U.S. Plans to Hire 3,500 New Forest Firefighters
Reuters
WASHINGTON —
Following one of the worst fire seasons in decades, the U.S. government said Thursday that it plans to hire about 3,500 new forest firefighters.
“We are adding significant new staffing to improve our nation’s wildland fire suppression capabilities and to reduce fire hazards near populated areas,” Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said.
More than 84,000 fires raged across the United States this summer, consuming nearly 7 million acres of public lands.
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