Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
We sat down with Bobbie Scopa, Executive Secretary of the Grassroots Firefighters organization and 45-year wildland fire veteran to talk about current issues facing Federal wildland firefighters. Topics included pay, mental health, organizational inefficiencies, and the government shutdown.
Bobbie highlighted the inefficiencies in the federal fire system, including the lack of advocacy within the US Forest Service for its own employees, and the need for consolidation of federal fire agencies. She discussed the challenges of hiring and fuels management, noting that the shutdown has delayed hiring and hindered fuels work. Scopa also emphasized the importance of dedicated fuels personnel and the successes of the Grassroots Wildland Firefighters - grassrootswildlandfirefighters.com - in advocating for federal firefighters.
Bobbie has a podcast about leadership and wildland fire called 'Bobbie on Fire'. bobbieonfire.com
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We sat down with Bobbie Scopa, Executive Secretary of the Grassroots Firefighters organization and 45-year wildland fire veteran to talk about current issues facing Federal wildland firefighters. Topics included pay, mental health, organizational inefficiencies, and the government shutdown.
Bobbie highlighted the inefficiencies in the federal fire system, including the lack of advocacy within the US Forest Service for its own employees, and the need for consolidation of federal fire agencies. She discussed the challenges of hiring and fuels management, noting that the shutdown has delayed hiring and hindered fuels work. Scopa also emphasized the importance of dedicated fuels personnel and the successes of the Grassroots Wildland Firefighters - grassrootswildlandfirefighters.com - in advocating for federal firefighters.
Bobbie has a podcast about leadership and wildland fire called 'Bobbie on Fire'. bobbieonfire.com
Thanks for supporting The Lookout! We are viewer-supported. Become a PayPal subscriber at the-lookout.org/donate
