Plan would extend health care, tuition waivers to families of federal firefighters who die in the line of duty in California
By Keith Matheny
The Desert Sun
WASHINGTON — The five U.S. Forest Service firefighters killed in the Esperanza wildfire in October have figured prominently in an effort to extend survivor benefits to the families of federal firefighters who die in the line of duty in California.
Engine 57 crew members’ names and how they died are included in a state Assembly bill. The bill’s sponsors have cited the Idyllwild crew as well.
But the proposed law as written would not have benefited three of the five fallen firefighters’ families - and it wouldn’t apply to a sizeable portion of federal firefighters, an advocate for federal wildfire-fighters said Tuesday.
Full Story: Firefighter benefits bill proposed