Hannah Dreier, a New York Times reporter, dives into the unsettling world of private wildland firefighting. She discusses how these crews, often recruiting young workers, face dangerous conditions with little protection. The story of Joel Eisiminger, a firefighter diagnosed with leukemia shortly before turning 25, highlights the health risks and bureaucratic obstacles these workers encounter. Dreier reveals how contractors prioritize profit over safety, leading to dire consequences, and emphasizes the urgent need for policy changes to protect these vulnerable firefighters.
