CA firefighters face impersonators, staffing shortages, low pay

(NewsNation) — Los Angeles firefighters battling historic urban blazes face mounting challenges beyond the flames, including criminals impersonating first responders and critical staffing shortages.

Officials report 29 arrests connected to the fires, including an incident where police detained two men on Vice President Kamala Harris's property during curfew hours. In one of the most brazen cases, authorities arrested a man dressed as a firefighter who was caught burglarizing a home in the evacuation zone.

"Zero tolerance for crime," Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said. "If you are bold enough to go into a fire area and attempt to break in homes or [engage in] looting of any type, you will be arrested."

LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said he encountered a man dressed as a firefighter burglarizing a home.

“I saw a gentleman that looked like a firefighter, and I asked him if he was okay because he was sitting down. I didn’t realize we had him in handcuffs. We are turning them over to LAPD because he was dressed like a fireman and he was not. He just got caught burglarizing a home," Luna said.

Meanwhile, firefighter advocacy groups are pushing for permanent pay increases as staffing shortages reach critical levels.

While California state firefighters earn approximately $52,000 annually, U.S. Forest Service wildland firefighters make significantly less at about $36,000 per year, with no hazard pay or health insurance benefits.

Federal wildland firefighters currently receive a temporary pay increase authorized by President Joe Biden, extended through March. Without congressional action to make the increase permanent, these firefighters could see their wages cut in half.

The crisis is exacerbated by year-round fire seasons, with many firefighters working 18-22 hour shifts under dangerous conditions.

“At base rate, it's 50 to 100% difference between the feds versus an organization like Cal Fire that's paying significantly more," Luke Mayfield, president of Grassroots Wildland Firefighters said.

Adding to the strain, a large portion of the federal firefighting workforce is typically laid off outside traditional fire seasons, despite the evolving nature of fire threats.

"A lot of that mitigation and management work is hazardous. It should have hazard pay attached to it," Mayfield said.

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