Forest Service firefighters are given a base salary around twenty-thousand dollars, but that expires on September 30.
Most wildland firefighters are seasonal workers and are paid by the hour.
Warner Vanderheuel is a representative for the wildland firefighter’s union, he’s based in Oscoda.
He says if lawmakers eliminate the base salary there will be mass resignations and retirements in a work force that’s already struggling to fill open positions.
If we lose 30% of the employees the small org charts we have now, it wouldn't look very good. At all.
A bill to make base salary permanent lives in a Senate committee chaired by Michigan Senator Gary Peters. In a statement, Peters said he supports the bill, and first responders should get the compensation they deserve.