r/Firefighting • u/AngronOfTheTwelfth • 1d ago

General Discussion Border Patrol agents arrested firefighters fighting Washington wildfire after they asked the fire crew to line up to check their IDs.

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What do we all think of this? Seems pretty nuts to me. They are actively getting in the way of wildlands guys as they do their job out there. I dont think this should be allowed or encouraged. Firefighting is a lot more important than .... risking 20 guys dressed exactly like firefighters crossing the Canadian border?

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u/lazybanana005 21h ago

Highly doubt this is real. When I was in wildland fire no one ever carried their wallet on them. Con crews have Leo’s with them as well as local LEO’s around making sure people aren’t looting. We constantly would see LEOs driving around and this could just be one of those pictures.

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u/AngronOfTheTwelfth 21h ago

https://www.firerescue1.com/police/federal-agents-detain-crews-arrest-firefighters-battling-wash-wildfire

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u/HazMatsMan Career Co. Officer 20h ago edited 20h ago

Perhaps you should update the text of your post with the article link and the updated information on the circumstances surrounding the firefighters' removal. As it stands right now, your post is misleading at best.

The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service requested assistance from Border Patrol on Aug. 27 after contracts with Table Rock Forestry Inc. and ASI Arden Solutions Inc. were ended following a BLM criminal investigation.

Because of the remote location of the work site, BLM asked Border Patrol agents to verify the identities of the 44 personnel on scene to confirm they matched contractor rosters. CBP said agents identified discrepancies, including two individuals determined to be in the country illegally. One of those individuals had a prior removal order. Both were arrested and transported to the Bellingham Station on charges of illegal entry and reentry of removed aliens.

Officials managing the Bear Gulch Fire said the Border Patrol operation is not interfering with firefighting efforts, noting progress continues on the nearly 9,000-acre blaze.