Today, the National Association of State Foresters sent a letter to USDA and Department of Interior Secretaries Vilsack and Haaland regarding a proposed COVID-19 testing policy for wildland firefighters.
The National Association of State Foresters (NASF) would like to thank the USDA Forest Service and Department of Interior for their partnership and the opportunity to review and provide state input on the pending “Federal COVID-19 Testing Implementation Guidance for USDA/FS and DOI Employees and AD Hires Assigned to Wildfire Incidents.”
We are concerned the guidance would adversely impact already strained operational capacity as summer wildfire threats escalate. We ask that this guidance be revised to reflect the COVID-19 mitigation protocols of 2020 and 2021 that were successfully developed and implemented in the interagency fire environment.
Read the letter in full by clicking the link below.