It is with sadness that we remember US Congressman Doug LaMalfa, who passed away
suddenly on January 5, 2026. Representative LaMalfa was a tireless supporter of wildland
firefighters. He co-sponsored important legislation including Tim’s Act, the Wildfire Recovery Act, and Fix Our Forests Act. Most recently, the CARE for First Responders Act, which provides benefits for first responders who die from particular cancers, was signed into law by President Trump last month.
For most of his congressional career, Rep. LaMalfa introduced legislation to direct OPM, the
USDA, and DOI to develop a unique job series for federal wildland firefighters who have long been classified as forestry technicians. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law by President Biden in 2021, directed the above agencies to implement a new series for federal wildland firefighters. It is unfortunate that Rep. LaMalfa died before seeing the USDA Forest Service fully implement this requirement.
Grassroots Wildland Firefighters honors Rep. LaMalfa’s work, support, and legacy and extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and constituents.
