Two bills would help students pay for education costs — including covering upfront tuition, fees and supplies — to fill critical workforce gaps.
firefighters
Posted inBusiness, Climate, News, Wildfire
As wildfires rage in the West, Biden temporarily raises federal firefighter pay to $15/hr
By Aamer Madhani, The Associated Press The Biden administration said Wednesday it is hiring more federal firefighters — and immediately raising their pay — as officials ramp up response efforts in the face of a severe drought that is setting the stage for another destructive summer of intense wildfires across the West. President Joe Biden […]
Posted inClimate, Environment, News, Politics and Government, Wildfire
U.S. seeks to bolster firefighter ranks by boosting pay and benefits as wildfires increase
By Keith Ridler and Matthew Brown, The Associated Press BOISE, Idaho — U.S. wildfire managers are considering shifting from seasonal to full-time firefighting crews to deal with what has become a year-round wildfire season and making the jobs more attractive by increasing pay and benefits. There’s a push in Congress to increase firefighter pay and […]
Posted inCartoons, Opinion
Drew Litton: Colorado superheroes for Halloween
More cartoons from The Colorado Sun.
Posted inNews, Wildfire
All missing people accounted for as snow gives crews battling East Troublesome fire a reprieve
A winter storm battering Colorado on Sunday and into Monday is giving firefighters battling the East Troublesome and Cameron Peak fires a much-needed reprieve. “We don’t anticipate any fire growth today or tomorrow with this storm. It may be quite a few days before we see any fire activity whatsoever,” said Paul Delmerico, operations section […]
Posted inColoradans, News, Wildfire
Meet the Colorado helicopter medic trained to rescue wildland firefighters
GYPSUM — Don’t ask Aaron Zinser about which job he’s working. The answer gets complicated very quickly. The 37-year-old Eagle County paramedic is a firefighter who can provide medical care on the frontlines of wildfire. He’s also certified to care for patients aboard military helicopters. He’s also a search and rescue medic who deploys with […]
Posted inNews, Wildfire
Drones dropping “Dragon Eggs” are Colorado’s latest aerial assault weapon for wildfires
GLENWOOD CANYON — Flames erupt on the hillside as plumes of smoke billow into the hazy sky above the Colorado River. “It’s beautiful right now. This is a really good burn going right now,” says John Kennedy, the director of one of three branches of firefighters battling the Grizzly Creek wildfire. Kelly Boyd, standing next […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Want to support Colorado firefighters? Take action on climate change.
I love Adams County, and part of my love for Adams County means loving those who protect our residents and our families. Every single day our firefighters run into the flames and put their lives on the line to protect us. I feel compelled to speak about the increasing risk to our protectors when responding […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Wildfire
You’ve seen those massive jets fighting Colorado’s wildfires. Meet the pilots who get “down and dirty” flying them.
When he’s nosing his widebody jet into narrow, smoke-choked Colorado canyons, Capt. Dan Montelli says that’s when things get “sporty.” It’s smoky. The massive jet with a 155-foot wingspan is barreling 300-feet off the deck. The trees that are 150-feet tall feel like they are tickling the plane’s belly. The flames can be taller than […]
Posted inColoradans, COVID, News, Outdoors, Wildfire
No mess-tent meals, no giant camps: This is wildfire fighting in Colorado during coronavirus
The base camp for the fourth-largest wildfire in Colorado’s history would normally be teeming with ash-smudged firefighters coming in from shifts on the Pine Gulch fire burning north of Grand Junction. But this camp in a parking lot at the Mesa County Fairgrounds is a mostly deserted lineup of yurts, supply trucks, personal vehicles, shade […]