Feds Pay Workers 25% Extra to Start Controlled Forest Fires Safely
Published Date: 8/14/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting September 14, 2026, federal employees who work on planned wildland fires will get a 25% pay boost for their risky fireline duties. This new rule affects General Schedule and Federal Wage System workers who help control these fires, making their tough jobs a bit more rewarding. It’s a win for firefighters who keep our forests safe with planned burns!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
25% Pay Boost for Prescribed Burns
Starting September 14, 2026, General Schedule (GS) and Federal Wage System (FWS) federal employees who are members of a firefighting crew working on the fireline directly implementing and controlling a prescribed wildland fire will receive a 25 percent pay differential for those duties. The rule applies when those employees perform covered fireline work and the differential is effective the first pay period beginning on or after September 14, 2026.
GW / 0456 Firefighters Included
OPM clarifies that references to 'GS' employees include employees paid under the GW pay plan and the 0456 Wildland Fire Management occupational series, so qualifying GW-0456 wildland firefighters are eligible for the 25 percent differential when they meet the duty-based criteria. Eligibility is determined by performing covered fireline duties, not by pay plan code alone.
Pre-Ignition Work Not Covered
The rule does not authorize the 25 percent differential for pre-ignition preparatory activities; the differential is limited to active fireline work after ignition (ignition, holding, patrol, mop-up, snag felling, etc.). If you only perform pre-ignition staging or preparation, you will not receive the prescribed-fire hazard pay.
Estimated Employees Affected and Agency Costs
OPM estimated that about 10,000 GS employees and 2,500 FWS employees (primarily at USDA and DOI) could be affected. USDA estimated the annual cost to provide these differentials at about $20 million, and DOI estimated about $12.5 million annually (OPM also cites DOI FY2026 and FY2027 estimates of roughly $9.0 million and $9.5 million in some analyses).
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Key Dates
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