美国野火烧得旺 消防员却在“扫厕所”

Core Viewpoint - The United States is facing one of the most severe wildfire seasons in a decade, with criticisms directed at the federal government's large-scale layoffs leading to staffing shortages in firefighting efforts [1][2]. Group 1: Staffing Issues - Approximately 5,000 employees, or 15% of the U.S. Forest Service's workforce, have resigned in the past five months, creating significant staffing gaps [2]. - Firefighters are being forced to take on administrative roles due to personnel shortages, which hampers frontline firefighting efforts [2]. - Reports indicate that some firefighters have gone days without food and are struggling to find essential supplies like medical equipment and fuel for chainsaws [2]. Group 2: Official Responses - Officials from the U.S. Forest Service assert that they are prepared for the severe wildfire season, despite the staffing challenges [5]. - The Forest Service has handled nearly 41,000 fire incidents this year, marking the highest number since 2015 [5]. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture aims to meet a target of hiring 11,300 firefighters, with 99% of this goal achieved as of late June, totaling 11,236 hires [5].