In a shocking turn of events, two firefighters who were part of a 44-person crew combating a wildland blaze on Washington state's Olympic Peninsula were taken into custody by U.S. Border Patrol agents. This incident occurred during a multiagency criminal investigation involving the contractors they worked for, as reported by federal authorities on Thursday.
The situation unfolded when the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requested assistance from the Border Patrol to verify the identities of the workers on Wednesday. This occurred while the firefighting teams were engaged in operations in a remote area. As a result, Border Patrol agents identified two individuals who were in the U.S. illegally and subsequently detained them, according to a joint statement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Border Patrol.
In light of the incident, the BLM terminated contracts with the two companies involved: Table Rock Forestry Inc. and ASI Arden Solutions Inc., both based in Oregon. Following this decision, the BLM escorted 42 workers off federal land. The two detained firefighters were taken to the Bellingham station, facing charges related to illegal entry and reentry.
Despite numerous attempts to reach out for comments, email and phone messages left for the contractors went unanswered.
The detentions sparked outrage from U.S. Senator Patty Murray, who criticized the actions of federal agents. Initial reports indicated that firefighters were arrested, prompting Murray to express her concern over the implications of such actions on wildland firefighting efforts. She stated that the Trump administration has significantly undermined the effectiveness of the Forest Service and described the immigration policy as fundamentally flawed. Murray emphasized the dangers of detaining firefighters who play vital roles in protecting communities from devastating wildfires.
Dennis Lawson, president of the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters, echoed these sentiments, highlighting that losing any team member hampers their ability to serve effectively during emergencies.
U.S. Border Patrol Blaine Sector Chief Patrol Agent Rosario Vasquez defended the agency's actions, stating that the detentions exemplify the coordination between federal agencies to maintain the integrity of government operations. Vasquez reaffirmed the Border Patrol’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws wherever encountered.
The firefighters were actively working on the Bear Gulch Fire, which has scorched approximately 14 square miles on the north side of Lake Cushman in the Olympic National Forest and National Park. As of Thursday afternoon, the fire was reported to be 13% contained.
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden also weighed in on the situation, stating that the arrest of one of the firefighters, who hails from Oregon, undermines community safety. Legal representatives from the nonprofit Innovation Law Lab have claimed that the firefighter was unlawfully detained and emphasized their ongoing efforts to locate him. Lawyer Rodrigo Fernandez-Ortega demanded that the detained individual be granted access to legal counsel, a right protected by the U.S. Constitution.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson expressed deep concern regarding the events, underlining that firefighters are essential for community safety. He indicated that his team has reached out to federal agencies for further clarification, questioning the extension of the Trump administration's harsh immigration policies to those engaged in critical firefighting efforts.
Jennifer Risdal, spokesperson for the U.S. Forest Service's Incident Management Team, noted that they were aware of the Border Patrol's activities at the fire site. However, she affirmed that these operations were not interfering with firefighting efforts and that the Bear Gulch firefighting teams continued to make progress against the blaze.
During the previous Trump administration, the Department of Homeland Security had issued statements during the 2020 wildfire season, emphasizing that immigration enforcement would not interfere with evacuations or sheltering related to wildfires, barring serious public safety threats.
Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove, who oversees Washington's wildland firefighting efforts, acknowledged awareness of the enforcement actions occurring at the Bear Gulch Fire, echoing the concerns raised by community leaders.
