In the last two decades, the Methow Valley has experienced large, catastrophic wildfires so often it is hard to remember them all- Tripod, Carlton Complex, Cedar Creek, Diamond Creek, Cub II, and Crescent Mountain. Many residents have lost their homes to these unprecedented fires. Businesses have been devastated during the peak summer tourist season due to fires and smoke. Four firefighters died battling the 30-Mile Fire in 2001. Three local firefighters lost their lives in the Twisp River Fire of 2015.

Now, we are experiencing another unprecedented but preventable crisis. In a misguided attempt to reduce government spending, the current administration has sent emails laying off a significant and important part of their workforce, including those that have “red cards”, which qualify them to fight forest fires when called upon. Summer hires of seasonal workers have been curtailed on top of these layoffs. The administration has mandated further layoffs of 20% of the remaining permanent employees, coming within the next couple months.

In a ProPublica article by Mark Olalde dated April 7, 2025, Frank Beum, a board member of the National Association of Forest Service Retirees who spent more than four decades with the agency said, “There are not enough primary firefighters to do the full job that needs to be done when we have a high fire season”. The executive orders shrinking the federal workforce make a notable exception for public safety staff, including those who fight wildland fires. But according to Frank Beum, that exception does not include red card-carrying employees who hold other fulltime jobs in the agency but are trained to aid firefighting crews. According to Frank Beum these red card-carrying employees are the “backbone” of the firefighting force and their loss will create a significant impact.

These layoffs of our local National Forest employees will directly affect our community’s ability to fight fires and keep our citizens safe. The US Forest Service has a tremendous amount of expertise and experience fighting fires. This ability will be permanently diminished if these layoffs are allowed to stand. Lives are at stake. The potential for loss of property is staggering.

We ask our local elected officials, the Town Council of Winthrop and its Mayor, to sign the resolution below, to be sent to our elected representative in Washington, DC, Dan Newhouse, and to United State Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray.

A RESOLUTION OPPOSING WHOLESALE CUTS TO THE US FOREST SERVICE AND URGING SWIFT ACTION TO REHIRE DISPLACED WORKERS AND HALT ANY FURTHER LAYOFFS, IN RECOGNITION OF THE SEVERE NEGATIVE IMPACTS THESE LAYOFFS WILL HAVE ON THE TOWN OF WINTHROP AND ITS RESIDENTS.

WHEREAS, the Town of Winthrop is in an extremely dangerous fire zone as defined by the State DNR, the Okanogan Conservation District, and the US Forest Service. Winthrop is ranked 17th in the state as being exposed to the risk of wildland fire.

WHEREAS, large wildfires in the Methow Valley are inextricably tied to economic loss for many
businesses because of highway closures, trail closures, and canceled visitation because of hazardous or dangerous air quality caused by wildfires.

WHEREAS, the severe reductions in the workforce will hinder the ability of the Forest Service to fight forest fires, thereby endangering the health, safety, and economic vitality of our community.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of Winthrop, WA and its Mayor : The citizens of Winthrop, through their elected council members and Mayor, ask that all local Forest Service employees who lost their jobs be immediately reinstated. We further ask that prior to initiation of any future efficiency efforts, including but not limited to staffing reductions, consolidations of administrative services and/or existing Forest Service regions, or potential privatization of services historically performed by the Forest Service, the current administration actively consults with existing Federal, State, and Local agency partners to determine the most effective levels and effective location of government employees on the Methow Valley Ranger District to insure community safety in the face of wildfire, and to allow the Forest Service to fulfill its Congressionally mandated missions.