Training has been limited and work to reduce flammable vegetation postponed. Some firefighters are leaving the force.
As wildfires worsen, some federal firefighters fear Republican control of Congress and the White House could accelerate their exit from the workforce, leaving critical gaps in fire response.
Firefighters credit a perfect storm of more fires, low wages and dangerously high turnover rates for the trend.
Wildland firefighters have been sounding the alarm on a lack of accessible housing. Is anyone listening?