r/Firefighting • u/AngronOfTheTwelfth • 3d 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/Serious_Cobbler9693 Retired FireFighter/Driver 3d ago

I'm not sure about wildland guys, but when I was a firefighter we didn't carry any ID on us or you take a chance of losing it in a burning building or when you are hanging upside down in a car that has flipped on the highway.

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u/lemonlimesodas 3d ago

Exactly I rarely carry my wallet while on the line, so what then. I can't prove I'm a citizen right then and there and get shipped off to Uganda?

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u/TheBrianiac 3d ago

I feel like this has been dramaticized by the media. I watched an ICE documentary (albeit over 5 years ago) and they had mobile fingerprint readers that could identify you if you didn't have ID. They are mainly going after visa overstays, so they have the fingerprints of the people they are looking for.

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u/WorldlinessFar609 3d ago

Biometrics isn't that reliable, especially and obviously if you're trying to ID a fingerprint of someone likely to have calluses. (sp?) Which one would expect of people swinging axes and shovels for a living ffs.

In any case, pulling someone from active duty firefighting is an abhorrent disrespect and danger to the colleagues and protectees of said firefighters.

Honestly, I can't imagine why anyone would defend these methods, man.

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u/immaREPORTthat 2d ago

They are going after everyone but the violent cartel members. Any soft target that poses zero threat to Americans.