Firefighters say federal government failing amid wildfire shortage

Wildfire crews across the U.S. report critical staffing shortages and inadequate resources while the Trump administration pressures them to rapidly contain increasingly intense blazes.

First covered Sep 16, 2026 · 3:00 AM PT · 1 article · no longer in the live window

Firefighters say federal government failing amid wildfire shortage — Image via theguardian.com

Coverage

10d Guardian Environment ‘We’re near a breaking point:’ firefighters say US government is failing them amid intense wildfire season — US grapples with federal firefighter shortage as crews say they’re spread thin and lack resources during unrelenting year of fire Firefighters battling…

Primary sources

agriculture.house.gov Testimony Package Schultz 07.22.2026 (agriculture.house.gov)

doi.gov Identities Released of Three Firefighters Who Died Responding to Knowles Fire in Colorado | U.S. Department of the Interior

nifc.gov Fire Information | National Interagency Fire Center

More coverage from around the web

federalnewsnetwork.com Federal wildland firefighters report increased burnout, low morale | Federal News Network

goiam.org As Wildfires Intensify, NFFE-IAM Warns Forest Service Cuts Threaten Public Safety - IAM Union

newsnationnow.com Firefighter shortage in US: Causes, wildfire impact and what's being done

firefighternow.com The Firefighter Staffing Shortage: How Bad Is It in 2026? | FirefighterNow

grist.org Firefighters sound alarm as US faces critical staffing shortage: ‘We don’t have enough people’ | Grist

Appeared in: 2026-09-17 (#15)

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