r/Firefighting • u/JohannLandier75 Tennessee FF (Career) • Feb 08 '25

News Federal Hiring Freeze prevents on-boarding of wildland firefighters

https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/08/us/firefighters-federal-hiring-freeze/index.html
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u/Skunk_Ape- Feb 09 '25

So you are telling me that these fires were not preventable at all right? Nothing could have been done differently to change the out come? You speak broadly about all your experience but fail to talk about anything preventative. This falls on Gaven Newsome, the LA county Mayor and Fire Chief.

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u/OttoOtter Feb 09 '25

The only real answer, if you're looking for one, is to quit letting people build houses in fire-prone and fire dependent ecosystems.

All the firefighters, water, and money in the world won't stop a fire burning in 100 MPH gusts.

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u/Skunk_Ape- Feb 09 '25

I agree, also update building code and stop building paper houses. CBS should the standard.

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u/OttoOtter Feb 09 '25

There are firewise laws in many places, but if you look at places that burned (in. The Topanga Canyon communities) you find that they predate firewise programs.

What everyone should be paying attention to is if LA County and Newsome let folks rebuild in the same places with the same infrastructure and same codes as before.

If they do I'll absolutely join you in mocking their stupidity and blame them for the inevitable repeat of this.