Stop Wildfire Profiteering Before More Firefighters Die

Three federal firefighters are dead after battling a fast-moving wildfire in Colorado. Now Congress must ask an urgent question: Is Trump’s wildfire policy protecting firefighters — or enriching private contractors?

The Trump administration has revived a reckless “full suppression” policy that pushes crews to attack wildfires fast, even when experts warn that blanket suppression can make future fires worse. It also means more aircraft, more contracts, and more money for private firefighting companies.

That should set off alarms. Senator Tim Sheehy, founder of Bridger Aerospace, has pushed to expand private firefighting aircraft use while cutting Forest Service aircraft inspections. The company he founded has received hundreds of millions in federal wildfire contracts. Firefighter safety cannot come second to contractor profits.

Tell Congress: Stop Trump’s wildfire overhaul from putting private profits ahead of firefighters' lives, our communities, and science-based fire management.

Wildland firefighters already risk their lives in brutal heat, dangerous terrain, and fast-moving flames. Profit-driven pressure can make that danger even worse. No firefighter should be sent into harm’s way for the sake of a profiteer's payday.

Private aircraft can help fight fires. But no company should profit from policies that pressure crews into riskier tactics, ignore science, or turn disaster response into a business opportunity.

Congress must subpoena records, expose conflicts of interest, hold public hearings, protect firefighter safety, and force federal agencies to put communities and science-based fire management first. But wildfire contracting is usually hidden from public view — and without public pressure, this could disappear into bureaucracy while crews keep paying the price.

Sign now before more firefighters are put at risk. Firefighter safety must come before wildfire profits.

The petition to Congress reads:

“Investigate Trump’s wildfire overhaul, subpoena communications with private contractors, and ensure federal wildfire policy puts firefighters, communities, and science-based fire management before private profit.”