Merkley Pushes to Expand Benefits for Fallen Wildland Firefighters

Merkley pushes to expand benefits for fallen wildland firefighters

U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and John Curtis introduced a bill to increase death benefits for fallen wildland firefighters from $10,000 to $100,000, matching what's provided to fallen military members.

MERKLEY, CURTIS LEAD BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO HONOR FALLEN WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS

October 5, 2026 9:40 a.m.  On Monday, U.S. Senators Democrat Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Republican John Curtis of Utah announced the introduction of the Honoring Fallen Wildland Firefighters Act. A release said the legislation would expand death benefits of fallen firefighters to match up to $

New bill looks to expand line-of-duty death benefits for wildland firefighters families

A new bipartisan bill aims to expand death benefits for federal wildland firefighters who are killed in the line of duty from $10,000 up to the level of funds g

Curtis, Merkley lead new bipartisan bill to honor fallen wildland firefighters - Utah Policy

U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced the Honoring Fallen Wildland Firefighters Act, bipartisan legislation to expand death benefits of fallen firefighters to match those to fallen members of the military, a significant change from the current maximum death benefit. “Wildland firefighters willingly put themselves in harm’s way to protect our homes, communities, and public lands. When one of these brave men or women …

Bill Would Raise Wildland Firefighter Death Benefits to $100K

A bipartisan bill from Sens. Merkley and Curtis would raise wildland firefighter death benefits from $10,000 to $100,000, matching military families.