To amend section 5545 of title 5, United States Code, to provide hazard pay for carrying out prescribed burns, and for other purposes.

Key Points

• This bill would give federal firefighters extra hazard pay when they conduct prescribed burns. These are fires intentionally set by experts to clear out dead brush and prevent larger, more dangerous wildfires later.
• Currently, firefighters often get extra pay for fighting uncontrolled wildfires but not always for the planned burns that help prevent them. This change would treat both types of work as equally dangerous.
• The bill also ensures that smokejumpers get hazard pay for parachuting out of planes during training or real missions. It recognizes that jumping from aircraft is a high-risk part of their job.
• If passed, the government would have 90 days to set up the new rules. This would help agencies like the Forest Service hire and keep the specialized workers needed to prevent wildfires.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.