west and northwest.....your politicians pander to blue haired sjws who want 20 bucks an hour yet can't remember to hold the fuckin pickles 🙄. Meanwhile hard working heros get the shaft. The only reason I don't want California to burn to the ground is I don't want anymore of em in the Midwest.
@@halfassranch8363 Its no that its more to due with the fact that federal wildland firefighters get paid horribly and are underesourced. Added to the fact that infighting happens between federal and private firefighter teams as they end up making the fire worse for each other and should really be only a federal thing.
1 firefighter, be it in a burning forest, a burning building, keeping a person alive when they have inhaled a lifetime supply of smoke in a few short minutes or simply keeping a child calm after going through life changing trauma, is worth more than EVERY politician in office locally and federally. And I mean that with every fiber of my being.
I totally feel for these hero’s! As a paramedic we to are still considered the “ambulance drivers “ and basically are treated like a bastards step child by anyone in power. No wonder there are shortages of all public safety workers but more so the wild land firefighters and EMS folks. If the government won’t give up the same respect and benefits and funding that is given to the rest of public safety it will not end well. Thank you for bringing issues like this forward. Hopefully someone will see the errors in their ways and treat us “step Children “ like part of the whole public safety family!
I love how the solution to some isn't "pay these people more" it's "lower unemployment benefits." Meanwhile those same people likely just gave themselves a raise......
@@websterri So you think wages are cut for unemployment? That's sad, and an indictment on your local education system. MAYBE, here's a thought, tax the rich properly? Google gets a REBATE.
Politicians give themselves pay rises while the majority are barely making a quarter of what they make. Heck, I fully believe volunteer firefighters should be financially compensated as they are generally at higher risk of death or serious injury in the same situation (less familiarity, and possibly equipment that isn't as good).
As a retired (disabled) career firefighter, I know how much "gas" I have after 3 bottles. I started on a 4th on one fire scene, and had to sit down on a stairway. I could go no farther. I got out on my own, but wasn't worth much for an hour or so. I have never done that again. The rule in our area was 2 bottles and you're out. When I was still young, I thought about trying wildland firefighting. I never got the chance. I think back to how spent I was on several structure fires and am awed that these guys can go for days, weeks, or months, in 100°+ weather in mountainous terrain.
I grew up in the west coast and when I was a Fire Explorer for LA County I was told the best way to get into structure firefighting is by joining the wildland FSA division and like you said getting paid less than CaliFuckyas minimum wage was not exactly the best recruiting opportunity I loved firefighting but the lack of pay and more importantly the lack of funding is fucking the firefighters over and it’s truly sad and heartbreaking and hearing that there’s an article calling wildland firefighting unskilled labor is fucking infuriating
Totally cathartic, thank you! The Ten General Orders and all the watch outs that we LIVE AND DIE by were developed because of a whole series of tragedies. These punks going on about what we do ASSUME what is being done is “unskilled” and “easy” because they don’t do it themselves. Much love and respect for all our Brothers and Sisters who battle the beast and are a part of the greater Firefighting Family!
They should get paid like the military. A entry salary after completing their boot camp and then rank and time serve. Anytime they are fighting a fire they should get hazard pay. The military has regular pay and extra pay when warrant, flight pay, combat pay when in a combat zone.
That's kinda how it currently works (or fails to work). They are asking to be paid like professional firefighters, where all of that is factored into the base pay. Only getting hazard pay on fire assignment means you don't know what your next pay check will really look like and disregards all of the daily hazards they face on prescribed fires and fuels reduction work.
@@omnitech182 Exactly. Cal Fire figured this out a long time ago. There’s no differentiation between hazardous and non-hazardous hours, they just pay their people appropriately and pay them portal to portal on assignments. Hell, the Feds would go a long way just fixing that aspect of it without touching the wages. If you’re on a fire assignment away from your home, your time is no longer yours and you should be compensated for it instead of the 16’s and 8’s they do now.
Love ya man. Thanks for the respect. Its definitely mutual. I spent 10 years on a hotshot crew and 2 on an engine. In one shift as a hotshot, I went from ignition squad to digging to cordinating three type 1 helicopters putting down a retardent line to doing a medical aid (I was the squad EMT). Interesting to be able to do that as an unskilled laborer. 2023 and you still have Forest Service folks living out of vehicles because they cant afford a place to stay next to their duty stations. Damn politicians!
Arizona boy here. Thank you for your service and your videos. Many of our wildland fire fighters here have not only donated there time but also there lives. June 30, 2014 Andrew Ashcraft, 29 Anthony Rose, 23 Christopher MacKenzie, 30 Clayton Whitted, 28 Dustin DeFord, 24 Garret Zuppiger, 27 Grant McKee, 21 Jesse Steed, 36 Joe Thurston, 32 John Percin Jr., 24 Kevin Woyjeck, 21 Eric Marsh, 43 Robert Caldwell, 23 Scott Norris, 28 Sean Misner, 26 Travis Carter, 31 Travis Turbyfill, 27 Wade Parker, 22 William “Billy” Warneke, 25
I live in Prescott, AZ. Those men are my firefighters. I spoke to a family member of one of them fallen. His mom said he didn’t do it for pay. He did it for the love of the job. And to save the forest that he loved and if he was lucky to save lives.
If _Wildland Firefighting_ is unskilled labor, then politicians and their staff's should be able jump right in and join crews. Put them over-price college degrees aside and _actually do something productive._
Speaking from California I concur with your message, Calling a forestry fire fighter a forestry technician is like describing nascar driver as cabi because he's not an indi race car driver.🤔
My daughter dated a wildland firefighter for a few years. The work conditions were appalling. The food wasn't great. He was constantly stressed and exhausted. He had PTSD every winter. Wildland firefighters work ridiculous hours in dangerous, stressful, and difficult conditions. My respect for them went through the roof after hearing what his working life was like. And yet they're "unskilled labourers"? Someone needs a throat punch.
Tom McClintock, quoted "Wildfire firefighting is hot, miserable work, but it is not skilled labor,” he said."! OMG the government's paying these firefighters JUST above minimum wage, around $14 to, $16 per hour! That's disgusting. These men should be making between $22 and $27. SKILLS THEY HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF!
I have so much respect for firefighters and firefighter sacrifices. I consider it a huge insult to first responders when politicians act informed of the amount of skill and dedication this career takes.
A politician calling someone unskilled labor is the epitome of hypocrisy. It's too bad we as citizens are too stupid to realize both parties get away with this stuff.
I work an unskilled labour job right now, they are pretty much defined by a consistent work environment that requires less than a month of training and mostly involves labour and following specific instructions. I have no idea how that could apply to fighting and preventing forest fires. People love undermining other people’s work
Heck yes brother. Got me amped up! I may not have the fire cert but as an EMS cousin, I’m jacked watching this. Thanks for bringing us humor and truth bombs from time to time. Keep up the good work!
You guys are great and "winged bus driver" my arse. The next time Mr.Politico needs a ride to another country he can paddle his own rowboat and call a college kid Uber. All transportation driving labor is skilled labor.
Former Forestry Technician here. This is guy is right on. I left that life to learn a trade in construction. Can make more, be home every night and not worry about dying.
Little interesting Historical Side Note regarding your very own country: The Forestry service calls them "Forestry Technicians" so they can Legally pay them less since Firefighters supposedly make too much money and cost too much to equip according to the bean counters but if you Call them forestry technician's instead, well then you can cut all kinds of corners. How do i know this? I grew up in the 80's when it first happened and was passed into law by Congress I believe, check the record books which is All public record.
@@tannerbottineau62 Also a historical fact slightly in the same thought strain or vein Strangely enough also in Federal Service (I know shocker right) Currently....Posthumous Medals to members of the military, some of which I can see being very necessary and are rightly awarded later after the fact (CMOH, Silver or Bronze Medals for example) but you do Not need to give family members their fallen sons Location Service Medal, they already knew they were there and they are probably looking for more answers than that. Just saying.
@chris nunez Really? Didn't know that but then can you please tell me what kind of difference it makes between the types and how much in difference it makes when you are caught in a fire cause that's where you work? Are you any less dead in a forest fire? Cause one thing I'll inform you is, we all look the same when the Medics zip you up in those little oblong black or grey plastic body bags. And types don't mean sh*t there because then Everybody is either black or grey and about 6' long, even if they are stacked like cord wood. I've Seen enough of that poop for a lifetime already thank you, but no thank you.
@chris nunez I think you missed my point which was this: Making distinctions Between forestry technicians means exactly Jack Poop bit of difference in the end, they both usually died the same way, fighting forest fires and is one of the biggest problems with our country currently, too many damn people making distinctions between one group or the other when (as a medic) you get to see how truly stupid in a humanity-wise perspective and/or how truly short sighted / stupid that is. Remember, "the king goes in the same box as the pawn" which is a very old saying regarding Chess and funerals I had nothing to do with inventing but is still as accurate today as it was back then. Bury them All like they deserve I say (in my opinion).....like Heroes, with full honors given from a grateful nation, that would be the moral thing to do. I'll close with this Quote from Reign of Fire that I have never forgetten: "Envy the country that has heroes? I say Pity the Country that needs them!"
FINALLY!!!! No longer should they be called "forestry technicians"!!! Thank you so much. From someone who was a WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER for 8 years thank you!!!!!
Well let's put that representative out on a fire line working inches from a roaring blaze after having to hike into the location because a truck can't navigate the terrain. Lets not mention having to dodge water drops, and avoid getting run over by heavy equipment, while at the same time praying to God that the fire doesn't decide to overrun your position while you have nowhere to go. I have the upmost respect for the wild land guys.
Very good points!!!! Was that a little of foaming at the mouth to get your point across at the end there🤔😂 Wildland firefighters are just as important as the men + women firefighters who run into burning buildings like!!
Jfc, I'm glad I did my little stint as a wildland firefighter with the Forest Service. We had a week of intensive training and classes, not to mention the pack test, and I was only auxiliary. The crew bosses had way more training (not mention experience), and don't even get me started on hot shots and smokejumpers. I did it purely to act as back-up when needed, as my primary job was a wildlife tech. I was hoping to go on an actual fire, but due to some miscommunications between my fire boss and wildlife boss, I ended up missing my chance and only got to see a teeny tiny fire (but someone still got stung, which my crew assured me that this counted as a "real fire").
yeah, because overgrown brush isn't combustible... the myth that it is only trees that support a forest fire is dangerous and stupid. all southern California HAS is brush.
@@bobsmith-wg9fz and is that park on fire? or is it just your way of trying to distract from the fact that clear cutting trees won't actually prevent wildfires?
@@kenbrown2808 lol your 'clear cutting" bs Its called FORREST MANAGEMENT and you sell off the rights for someone to come in and cut down the dying trees and thin the Forrest...and then controlled burns are good BUT cali does noneof that and then WONDERS why its in MASSIVE flames each year...they USED to rebuild/recut fire beaks each season and have not done that for decades under DNC rule
@@bobsmith-wg9fz it's almost like their tax dollars are being siphoned off to subsidize other states, which are also on fire, nowadays. but guess what they were removing when they cut firebreaks. I'll give you a hint: it's what grows when you don't have a mature forest shading the ground underneath. Cali is in massive flames each year, because fire season has expanded to 10+ months a year, and the other two months are spent growing another crop of 10 minute fuel.
Let’s not forget that at least in Arizona some of these ‘unskilled laborers’ are inmates. Yes, there are Wildland Firefighters who are incarcerated inmates who choose to sign up and risk there lives. I know one. They don’t the pay or treatment deserved of someone doing such a difficult and hard job. And yes, they are trained and do the same work as non- inmate Wildland Firefighters.
And to those of us who even realize they exist, they are PLATINUM! Damned good at what they do and they do it all the time. California's changing prison/incarceration system (not sure it still counts as that) is drawing these teams down to far less than we used to have, and it shows. There are changes recently which I THINK actually allow these folks to be hired by CALFIRE after they complete their sentences, but I'm not totally sure where that effort stands now.
This is meant only and strictly as a curiosity question, not anything at all disparaging: Do the inmates sign up for such service because A) they do want to somehow offer reparations for whatever crime they've committed? And B), perhaps because getting out there and doing something so physical is better than just sitting in a cell for hours at a time? I know nothing about the prison system, so again, am asking only out of curiosity, out of genuinely wondering, nothing more.
@@jb6712 the reasons are as numerous as the people serving. For many it is something productive to do that is outside. Prison is a really toxic environment (drugs, gangs, violence, lack of positive social interactions) that isn’t very good for folks who trying to get their life together. And programs just keep getting cut. Or for folks who understand what they did was wrong and want to offer something different to the world. Digging a trench on a fire line is a better choice for many. And it helps out society too. I just wish they got the same recognition as other firefighters. It pisses name off to think of them as unskilled laborers.
You know, it's super ironic that when the minimum wage was first introduced, it was based on the idea that any job, & I mean any job, should be enough to buy a house & support a family. And now, we have WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS making less than minimum wage in some areas- Topped with snooty politicians saying that they're somehow "not good enough" to be paid enough to support themselves & their families. Everyone should be able to afford rent, bills, & groceries, regardless of their job. And insisting that the people out there sacrificing everyone & RISKING THEIR OWN LIVES TO SAVE THE LIVES OF OTHERS, should be paid next to nothing, is especially insulting, arrogant, & downright childish.
Wildland firefighters are always risking their lives, I’ve seen them work when there was a fire near a friends house. The level of respect I have for those men and women is enormous.
As an occupant of those western states, I wholeheartedly agree with getting these people paid and giving them their due respect! The government here needs to stop wasting money grandstanding and take care of issues like this!
You think its bad in america, well in Queensland, Australia the rfs has 30,000 volunteers and no paid firefighters. Plus their don't get any funding from the government. They even have to buy their own PPE.
I know nothing of RFS except for what you write here. That said, sounds like the should organize and not do the job. As long as people do it without pay, why pay them. That’s how it works, unfortunately.
That's not entirely true my Family are NSW RFS volunteers, they definitely do not have to buy their own PPE, and even tho they are unpaid do get looked after very well, my dad has been a volunteer for decades, he loves it, that's another side to by utilising volunteers you are mostly guaranteed to get people motivated by job as apposed to people motivated by money.
Being from British Columbia, I'm appalled anyone would say anything about Wildfire Fighters are less than hero's that deserve our utmost respect like all First Responders. These incredible people not only fight for our lives, property and everything in between. Once they finish in their own countries they commonly pack up and head elsewhere in the world to help the next. We would have been lost here in 2018 without them and this year is looking the same.
Saw that--hugs and hoping things settle down soonest! Don't know if we'll have enough people TO help you but you know what? I know that pretty much every firefighter will bust their ass to try! Hang in there!
@@RICDirector CAF is sending in Army Personnel to help, other countries always step up ❤. Losing the village of Lytton has been devastating for their 250 occupants and especially for the First Nations people. But we are BCStrong. I know those Firefighters from Forestry Services, the cities that are sending their local departments are doing their absolute best along with the pilots and we are so very proud of them.
I think it was the year before this was made we lost multiple towns in Oregon to wildfires... it was horrific. I was driving city busses at the time and was hours away from being sent to help evacuate people from threatened areas. It was hard to breath for weeks and I was starting to wonder if we'd ever see the sky again... it was that depressing.
You can tell buy the way the representative said "unskilled laborers" You can tell they have never swung a tool or known the pain of that pack on your shoulders for 16 hours
What about the National Guard who activates fellow services members? I’ve been on a couple activations and noticed they literally put everyone and everything on the line to help out. Then again as an EMS responder I have seen plenty of injuries that could have been prevented
This is the same as NFL "skill positions" (vs what? unskilled positions). Mark Schlereth on ESPN radio one time, who was an offensive lineman (not a skill position) when he played, explained all the skills he had honed over the years playing football, all the skills he needed (beyond brute strength) to compete at the highest level. I'd say fire fighters compete at the highest level every time they're called. Fighting a fire is a lot harder than blocking Lawrence Taylor or JJ Watt.
My son wanted to be a firefighter. Last I heard he was working for an Ambulance company, before the pandemic. I have no idea if he's still alive. He was a gifted student, the first one to ever pass the test he took in High School to be a first responder. A class they had offered for 8 years. He might have gone for Paramedic. Bad divorce he was stolen from me. I have a real bad feeling he may not still be ... well, you know. I miss him so much and hope he's OK. He never had a regular flu in his life, neither have I. He gave great hugs. In CA. I can't find his facebook or Linked In anymore.
Hey there, this comment is more of you letting your feelings out rather than relating to the video. I really hope you are able to find info about your son, or get into contact with him. Though he clearly has gone through troubles, i’m sure in him, he still loves you. I just wanna say, for the worst case(never find him), you did all you could as a parent and im sure you provided your son with the best. This is life, and his life is his own life, sadly. We can’t control people, even our children when they become full living adults.
@@junerdyreyes2266 every time I see firefighters in video, I look for familiar signs. I don't like the high risk occupation. Not for his temperament or the childhood he had. He was a child last I lived with him. Not sure what the video was about now. Thanks for your kind words
Going into my 5th year of hotshotting and my 8th year of wildland fire. Really appreciate hearing this anger from a structure firefighter, thanks for screaming into the void with us!!!!
If anything our legislators are all unskilled laborers
Not near enough likes on this comment
Not only youres all the worlds legislators are unskilled
, no even worse then that they are total morons 😂😂😂😂
Except they don’t labor, they are just unskilled
Laborer implies they do work though
The average unskilled laborer brings a hundred times more value to the table than any politician.
"85% divorce rate" is no joke. That's why I'm not fighting the dragon anymore, wife and kids had to come first. Thank you FDC for everything you do! Much respect from Eastern WA!
Yeah. I put in 2 seasons, then I decided that being away from home and not seeing the wife for 5+ months at a time (doesn't help we are on the east coast) was probably not worth it anymore. If I was single it would be a different story.
Eastern West Australia is a weird way to say it.
@@Jacloch eastern Washington bud.
I've heard 90 percent but the shot supe i had said 100 I said how so he replied you know anybody in this field that's married with no divorces I thought about it and I actually dont lmfao
What has your heroin addiction got to do with it, unless “fighting the dragon” means something different where you’re from 😂
Calling firefighters "unskilled labor" is essentially code for "I don't want to pay people for the work they do"
I mean pretty much all sections of the workforce have this problem and it's been around since the 80s
I wonder if that timestamp has any significance
@@NymbusCumulo928 Pretty much
Pretty much. You're either an "Unskilled Laborer" or an "Essential Worker". Either way, it's code for get fucked commoner.
The 400 lb governor of Illinois refers to paramedics as "ambulance drivers" in between pleas for people not to hoard food.
@nymbus it has been around forever not since the 80s.
I’ve been an “unskilled labor” for eight years now. After starting a family and trying to support them on a whopping $34,000 a year I have decided that it’s not worth it anymore. I literally can’t buy a home in the town that I live in because my pay is so terrible, And that’s with 600- 800 hours of overtime. I am put in charge of a half million dollars worth of equipment as well as the health and safety of seven other people in some of the most extreme environments around but I can’t even support my family. If they don’t make some significant changes soon they will be a lot more people like me that decide to go sell insurance or some other BS.
To be fair, most people can’t support their families these days. It’s been that way for years and nothing’s changed
@@spiralrose but they don’t put their neck on the chopping block or have to command and account for the lives of an entire crew or be in charge of 500K of stuff. Mad respect for wild land firefighters, you deserve so much better
They only want you to save their lives and properties, not for you to live there.
Let the jumped up brats do their own emergency services and see how long they last. Property prices will soon drop, when there are no professionals equipped to save their sorry arses.
The Middle class lifestyle is being found out and that is why most are throwing the teddies out of the cot.
That is an utterly appalling position to be put into. Not surprising given the way most governments don't value public sector workers, particularly those doing the messy jobs. Good luck.
Mt heart goes out to you and hope legislation changes so you can take care of your family and finally get the respect you and your colleagues deserve.
I got a friend who's a wildland firefighter, and he's a badass at his job. Don't insult them guys.
My roommate is dating a guy who does that kind of work and with the skills he's acquired, he could have nearly any job he wants when he eventually has had enough.
Any job is called "unskilled" when people want to pay less or look down on someone
People look at wildfire firefighters that way saying "well they only dig holes and cut down trees and I can do that" well let's see you do that and have to do it in conditions these men and women have to do it in
Those people have also never cut down a tree or dug significantly large holes in any condition
In good conditions any able bodied person can cut down a tree. The real catch is that cutting down an entire tree is incredibly dangerous, and people do frequently die doing it or just being nearby when an unskilled person tries it.
That wildfire and bushland firefighters can pull it off without killing each other or themselves in low visibility, high stress situations under tremendous physical strain from the heat, carrying all their gear, in restrictive heavy garments, and more often than not tired as hell (plus dehydration, sweating, general discomfort) is a testament to the training they do and the skills they've developed.
But the fact that they can run towards raging fires? That's not skill or training. It takes real guts to do that, day in and day out.
That alone puts them head and shoulders above most professions, especially legislators, even before you look at the level of skill they have to survive what they do.
(sorry for the rant, I'm an aussie and we love our firefighters) (even if our politicians don't)
Plus you have the factor of a several hundred degree wall of death very quickly making its way towards your very squishy, flammable body.
Anybody can play football, but not anyone can play at the NFL level. Everyone can wear a vest and drive a car with sirens on it and pull people over and pull a trigger but you have to learn a thing or two before you do it right. How does this not compute for this guy?
These "unskilled laborors" recently saved my communitee and, a nearby nature preserve. In heat over 100 degrees, mountain terrain. Meanwhile, our " representatives" are in airconditioned offices dreaming up ways to limot my ability to vote. God bless our fire fighters and emergency response teams.
and there is one of the key issues...everything is a "nature preserve" and they/you scream "don't let that burn!" when It should every once and awhile to keep them healthy!
Unskilled spelling is your speciality bud
@@jackelracer593 if spelling is your only complaint?
THEN you have no Valid-ify-ed arguments or points to make HOMIE
you tube chat is not a Harvard English exam
@@bobsmith-wg9fz "because TH-cam chat" is not a valid excuse. The idea that a proper understanding of language and grammar only applies in situations considered "important" is the reason why far too many people can't write or speak properly in those "important" situations.
@@CosmicCamm and once again...you are proving ZERO points in a you tube chat....go back to being an unemployable engrish teacher!
That's it. I can't unsee that. Jason is now officially Anger, from Inside Out.
I understand it's infuriating, and I understand he's making a (damn good) point...but I'm worried he's gonna pop at the end!
Justified fucking rage aka Jason. I barely think anger is enough!
Lmao.....this is how memes are born.
Nice.😁
I have a Master's degree and am currently doing my PhD.
I am confident that I can pick fruit, wash dishes, pump gas, or sweep the floor.
Just as I am confident that I cannot fight a massive firestorm, or drive a multi-ton truck, or fly a rescue helicopter, or use/identify a wide variety of life-saving and life-protecting equipment, or rescue people from burning buildings.
So uh, no, firefighters are not unskilled labor.
Well said. I did all the jobs you mentioned and several others (I traded fruit pickin' for buckin' hay... wish I didn't). To get my education. Before that I was in the US Navy and they trained me to fight fires shipboard. I am uniquely qualified to state: *_FIRE FIGHTING REQUIRES EXTENSIVE PHYSICAL AND INTELICTUAL SKILLS NOT EASILY MASTERED OR COMMOMLY FOUND IN SOCIETY._*
Most people are not aware of how grueling the work is for wildland firefighting. It is brutal.
@@nautifella Well said! Now step up and say it louder, in public, to the media. That's what it will take, from many people like you, to make the difference! Thank you!
I know I'm not a wildland fire fighter anymore but that just feels good.
I'm disabled and needed unemployment I absolutely couldnt do this highly skilled labor
Wow man, thank you for the shout out. If the last 5 seasons have taught me anything, it's that ANYONE that goes out there, from the Hotshots on the front lines, to the cooks behind the scenes making food for 1000- plus hungry firefighters, even to the guys pumping out the toilets, deserves a level of respect. Base camps do burn over on occasion, putting ALL of these lives on the line, and just keeping up with all the day- to day tasks that this job requires is a herculean effort for ALL involved.
Love your channel!
Everybody deserves a level of respect and a living wage
If we don’t stand up for everybody’s right to this, then everybody’s career is going to get shit on… Case in point
I don't even understand how someone can say that they're "Unskilled Laborers."
Politicians are unskilled laborers
They watch one drama about firefighting and think it looks easy.
Ignorance comes to mind
@@gangreneday Ironically this is actually, by definition, true. being a Politician has literally *Zero* skill/knowledge/education requirements. The requirements for being a fast food delivery boy is higher than for being a Senator, because the delivery boy has to have a valid drivers license.
It's easy. From an outsiders point of view all they're doing is pointing a really fancy hose at a big ol' fire.
I recently went backpacking in Big Bend's High Chisos just a week after it reopened from the wildfire this spring. My first night, I had the campsite closest to where the fire started. I hiked up there with a 48 pound pack, with 24 pounds of that being my drinking water for three days. Now, granted, I was in no hurry, so I took lots of rest breaks and even a couple of naps along the trail, so it was nearly 12 hours from the Basin to SR4. Even still, I'd say that getting up there with a full pack in June was the toughest hike I've ever done.
After that, I don't give a rat's ass whether they're PhDs or third grade dropouts, the firefighters who did that hike in five hours carrying all their gear before the mules were even ready to help haul the load, and then went right to work fighting the fire through cactus, yuccas and scree slopes leading to deadly dropoffs deserve a hell of a lot more pay than any politician.
It's easy man you just power walk all the way there and when you get tired you slow down a bit until you're rested and haul ass again and just make sure to remember your tool isn't a walking stick and you'll get there.
Wouldn't the "California Representative" be considered an "unskilled worker"?? I say hand that rep a shovel and a bucket and see how far they get!
My cousin is a Wildlands Firefighter up here in BC, Canada. He's been at it for almost a decade now. The man is a straight up hero, and has worked to save lives by risking his own every goddamn year. It's an absolute pleasure to watch my great aunt (his mum) tear into people when they talk shit about them.
I would point out that even on contract there is a Federal obligation to pay overtime, extended time, travel and a base rate for being in the wild. Sounds like that's not being met since the Fed minimum is $36k a year.
Yeah but that's federal.
You expect local, state, and federal government agencies to follow their own rules? Clearly you’ve never worked for any of them.
There is also the issue of prisoner fire fighters. They go out work for an insanely low wage since min wage doesn't apply to them and then when they get out they can't become regular firefighters because of their criminal history
@@Jcod_ precisely... so much for that federal minimum lol
@@Jcod_ I don't want to use any form of judgement on prisoner fire fighters because I don't know what crimes they've comitted, it can be a wide range of stuff. But I do want to say that their criminal status is used as an excuse to pay them less and I think that's unfair. If they work, you gotta pay them. Minimums were set in place for a reason. Their sentence is their punishment, the setbacks they'll face after release are already very significant. This is clearly just an excuse because government instances are being greedy, using the mindset of a little child "I don't know what crime you committed or why you did it, but you're a prisoner so you must be terrible! And that means I/others get to treat you below human."
It‘s really sad that the people who actually WANT to help others and/or save lives are so often punished for that desire.
Where there's passion, there's pay cuts.
That representative needs to spend a few months on the line
They couldn't even last a half hour!
The closest they would ever get is putting on the gear during the off season in a fire house for a photo-op while declaring how much they care about the firefighters
@@johnweissmuller3950 lol right hell they wouldn't get past just the pack
@@tachyon8317 yup that's about it and then you get the bold ones who show up in camp wearing a suit and surrounding with press and they have a sit down with us and complain that it smells..... hmm we've been on the line for the last 36 hours working wearing a 60lb pack and punching line. No we're not going to smell like sweat and burnt marshmallows. We smell like roses did you know that 😏
Tom McClintock CA-district 4 is the rep if you want to call their office/email/mail them a complaint.
I have a friend who is a Wildland Firefighter and she has share this exact sentiment and even more. Every summer she jumps from fire to fire, across the western US from Washington state to Arizona and more.
Just based on the few moments she has shared I can clearly see that she is far from unskilled laborers.
Wildland firefighters are a special breed and deserve so much more respect and credit for what they do. Much love to my brothers and sisters in the field!
I'm from Germany.
We don't have "wildland firefighters" here.
But nonetheless, you and your kind have my utmost respect.
You guys are either insane or... Well, no, you guys are insane. Just the good kind of insane ;)
@@cy-one I miss my time in the forest service. There's no rush compared to going at it next to a 50 ft plus flame. And yeah, we are crazy af🤣🤣
I’m working to become a wildland firefighter
I live literally in between both major fires burning here in Northern California. Today on my drive home on the Interstate 5, there was a large crew that looked like they had just finished working their hearts out and their rears off fighting the fire - selflessly risking their lives to protect people, homes and the gorgeous nature that we are blessed to live in. I pointed to them and said to my young daughter: "those are heros!"
What atrocious words, from an ugly heart, to call such admirable men and women "unskilled laborers." Surely this person would be singing a different toon if they were out on the blazing front line or if their house was in danger.
Great video! Thank you for all that you do, sir! You have my honor!!!
Blessings!!!
He can make everything funny and real all at the same time, but also get you to look at the real point and actually take things serious.
Starts off with “little angry.” Lays down epic, fact filled rant. God Bless you sir
“Unskilled laborers” is a bold title coming from someone in the government
As a wildland firefighter it’s good to see this issue get more attention. We are constantly looked down and not even considered professionals at what we do at the federal level. Keep up the good work and thank you for bringing attention to this issue!
Hey! Californian Representative! Here in Australia we know Bushfires are no joke and we value our firefighters: Thanks for all the U.S (many from California who exchange with our firefighters each fire seasons) and Canadian Firefighters who volunteered to come help us 2019-2020 bushfires. Lest we forget the American Aerial Firefighters Ian McBeth, Paul Clyde Hudson and Rick A DeMorgan Jr whose plane crashed and they died and 17 of our own Volunteer CFA Rural Fire Fighters. Treat your firefighters with the respect they deserve! Sincerely an Aussie.
let all the politicians in the world take a month off. then let all the firefighters in the world take a week off.
whose job is more important?
If them HEROS took just 2 hours off we all doomed.
@@AmirHS86 to put it into perspective, in just one day we had 8 startups the other day after just one storm rolled through, everything would be burned if we didn’t respond 😂
Usually, it's a whole lot better when pols are on recess. Less mudslinging.
The thing that kind of angers me the most is this came l a few days after the granite mountain hotshots died on the 30th of June a few years ago and they are still known as “unskilled laborers”
I didn’t know that spending countless hours and days training, taking refresher courses and classes, and than spending all that time out in the forest and desert fighting fires was making me unskilled. Wish someone would have told me before I did all that.
Remember, most politicians are actually unskilled labor. That's why they are politicians. Oh, and they might have a degree.
This, yes! Thank you. My family's cabin has been in the path of one of the California fires in the last 2 weeks and regardless of whether it burns or stands, the gratitude my family feels for each firefighter is beyond words. Superheroes!
I'd rather have a fireman than a senator. At least one actually works. They're crazy as hell, but they work. Love you guys, much respect.
I couldn't agree more, Jason, I couldn't agree more. ALL firefighters, ALL first responders, should have a significant pay increase, and as for "defunding" police/law enforcement (not something you addressed, but I am), those who want to do such a stupid, idiotic, MORONIC thing should then be mandated to become law enforcement themselves, and doing so by the law and the book, not by their own broken-headed ideas of "law"!
All first responders across all disciplines have my deepest respect and gratitude.
Even though many of your videos encompass comedy, they get the message across about the importance of having first responders in this First World country---because, as a species in general, those idiots who "don't recognize our laws" and who think they know how the country/world "should be" run, are the very ones the rest of us (who mostly use our heads for thinking) really do appreciate having all of you dedicated individuals "out there" for us!
It's funny how the "unskilled labor" is all of the jobs that human society literally can't survive without.
The US Forest Service is actually having trouble staffing its hotshot crews and engine crews this season because many of the seasonal firefighters went on to better paying jobs elsewhere. Now that is a dangerous situation as the West and Northwest move farther into fire season and the remaining crews get exhausted from long fire sieges. Take note: Even Canada is having major fires this early in the season.
Season is swiftly becoming an anachronism. Ask Australia.
Am Canadian can confirm there are currently 200 active wildfires in BC alone 67 of which are out of control
I was a HOTSHOT for 10 years and left the USFS BDF because of pay disparities as did three other pieces of overhead from our crew. I would have stayed if the benefits or pay were better, those people ARE my family. We all moved on to different departments but still stay very close.
Seems to be a reoccurring problem in the west and northwest.....your politicians pander to blue haired sjws who want 20 bucks an hour yet can't remember to hold the fuckin pickles 🙄.
Meanwhile hard working heros get the shaft. The only reason I don't want California to burn to the ground is I don't want anymore of em in the Midwest.
@@halfassranch8363 Its no that its more to due with the fact that federal wildland firefighters get paid horribly and are underesourced. Added to the fact that infighting happens between federal and private firefighter teams as they end up making the fire worse for each other and should really be only a federal thing.
1 firefighter, be it in a burning forest, a burning building, keeping a person alive when they have inhaled a lifetime supply of smoke in a few short minutes or simply keeping a child calm after going through life changing trauma, is worth more than EVERY politician in office locally and federally. And I mean that with every fiber of my being.
I live in California, we are all so thankful for all firefighters! With our extreme droughts and fire seasons we need these people!
If anyone's curious who the rep that said this was it was US Congressman Tom McClintock (R-Elk Grove)
Is he any relation to G W McClintock?
I think G.W. would have kicked his ass for statement like that
Now there's no shock at all. LaMalfa's similar.
Thank you. I googled and could not find.
Here's his federal website:
mcclintock.house.gov/
Phone: 202-225-2511
Let him know!
I totally feel for these hero’s! As a paramedic we to are still considered the “ambulance drivers “ and basically are treated like a bastards step child by anyone in power. No wonder there are shortages of all public safety workers but more so the wild land firefighters and EMS folks. If the government won’t give up the same respect and benefits and funding that is given to the rest of public safety it will not end well. Thank you for bringing issues like this forward. Hopefully someone will see the errors in their ways and treat us “step Children “ like part of the whole public safety family!
I love how the solution to some isn't "pay these people more" it's "lower unemployment benefits." Meanwhile those same people likely just gave themselves a raise......
They should lower unemployment benefits. Why the hell should our wages be cut so some bum can get welfare checks.
@@websterri So you think wages are cut for unemployment? That's sad, and an indictment on your local education system. MAYBE, here's a thought, tax the rich properly? Google gets a REBATE.
@@websterri Also i sincerely hope you never have to rely on a social assistance of any kind due to hardship that is run my people such as yourself.
Politicians give themselves pay rises while the majority are barely making a quarter of what they make. Heck, I fully believe volunteer firefighters should be financially compensated as they are generally at higher risk of death or serious injury in the same situation (less familiarity, and possibly equipment that isn't as good).
@@callummclachlan4771 Meant the rich in general, but yeah.
As a retired (disabled) career firefighter, I know how much "gas" I have after 3 bottles. I started on a 4th on one fire scene, and had to sit down on a stairway. I could go no farther. I got out on my own, but wasn't worth much for an hour or so. I have never done that again. The rule in our area was 2 bottles and you're out.
When I was still young, I thought about trying wildland firefighting. I never got the chance. I think back to how spent I was on several structure fires and am awed that these guys can go for days, weeks, or months, in 100°+ weather in mountainous terrain.
Never bite the hand of those who save your ass or your state! Life savers is right! Thank you all for what you do! ❤️
You're pretty as hell from your picture.
@Beau Davis maybe....... 😂 she does look pretty though doesn't she????
I want to personally thank all of our first responders. You deserve so much better than what you get.
2:13 he predicted the future
I grew up in the west coast and when I was a Fire Explorer for LA County I was told the best way to get into structure firefighting is by joining the wildland FSA division and like you said getting paid less than CaliFuckyas minimum wage was not exactly the best recruiting opportunity I loved firefighting but the lack of pay and more importantly the lack of funding is fucking the firefighters over and it’s truly sad and heartbreaking and hearing that there’s an article calling wildland firefighting unskilled labor is fucking infuriating
3 US Senators have watched this video according to the dislikes.
Totally cathartic, thank you! The Ten General Orders and all the watch outs that we LIVE AND DIE by were developed because of a whole series of tragedies. These punks going on about what we do ASSUME what is being done is “unskilled” and “easy” because they don’t do it themselves. Much love and respect for all our Brothers and Sisters who battle the beast and are a part of the greater Firefighting Family!
They should get paid like the military. A entry salary after completing their boot camp and then rank and time serve. Anytime they are fighting a fire they should get hazard pay. The military has regular pay and extra pay when warrant, flight pay, combat pay when in a combat zone.
Lol boot camp, 3 mile 45 minute 45 lbs pack test and 42 hr class. That's entry level
That's kinda how it currently works (or fails to work). They are asking to be paid like professional firefighters, where all of that is factored into the base pay. Only getting hazard pay on fire assignment means you don't know what your next pay check will really look like and disregards all of the daily hazards they face on prescribed fires and fuels reduction work.
@@omnitech182 Exactly. Cal Fire figured this out a long time ago. There’s no differentiation between hazardous and non-hazardous hours, they just pay their people appropriately and pay them portal to portal on assignments. Hell, the Feds would go a long way just fixing that aspect of it without touching the wages. If you’re on a fire assignment away from your home, your time is no longer yours and you should be compensated for it instead of the 16’s and 8’s they do now.
Love ya man. Thanks for the respect. Its definitely mutual. I spent 10 years on a hotshot crew and 2 on an engine. In one shift as a hotshot, I went from ignition squad to digging to cordinating three type 1 helicopters putting down a retardent line to doing a medical aid (I was the squad EMT). Interesting to be able to do that as an unskilled laborer. 2023 and you still have Forest Service folks living out of vehicles because they cant afford a place to stay next to their duty stations. Damn politicians!
My dad was a firefighter and I respect that cause I’ve seen some photos of the shit he saw and that crap scared me.
Arizona boy here. Thank you for your service and your videos. Many of our wildland fire fighters here have not only donated there time but also there lives.
June 30, 2014
Andrew Ashcraft, 29
Anthony Rose, 23
Christopher MacKenzie, 30
Clayton Whitted, 28
Dustin DeFord, 24
Garret Zuppiger, 27
Grant McKee, 21
Jesse Steed, 36
Joe Thurston, 32
John Percin Jr., 24
Kevin Woyjeck, 21
Eric Marsh, 43
Robert Caldwell, 23
Scott Norris, 28
Sean Misner, 26
Travis Carter, 31
Travis Turbyfill, 27
Wade Parker, 22
William “Billy” Warneke, 25
Haven't even watched it yet but I know it's going to be good.
Same.
As a hotshot, thank you for making this video, you nail it on the head. Appreciate you speaking for people who are unheard, rock on.
The #Yarnell19 were not "Forestry Technicians", that's for sure...
I live in Prescott, AZ. Those men are my firefighters. I spoke to a family member of one of them fallen. His mom said he didn’t do it for pay. He did it for the love of the job. And to save the forest that he loved and if he was lucky to save lives.
If _Wildland Firefighting_ is unskilled labor, then politicians and their staff's should be able jump right in and join crews. Put them over-price college degrees aside and _actually do something productive._
OMG. Thank you for the best belly laugh I've had for a while!! Talk about the best and newest reality show.....!!
Speaking from California I concur with your message,
Calling a forestry fire fighter
a forestry technician is like describing nascar driver as cabi because he's not an indi race car driver.🤔
My daughter dated a wildland firefighter for a few years. The work conditions were appalling. The food wasn't great. He was constantly stressed and exhausted. He had PTSD every winter. Wildland firefighters work ridiculous hours in dangerous, stressful, and difficult conditions. My respect for them went through the roof after hearing what his working life was like.
And yet they're "unskilled labourers"? Someone needs a throat punch.
Tom McClintock, quoted "Wildfire firefighting is hot, miserable work, but it is not skilled labor,” he said."!
OMG the government's paying these firefighters JUST above minimum wage, around $14 to, $16 per hour! That's disgusting. These men should be making between $22 and $27.
SKILLS THEY HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF!
I make $20.00 an hour driving a forklift...I had no idea they got paid so poorly, that's fucking sad.
I have so much respect for firefighters and firefighter sacrifices. I consider it a huge insult to first responders when politicians act informed of the amount of skill and dedication this career takes.
A politician calling someone unskilled labor is the epitome of hypocrisy.
It's too bad we as citizens are too stupid to realize both parties get away with this stuff.
Jason, always a good watch. Love what your doing on TH-cam. Thanks brother!
Jason, don’t hold back! Make sure they know the truth! Respect!
One of your best videos yet. Keep up the great work.
I work an unskilled labour job right now, they are pretty much defined by a consistent work environment that requires less than a month of training and mostly involves labour and following specific instructions. I have no idea how that could apply to fighting and preventing forest fires. People love undermining other people’s work
Heck yes brother. Got me amped up! I may not have the fire cert but as an EMS cousin, I’m jacked watching this. Thanks for bringing us humor and truth bombs from time to time. Keep up the good work!
Pilot here. Can’t wait till we start getting called winged bus drivers
Well, a plane manufacturer is already named "Air Bus", so ...
You guys are great and "winged bus driver" my arse.
The next time Mr.Politico needs a ride to another country he can paddle his own rowboat and call a college kid Uber. All transportation driving labor is skilled labor.
Much like how doctors and nurses are being downgraded to "Health Care Providers."
Yep-gonna start calling my pilots that once in a while now! Can't have them getting TOO high of an opinion of themselves!
Air transport operator.
Former Forestry Technician here. This is guy is right on. I left that life to learn a trade in construction. Can make more, be home every night and not worry about dying.
Little interesting Historical Side Note regarding your very own country:
The Forestry service calls them "Forestry Technicians" so they can Legally pay them less since Firefighters supposedly make too much money and cost too much to equip according to the bean counters but if you Call them forestry technician's instead, well then you can cut all kinds of corners. How do i know this?
I grew up in the 80's when it first happened and was passed into law by Congress I believe, check the record books which is All public record.
Yep, on paper just forest technicians or forest aids. Unless we get killed on a gire then they call us firefighters lop
@@tannerbottineau62 Also a historical fact slightly in the same thought strain or vein Strangely enough also in Federal Service (I know shocker right) Currently....Posthumous Medals to members of the military, some of which I can see being very necessary and are rightly awarded later after the fact (CMOH, Silver or Bronze Medals for example) but you do Not need to give family members their fallen sons Location Service Medal, they already knew they were there and they are probably looking for more answers than that. Just saying.
@chris nunez Really? Didn't know that but then can you please tell me what kind of difference it makes between the types and how much in difference it makes when you are caught in a fire cause that's where you work? Are you any less dead in a forest fire?
Cause one thing I'll inform you is, we all look the same when the Medics zip you up in those little oblong black or grey plastic body bags. And types don't mean sh*t there because then Everybody is either black or grey and about 6' long, even if they are stacked like cord wood. I've Seen enough of that poop for a lifetime already thank you, but no thank you.
@chris nunez I think you missed my point which was this: Making distinctions Between forestry technicians means exactly Jack Poop bit of difference in the end, they both usually died the same way, fighting forest fires and is one of the biggest problems with our country currently, too many damn people making distinctions between one group or the other when (as a medic) you get to see how truly stupid in a humanity-wise perspective and/or how truly short sighted / stupid that is.
Remember, "the king goes in the same box as the pawn" which is a very old saying regarding Chess and funerals I had nothing to do with inventing but is still as accurate today as it was back then.
Bury them All like they deserve I say (in my opinion).....like Heroes, with full honors given from a grateful nation, that would be the moral thing to do.
I'll close with this Quote from Reign of Fire that I have never forgetten: "Envy the country that has heroes? I say Pity the Country that needs them!"
You are incorrect, both are forestry technicians
FINALLY!!!! No longer should they be called "forestry technicians"!!! Thank you so much. From someone who was a WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER for 8 years thank you!!!!!
When you guys quit and fires rages, people are gonna be stumbling around looking for help.
Not me, only people who are... how do you say incompetent without offending 90 percent of the incompetence humans have bred.
the media will blame the current president and move on
We appreciate your support and helping to enlighten the public
Nothing like carrying around a shake n bake all day.... cause you know the job is so easy that your last resort is a foil bag lol
Dam straight, a fast food hot meal for bears, You run 6 miles a day @ altitude just so you don’t become a hot pocket
@@DK-sw6xx not to mention that structure fires are a little bit more predictable. Oh and you don't have fuckin fire tornadoes lol
Your comment is spot on---but please go back and edit and delete the out-of-place "lol." It truly doesn't belong there.
@@jb6712 I have a shelter sitting next to me right now and its very laughable.
@@Demicron right lol fuckin things are literally dead weight
My brother, 26 years on fire coast Thank You ! The woman and men that put there lives on the line!!!! Stand up and say YES!!!
Well let's put that representative out on a fire line working inches from a roaring blaze after having to hike into the location because a truck can't navigate the terrain. Lets not mention having to dodge water drops, and avoid getting run over by heavy equipment, while at the same time praying to God that the fire doesn't decide to overrun your position while you have nowhere to go. I have the upmost respect for the wild land guys.
Very good points!!!! Was that a little of foaming at the mouth to get your point across at the end there🤔😂 Wildland firefighters are just as important as the men + women firefighters who run into burning buildings like!!
Us volunteer firefighters out here also feel this pain. They are now making us pay (out of pocket) for mandatory things needed to volunteer.
Take that representative to the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial so he can see 19 'unskilled laborers' resting place
US Representative Tom McClintock (R-CA) for those who want to know who it was.
Thanks.
Jfc, I'm glad I did my little stint as a wildland firefighter with the Forest Service. We had a week of intensive training and classes, not to mention the pack test, and I was only auxiliary. The crew bosses had way more training (not mention experience), and don't even get me started on hot shots and smokejumpers. I did it purely to act as back-up when needed, as my primary job was a wildlife tech. I was hoping to go on an actual fire, but due to some miscommunications between my fire boss and wildlife boss, I ended up missing my chance and only got to see a teeny tiny fire (but someone still got stung, which my crew assured me that this counted as a "real fire").
And DO timber harvests. It can't burn if its not there to burn and what is left won't bur as fast.
yeah, because overgrown brush isn't combustible...
the myth that it is only trees that support a forest fire is dangerous and stupid. all southern California HAS is brush.
@@kenbrown2808 hummmm I can tell you have never been to a national park only a dozen miles from downtown LA.....they have TREES and lots of them
@@bobsmith-wg9fz and is that park on fire? or is it just your way of trying to distract from the fact that clear cutting trees won't actually prevent wildfires?
@@kenbrown2808 lol your 'clear cutting" bs Its called FORREST MANAGEMENT and you sell off the rights for someone to come in and cut down the dying trees and thin the Forrest...and then controlled burns are good
BUT cali does noneof that and then WONDERS why its in MASSIVE flames each year...they USED to rebuild/recut fire beaks each season and have not done that for decades under DNC rule
@@bobsmith-wg9fz it's almost like their tax dollars are being siphoned off to subsidize other states, which are also on fire, nowadays. but guess what they were removing when they cut firebreaks. I'll give you a hint: it's what grows when you don't have a mature forest shading the ground underneath. Cali is in massive flames each year, because fire season has expanded to 10+ months a year, and the other two months are spent growing another crop of 10 minute fuel.
In the words of my sweet caring wife. "To anyone who calls firefighters unskilled laborers...f-off and die in a fire." I love her so very very much.
Lol, you've got yourself a lil firecracker there👍
Let’s not forget that at least in Arizona some of these ‘unskilled laborers’ are inmates. Yes, there are Wildland Firefighters who are incarcerated inmates who choose to sign up and risk there lives. I know one. They don’t the pay or treatment deserved of someone doing such a difficult and hard job. And yes, they are trained and do the same work as non- inmate Wildland Firefighters.
And to those of us who even realize they exist, they are PLATINUM! Damned good at what they do and they do it all the time. California's changing prison/incarceration system (not sure it still counts as that) is drawing these teams down to far less than we used to have, and it shows. There are changes recently which I THINK actually allow these folks to be hired by CALFIRE after they complete their sentences, but I'm not totally sure where that effort stands now.
This is meant only and strictly as a curiosity question, not anything at all disparaging: Do the inmates sign up for such service because A) they do want to somehow offer reparations for whatever crime they've committed? And B), perhaps because getting out there and doing something so physical is better than just sitting in a cell for hours at a time?
I know nothing about the prison system, so again, am asking only out of curiosity, out of genuinely wondering, nothing more.
@@jb6712 the reasons are as numerous as the people serving. For many it is something productive to do that is outside. Prison is a really toxic environment (drugs, gangs, violence, lack of positive social interactions) that isn’t very good for folks who trying to get their life together. And programs just keep getting cut. Or for folks who understand what they did was wrong and want to offer something different to the world. Digging a trench on a fire line is a better choice for many. And it helps out society too. I just wish they got the same recognition as other firefighters. It pisses name off to think of them as unskilled laborers.
You know, it's super ironic that when the minimum wage was first introduced, it was based on the idea that any job, & I mean any job, should be enough to buy a house & support a family. And now, we have WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS making less than minimum wage in some areas- Topped with snooty politicians saying that they're somehow "not good enough" to be paid enough to support themselves & their families. Everyone should be able to afford rent, bills, & groceries, regardless of their job. And insisting that the people out there sacrificing everyone & RISKING THEIR OWN LIVES TO SAVE THE LIVES OF OTHERS, should be paid next to nothing, is especially insulting, arrogant, & downright childish.
Wildland firefighters are always risking their lives, I’ve seen them work when there was a fire near a friends house. The level of respect I have for those men and women is enormous.
You cannot feed your kids with respect. It’s a shame what FFs get paid in general
Cool video! My cousin just became a wildland firefighter. Thank you for all that you do to protect everyone!!
As an occupant of those western states, I wholeheartedly agree with getting these people paid and giving them their due respect! The government here needs to stop wasting money grandstanding and take care of issues like this!
As a Wildland firefighter I thank you from the bottom of my heart for you saying what needs to said.
You think its bad in america, well in Queensland, Australia the rfs has 30,000 volunteers and no paid firefighters. Plus their don't get any funding from the government. They even have to buy their own PPE.
I know nothing of RFS except for what you write here. That said, sounds like the should organize and not do the job. As long as people do it without pay, why pay them. That’s how it works, unfortunately.
And then they try to blame climate change for Australia being on fire.
😳
That's not entirely true my Family are NSW RFS volunteers, they definitely do not have to buy their own PPE, and even tho they are unpaid do get looked after very well, my dad has been a volunteer for decades, he loves it, that's another side to by utilising volunteers you are mostly guaranteed to get people motivated by job as apposed to people motivated by money.
Thank you for what you’re doing boss and all other firefighters/volunteer firefighters for what you’re doing
Being from British Columbia, I'm appalled anyone would say anything about Wildfire Fighters are less than hero's that deserve our utmost respect like all First Responders.
These incredible people not only fight for our lives, property and everything in between. Once they finish in their own countries they commonly pack up and head elsewhere in the world to help the next. We would have been lost here in 2018 without them and this year is looking the same.
Saw that--hugs and hoping things settle down soonest! Don't know if we'll have enough people TO help you but you know what? I know that pretty much every firefighter will bust their ass to try! Hang in there!
@@RICDirector CAF is sending in Army Personnel to help, other countries always step up ❤. Losing the village of Lytton has been devastating for their 250 occupants and especially for the First Nations people. But we are BCStrong. I know those Firefighters from Forestry Services, the cities that are sending their local departments are doing their absolute best along with the pilots and we are so very proud of them.
I hope things turn around there, here in alberta we are keeping a close eye on everything! We've had a few spark up here already
@@MTDfilms I hope you guys stay good this year. You've had enough there too.
Been there but not anymore. Young man’s game, hard work, and let’s not forget the hotshots.
PREACH
Whatsup check mark
Huh, small world. Can't say I expected to see you here, though I guess I should have.
I think it was the year before this was made we lost multiple towns in Oregon to wildfires... it was horrific. I was driving city busses at the time and was hours away from being sent to help evacuate people from threatened areas. It was hard to breath for weeks and I was starting to wonder if we'd ever see the sky again... it was that depressing.
You can tell buy the way the representative said "unskilled laborers"
You can tell they have never swung a tool or known the pain of that pack on your shoulders for 16 hours
thanx for giving a voice to those who pride themselves in never complaining!!
What about the National Guard who activates fellow services members? I’ve been on a couple activations and noticed they literally put everyone and everything on the line to help out. Then again as an EMS responder I have seen plenty of injuries that could have been prevented
No, he did not call the national guard unskilled labor, just firefighters.
2 years later, the planet is on fire.
This is the same as NFL "skill positions" (vs what? unskilled positions). Mark Schlereth on ESPN radio one time, who was an offensive lineman (not a skill position) when he played, explained all the skills he had honed over the years playing football, all the skills he needed (beyond brute strength) to compete at the highest level. I'd say fire fighters compete at the highest level every time they're called. Fighting a fire is a lot harder than blocking Lawrence Taylor or JJ Watt.
My son wanted to be a firefighter. Last I heard he was working for an Ambulance company, before the pandemic. I have no idea if he's still alive. He was a gifted student, the first one to ever pass the test he took in High School to be a first responder. A class they had offered for 8 years. He might have gone for Paramedic. Bad divorce he was stolen from me. I have a real bad feeling he may not still be ... well, you know.
I miss him so much and hope he's OK. He never had a regular flu in his life, neither have I. He gave great hugs. In CA. I can't find his facebook or Linked In anymore.
Hey there, this comment is more of you letting your feelings out rather than relating to the video. I really hope you are able to find info about your son, or get into contact with him. Though he clearly has gone through troubles, i’m sure in him, he still loves you. I just wanna say, for the worst case(never find him), you did all you could as a parent and im sure you provided your son with the best. This is life, and his life is his own life, sadly. We can’t control people, even our children when they become full living adults.
@@junerdyreyes2266 every time I see firefighters in video, I look for familiar signs. I don't like the high risk occupation. Not for his temperament or the childhood he had. He was a child last I lived with him. Not sure what the video was about now. Thanks for your kind words
I can't believe 11 people so far disliked this. . . Representatives and their trophy families maybe?
Going into my 5th year of hotshotting and my 8th year of wildland fire. Really appreciate hearing this anger from a structure firefighter, thanks for screaming into the void with us!!!!