The Biden administration said Wednesday it is hiring more federal firefighters - and immediately raising their pay - as officials ramp up response efforts in the face of a severe drought that is setting the stage for another destructive summer of intense wildfires across the West.
President Joe Biden said on Tuesday he will host a meeting next week of governors from states in the western United States, cabinet..
Some firefighters are saying that the pay is too low for federal employees. Forest Service firefighters start at $13.45 an hour..