Kevin, what an important column to help educate us. I have observed firefighting crews and stereotype them as hardy individuals who love being out in the woods and who earn a good wage. I have never read anything about the actual conditions they experience and related issues you convey. This topic needs to be explored more fully and remedies suggested as staffing shortages in this area will have grave consequences.
Thanks for the thorough read and feedback, Don! It's astonishing that our federal firefighters could make so little given the value of their work. I was blown away from the long term health effects of firefighting as well.
Kevin, what an important column to help educate us. I have observed firefighting crews and stereotype them as hardy individuals who love being out in the woods and who earn a good wage. I have never read anything about the actual conditions they experience and related issues you convey. This topic needs to be explored more fully and remedies suggested as staffing shortages in this area will have grave consequences.
Thanks for the thorough read and feedback, Don! It's astonishing that our federal firefighters could make so little given the value of their work. I was blown away from the long term health effects of firefighting as well.