As wildfires begin breaking out across the western part of the country, the U.S. Forest Service is asserting that it has a complete seasonal firefighting workforce in place for the summer ahead.
Despite the agency’s assurances about staffing levels, there are lingering concerns among observers about whether the government has done enough to be ready if major wildfires grow beyond control.
The declaration of full staffing marks a notable moment heading into what is traditionally the most dangerous time of year for wildfires in the western United States.
