With The West Facing Brutal Fire Season, Biden Says He'll Hire More Federal Firefighters And Raise Pay

By AP/CBS Los Angeles:

WASHINGTON (AP/CBS13) — 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 announced the moves during a virtual meeting with governors from Western states and as a huge swath of the Pacific Northwest endures one of the worst heat waves in recent memory.

“This is an area that has been under-resourced, but that’s going to change and we have to do it,” Biden told the governors. “We can’t cut corners when it comes to managing our wildfires or supporting our firefighters. Right now we have to act and act fast.”

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