The Department of the Interior has announced a permanent pay increase for federal and tribal wildland firefighters to help recruit and retain essential workers for managing the growing number of wildfires in the U.S. This initiative is designed to address the challenges faced by firefighters as they protect communities and natural resources from increasingly destructive fires.

According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, the pay increase is part of the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (H.R. 1968), which Congress passed and President Trump signed into law. It establishes new salary tables for federal firefighters, including temporary and seasonal workers. The aim is to ensure fair compensation for the difficult and hazardous conditions wildland firefighters face.

In addition to restructuring salary tables, the legislation makes funding for the Bureau of Indian Affairs permanent, allowing Tribal Nations to offer pay supplements to their wildland firefighters. The pay increase will replace the temporary supplements that firefighters have received for the last four years. It also introduces the wildland fire Incident Response Premium Pay, which provides additional earnings during extended deployments to qualifying incidents.

This decision comes as wildfires continue to increase in frequency and intensity. Last year, nearly 65,000 wildfires burned over 8.9 million acres, threatening the environment, communities, and the economy. Major fires in Southern California and the Southeast this year further highlight the need for more support for firefighting personnel.