Washington, D.C. – Firefighting crews have “totally ignored” federal rules by spending taxpayer money with the “the perception that suppression funds are unlimited,” according to internal U.S. Forest Service audit of last year’s firefighting season. The audit first was reported by The Oregonian (Portland, OR) and was recently obtained by Taxpayers for Common Sense, a national budget watchdog organization.

“Some fire managers are spending money like drunken sailors,” said Jill Lancelot, President of Taxpayers for Common Sense. “Firefighting money doesn’t grow on trees, the need to reduce waste by holding the fire managers more accountable is enormous.”

The audit uncovered millions of wasted dollars including thousands spent on carpeting for outdoor fire camps, overtime paid for firefighters’ sightseeing time, $18 million in rental car expenses, $10 pens and pencils, and personal spending on unneeded and unnecessary digital cameras, tents and designer clothing. The audit also detailed increased costs that resulted from the Forest Service’s contract negotiations and logistics management.

Federal rules require that fire staff on standby are ready to work and prohibit them from receiving overtime, but the audit found that crews on standby were paid for 12 hour days during which some were shopping and sightseeing. In 2002, 30% of firefighting dollars went to employees’ salaries.

Requested by Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth in August of 2002, findings from this audit challenge the long-standing practice of blank check firefighting by the U.S. Forest Service. The audit reviewed about 5% of the firefighting expenditures in 2002. Last year, Bosworth requested a freeze of all agency funding to assist in paying for the record costs for forest fire suppression.

“Abuse of firefighting money should not be tolerated. Congress should place more scrutiny on this program,” continued Lancelot.

Over the last decade, the Forest Service has failed eight out of ten Inspector General audits. “This agency has been wrought with fiscal mismanagement and unaccountability. This audit further confirms that the Forest Service is one of our nation’s most mismanaged government agencies,” continued Lancelot. “We have no problem with the government spending monies on the general necessities and limited creature comforts of wildland firefighters, however there is a larger issue of accountability within the agency that needs to be addressed. For the first time, this report effectively document frivolous fire spending at the Forest Service,” continued Lancelot.

The audit also found ongoing problems of untrained and inexperienced staff overseeing rental agreements and procurement of equipment for fire crews. Staffing costs for firefighting were high because of “fire-chasing” contractors who arrive at fires with negotiated payment rates that are higher than local firefighters. Also, spending procedures were disorganized leaving untrained field staff to shop for items at the height of fire season. The audit also found that certain fire contractors received preferential treatment from fire managers and the reliance on these few contractors led to increased costs.

The audit called for increased oversight and accountability for firefighting dollars and recognized that while these problems have arisen in the past, “little has been done to correct the problems sufficiently.”

”The Forest Service needs to become more fiscally accountable,” continued Lancelot. “This report shows the agency has a major management mountain to climb, now the question is how are they going to get to the summit?”

This audit was obtained by Taxpayers for Common Sense. It is unclear if the Forest Service plans to publicly release the final version of the audit.

Copies of the report can be obtained by calling 202-546-8500 x 110, or by email keith@taxpayer.net

Contact: Keith Ashdown
(202)546-8500 x110