Grant County Sheriff arrests US Forest Service employee after prescribed burn jumps to private property

Some firefighters say the agency has a history of going silent when mistakes are made or even blaming firefighters. “Historically the Forest Service has a terrible record of not defending employees,” said Timothy Ingalsbee, a veteran wildland firefighter who now runs Firefighters United For Safety, Ethics, and Ecology, a group that advocates for more responsible fire management. “They’re regularly thrown under the bus for the greater good of the agency.”

Ingalsbee said he would expect the Forest Service to voice support for its employees.

“This employee was doing this at the behest of his agency for the benefit of the lands they manage,” Ingalsbee said.