Wildland Firefighters United Against Bear Gulch Immigration Raid
News commentary by Mark Rose
Wildland firefighters harangued, harassed, probed, shared inside info, and vented on every social media platform available. We were letting the Forest Service and the public know our deep anger regarding the immigration raid on the Bear Gulch fire near Lake Cushman. August 27, two firefighters on contract crews were detained on that fire because they were supposedly “illegals.”
Although I haven’t been on the fire line for decades, the raid by armed Border Patrol and ICE felt like a gut punch (See Do Wildland Firefighters Have Constitutional Rights? The Beacon, 9/1/2025).
As the Dude said in The Big Lebowski: This aggression will not stand, Man.
Since I live in a remote area of South County, my only option was to connect with wildland firefighters online. They were spitting mad, especially when it was determined that Fire Management on Bear Gulch colluded with Federal agents to trap two fire crews who were then detained against their will for three hours. According to online chatter, it was a “betrayal, a set-up, an ambush” by the Incident Command (IC), the team responsible for all components of the 9,000-acre Bear Gulch fire, which at the time of print, is still less than 10% contained.
Wildland firefighters bombed and were banned from Facebook pages of the “Traitors” of CA IC 7, as they became known. I annoyed some on the Brinnon Community and Mason County Facebook pages with the truth as I saw it, and withstood variations of “they’re illegals, get ‘em out. What about that don’t you understand?”
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) called them “illegal aliens,” a double pejorative that falsely brands people as criminals and sub-human. DHS also claimed that they were “NOT firefighters,” an insult that particularly rankled firefighters.
ASI, one of the crews detained, is a woman-owned organization with Latino and Indigenous firefighters. They are 2IA certified for initial attack, meaning they are on the line when the fire is hottest and most unpredictable. Despite the Department of Homeland Security's attempt to paint them as non-essential and insignificant, they are experienced professionals who have worked for multiple government agencies. I’m especially drawn to the “Strength in Diversity” section of their website, which may account for why they were targeted. It reads:
“The leaders and crews at ASI exemplify what it means to have strength in diversity. From the owners to the crew leaders to the crews themselves, you’ll find only the highest level of respect for all — no matter what gender or ethnicity. We come from a diverse set of ethnic backgrounds, bringing multiple perspectives to solving problems in the toughest of situations out in the field. We value our camaraderie and take pride in knowing that fairness and equality are our most basic and sound principles to live and work by.”
Good News
Then this came a week after the immigration raid:
BEAR GULCH FIRE IMMIGRATION ARRESTS: Thurston County Commissioner Wayne Fournier, a longtime firefighter, issued a statement Wednesday concerning the recent immigration arrests at the Bear Gulch Fire: "What happened at the Bear Gulch Fire was not routine, and we should not pretend it was.”
Fournier went on to say that he was taking action.
"Scrutiny of CBP and ICE has occurred under every president, regardless of party. This is not about politics. It is about public safety. These agencies have long histories of civil liberties violations. When they operate in active emergency zones, transparency and accountability are not optional; they are essential.
"That is why today I introduced a local ordinance: Emergency Responder Protection and Enforcement Coordination Act. This ordinance will 1) designate active emergency operations as Non-Interference Zones, 2) require federal law enforcement to coordinate with the designated Incident Commander before taking any action, and 3) guarantee due process and ID protections for all responders, regardless of background or employment status.”
The Power of Reddit
I decided to post Fournier’s story on Reddit. I had an account there, but never posted. I had no idea what kind of a response I would get. I started a Reddit community called Fallout From Bear Gulch Immigration Raid. It exploded, garnering 20,000 views, hundreds of “Up Votes” and dozens of comments within the first 12 hours. As I write, there are 46,000 views and nearly 600 “Up Votes.”
Fournier’s proposal could be adopted in Jefferson County as a gesture of support for wildland firefighters who are increasingly coming to South County. When firefighters arrive in Brinnon, they are fully welcomed and integrated into the community.
Our fire season kicked off this year on July 15 with a Level 3 “Go Now” alert for what came to be known as the Belgian Fire. State crews, backed by air support, quickly responded to the fire and contained it to five acres.
Last year, more than 400 fire personnel were in Brinnon for the 450-acre 2620 Road fire. Residents of Brinnon contributed to the fire effort by providing supplies, food, and shelter. Volunteers came from all over the county. The Halfway House staff and volunteers worked 24 hours a day, serving nearly 4,000 meals.
Currently, the Tunnel Creek Fire, southwest of Quilcene in the Buckhorn Wilderness, has burned 100 acres. The fire is in steep, rocky terrain and is being managed with helicopter water drops. Structures or people are not in danger.
Respect
@The Life of a Wildland Firefighter / Hotshot
Check out Piper Bates: https://www.instagram.com/urlocallumberjill
