Sheehy, Padilla look to secure hazard pay for prescribed burns

Senators Tim Sheehy and Alex Padilla have introduced new legislation aiming to extend hazard pay to wildland firefighters involved in prescribed burns and training exercises, a move that seeks to address the often overlooked risks associated with these tasks. Unlike active firefighting, prescribed burns—planned controlled fires to manage vegetation—and training do not currently qualify for hazard pay, despite the high-risk nature of these duties. This bipartisan effort underscores a growing recognition of the dangers faced by firefighters in all aspects of their work, potentially setting a precedent for broader hazard pay reforms.