Feds arrest contract crew members on Bear Gulch Fire

General Discussion
1

Pretty wild stuff

7 Likes
2
5 Likes
3

IMG_2359
IMG_2359749×428 62.9 KB

https://www.timescolonist.com/weather-news/lawyer-oregon-firefighter-arrested-by-border-patrol-during-wildfire-was-on-track-for-legal-status-11146570

1 Like
4

Seen before too on Winema NF in Oregon.

1 Like
5

What an interesting article. I think DHS is playing fast and loose with their definitions and straining credibility with the “not firefighters” and “actively”.

A senior DHS official said in a statement to the AP on Friday that the two men apprehended were not firefighters and were not actively fighting the fire. Officials said they were providing a supporting role by cutting logs into firewood.

The 8/27 (Day of arrest) IAP has them assigned to staging with the Logs chief as div/group sup.
Bear Gulch Master IAP - Google Sheets

8/26 and 8/25 Table rock was Branch V contingency; Arden was assigned suppression repair.
8/20 to 8/24 Arden was assigned Div. Zulu, with a structure protection work assignment. Table rock was cutting indirect line.

Apparently, structure protection and indirect line is no longer firefighting?

2 Likes
6

Maybe they should start putting out National contracts for ‘Forestry Technicians’, instead of Type 2 Crews?
A lot of the PNW crew contractors use H2B visas to procure workers.

5 Likes
7

This article asks if the firewood-cutting assignment was just a pretext, set up by the IMT to accommodate the DHS operation.

https://stateline.org/2025/08/31/firefighters-question-leaders-role-in-washington-immigration-raid/?fbclid=PAZnRzaAMiD1JleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp8uFvH9wIhzmfqSKI41u1XEO5UILS7fGIX6RBPMVMdnqOB7N8vdB_l48jDux_aem_9gD8FJ4yvemn-UmSUHym0Q

2 Likes