r/Wildfire 2d ago

Federal Agents Arrest firefighters working on WA wildfire

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/federal-agents-arrest-firefighters-working-on-wa-wildfire/#comments
625 Upvotes

129 comments sorted by

158

u/wWishfulthinking13 2d ago

No back bone on team 7, no matter what ethnicity, gender we put our lives on the line countless hours and no sleep and this is the thanks they get. I say fuck team 7 and the rest of the crews should leave.

36

u/HouseMargaritas 1d ago

CA-7 was 100% in on the coordination of this bullshit. How else did they know division to go to? Which crews to target? What time the crews would be gathered up? And how/why were they allowed behind a guarded fire closure?

The "no backbone" part really comes in when you consider the team waited until their last shift before demob to pull this, instead of doing it earlier in their roll and having to stand up in front of everyone on the fire and answer for their actions. Cowards

3

u/Competitive_Bit2311 19h ago

“California Team 7 is one of 41 incident management teams in the country, said Nic Elmquist, incident commander trainee for the team. Right now, 17 of the teams are in Washington, Oregon and California, he said. Six-hundred firefighters and support staff are battling the Bear Gulch III Fire, Elmquist said.”

1

u/CanisPictus Helitack 12h ago

Disband this shameful bunch of collaborators that threw these crews to the latter-day Nazi Brownshirts.

21

u/Orcacub 2d ago

Please clarify which team 7. It’s not NW-7.

38

u/MeZuE 2d ago

California, not NW 7. NW Team 7 is at home so this California Team could get their first assignment of the year.

83

u/PrestigiousBee2719 2d ago

They better have evidence of some serious crimes these two guys were wanted for, otherwise they can fuck all the way off with this bullshit. If you’re going to detain an entire hand crew during the largest active fire in Washington, those dudes better be wanted for murder

54

u/Efficient-Squash-815 2d ago

They literally have no criminal history. This was a set up for sure.

31

u/ProlapseMishap 2d ago

However, I'm willing to bet if you check the hard drives of some of those ice agents...

9

u/woodenmetalman 1d ago

“Funny” how the pedos now have representation after all the years of the right accusing Dems of harboring pedos and such.

Every accusation is an admission.

-1

u/corndogtractorpull 1d ago

Its my understanding that this was part of a 2 year investigation of said crew involved in falsified hours to the tune of 100k+. I don't know alot about the situation, but that was the conversation last night with a friend that is somewhat involved.

19

u/sammyslug13 1d ago

Why would boarder patrol be involved then?

8

u/Kindly-Coyote-9446 1d ago

If that were to have happened, wouldn’t it have been the owner of the company and not the guys on the ground billing the incident for the fraudulent hours?

3

u/TheWillRogers 23h ago

If that were to have happened, wouldn’t it have been the owner of the company and not the guys on the ground billing the incident for the fraudulent hours?

The reason ICE goes after the workers instead of the businesses stems from the structure built by the following belief:

The worker is property of the business owner. If the business breaks a law, the way to punish them is to impact their wealth production capability through their property.

It's always been this way because we've only ever done patches & updates to horrific systems to make them more equitable, instead of just replacing them whole cloth. It's worked this way for food production and housing construction, of course they'll continue to operate this way when it comes to yall protecting literal civilization.

0

u/corndogtractorpull 1d ago

Yeah, potentially, like I said, not super clear on the specifics of this situation, and I'm not saying its necessarily good. Im just saying that I've heard, from what I deem to be a very reputable source, that there was potentially alot more to this story that is being blown up to be an "ice" story.

265

u/Kindly-Coyote-9446 2d ago

IC should have asked to see the ICE agents red cards, and then bounced them from the incident. Instead they arrested two firefighters and kept a crew off the fire line.

163

u/Key_Math8192 2d ago edited 2d ago

Instead the IC and the team stood back and covered their own asses. “A spokesperson for the Incident Management Team leading the firefighting response said the team was “aware of a Border Patrol operation on the fire,” that it was not interfering with the firefighting response.”

This team (California Interagency team 7?) and IC (Tom Clemo) will never have your back. They will always do and say whatever they have to protect their own asses.

93

u/key18oard_cow18oy 2d ago

How is removing firefighters not interfering in the response? This is some bs

-46

u/DutchTinCan 2d ago

Well, I mean, the removal of the firefighters didn't interfere the firefighting.

The firefighters stopped fighting fire, that interfered with it.

By that same logic, republicans should allow abortion again. After all, abortion doesn't kill the fetus. They're simply taken from the womb they illegally occupy. It's on them for being unable to continue living while not there.

Passive euthanasia, same story. Taking a person off lifesupport doesn't kill them. They simply decide not to breathe, you know?

In fact, California should now sue the firefighters for not stopping the fire. Let the madness come full circle!

19

u/hosepuller51 1d ago

You’re weird bro

17

u/key18oard_cow18oy 2d ago

One of those lunatics, I see

-1

u/DutchTinCan 1d ago

I'll help you with sarcasm tags next time.

32

u/HWUSUX 2d ago

CA IMT 7 (with the IC at the helm)has publicly stated that this is their mission for a few seasons now. The only difference is that the chief, secretary and complete administration encourages it now.

10

u/Kindly-Coyote-9446 2d ago

That what is their mission?

26

u/HWUSUX 1d ago

Team is anti Hispanic, have a history of targeting and making false claims. The SEC1 sees themself as a SEAL/CIA operative. Illegal surveillance in camp, hidden cameras, security pretending to be ICE, willfully breaking contracts. Have said that when they go into Oregon, they’ll clean up the state and rid fires of the Mexicans. Loooooong history of this shit.

12

u/HWUSUX 1d ago

But what do you expect with a Santa Monica white nationalist at the helm.

6

u/manzanita2 1d ago

Wait, Steven Miller runs this IMT ?

8

u/HWUSUX 1d ago

Yes, under an alias! Good news for Clemo is that this should put him in a good position to become the FS Fire Director.

93

u/Brandonrebeleight Wildland FF1 2d ago

What’s pathetic is these folks have done more for this country than any of these keyboard warriors sitting on their asses supporting this bullshit.

-46

u/StuweeMerkz 2d ago

You sure about that

36

u/jedi_mac_n_cheese 2d ago edited 2d ago

Yes. Someone fighting a literal fire vs. A mouth breathing Maga cosplaying 1930s germany.

49

u/Hard_Rock_Hallelujah WFM Nerd 2d ago

Yup, California Team 7.

I had little respect for them after working for them last year, and I now have absolutely zero respect for them after this shit.

21

u/Thehealthygamer Hotshot 2d ago

Welcome to fascism. Thats how they keep everyone in line. Everyone is worried about catching federal charges so no one does anything.

1

u/meatworldcruisin 2d ago

This part 🤮

19

u/LightThiefProduction 2d ago

Sounds like the IC was the one who called immigration enforcement

2

u/Infamous_Fox_6623 1d ago

Where’d you hear that from?

58

u/Main_Bother_1027 2d ago

Oh, a California team allowed this? There's a shocker. A bunch of fckin racists. I can't recall which California team took over the Dixie Fire in 2021 when I was there, but I do remember the 10 minute feel-good pep talk the deputy IC made during morning briefing on Indigenous People's Day about how it was actually COLUMBUS DAY and that Columbus had "conquered the Americas and its people for this country." You know how many natives were standing in that crowd, many of them from Greenville, the town that had been completely destroyed by that fire?

The amount of restraint from the crowd was incredible. I think it was mostly because none of us could believe what we were hearing. And the guy Just. Kept. Going. Our overhead told us later that he was taken aside later and talked to, and that we were reassured that he was someone who just got nervous when talking to a crowd and got overly passionate on the subject. Never an apology, let alone a public one. It was disgusting and to this day it still pisses me off.

20

u/JadeFox0 1d ago

I was on that fire and can confirm this happened just as you said

21

u/Dry-Squash9197 1d ago

I was on Dixie that weekend too. It was awful what the Deputy IC said. We were all in shock and, yes, there were many indigenous people there who had lost their homes. Tribal liaisons were also assigned and heritage resources were part of the values at risk. It was absolutely stunning.

18

u/Main_Bother_1027 1d ago

I'm glad someone else noticed. I know I turned and looked at the gal next to me and she looked back with this look of total disbelief and disgust like we couldn't believe what was actually coming out of that dude's mouth. The fact that they not only had indigenous liaisons there AND a whole ass HR trailer and he STILL didn't even get a slap on the wrist told me all I needed to know about that team.

4

u/amoneh 1d ago

Desperate to know what team this was

8

u/Main_Bother_1027 1d ago

I probably have an old IAP in a folder from it. I'll see what I can dig up.

115

u/WhatRUTobogganAbout 2d ago

Wow that's fucked

77

u/BungHolio4206969 2d ago

Shoulda dropped a pickle on them ice vehicles.

9

u/ajlark25 1d ago

Would be a real shame if somebody read a lean wrong and it blocked their road out

6

u/Kindly-Coyote-9446 1d ago

Ooooh, you mean the face cut was supposed to be on the other side of the tree. Whoops! Looks like it’s time for my break.

4

u/ajlark25 1d ago

Oh shoot I’m also all out of fuel. Oh well.

114

u/Confuse-A-Cat_Ltd Modulite 2d ago

Holding up operations so they can play Gestapo. Fuck these spineless clowns.

25

u/Timpa87 2d ago

Giving us a literal example that they are fine with letting the world (or US) burn, in order to get their way.

31

u/Dornicus Fireline EMT/T2IA Bozo 2d ago

Anyone know which IMT this was?

32

u/zyndwarf 2d ago

Team 7

5

u/Orcacub 2d ago

Please clarify which team 7. R-5? It’s not NW-7.

17

u/MeZuE 2d ago

California not NW.

34

u/NeighborhoodNice9643 2d ago

Homeland Security announced they would not enforce at active emergency sites in 2021 so this is new policy.

29

u/Main_Bother_1027 2d ago

Trump doesn't GAF about anything, including policy, law, or the Constitution.

29

u/moardownboats NWCG certified stickologist 2d ago

Knew this would be coming for some time. Looks like the IMT crew involved are down with the "narrative questions" we were talking about last week.

26

u/Ok_Decision_2142 2d ago

most cowardly shit ever fuck ICE and fuck Border Patrol

70

u/Soggy_Zucchini1349 2d ago

Fusee in the ice rig time

22

u/Kindly-Coyote-9446 2d ago

Turns out their rigs don’t perform well at 3000* F

64

u/ColoRadBro69 2d ago

Over three hours, federal agents demanded identification from the members of two private contractor crews. The crews were among the 400 people including firefighters deployed to fight the wildfire, the largest active blaze in Washington state.

Not burning is woke.

55

u/Mysterious_Eye_9446 2d ago

We are so fucked to the highest degree

15

u/an_older_meme 2d ago

We’re in uncharted waters.

97

u/Brootal420 2d ago

The absurdity of this administration. This fire is, from my understanding fairly unprecedented, being that the Olympic Peninsula is a rainforest and apparently the newest glaring example of the climate rapidly changing. The priority? Arrest hard working immigrants risking their lives to protect our country and natural resources. Not to mention they have cut all climate science funding from every department they can.

It would be hilarious if it was existentially depressing.

38

u/FeralHunny 2d ago

Fascists gon do fascist stuff

-33

u/board__ 2d ago

This fire is burning on the rain shadow side of the Olympics...

23

u/Hard_Rock_Hallelujah WFM Nerd 2d ago

No it isn't.

It's just west of Hoodsport, which averages 92 inches of rain per year.

The Olympic rain shadow goes from the northeast side of the peninsula (Sequim, Port Townsend, etc) across the San Juans to Bellingham/Burlington/Anacortes.

66

u/Kolat06 2d ago

A nicely timed slurry drop while the feds doors were open would have been a nice salute. Fuck that shit.

38

u/Esty80 2d ago

Chiming in. This is some serious bullshit. I saw the customs vehicle today in fact in PA. Interference with the firefighters is such a low branch to pull from. Absolutely ridiculous and appalling. What a bunch of goons. These folks save lives and land, while risking their own lives in the process. Goons cover up and hide their faces. Must be embarrassing to do such a job. Not sure how they sleep at night.

16

u/Hoary 2d ago

There is a small percentage of people who get off on doing the kind of work that ICE is currently doing. Unfortunately, a place like ICE employs a disproportionate number of those people. Those specific people are sleeping just fine. It's fucked up psychology. I saw the same type of people working corrections, both coworkers and the cops that brought people in. And those people are part of what pushes out people who aren't like that, making the agency more concentrated with the goons.

15

u/No-Grade-4691 2d ago

Ice should have never been allowed on thr incident

14

u/Rural-Camphost 1d ago

Legitimate question- can we blackball ca team ca team 7 if that is who it was? Make shirts? Idk something to shame the fuck out of those in camp staying keyboard warriors?

37

u/Electronic_Builder14 2d ago

America really sucks

-8

u/Corpsman111 1d ago

Then leave

3

u/Electronic_Builder14 1d ago

If I didn’t have so much family I would love to

11

u/Secure_Charge_4736 2d ago

As predicted and some Redditors responded no way would this ever happen.

37

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

22

u/LightThiefProduction 2d ago

It sounds like the commander of the company was the one who got immigration enforcement out there. There are many crews that would've made life impossible for the feds, but some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses

7

u/Signal_Reflection297 1d ago

Some of those who spray hoses too.

8

u/No_Patience6567 1d ago

Fuck ICE Fuck this administration  They're just a bunch of racist Russian loving fascists 

7

u/SunshineMochii 1d ago

Fuck this, if you witness this happen, stand up! Fight back! Don't sit around like a useless sack. There is power in numbers. Use it. 

6

u/Smokey_tha_bear9000 2d ago

Every day this gets worse. If anyone has any doubt that we’re in full blown fascism, wake the fuck up

6

u/holjus 2d ago

Dude fuck that

7

u/Snappy_Ginger-Snap 1d ago

I worked closely with this team. This checks out.

5

u/Ready_Log_5952 1d ago

what the actual fuck

6

u/Additional_Way5929 1d ago

Republicans hate America, clearly. Seriously.

5

u/KinkyDuck2924 1d ago

I guess these men putting their lives on the line for this country and it's citizens are some of the 'bad hombres' Trump was talking about right? Good thing people can sleep safely now with these dangerous firefighters off the streets, better just send them off to Uganda.

This shit is vile.

6

u/Kolat06 1d ago

I guess the hotshot hand job guy has details not released yet. He probably has a hard on about this.

6

u/No_Mind3009 1d ago

I think he just likes to drop hints when he has nothing and hope that someone helps him out. He broke this story late and gave no new information.

3

u/Suspicious-Law5596 1d ago

Well thats fucking obsurd.

3

u/hisatanhere 1d ago

WTF, Guys! FF's know what to do when confronted by fascist pigs. It's a very part of our history.

4

u/j____b____ 2d ago

They were private contractors. I wonder of anyone arrested the guy who hired them? Not really.

5

u/Efficient-Salt-5973 1d ago

All CA IMTs are dogshit.

2

u/boon23834 1d ago

Deep and profound stupidity.

Bordered by Canada and Mexico.

Good luck guys.

1

u/beatstick1 1d ago

I wonder any mention of this during next morning’s AM briefing??

0

u/ConnectionFickle495 14h ago

Federal Agents Arrest Illegal Alien. There, fixed the headline, now we really know what happened.

-4

u/djakeca 2d ago

How tf do companies get away with hiring people in the country illegally? Arrest the owners for christs sake.

14

u/No_Mind3009 2d ago

Who said they are here illegally? ICE hasn’t been making that distinction lately

1

u/djakeca 1d ago

I’m operating under the assumption that if the workers were taken, they were here illegally. Same as I would for if a guy gets arrested for SA or something, if it comes out I’m wrong then I’m wrong. My point was that they never seem to arrest employers who hire people entering the country illegally just to get out of having to pay Americans. I’m sure all the guys running these contract crews are super above board and would never do that though.

7

u/Deepsea_Listener76 1d ago

they also never arrest the every day Americans (all 340 million of us) who have indirectly invited and incentivized people to come here. It's sickening that we are now punishing hard working folks who were essentially told to come here. REFORM THE SYSTEM NOW.

2

u/Swamptooth69 1d ago

Hearing preliminary reports that they are native americans. Unconfirmed currently.

3

u/Smokey_tha_bear9000 1d ago

That’s what I want to know. I’ve heard similar and ICE has been known lately to be harassing native Americans, especially in the SW.

3

u/MeZuE 2d ago

For real. What happens for the companies, another tax break?

-1

u/Corpsman111 1d ago

They were not fighting a fire. They were in a staging area.

-35

u/Strange_Price8931 2d ago

I'd wait for the final verdict before you get your panties in a wad. I've worked in fire crews off and on for the last 30yrs....fed and private. There are a lot of sleezy individuals in these crews especially some of the local IC's. Some folks are on active warrants for serious violent crimes. Some of the IC's are beholden to the rich local land owners/ranchers and make suspect decisions. We had two guys popped 10yrs ago by DEA for trafficking large amounts of coke using FS rigs and resources. Same thing as this picture. Pulled'em right out of line. It's not all hippies and feel good stuff. I've seen alot of sketchy stuff and people.

10

u/ajlark25 1d ago

All the crazy shit ICE has been doing and you’re giving them the benefit of the doubt?

21

u/Cautious_Main_8942 2d ago

Then arrest them when the crew gets off the fire so it doesn’t fuck over the entire crew

12

u/SientoQueMerezcoMas 2d ago

Gargle this admin’s balls some more why don’t you?

-7

u/asseeninthewarp 1d ago

What's absurd is breaking the law and expected nothing to ever happen 

-8

u/[deleted] 1d ago edited 1d ago

[deleted]

14

u/Louiizzle 1d ago

what’s your favorite flavor of boot ?

1

u/Loucksamus 1d ago

Didn't see the link originally, couldn't find immediately in Google search, my bad. 🙄

-8

u/InternationalAct4275 1d ago

lol, what a bs article

-116

u/StatisticianNo4956 2d ago

Bull

77

u/benny-pl 2d ago

Whats bull? Fuck Ice

30

u/Available-Leg-1421 2d ago

It’s in a video…but keep your fingers in your ears.

-22

u/Calamity-Bob 2d ago

I suggest their home addresses be distributed to their local police and fire and all service businesses in their area. Refuse them any service unless they can show a birth certificate or US passport

5

u/Kindly-Coyote-9446 2d ago edited 2d ago

You assume the local PD out there on the peninsula aren’t fans of this.

Edit: Whoever downvoted me clearly hasn’t been to Forks.

6

u/ChemicalFix4293 2d ago

I grew up in forks. Lots of racism there. Surrounding towns are as well but forks takes the cake.

3

u/ChemicalFix4293 2d ago

Local pd wouldn’t do shit. I think some of them would love to use their tactical gear and “go stop the bad guys”