[Stoat]

Many wildland firefighters are minimum-security convicts, and this policy of using such people doesn't help the public's perception of the fire service.

The other firefighters who are there because they WANT to be, not because they HAVE to be, are hamstrung not only by this NFS policy of using convict labor but also in terms of the profound lack of support in crucial areas, such as the proper maintenance of firefighting aircraft.

I predict, sadly, that 2004 will be a particularly bad fire season.

[Porterville]

The convicts stay in their camp while the other wildland firefighters are assigned their area. The work is still hard and isn't anything I would want to do for a long period of time.. It is very tough and should be respected. Unfortunately, their is a class of people in this country who haven't slung a hoe or worked a blister on their pinky who look down on rescue personnel... of all things... but, they have money, and little brains, easy sheep... helps the economy go round.