Wildland firefighters feel increasing strain amid funding and staffing shortages - PBS NewsHour

Wildland firefighters feel increasing strain amid funding and staffing shortages | PBS News Weekend

Stephanie Sy Stephanie Sy

Kaisha Young Kaisha Young

Veronica Vela Veronica Vela

As climate change causes wildfires to become more frequent and devastating, wildland firefighters are often the last line of defense protecting homes and communities. But these crucial public servants are stretched thin and underpaid, and a temporary pay raise for federal firefighters will expire at the end of September unless Congress acts. Stephanie Sy reports.

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Stephanie Sy is a PBS News Hour correspondent and serves as anchor of PBS News Hour West. Throughout her career, she served in anchor and correspondent capacities for ABC News, Al Jazeera America, CBSN, CNN International, and PBS News Hour Weekend. Prior to joining NewsHour, she was with Yahoo News where she anchored coverage of the 2018 Midterm Elections and reported from Donald Trump’s victory party on Election Day 2016.

Kaisha Young is a general assignment producer at PBS News Weekend.

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