@milehighbar…I am responding to your post, CAL FIRE Forestry Technician? Fuels Crew? here because my response is better suited for this thread.
Similar to something we discussed earlier this year, until the FS leadership begins to view their personnel as true wildland fire personnel are things going to improve in the pay and retention arena. This is not just a Vallejo issue, although they certainly do deserve a major head knocking, but Washington needs to change their thinking, if they do, as well.
While I by no means understand the full scope within the Federal ranks of job satisfaction and correspondingly retention, pay and recognition certainly plays into the mix. It is high time, our brothers and sisters in the Federal ranks be treated as the wildland professionals that they are!